The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

"All that you know is about to change."

This is not the Narnia you remember...the Telmarines have invaded and basically wiped out the Narnians. The Narnians who remain are hidden, waiting for their chance to destroy the Telmarines. Their savior appears in the form of Prince Caspian (Barnes), the rightful heir to the Telmarine throne, who has been driven from his home by his evil uncle Miraz (Castellitto). As they wait for the "kings and queens of old" to help them defeat the Telmarines, Caspian and the Narnians prepare for battle.

Meanwhile, the Pevensie's are in England trying to adjust to their real lives. Peter (Moseley) gets in fights and frustrated that things aren't going his way. Susan (Popplewell) has adjusted the best and is trying to keep to herself. Edmund (Keynes) is now the voice of reason in the family, and Lucy (Henley) hasn't give up hope that they will return to Narnia. They are still contemplating why they haven't returned when they magically arrive in Narnia. While only a year has passed since they left, 1300 years have passed in Narnia. The Pevensie's eventually join Caspian and the Narnians and prepare to take back what is theirs. Peter and Caspian fight: literally in a sword fight, and diplomatically as their battle plans often clash. As the battle with Miraz looms upon the horizon, rash decisions cause the deaths of several Narnians and divides the rest in their plans of action. Who will step up and lead the group? Will Aslan return? What about the White Witch?


Thoughts...
1. I have read all the Narnia books...I own all of them
2. Aslan still looks incredibly fake (and CGI), and although it works for the characters of the badger and Reepicheep's (Eddie Izzard) mice, it doesn't work as well for larger creatures (the bears)
3. The werewolf was incredibly creepy
4. Susan wasn't nearly as annoying as in the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (LWW), however she is still the least likeable Pevensie
5. Speaking of Susan, her "wink, wink, nudge, nudge relationship" isn't in the book, but it kinda works
6. Loved Glenstorm (Cornell John), the centaur! and Reepicheep! and Trumpkin (Dinklage)
7. Too many battle sequences (although they don't show any blood, cuts yes, bloody ends no)

I liked LWW better...it's my favorite book and lends itself the best to mass audiences. Prince Caspian was good, and I recommend it, but don't expect it to be the same as it's predecessor. As Aslan says "Things never happen in the same way" and the Chronicles of Narnia just wouldn't be as good if they were. I look forward to the Voyage of the Dawn Treader (my 2nd favorite book in the series) and hope they make Aslan a tad more convincing.

Dude, it's quotable: best lines: Reepicheep and Trumpkin have the best lines. It's a mix of comedy, action, sadness, and a bit of romance thrown in for good measure.
See it in theatres!: It's impressive on screen, and you don't have to worry about language (about the worst thing they use is "shut up")

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008) 144 minutes:
Rating: PG for epic battle action and violence
Director: Andrew Adamson
Starring: Ben Barnes as Prince Caspian
Georgie Henley as Lucy Pevensie
Skandar Keynes as Edmund Pevensie
William Moseley as Peter Pevensie
Anna Popplewell as Susan Pevensie
Sergio Castellitto as Miraz
Peter Dinklage as Trumpkin
Warwick Davis as Nikabrik