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Last Updated: Nov 14, 2008 - 12:49:26 PM |
Well, bully for C.S. Lewis! With Prince Caspian, he’s gone two-for-two in the battle for successful book-to-movie adaptations. 2005’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe may have been a tough act to follow, but Caspian tackles it with gusto.
Caspian is a bit darker and less character-oriented than its predecessor, but the new shift works well, and there’s enough action and intrigue to keep the film afloat during its two-and-a-half-hour runtime.
The four Pevensie children – Lucy (Georgie Henley), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), Peter (William Moseley), and Susan (Anna Popplewell) – have been back in their normal lives in England for a year, but are having a difficult time adjusting to life as both children and as non-royalty; after all, they spent several years growing up as kings and queens of Narnia.
When a mysterious horn call sucks them back into the magical land, however, they discover that 1,300 years have passed since their departure, and that the evil Miraz (Sergio Castellito) has wrenched the reins of power from the rightful king, Caspian (Ben Barnes). In order to restore Narnia to its rightful balance, the Pevensies team up with a ton of fantastic creatures, like Trumpkin (Peter Dinklage), a dwarf; Reepicheep (voiced by Eddie Izzard), a mouse; and plenty of centaurs, fauns, griffins, and minotaurs.
The Pevensie kids’ acting talents have all improved by leaps and bounds since the first film; this time around, it’s mostly William Moseley’s story to carry, and he does it admirably: he’s got the drive and instincts of the adult High King Peter, but he’s trapped in a child’s body. It’s not an easy balance to strike for any of the kids, but they all manage it quite well.
Peter Dinklage is by far the best addition to the cast; a welcome presence in any movie, he’s great here, smart-alecky, prickly, and somehow endearing. Barnes will be another one to watch. Noted mainly by critics and viewers for his matinee-idol looks, he’s got the makings of a talented actor. His Caspian is a far more likeable character than Lewis’ original book version, but it’ll be interesting to see how he’ll expand his range in the series’ next installment, 2010’s Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
The decision to make Caspian a more action-packed film has come under fire more than once, but it’s not a bad choice. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe gave us the character setup and the worldbuilding, and the energetic battle scenes of Caspian are a natural progression. They’re also very well-handled: dramatic and engaging without being too over-the-top or gory. (In fact, there’s very little, if any, bloodshed from the numerous battles. It may not be entirely realistic, of course, but it’s something of a relief for both parents of young children and anyone who enjoys their films without gushing torrents of blood.)
Overall, Prince Caspian is a worthy successor – no pun intended – to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. And in two years, Dawn Treader, to be directed by the excellent Michael Apted, looks to continue that trend of quality. Keep it up, guys. You’re doing a great job.
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian runs 144 minutes and is rated PG for epic battle action and violence. Viewed at Commonwealth 20.
ereel@villagepublishing.com | 751-0421
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