Andrew Adamson and C.S. Lewis’ (writer of the book) The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, takes us on an epic journey into a middle-earth type setting established by J.R.R. Tolkien in his Lord of The Rings series. This picture also takes the elements of middle-earth and meshes it with a jungle of wild CGI animals and a series of metaphors that I did not in the least bit overlook.

During World War II, in order to keep her four children safe, a woman who we only know as Mrs. Pevensie (Judy McIntosh, Kingpin), sends her children off on a train to the mansion of a very mysterious professor (Jim Broadbent, Valiant) in the safe countryside. After a very shocking experience, the children are dropped off with tags around their clothing on the side of the railroad tracks awaiting the arrival of the professor. Instead they are picked up the professor’s, what seems to be, the housekeeper (Elizabeth Hawthorne, Jack Be Nimble). When they arrive at the enormous estate, she instructs them that they behave and lays down a few strict ground rules, one of which is not to disturb the professor.

After having nothing to do but practice spelling words out of the dictionary the youngest of the four, Lucy (Georgie Henley, her first film) requests they play hide and seek, and they do so. Though, Lucy decides to hide in one of the many rooms of the large house, she discovers an empty room with nothing but a beautifully carved wooden wardrobe and decides to hide there. Hiding a little to far back she stumbles out of the wardrobe into a snowy wooded area, in which she encounters a Faun named Tumnus (James McAvoy, Wimbledon), what appears to be a cross between a man and a goat. Tumnus explains that they are in a land called Narnia and invites her into his home for a cup of tea. Sitting in his home and enjoying a cup of tea, she soon learns that he was forced to assist the “White Witch”(Tilda Swinton, Constantine) in capturing any humans. Lucy manages to convince Tumnus to let her go and she heads back to the back of the wardrobe, into the real world.

Of course, none of her siblings believe her about the previous experience, until Edmund (Skandar Keynes, Ferrari [TV Movie]) and she visit Narnia during the night and refuses to admit that he also actually experienced something so outrageous. Lucy then breaks into tears and the two older children; Susan (Anna Popplewell, Girl With A Pearl Earing) and Peter, (William Moseley, Goodbye, Mr. Chips [TV Movie]) are confronted by the professor in his office. The two really seem to pose as the parental figures in this film. Talk about a big step in acting.

The following day, a game of cricket sends the ball through a window; the four hide in the wardrobe and enter the land of Narnia. Many events pass, including the meeting of a beaver who explain that Tumnus has been taken to the White Witch for not following orders. Apparently, Edmund encountered the White Witch, not knowing who she really was or what she was planning, told her about Tumnus, and then she promised she would make him the prince or king of Narnia. Ideally, no one else learns about this until later in the film. He and the rest of siblings learn that she rules Narnia as a tyrant Queen and the land is frozen in eternal winter. Until word is out that the former King of Narnia has returned from a long journey, Aslan (voiced by Liam Neeson, Batman Begins , as well as many other fantastic films) the gigantic lion is forming armies to overthrow and defeat the witch. The children are later informed of a prophecy that they will help Aslan defeat the White Witch and become Kings and Queens in the land of Narnia for the rest of their lives.

Narnia is an exciting epic that brings fourth new unknowns in the lead, who give impressive performances and brings a kid friendly Lord of The Rings adventure to the screen. The CGI on a few of the animals could have been a little better but the makeup on many of the humanoid mystical creatures appears very realistic. Many of the epic battle sequences are very entertaining, though are somewhat rough for the young children, the film contains no blood. The storyline is very solid, though the thick series of large metaphors shows a somewhat lack of creativity on C.S. Lewis’ part.

**The following part of this article contains spoilers**

I have done some research about the author before and after seeing the film and have learned that Lewis was a strong believer in creationism and was a faithful Christian, I am not going to get into a political discussion about the subjects of creationism and evolution and in no part of this article do I bear a positive or negative stance on either of the two. I know my share of many religions, and this film highlights heavily on Lewis’ beliefs and faith. This film contains many metaphors dealing with the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve, and the Christian messiah, Jesus.

These metaphors are used heavily throughout the film to depict characters and explain the settings. In discussing these metaphors dealing with religion, I am not in anyway attacking C.S. Lewis’ faiths, but just creativity; plot flow, and character depiction in possibly the book, but mainly the film. It is possible that C.S. Lewis is not responsible for the adaptations of many things in the book that have been added to the movie that may have taken on a transformation by Andrew Adamson.
As I said before there are many metaphors in this film that represent many things in the Christian faith, including the lion, Aslan as Jesus. Later in the film Aslan meets with the white witch and decides to sacrifice himself so that Edmund, who is seen as a traitor and must be given to the white witch, may live. Jesus, as believed by Christians, sacrificed himself to forgive the sins of mankind. Aslan is then captured, bound by ropes, and then the savage beasts in the White Witch’s army shaves off his mane. Jesus’ hands were bound while he was whipped many times, this may also stand for how many people abused Jesus as he was carrying the cross. Aslan was then placed on a stone alter and stabbed by the white witch. Jesus was nailed to cross until he died. Susan and Lucy eventually approached where the dead Aslan lay. Mary, Jesus’ mother visited her son on the cross for a last goodbye. Later, they find the stone alter crumbled with Aslan’s body nowhere to be found. Jesus’ disciples found his tomb open and empty. Aslan eventually rises up; looking god-like from behind the broken alter and aids Susan and Lucy in getting to and assisting Peter and Edmund in the war against the white witch. Jesus rises from the dead and visits his disciples.

That is the prime metaphor in The Chronicles of Narnia, I am not criticizing this film because of what the metaphors stand for, I am criticizing this film because the film is flooded with so many of these metaphors, that I believe C.S. Lewis did not think creatively and had to depict the same characters everyone already knows about, and just disguises them in his book and are in this film.

In the film, the children are viewed as those who would bring peace to Narnia and, until the animals learn their names, they boys are referred to as son of Adam and girls daughter of Eve. Another openly religious take on the film. In Christianity, as well as Judaism, it is believed that in the beginning of mankind, there were the first two humans, Adam and Eve who lived in God’s garden called Eden. If you think about it, Narnia, is also like Eden. Paradise, lots of talking animals, the humans are seen as the greatest of the beings, and traitors are turned over to the ruler. In the film, the ruler is the white witch. In the bible, it is the wrath of god.

In the film, the White Witch is depicted as pure evil (the devil), and with a magic sword she freezes anyone who she believes is a threat or betrays her. Later, after Aslan has returned, he breathes heavily over their frozen bodies, and they are thawed and brought back to life. Sound familiar? It is the act of Jesus forgiving sinners of their sins. This is yet another metaphor standing out in the open.

Of course, let’s face it, Lewis did not make this film for adults, he did it for children, and in a child’s eyes, they are not likely to pick up the religious message even though much of it is way out in the open. They are likely to enjoy this film as an action adventure that pulls a classic good vs. evil storyline that is still very entertaining. For adults though, you may think it’s one of those subliminal messages for the Christian religion, but it doesn’t go that far. I say, sit back, relax, your kids are enjoying and at least they’re being quiet for two hours and twenty minutes.

Andrew Adamson and C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe should be merely treated as a kids film not something parents should consider subliminal advertising for religion. Of course there are many metaphors, Steven Spielberg’s films are full of metaphors, but in this case, this one just happens to deal with a specific faith. I think that if Disney and Adamson both really thought about the concept of making this film, they either would have changed some scenes so they lacked the metaphor or would have changed them so that they weren’t so painfully obvious.

Overall, this film carries good performances by some newcomers, Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, Anna Popplewell, and William Moseley all who have limited experience with cinema mesh and act well with their CGI world. Anna Popplewell and William Moseley really appear as caring older siblings, and the children without parents at the time, they appear to take over. This is a big step in acting, and like in the film, they go from zeros to heroes. The story flows well with a world of mystical creatures and talking animals, as well as interesting costumes for many of the creatures, including makeup on some of the humanoid creatures. The metaphors are heavy, but nothing to really worry about your kids knowing or even getting if you are one of those parents who are offended by what your children are taught in cinema. Trust me, when it comes to film, I don’t think a separation of church and film can be given. The cinema is a place where we not only share our ideas; we share our stories, lifestyles and sometimes beliefs. I haven’t read the C.S. Lewis books, but the film is filled with metaphors, based on what I have researched, and what I have heard, he does exhibit these metaphors in his books as well, hence the fact that these books show up in Christian bookstores. I haven’t heard that any parents have stopped their kids from seeing religion on screen like Narnia, but have heard parents not letting their children read books or go see films that they think is against their religion, like the Harry Potter series. Thinking deeply about the matter, I cannot think of any example of how they may think it does. Either way, Narnia can be enjoyed by most, and I’m interested in seeing the next installment and see how Disney decides on handling this one after so much feedback dealing with the metaphors. But then again, look at the box office numbers; it doesn’t seem to be bothering to many people…

Rated PG for battle sequences and frightening moments. Running time 140 minutes.