Director: Andrew Adamson
Release Date: May 16, 2008
Running Time: 137 min
MPAA Rating: PG
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures and Buena Vista Pictures

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Review by David DiMichele

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The travesty of Disneyfication that surrounded the first wearying and child-like installment of C.S. Lewis' seven- book series is still lurking somewhere in the shadows of the second installment, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. The first half of the movie details the overthrow of Narnia by the ruthless Telmarine Empire, an army of men sporting perfectly-sculpted beards that scream EVIL! The Narnians have problems of their own. Their deceased king's son, Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes), is next in line to inherit the throne, but the man who killed his father is his uncle Miraz (played with abundant energy by Sergio Castellitto). Not only does Miraze want the throne for himself, he also intends for his newborn son to inherit it from him. Caspian is thus forced to flee from the medieval castle.

All four of the Pevensie children are back from the previous film. This time around they return to Narnia on a speeding train. One year has passed in their time, but 1,300 years in Narnia's. They realize things are fishy when a starving bear doesn't stop to have tea with them, but instead regards one of the Pevensie children as fresh meat. This isn't Narnia anymore. The four meet up with Caspian, who used Queen Susan’s horn to call upon the Narnians to help him regain his rightful place on the throne, to stop the violence, and to restore Narnia's wonder. Director Andrew Adamson, also responsible for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, fools around most of the time with minor battle scenes and an introduction to those pesky Disney sidekicks: a little dwarf (Peter Dinklage), some Minotaurs, and a monotonous sword-swinging mouse (voiced by Eddie Izzard). Missing for the bulk of the movie is the film's greatest character, the Jesus-like lion Aslan (voiced by Liam Neeson). His absence leads to his followers not knowing what to do with themselves. We don't either.

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When the movie tries to fly, with some huge inevitable battle sequences that are supposed to be eye-popping and intense, it gets flogged back to Disneyland again, where the PG rating precludes any bloodshed. Cheesy one-liners are delivered as if they're going out of style by a bunch of children that I still can't buy as saviors of an enchanted land. One positive aspect that The Chronicles of Narnia franchise has going for itself is a well-buried, pulsating heart that seems ready to burst out of the family adventure it is constantly labeled as so it can explore new and darker territories. It started out much the same way that the Harry Potter franchise did, in which the third film experimented with troubled times...and it paid off. Let's hope the same can be said for Narnia.

Film Rating: ** 1/2 out of ****

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Comments (7)

Prince Caspian

the makers of Prince Caspian kept to the original story surprisingly well, all thinks considered... i heard they were going to make it into a silly pure-action flick, but thankfully this was not the case

patrick , May 29, 2008 | url

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Skandar Keynes really showcased himself to be a brillant young actor in this movie, I think. Plus, he's getting more and more gorgeous by the day! (Y)

Bi , June 13, 2008

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AGREED! Skanker Keynes really did show his potential in this movie and HELLSYEAH! he looks damn fine in this movie William Molesey did too phhhoowee Although the movie was intensely darker than the first. I really enjoyed it. I loved the ending though it had a bit too many fight scenes and they destroyed the vision of Aslan. I don't think the movie deserved a two and half out of five.

JESSICACAKES. , June 16, 2008

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This one was so much better then the first. and William grew up to be extremily hot!!!!

Alex G , June 23, 2008

Skandar the one to watch

I agee its Skandar you clock in this film and not the over hyped Ben Barnes. I hope we see a lot more of him in the next film in the franchise. Keynes has a lot of on screen charisma for someone so young.

jess , July 09, 2008

skander rocks this movie

i think skander keynes is the best in this movie i dont know y but he is so great this movie was very very good

katelyn , August 16, 2008

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skander and william and what ever princecaspians real name is they were so hott in this movie i luv this movie

katelyn , August 16, 2008

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