If you haven’t seen the first film or read all the books, the second instalment in the Chronicles of Narnia might leave you feeling as if you’ve missed some crucial detail along the way. For a film to have you yearning for a “Previously on Narnia” segment is never a good sign, and it’s a reflection of how, from the offset, this film fails to deliver on the plot front. In terms of plot, we start off by following the four Pevensie children as they return to the magical world of Narnia. Previously their portal was a wardrobe, but now it is the London underground, where they’re awaiting a coming train when a sudden gust of magic sweeps them onto an idyllic beach in Narnia. 1300 years have passed since their last visit, and the decadence they once enjoyed has been destroyed, with the diminished Narnian populace now hunted by the aggressive Telmarines. The magic that once filled the land is fading fast, and, with Aslan in hiding, the only way to for the children to save Narnia is by enlisting the support of the recently-exiled Telmarine Prince, Caspian (Ben Barnes).
While you might be expecting the plot to develop from there, it really doesn’t. The film’s central conflict simply develops into a series of elongated battle scenes that swiftly become repetitive and tedious to watch. The filmmakers are clearly channelling The Lord of the Rings here, but their choreography and computer-generated warriors are far inferior (when getting through some of those LOTR battles was already a challenge for many). Some sort of romantic chemistry is half-heartedly developed between Caspian and Susan (Anna Popplewell), but that never really gets off the ground. Aslan and the White Witch appear in what can only be described as ‘cameo’ appearances that feel rather arbitrary and distracting. The talking animals and the stunning scenery are highlights, but even a humorously indignant mouse voiced by Eddie Izzard won’t make up for the lack of a compelling story.
While you might be expecting the plot to develop from there, it really doesn’t. The film’s central conflict simply develops into a series of elongated battle scenes that swiftly become repetitive and tedious to watch. The filmmakers are clearly channelling The Lord of the Rings here, but their choreography and computer-generated warriors are far inferior (when getting through some of those LOTR battles was already a challenge for many). Some sort of romantic chemistry is half-heartedly developed between Caspian and Susan (Anna Popplewell), but that never really gets off the ground. Aslan and the White Witch appear in what can only be described as ‘cameo’ appearances that feel rather arbitrary and distracting. The talking animals and the stunning scenery are highlights, but even a humorously indignant mouse voiced by Eddie Izzard won’t make up for the lack of a compelling story.
Rating: 6.0
No comments:
Post a Comment