 "A Classic!" | 2008-08-23 |
| - Reviewed By User: AHYVDZWD13VNO |
I really enjoyed this televsion series when I was a young kid. The music is really inspiring, the puppets of the Lion (Aslan) and the dragon are very realistic. It doesn't have the modern 3D animation like today. But I feel the orignal film tricks and the realistic animals really made this classic C.S. Lewis's story come alive.
The DVD is in excellent condition and it is closed captioned which has made this hard of hearing person very happy! |
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 "missig DVD" | 2008-06-20 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2LL4AESSB83VD |
| I haven't received this DVD yet, so, i won't be able to give total review of item until i do receive it. |
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| "This is a Joke!" | 2008-01-21 |
| - Reviewed By Anonymous |
| This movie is a joke. It's so cheesy. This movie isn't worth even a nickel. I don't exactly get the 'special effects' part. It doesn't have any at all, except very 'cheap' ones. I recommend you get the newer version (when it comes out). Although, if you're showing this movie to a younger child, it might be better to have this version. But in my mind, it's not worth buying. |
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| "Two Stories Stories for the Price of One, PLUS Great Production" | 2007-07-18 |
| - Reviewed By Anonymous |
Preface: Although I have previously reviewed BBC's "The Chronicles of Narnia" as a series (sometime ago now), I will still be reviewing each installment individually, in order to give them all the detailed, and attentive critique they deserve.
Part 2: Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. With this second installment, a joint dramatization of two more of the seven chronicles, we gt two good stories for roughly the price of one. Each story ( and film) has its own strengths and minor flaws, but by and large, I feel these are sincere, and well-made (at least for the times) films.
First off, Prince Caspian. Although this story is not a personal favorite of mine try (LWW, Voyage of the Dawn Treader for that), this is a good dramatization. The acting really is first-rate. The four children Pevensie children all perform very well, with Peter perhaps more of a standout this time around (the others are good, Peter is just really involved in the story here, and stands out in my mind.) Jean-Marc Perret features in a highly convincing, very realistic performance as young Prince Caspian, while "Big Mick", and George Claydon come on as a pair of bickering dwarves in hiding from the evil King Miraz. Along with a speaking badger voiced by Johanna David (with Julie Peters inside the costume), they have brilliant on-screen chemistry, and each delivers a near-perfect, and very characterizing performance ( the characters have chemistry, the actors have KILLER chemistry. The actor portraying Dr. Cornelius (the prince's half-dwarf teacher) delivers with great realism, sincerity and outstanding quality of performance as well. Robert Lang, a British actor who has had a good number of major roles, co-stars as the aforementioned Miraz, and is both evil, and highly unpleasant in character. Though Lang's performance is not exactly the highpoint of the film, he does more than fine, and comes across as unpleasantly, if a little humorously (thanks to the dialog)evil. Finally, kudos go once again to Barbara Kellerman, and Martin Stone who return here, rather briefly, to play two evil doers in a cave. This is the greatest highlight of the episode, as Kellerman delivers with brilliantly high-pitched zeal, and Stone in fine form (watch also for a brief shot of Cornelius being attacked and partially strangled in an ensuing battle; this is the most adult, darkly dramatic thing in the entire series, in my opinion, and shows some real effort at drama.) Rest of the cast is fine (let's all say "Ronald Pickup is Aslan"), effects are not great, though less distracting than before (possibly due to lighter use), and the ending sword fight, and battle are exiting (even if parts of the battle do look a little like fauns playing an intense game of tug-o'-war!) and the sets, props, scenery and costumes, makeup, and hair on live action performers continue to look great. Photography, atmosphere, and even some nice lighting add to a production which thrives on gentle nuance. 4/5, not the best...
Voyage: This film is absolutely magnificent. A great story combines with beautiful imagery ( that big ship, anyone), costumes, sets, props scenery, hair, make-up, screen writing and acting to make just about the best film in the series. All acting is brilliant, with special mention to David Thwaites as Eustace, and Warwick Davis as Reepicheep the mouse.
Great performances, shipboard adventures, production design and visuals, and some fine props (the cliff) and surprisingly good sea monster, and dragon special effects make this entry an all-around highpoint for the series, well done indeed! Overall verdict:classic stuff, not be missed, especially for fans of the book series. 5/5;take a good, open-minded look at this pair films. Maybe, just maybe, you will enjoy them!
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| "Two Great Adventures for One Price!" | 2007-04-16 |
| - Reviewed By josephlayden |
Prince Caspian:
Peter, Lucy, Susan, and Edmund are once again whisked into the land of Narnia when they least expect it: while in a subway together several years after "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." Narnia has been conquered by a plotting king, and the "old Narnians" are now scattered in hiding from the wicked humans. The children must aid Prince Caspian, the exiled rightful owner of Narnia, and win their kingdom back for the good of all.
This is an epic tale with many new and fascinating creatures introduced, with a central theme of faith. The fact that Lucy is the only one able to see the glimpses of Aslan when the struggle becomes bitter speaks volumes about the virtue of faith, and we can already see in this installment how Susan began to lose hers. The children are not only called to Narnia to save it once again, but to teach the new Prince the value of the old and magical ways of Narnia, and to learn a spiritual lesson themselves.
Voyage of the Dawn Treader:
The fifth book in the series finds Lucy, Edmund, and Eustace joining Prince caspian on a ship called The Dawn Treader, which is setting sail to little known Narnian territories where Caspians uncles have been exiled. Each island explores a different sin by which an uncle fell, and a different magical encounter for the voyagers to face and resolve.
The developement of the mighty mouse Reepicheep is an especially welcome treat for children, and the scene in which Eustace becomes a dragon and embodies his own foul heart, so gaining a sort of enlightenment and a definite change of character, is a particularly skillful use of symbolism.
The reaching of Aslan's kingdom is also a symbol of enlightenment, with the Kingdom of Aslan invoking the Kingdom of Heaven in the reader's mind. The islands can be seen as steps in the path to heaven, and the character developement along the way can be seen as an outline to the steps towards righteousness and spirituality. As a fantasy or as a religious writing, this is a hugely important book!
J. Lyon Layden
The Other Side of Yore |
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 "Voyage into another world" | 2006-09-03 |
| - Reviewed By la_solinas |
C.S. Lewis's "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" recently followed in the footsteps of pal Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings Trilogy," and the sequel "Prince Caspian" is in the working stages.
In the months before it's released, however, it might be time to dust off the 1990 BBC adaptations of "Prince Caspian and the Voyage of the Dawn Treader," crammed into one long movie. The first half suffers from the hokey production of the first film, but the second half blossoms into a fantastical sea voyage.
It's been months since the Pevensies went to Narnia through the wardrobe, and now they waiting for a grim summer vacation. But they don't know what changes have gone on in Narnia. Young Prince Caspian has been raised by his cold uncle King Miraz (Robert Lang) ever since his father's death, with only an old nurse and an aged part-dwarf professor as his friends.
But when Miraz's queen has a baby son, Caspian finds himself on the run, and is taken in by the "Creatures in Hiding," talking beasts and magical people. But that isn't enough to ensure victory. Caspian blows the Horn of Queen Susan, and the Pevensies are whisked back into Narnia to assist the young Prince and his ragtag army in reclaiming his throne.
No sooner have Lucy and Edmund gone to their "awful cousin Eustace"'s house, than a painting on the wall draws them in -- and deposits all three kids beside a giant Narnian ship. Caspian, now a young man, takes them on board and explains that he's on a mission to find some loyal lords who Miraz exiled from Narnia.
But the voyage only gets more dangerous, with the group being captured by slavers, consumed with greed over "gold water," taken captive by invisible creatures, attacked by sea serpents, and Eustace is even turned into a dragon when he greedily claims a treasure trove. But the greatest threat is ahead: the very edge of the world.
It's a tricky thing to take two books and mash them together into one big movie, and it's a credit to the BBC that these stories aren't completely unwatchable. In fact, they unfold at a quick but steady pace, paying plenty of attention to the individual characters. The first half has several flaws, but the second half makes up for that in drama and severity.
This is less fantastical and more battle-oriented than the first movie of this series, especially given Peter's rather flat duel with Miraz right before war breaks out. But the filmmakers take time out to dwell on the minor characters like the sailors, Reepicheep the warrior mouse, and the lovably skeptical dwarf Trumpkin. You gotta love someone called "Big Mick."
Unfortunately, the movies do suffer from some decidedly hokey special effects; dragon-Eustace shifts size and looks absurd, and Miraz's army is clad in Ye Olde Dungeone and Dragone Armoure, complete with black bat motif. Very "Batman goes to the Renaissance Faire." The special effects are redeemed somewhat with a dazzling Dawn Treader, creepy Sea Serpent, and a centaur that still looks better than "Harry Potter's."
Barbara Kellerman still cackles and squeals, and Sophie Wilcox still whines all the time. But the two Caspian actors do an excellent job with their roles, both as a young naive boy and as an experienced king. David Thwaites is the breakout role here, taking Eustace from a whiny brat who gets under everyone's skin to a mature young man who thinks of others first.
Two stories in one -- the first rather flat, the second graced with some genuine chills and heartwarming moments. "Prince Caspian and the Voyage of the Dawn Treader" has some serious flaws, but it's definitely worth watching. |
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