Starring: William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley, Ben Barnes, Sergio Castellitto, Peter Dinklage, and the voices of Eddie Izzard and Liam Neeson

Written by: Andrew Adamson, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely. Based on the novel by: C.S. Lewis

Directed by: Andrew Adamson

The filmmakers made a smart decision by following publication order rather than chronological order. Although mark my words, I believe they will skip The Horse and His Boy and The Magician’s Nephew and see how much buck the films are making still after Last Battle.

Right from the get go, it’s a much darker film than the first one and that’s a good thing.  While the first film was an fun adaption, it came off a little like Baby Lord of the Rings.  Prince Caspian sees the saga go through puberty almost like The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe was Narnia’s The Hobbit — The more child-like adventures, while Caspian was a bit more for the older crowd.

In addition this adaption does a good job of translating to the screen and indeed the changes they did make, were done well without destroying the story.

The film chose to open the film not with the Pevensie children, but instead with the titular character of Caspian being forced to run away from his kingdom when his aunt gives birth to a son.  Knowing, that his uncle Miraz will want his son to be heir, Caspian’s life would be forfeit.

With help from his tutor, the Professor, Caspian is able to escape from the Telmarine kingdom and into the savage land that once was Narnia.  During his escape he blows the horn that once belonged to Susan that according to myth, would return the four Pevensie children to Narnia.

We then see what has become of our four heroes from the first film.  Ignored in the book, the film gives us a peek at how growing up in Narnia before returning to the real world for a year has effected them.  Peter specifically seems to miss Narnia the most, if subconsciously.  Used to battling in wars, Peter takes the slightest offense and turns it into a fist fight.  Edmund, the younger brother has turned into the mature one.  Susan too has grown more mature in her time, but Lucy has remained the wide eyed, faithful, innocent girl.

The return to Narnia though is refreshing for them all at first, until they discover ruins, which they eventually deduce is Cair Paravel.  Their return turns bitter as they realize they must have been away longer than they thought.

Meanwhile, Caspian has fallen in with the remaining Narnians, whom honestly it’s too easy to convince that the son of the leaders who destroyed, pillaged, and raped their ancestors will now lead them to salvation.  The true star here is Reepicheep, a mouse that is part Puss In Boots, and part Aragorn.  The humor is well played because it is simply about the appearance and letting it play rather than any wink wink nudge nudge about the mouse.

Soon after the dwarf, Trumpkin, is exiled to Cair Paravel after Miraz uses him to scapegoat on the kidnapping of Caspian.  Trumpkin is saved by the Penvesie children and everyone is caught up.  Trumpkin played by Peter Dinklange is a great character addition to the saga, as Trumpkin.  He is grim, cynical, and loyal.  He steals most scenes he is in with his deadpan style of humor.

The party attempts to go towards Caspian when on the way, Lucy glimpses Aslan but no one else does.  Lucy chooses to go with the group though who overrule her desire to follow the great beast.

Yes, the Christian allegories run deep in this saga still.

The Narnians gather at Aslan’s How which is an underground temple built over the Stone Temple to decide what to do.  Lucy counsels to wait on Aslan’s advice, but Peter declares they’ve already waited too long for Aslan and counsels on attacking the Telmarine castle while most of the troops are mustered building a bridge to cross into Narnia.

It’s obviously an allegory again, but you can look past it if need be.

The next sequence is not from the book, but added to up the ante by adapted/driector Adamson, and it’s a great choice. Not only does it foster the divide between Lucy/Aslan and Peter, but it also ends up creating a slight rivarly between Peter and Caspian, that while not in the books, seems quite natural given their age, and stations in Narnia.

The action sequence is visually well crafted, and is successful in adding more to the story without damaging the novel in anyway.

The Narnians are defeated as Caspian learns that Miraz killed his father before him, and he wants revenge.  His thirst for vengeance causes him to be lackadaisical about the plan and contributes to a defeat where a lot of Narnians are killed.

Upon the return to Aslan’s How and a brief fight with Peter, Caspian is in despair.  It is there that Nikabrik, the dwarf who initially rescued Caspian, and some of his cronies, want to summon the White Witch to help them defeat the Telmarines.  Caspian considers this and reluctantly begins the spell that could summon her back.  In an icy mirror in front of Aslan’s mural, the White Witch does appear.  She doesn’t in the novel but it is far more effective to have her make an appearance.  The Pevensie’s quickly make their way in and put a stop to it, killing Nikabrik, and Edmund shatters the icy mirror.

The Telmarine army arrives and in a delaying tactic Peter chooses to duel him one on one with the winner getting the victory.   Lucy in the meanwhile rushes to the woods to find Aslan.

Peter and Miraz duel and the battle goes on until the end, Miraz’ associate kills him and blames it on the Narnians, in order to take command himself.  The final battle is on and while it pales in comparison to some epics, like Lord of the Rings, it is a worthy effort that ends with Lucy finding Aslan, and his return to Narnia, freeing the people from the grip of the Telmarine.

We end with Susan and Caspian acknowledging a blossoming romance that had been slowly and subtly built throughout the film as they return to England.  In addition, some of the tel-marine get to return to their original home, somewhere in our real world.

Overall it’s a fun thrilling film, if not a little brief in terms of storyline.  It’s mostly action, without too much substance — well substance that isn’t Christian allegory.

The acting of the Pevensie children, a hindrance during film one, was improved in some ways during this one.  Moseley does a great job of subtly portraying Peter’s slight arrogance and impatience. Henley fits Lucy to  T, while Keynes could have a bright future ahead of him as his Edmund is by far the most watchable of the four.  Popplewell remains the weak link truly, but I don’t know if it was her or that her part was simply underdeveloped in comparions.

Newcome Ben Barnes is serviceable as Caspian, although he certainly did not stand out.

The score was well extended from the groundwork built in the first one, although the use of actual songs at the end was an interesting one.  It almost took me out, but it did work somehow.

Overall I was entertained and wouldn’t mind seeing it again, and furthermore I look forward to Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

B

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