Album Reviews
Movies
Concert Reviews
Movie Resources
Concert Reviews
Book Reviews

Top 10
Resources
Contact Us

Narnia Quiz

The audience at this afternoon's preview screening of The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, at New York's AMC 25 theater in Times Square,  broke out in spontaneous applause at least three or four times.  It seems that director Andrew Adamson has brought a thaw to normally-jaded New Yorkers as well as to the 100-year winter of Narnia.  The movie pulls the viewer into the story right from the opening scenes of war-ravaged England, where siblings Lucy, Susan, Peter and Edmund (wonderful performances by all) are sent from their homes to the relative safety of 'the professor's' country estate where, during a game of hide-and-go-seek, young Lucy hides in the wardrobe only to discover the passage to the land of Narnia.  From this point, the multi-layered story of betrayal, courage, sacrifice, redemption and hope unfolds into a briskly paced 2 hour and ten minute adventure that leaves the viewer emotionally charged and thoroughly entertained. 

The musical score is appropriately stirring and moody.  The computer generated creatures are sophisticated to the point where the technology disappears and you begin to accept the performance,  and not the special effect!  This brings us to Aslan - if the talking lion didn't work, the movie would fold in on itself and go away.  Aslan works,however,  and works very well.  Voiced by Liam Neeson, Alsan is both believable as a 'literal' lion and as Aslan, talking lion, King of Narnia.  Aslan's face is expressive and noble, and Neeson's voice acting has strength and dignity. 

This film succeeds on so many levels, it would be possible to discuss it in many different veins:  the direction, the story's surface-level themes, the theological possibilities, the drama, the fantasy, the adventure.... Yes -  it's an action film, a dramatic film, a fantasy, a somewhat-dark (yet hopeful) fairy-tale.  It has humorous moments and frightening moments, like most truly great 'family' films always seem to have. 

The bottom line is, this is a film that will leave you the better for having seen it.  There's much to reflect on and much to simply enjoy - there's certainly enough to keep you thinking for a while, and that's always a good thing.

Aslan, indeed, is on the move!

Bert Saraco  12/4/2005

The Tollbooth Podcast 

      Studio Xb Strikes Again!

It is a long movie with a long title. But in a word, it is magnificent. C.S. Lewis’ novel The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a movie of many elements. It is a story of redemption and glory wrapped in a children's adventure. It is full of symbolism, of hope, of honor. Four siblings find themselves in another world. A world found not in their imagination but the back of a wardrobe chest. This world has been expecting them. Longing for them. And what they discover in themselves will not only change this new world but their own hearts forever. 

We initially discover Narnia along with young Lucy Pevensie (Georgie Henley). It is a land held in cold, bondage by the White Witch (Tilda Swinton). The inhabitants of Narnia hold to a prophecy that two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve will come and save their home. Hesitant at first the remaining three Pevensie children soon join Lucy and take to their destiny. Though this is her first role, Henley does a fabulous job and will capture your heart. She conveys the magic and majesty of Narnia and brings you right into it with her as you experience the wonder of this discovery through her innocent eyes. 

This film is made brilliant not so much by the effects or the direction, but by the story. Part of me wishes the entire __Lord of the Rings__ team could have done this movie. This film seemed thin in places and lacked the huge, take-your-breath-away look and sound of the trilogy pieces. But another part of me enjoyed the depth that comes from the simple ness of the moments. I was moved as young Edmund Pevensie (Skandar Keynes) stood, head bowed, before the great Aslan. Many times the quietness of a scene stirred personal examination of my own heart and mind. 

This is a subtle Christmas story. A gift of inspiration and timeless adventure. A quest of the imagination that causes stale hearts to beat with the rhythm of adolescent fantasy. It is a gift of hope and renewed strength. The great Lion, Aslan (voice of Liam Neeson) is many things to different people. But we all long for him to come and save us from the damp, desolate 
despair that life can sometimes be. There is a freedom in his roar and gentleness in his face. And it is moving. When he is there you can’t help but feel that all will be made right. Even when the journey looks dim. 

That hope makes this a great Christmas movie for it takes us away, if only for 140 minutes, from the Madison Avenue driven stocking stuffing, to the true heart of the season. It takes us to the world of a child. And of a King. Though rated PG for battle sequences and frightening moments, this is a wonderful movie for the whole family to share this holiday season. I rarely give a movie a perfect rating and on many cinematic scales this one falls short. But it will stir your heart, bring you hope and let you see redemption anew. Is there a better gift this Christmas than that? 

The Mungle 12/07/05

Matt hosts the weekly syndicated Indie Rock Radio Show Spin 180. Plus with his wife Cindy they do a weekly radio feature, The Mungles on Movies. For additional reviews and interview clips visit the website www.mungleshow.com.

(4.9 out of 5)