Attila

Narnia - Prince Caspian

Saturday, 12. July 2008, 05:07:44

I went to see the second one of the Narnia-films yesterday, "Prince Caspian". I saw the first one when it was shown in the movie theaters three years ago, so I must admit that it took me a little while to get back into the Narnia-universe again.

The story begins with Prince Caspian, nephew of Miraz, the leader of the "Telmarines," the human population that is now the dominant race in Narnia, fleeing for his life when Miraz's wife gives birth to a son. Miraz stole the throne from the rightful King, Caspian's father, and now that he has an heir of his own, he wants Caspian out of the way for good.

Meanwhile, back in London, the four siblings are trying to adjust to life in the real world. But in less time than it takes to board the London underground, the Pevensie's are once again transported back to the magical kingdom - only it is not the place they left. Over a thousand years have passed, and the castle of Cair Paravel lies in ruins.

As the children struggle to find out what has happened, they stumble upon a Dwarf named Trumpkin, who is being taken prisoner by Telmarine soldiers. They rescue Trumpkin from his captors, and the surly old dwarf (whom they nickname "The DLF", or "Dear Little Friend,") explains that all is not well in Narnia. It seems that Narnia has been plunged into a dark age, and the Telmarines have ruled for hundreds of years with an iron fist. The days of the many creatures living in harmony together, have long since passed, and no one has seen or heard of the great lion Aslan in centuries. And what's more, the trees are no longer friends to the Narnians - they are just normal, everyday trees.

It doesn't take long before the children meet up with Caspain, and soon they join forces to reclaim Narnia for the Narnians, and place Caspian, the rightful heir, on the throne.

I was a little bit disappointed the first 15-20 minutes of the film. But suddenly I was sucked back into the Narnia universe as the movie moved along at a steady, exciting pace, with skillfully staged action. The level of action and violence is quite a bit stronger than in the first film, and the film has a darker tone. I liked it!

out of 6.

ClassifiedsMime doing "Torn"

Comments

Darko # 12. July 2008, 05:22

And now I don`t have to watch a movie

Moesring # 12. July 2008, 05:22

I was just about to send a PM asking where this post had gone to.

Has Tilla run out of Sicily posts already?

the trees are no longer friends to the Narnians - they are just normal, everyday trees.

One minor question: why 5/6? I thought it was convention to rate movies out of 5 rather than 6.

Does Denmark do it differently?

Attila # 12. July 2008, 06:48

@ Darko ~ Why don't you have to watch the movie? Was I too detailed?

If you liked Lord of the Rings, you might like the Narnia series as well.

@ Moe ~ MyOpera acts weird for me these days!

And no, don't worry, there will be more Sicily posts, I just need to write them first, and I wanted the review on right after I watched the movie.

I chose to rate movies out of 6 instead of 5, because then I can't just pick 3 stars if I don't know what to think of the movie. With 6 stars I need to choose whether it's to the good or the bad side.
It's hard to explain

, I hope you understand what I am trying to say.

Darko # 12. July 2008, 06:52

To be sincere I didn`t even know there is a movie

and now there is even a sequel *feeling stupid*
All I knew is that there was a book

Moesring # 12. July 2008, 07:48

:can't

for new Sicily posts

:

I now understand perfectly why you use 6 stars instead of 5. If it was hard to explain, you did it very well.

You use 6 stars because, unlike 5, there is no "middle" value (because 6 is an even number). As a result, if a film is neither dreadful nor astounding, you compel yourself to be decisive and rate it as either "good average" (4) or "bad average" (3).
As I said, I think you explained it beautifully

Unless I have misunderstood your point

Kimmie # 12. July 2008, 09:34

Although this seems very good from what you've written, I don't think I'll see it, as the first one strayed too far from the book for me. I got angry

Carol # 12. July 2008, 10:06

Attila # 12. July 2008, 11:26

@ Darko ~ No, you're not stupid. So many films come up all the time and you can't watch them all. And after all it's been 3 years since the first one.

@ Moe ~ Yes, that was excactly what I meant!

I could have explained it just as well as you did if anybody here could understand Danish.

I started a new Sicily post, and it will probably be ready to be posted by tomorrow. I hope you can wait that long!

@ Kimmie ~ I understand that perfectly. I haven't read any of the books, but I might some day. The book is almost always better than the movie!

Carol.

@ Everybody ~ What is the difference between film and movie anyway? Is it English / American or just two words for the same thing?

Carol # 12. July 2008, 11:28

Darko # 12. July 2008, 11:44

I think word "movie" comes from "moving pictures" as it was called at the beginning of the cinematography. Someone, correct me if I am wrong

r♡se # 12. July 2008, 13:16

They had (maybe still have) a tradition of showing the old animated Narnia on Swedish TV once a year when I was little. I loved that, but I haven't seen the new ones...

They use a rating system with 1-6 here too. And usually it's illustrated with dice. Sometimes you'd think they'd actually just thrown the dice to see how they should rate the movie/book/anything

Attila # 12. July 2008, 13:31

@ Darko ~ That sounds like a reasonable explanation to it.

@ Rose ~ We have reviewers like that as well. Or reviewers that consequently thinks that what they see or read is a loadful of crap. Sometimes I think they enjoy to take their anger out on the movies!

r♡se # 12. July 2008, 17:49

Yeah... sometimes you just have to wonder why they decided to become reviewers at all

Mart # 12. July 2008, 22:56

Are you kidding? I reckon that's part of the appeal. Much more fun to think of ways to slate a film or show

.

"This part required an actor with style, poise and charisma. It got a hippopotamus who lumbered his way through the first act, bellowed his way through the second, and fortunately expired shortly into the third"

Cynthia # 14. July 2008, 17:13

Thanks for the review. I haven't seen any of the movies, but as a child I loved the books.

Attila # 14. July 2008, 17:23

Ah Mart, I never thought of it that way. I remember a reviewer getting fired for a review of a concert he made. He hated it. Problem was that the concert had been cancelled...

You're welcome, Cynthia. I didn't read the books yet.