In 2005 Walden Media dazzled audiences with their much anticipated re-make of CS Lewis' classic Christological tale The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe. I loved this movie and thought that it was better by far than any of the Lord of the Rings series... and I love that series of movies!
However, the one thing that the 2005 Narnia movie failed to achieve was to capture the innocence and simple beauty of this made-for-TV series, two things I'm sure Lewis tried to include in his books. I'm not saying this series is better than the new version; many will, I won't; but it does go more for the "wow" factor than the simplicity of the BBC version.
Produced by the BBC on a minimal budget, this series captures well the overall feel of the original novels. It's heartfelt and confident, despite some less than par acting and even less so special FX. But what it lacks in these areas it makes up for in others. The storyline is followed almost word for word and it was made in Lewis' homeland of England. The later point may not mean much to most, but Lewis' books were set in England not New Zealand, a point I know annoyed more than a few Narnia purists.
This box-set is worthy of any collection and if you shop around you should pick it up pretty cheaply... I got mine at Costco for $13.99 US, a solid bargain if I may say so. The nice thing is it contains every filmed version the BBC made of Lewis' books; The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, Voyage of the Dawn Treader and The Silver Chair. It's a shame that the series was never finished. Back in 1991 it was rumored that the BBC were making The Last Battle but that never became more than a rumor. Shame, as this would have been the icing on the cake.
My rating 6/10, a good series that will be enjoyed by a younger audience. CSJ
Watch the Trailer