Viewed in Theaters in December 2010
I had very mixed feelings about this film. I'm one of those people that wants to see a remake of a film do right by the original story--especially when the original story is well-known and well-loved. The first Chronicles of Narnia film (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe) did a breathtaking job of translating the original story into a beautifully accurate and visually sweeping film, faithful to the story in every way possible. The second Narnia film (Prince Caspian) was also extremely entertaining, but definitely far-removed from the original story (there actually wasn't much similarity to the book and the movie, which was partially upsetting and partially a really good thing--great books don't always make great movies). This, the third film in the Narnia franchise, deviates from the book greatly; however, the strange thing is, I don't mind this one's change all that much. Where the book is fascinating and captures the imagination, it really wouldn't have made a very intriguing movie; nothing really connects together, it's simply not a cohesive story. So, if you're a purist and love to see a movie faithfully follow the book from which it's based, you will be disappointed; however, you'll find that the major story changes really aren't bothersome.
Basically, the younger two Pevensies (Edmund and Lucy) have had to stay at their relatives' home, where their annoying cousin Eustace ridicules them and generally gets in the way. As always, the Pevensies' summons to Narnia is unexpected but welcome--and Eustace is pulled along with them. The three kids are picked up by Prince Caspian and the Dawn Treader; the Narnians have embarked on an ocean-crossing journey to find some long-lost nobles who were connected with Caspian's father. They soon learn that there are numerous dangers awaiting them, including a mysterious green mist, seven magic swords, an island of pure evil, a strange race of monofooted dwarves, and sea monsters too horrible to mention. It's a rollicking adventure filled with magic, friendship, inner conflicts, life lessons, and a moral of "Everyone has a part in the grand plan."
NEGATIVES:
>>Profanity: Not much. Relatively harmless name-calling.
>>Violence: There is alot of swordfighting and characters in peril. However, it's all bloodless and relatively nontraumatic. One of the great action scenes towards the end of the movie involves a really loud and really scary sea serpent that attacks the ship and is generally pretty frightening. There's also a dragon that's kindof scary looking for younger kids. Honestly, though, the violence in Dawn Treader is far less violent than that of Prince Caspian.
>>Spiritual Content: Oh my goodness--this is one of the most analogy-filled films that I've seen since the first Narnia film. There is the aforementioned green mist and island of evil--but it's made very clear that the worst evil is that which is "within," i.e., inner conflicts and struggles with temptation. (Edmund strives for power and control; Caspian wants respect and his subjects to revere him; Lucy compares herself to Susan and wants to be "pretty"; Eustace is just plain rebellious, etc.) There are awesome lessons about self-worth, sacrificial love, and temptations. The analogy of Aslan as the God-figure is pretty stunning. And Reepicheep sums it all up in one sentence: "We have nothing if not belief." The Dawn Treader is on a voyage of faith and a journey through belief. On the whole, it's treated with reverence and respect, and has a distinctly Christian color (something which was lacking from Caspian).
>>Alcohol and Drugs: None.
>>Sexual Content: Some water nymphs are unclothed and our eyes trick us into thinking we see something that isn't there--although it's obvious the nymphs are vaguely female in form, they're undefined and difficult to make out.
For my summary, allow me to quote Paul Asay, one of the authors from Plugged In:
"Dawn Treader is a classic children's adventure in the vein of Treasure Island, Swiss Family Robinson or Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory that takes audiences to a fantastic place and gives them the license to imagine themselves in it. While some movies can stifle creativity—smothering imagination under a blanket of CGI and storytelling orthodoxy—Dawn Treader encourages it. Had I seen this film when I was 8, I would've likely gone home and turned the living room into the Dawn Treader's deck, filled with sofa cushion battlements and sails made from sheets...Before this film, I think the cinematic Narnia series was a little like Lucy, looking enviously at big-sister Susan. Maybe it was trying too hard to be the next Lord of the Rings or aspire to Harry Potter-level success. It worked so hard to be literary and spectacular that, just maybe, it forgot what the Narnia books were at their core: children's stories. Meaningful stories, yes. Good stories, absolutely, filled with allegorical heft and layers of meaning … but at their core, they're meant to be fun...Dawn Treader found the fun. For two hours, I was engrossed in a land I loved as a child and still love today. I was called into a magical world and I once again felt Aslan tugging at my heart. He wasn't in my backyard, but it was the next best thing."
5 1/2 out of 6 stars
So that everyone (including myself) may benefit from it, please feel free to leave your own personal opinion of this film.
Plugged In Movie Reviews
The Internet Movie Database
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