Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (04/05/2011)

Rated PG for some frightening images and sequences of fantasy action.

Directed by Michael Apted (Amazing Grace, The World is Not Enough, Gorillas in the Mist, Coal Miners Daughter…)

Starring Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley and Will Poulter

Lucy (Georgie Henley) and Edmund (Skandar Keynes) return to Narnia with their cousin Eustace (Will Poulter) where they meet up with Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes) for a trip across the sea aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader. Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, merfolk, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world.

Todd’s Word: Simply put…this is another fantastic Narnia film!

Jonathan’s Word: My family loved it, the people in the theatre around me loved it, you loved it… what’s wrong with me? I really thought this film was just… mediocre.

Todd’s Word: Yeah, there is something wrong with you!

Jonathan’s Word: I know, I know. This is part of the epic tale, The Chronicles of Narnia, on the silver screen. I should be bowing in reverence… not being critical. But I think part of what we do in movie reviewing is putting our biases aside—the best we can—and giving an honest review. And being completely candid, I thought the film came across a little cheesy at times.

Todd’s Word: Heresy!

Jonathan’s Word: Ha… I hear you. Don’t get me wrong. I love the book, and I think the writers did an okay job bringing it to the screen—obviously—because a bunch of people seem to be enjoying it. But I think the film had some severe problems.

But let me start with the positive.

Todd’s Word: Please do.

Jonathan’s Word: I loved Reepicheep. He made the film. I’m glad they got Simon Pegg to do the voice. He’s hilarious always.

Todd’s Word: I agree Reepicheep was great and I loved the interaction between him and Eustace. I loved their constant jabs.

Jonathan’s Word: I also really enjoyed seeing some of Lewis’ real life Christian thinking brought to the screen. Lucy’s struggle with self esteem and the consequences, and both Edmund and Eustace’s struggle with greed. Those authentic moments will be ones that parents and youth workers will discuss with their kids after the film (we’ll provide a few discussion questions for you below).

Todd’s Word: That is the beauty of C.S. Lewis, he uses this amazing story of fantasy to talk about ugly issues that are so very real. Although it may be somewhat hidden within symbols, the message is simple and to the point.

Jonathan’s Word: And what believer wouldn’t love Aslan’s comments at the end about who he really is in Lucy and Edmund’s world.

Todd’s Word: That was definitely my favorite part. What an amazing opportunity to talk to friends about that line. I mean how easy is it to ask someone, “So who do you think Aslan is in the real world”? By the way Liam Neeson is so good as Aslan. He’s not James Earl Jones as Darth Vader good…but pretty close.

Is that it… or is it time to hear what you didn’t like?

Jonathan’s Word: Oh it’s time! The first problem was the 3D. I hate 3D. I don’t know why everyone is trying to jump on the 3D train… it’s just not up to par. I saw Avatar in 3D, loved the film, hated the 3D (I whined about 3D in that review as well). When I bought it on Blu Ray and watched it at home… it looked 20 times better. Voyage doesn’t have any remarkable 3D effects anyway… it was a shame to put the whole audience in uncomfortable glasses for nothing. And I thought many of the effects looked cheesy—I don’t know if that was the 3D, or just mediocre effects. Really frustrating.

Todd’s Word: We should have switched theaters. The screening I went to was in 2D and I actually kept thinking, “Do I need to see this in 3D?”

Jonathan’s Word: No, you don’t!

Todd’s Word: Thanks. Noted.

Jonathan’s Word: I was also very disappointed with the scene (if you haven’t read the book or seen the film, I’m going to give away something here) where Eustace got his scales removed by Aslan. In the book, that was such a powerful description of submission to God and allowing him to remove “sin” from our lives. Wow! I get shivers thinking about it. In the movie, it was like, “poof!” Now that’s “heresy”… to use your word, Todd.

Todd’s Word: Hey! I didn’t make the movie. Save your “wrath” for Michael Apted.

I will say this, I really didn’t expect much more than what I got. Going all the way back to the first film I thought it was a bit light on the “message”. Remember when Aslan, Susan and Lucy are walking together? Well the book goes a lot deeper than the film did. So I look at these differences as opportunities to discuss the differences between the film and the book.

Jonathan’s Word: I’ll buy that. But the movie had other problems. For example, I thought the film’s attempts at humor were just… how should I say… not funny? I literally looked at my watch at the first time I chuckled. It was over 30 minutes into the film—a line from Reepicheep (the best character in the film by far). But their other attempts at humor were few and far between.

Todd’s Word: I disagree. I thought Will Poulter was very funny. What I thought was not funny were the Dufflepuds. Ugh, they were the Jar-Jar Binks of the film.

Jonathan’s Word: I think families will really enjoy this film, regardless of my nitpickings. But I can’t help but to think back with my conversation with Douglas Gresham, C.S. Lewis’ stepson and co-producer of these films, and his desire to see these amazing stories portrayed expertly and authentically on the silver screen. I think the film makers have fallen short in this film. The solution is simple: I think they need to bring an experienced “epic-film” director in to make it work. These films would be amazing if the director was Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings), Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth), Ron Howard (Willow), or Ridley Scott (Gladiator, the new Robin Hood). Sorry Michael Apted, you’ve got some decent films in your repertoire… but my only use of the word “epic” regarding this film would be before the word “fail.” When the reviews come out for this film, I’m sure I’m not going to be alone in my opinion.

Todd’s Word: There is no doubt in my mind that if it had been one of those directors, it would have been an even better film, but they didn’t direct it, Michael Apted did. And if you are asking me, he did a Theater Worthy job.

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
The Sea Monster is pretty scary, but other than this it is a big YES from me.

Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):

Q: What’s the message/theme of this movie?
A: One of the strong messages of the film is the concept of remaining faithful during struggles and temptations. In one scene in particular Lucy struggles with self esteem. In this powerful scene we see her looking into a mirror where her reflection morphs into her older sister Susan. Then Aslan appears in the mirror to confront her with her decision to cast a spell to change who she is. She enters a world where Lucy never existed and they never found Narnia. In her regret she says “I never intended for those things to happen!” In other words, I wanted to be beautiful, but I didn’t think through the consequences of my decision. Then Aslan’s tells her, “You doubt your value. Don’t run from who you are.”

Q: How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
A: Like the characters of the film, we too are co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). And like the characters in the film we struggle with our self image, with greed, with selfishness, etc. So what are your struggles? What temptations do you face? No matter what temptations you face you need to understand that our King understands.

Hebrews 4:14-16 says, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Q: How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
A: How do we live as a child of the King? We understand who the King is and who we are. We understand He has given us value and significance. We also understand that he has also given our life purpose and meaning. We also understand that in Him we can find strength to overcome any temptation and grace and forgiveness when we fail.

And it is in that light that we do our best to live for His glory.