Review

Review Date: 17-May-08
Spoiler Rating: Medium
Juju Judgment: Jubilation!

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

The trailer for "Prince Caspian" boasted that the movie was "based on C. S. Lewis' epic masterpiece." That tickled me because Lewis' work is a modest tale which merely connects the dots between two more interesting adventures. But the movie's co-writer and director, Andrew Adamson, has taken the book and developed the themes suggested within its pages. Needing no exaggerated lineage to recommend it, his "Prince Caspian" makes a strong bid for the title of fantasy masterpiece.

The story hinges on the fate of the titular prince (Ben Barnes), royal scion of the race of Telmarines who wrested Narnia from the talking beasts and other native inhabitants long ago. When Caspian's uncle Miraz (Sergio Castellitto) fathers a son, he attempts to assassinate the young prince to clear the way for his own dynasty. Caspian falls in with the Old Narnians while fleeing for his life and, in a moment of desperation, blows a horn given him by his faithful tutor. Unmeasurable distances and thousands of years away, the legendary kings and queens of Narnia are summoned by his magical call.

The arrival from England of Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy is a moment of pure, goose-pimply cinematic delight. Not only that, it is preceded by two clever inventions of the screenwriters which show Peter (William Moseley) acting out his frustrations in a brawl and Susan (Anna Popplewell) rebuffing the friendly advances of a boy. These additions and the subtext they engender enhance the film by addressing ideas that always nagged me when I read the books. What would it feel like to journey to another world as a child, spend many happy years there as a king or queen, and then be thrust back into the life of the child again, a nondescript, common one at that? It is hard enough venturing towards adulthood without thinking you have already lost the greatest life you could ever achieve.

With such aching as a backdrop, the siblings plunge back into Narnia with mixed joy and emotional caution. After realizing that centuries have passed in their former kingdom, they rescue a Dwarf (Peter Dinklage) who apprises them of the impending war between Caspian and Miraz. The flip-side of the kids' experience is also fun to consider, i.e., the wonder of the despairing Old Narnians at the return of people whom they only know from myth. It would be like King Arthur returning to England today! And even though Lucy (Georgie Henley) and Edmund (Skandar Keynes) still look like children, their mere presence carries the promise of better times that may come again.

The fabled foursome meets up with Caspian just in time for the fighting, which is stirring and (it goes without saying) graced by noble deeds of Reepicheep the Mouse among others. Everyone behaves bravely despite doubts about their chance of success, their ability to do the right thing, and the existence or concern of Narnia's one-time guardian, Aslan. I like that the Lion is present throughout most of the movie as a fleeting vision or dim memory. This is a story about growing up and taking the reins, so what the characters need of Aslan is a symbol of hope which they must struggle to find or maintain.

In this respect there are two main characters, Prince Caspian and Peter. The latter, for me, is the heart of the film. What an unexpected pleasure to see Moseley reveal himself to be a terrific actor with the gravitas worthy of a High King. And what weight it lends the story to witness Peter waging battles both within himself and against the enemy, including a gripping death match with the usurper of Caspian's throne. While he finds what he needs to carry on back home, whence he can never return to Narnia again, I lament his disappearance from the chapters to come. If they match the standard of this one, however, that will be a consolation indeed.

Copyright © 2008 The Jujube (M. I. Kim). All rights reserved.