Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

I must say this is another one of those shows where you go in the theatre expecting nothing, and it turns out pleasantly and surprisingly good. I actually enjoyed PC more than Lion, the Witch and Wardrobe. Of course LWW has better themes to deal with than PC (whose themes I feel are a bit overlooked and sacrificed for the action scenes), but I feel as a whole PC is more humourous and for once I didn't feel like I was watching incredulously kids fighting for a kingdom. I didn't have to watch in some disbelief as I did in LWW. Maybe it's because the kids are all grown up.

Themes of PC seems to surround around pride and humility. Pride of course in PC was shown in Caspian's and Peter's inability to trust in Aslan (and their inclination to disagree with each other and to attack the castle by their own effort), whom Lucy thought was the One who won the fight and the kingdom for them in LWW. And when Lucy saw Aslan (and none others did), she explained that 'perhaps you didn't look closer'. She's a great example of child-like faith. Much of these themes could actually be explored more in detail, but was instead sacrificed for what is undeniable better action sequences than LWW. Not that I need them though, afterall, nothing can top the action sequences in LOTR.

Nevertheless, I shall not be biased against PC for producing what is in comparison second-rate action sequences when standing side by side with a truly epic film like LOTR. And I shall not be biased given that C.S. Lewis was Tolkien's contemporary and they wrote about similar fantasy creatures though with rather different motivations in mind. My first thought when the trees came alive was 'Ents! in LOTR: TWW, and then the scene with the rushing waters resemble that of the horse waves crushing the Nasguls chasing Arwen and Frodo in LOTR: FoTR, and the catapults throwing large stones are identical to those the orcs use in LOTR: RoTK. Similar, similar, similar. But I shall take Narnia as it is, and it is a pretty good film.

I like the humour too! The whole movie is littered with humour that is appropriate and not overdone. The sword-welding mice actually bound a sleeping cat! They even threw in a little romance that is sweet and innocent and pure. Best part was Lucy exclaiming after Susan, "Maybe you will need it to call me again!" in subtle mockery of Susan's mischeivous hint to Prince Caspian to, well, call her again, using that horn. Haha, that is how people court in the kingdom of Narnia! I think I was smiling for a good 20 seconds after that scene...such a sweet scene. And the ending... there was this song that at first sounded awkward (the only soundtrack that contains lyrics), and then it actually sounded nice... Nice, but still I thought it was a little out of place, especially when the movie is still going on and the credits and black screen have not rolled in yet.

And I like how when I thought a particular scene should be made silent to produce an effect of sadness or awe in the audience (particularly in between loud battle scenes).. and to find that the director actually thought the same as me... brings me some delight :) Especially those parts where the arrows were fired, first at the good minotaurs/centaurs trapped in the castle, and then Susan and gang firing at the bad guys who are losing the battle. The silent effect was done rather admirably.

Perhaps PC was a little less magical than LWW. But if a movie can make me sit through 145 mins (almost 2.5 hrs) without making me feel jaded, it is a good one.

7/10.