Back when I was taking drama classes in community college one of the plays I was in was The Magician’s Nephew in the role of Aslan the lion. That’s why I got excited when The Chronicles of Narnia – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Widescreen Edition)
This was me in the role of Aslan during the stage production of "The Magician's Nephew" in 2001
It starts in London during World War 2, which coincidentally takes place in the same city and time period as Disney’s Peter Pan. Four siblings, Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and adorable little Lucy (Georgie Henley) are sent away to live in a large house in the country owned by Professor Kirke (Jim Broadbent).
During a game of hide and seek, Lucy finds a wardrobe that turns out to be a gateway to the world of Narnia. Although she had been gone for awhile, Lucy returns as if she had never left. As if that wasn’t strange enough, Lucy tells the others and shows them the wardrobe. The gateway disappears and nobody believes her. For some odd reason, the gateway only appears when you’re not looking for it. Sounds kind of stupid, don’t you think?
Soon Edmund finds Narnia and Queen Jadis a.k.a. the White Witch (Tilda Swinton), who easily tempts him to her side with Turkish delight. It was like tempting a horse with apples. Edmund’s rebelliousness is gonna get the best of him yet.
Professor Kirke does believe that the wardrobe is a gateway to Narnia. I can only assume that he is Digory from The Magician’s Nephew, who had an adventure in Narnia himself years ago and still looks forward to going back one day.
When the four children all make it to Narnia, they end up becoming Aslan’s chosen team of kings and queens in order to defeat the White Witch and restore peace to Narnia. There’s a bit of a snag when Edmund takes off and becomes the White Witch’s prisoner.
Peter, Susan, and Lucy soon find Aslan (voice of Liam Neeson) and his army of various talking animals and fantasy creatures. They soon rescue Edmund and he makes amends with his siblings. Now Aslan’s army has a better chance of succeeding. But the White Witch also has an army of wolves, witches, demons, and monsters. Even polar bears to pull her chariot. Polar bears? They must be grumpy because the White Witch hasn’t given them any Coke. The war becomes brutal. Especially with the White Witch turning her opponents into stone with that wand of hers. It gets more exciting when it comes down to Peter and Edmund up against the White Witch herself.
Around the movie’s release, I found out that there was an animated version called The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
This is a great film for around Christmas time. Father Christmas (James Cosmo) makes an appearance as well. Even though he gives the children weapons as gifts, not once did anyone say, “You’ll put your eye out”. Still, Lucy was one of the biggest highlights to me. She is such a sweet little girl with a smile that can light up a room. It makes me look forward to the sequel(s).
One last item: At the time in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Park in Orlando, there was a section that had costumes and props from the movie as well as a brief showing of the making of Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Here are a few photos from the display.
