Tale well
told for young and old
The
latest instalment in the blockbuster Chronicles of Narnia series
hits our screens in June. Following the order of the original
stories’ publication (as the chronology and preferred reading
order of the books is hotly contested by fans, scholars and publishers
alike), Prince Caspian takes audiences back to Narnia
with the Pevensie children, only they arrive more than 1300 hundred
years after their last visit.
Many things have changed in Narnia, not the least
of which is the landscape, and the ruling monarchy, the Telmarines.
Caspian, the next in line to the Telmarine throne, is in danger
after his aspiring uncle produces an alternate heir, so the Prince
escapes to the forest where the Narnians have been living in exile
for hundreds of years.
Aslan and the White Witch have been relegated to
folklore among both Narnians and Telmarines, and when the children
arrive in this new world, only Lucy truly believes that Aslan
is still watching over and guiding them. They are (literally)
guided through the new Narnia by the dwarf Trumpkin (Peter Dinklage),
and the delightful badger Trufflehunter, one of only few Talking
Beasts who have retained their speaking skills over the passage
of time. The troupe are also joined by courageous and noble mouse(keteer!)
Reepicheep, who is basically the Shrek 'Puss in Boots'
character in rodent form.
With a few slight changes to the plot order, Prince
Caspian is fairly true to the story, and exceptionally produced
and performed. With substantial investment in photography (again,
predominantly in New Zealand) and special effects, production
companies Disney and Walden Media have created a franchise well
worthy of comparison to other blockbuster series, including Harry
Potter and 
Spider-Man.
The scriptwriters and director never lose sight
of the fact that their primary audience will be children, and
the film (despite its M rating for battle violence) is entirely
appropriate for a broad age range of young people, whether they
are familiar with the CS Lewis novels or not. While it has been
many years since my first reading of the Narnia stories, I didn’t
feel that any major plot points were missed, or events skipped
for the sake of cinematic flow.
Newcomer Ben Barnes is dashing and convincing as
Caspian, all four British actors reprise their roles as the Pevensie
children, as well as cameo appearances from Tilda Swinton as the
White Witch and Liam Neeson as the voice of Aslan.
Prince Caspian is perfect holiday fare
for the whole family – and well worth your cinema ticket
price, at nearly two hours in length. Once you’ve been reintroduced
to the Narnians, don’t forget to dig out the CS Lewis books
and be absorbed in the more detailed telling of these classic
stories – I can’t wait for the next one.
Belinda Yench
