“‘Narnia’ Loses its Luster”
“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”
Starring: Ben Barnes, William Moseley, Georgie Henley
Directed by Andrew Adamson
“Things never happen the same way twice.”
That’s what Aslan, the mighty lion king of Narnia, says to Lucy, the youngest of the Pevensie siblings, when they are reunited in “Prince Caspian” — the second big screen fantasy based on C.S. Lewis’ beloved book series, “The Chronicles of Narnia.” But for better or worse, those words could also apply to the film itself, which falls a bit short of matching the emotional power of its $745 million-grossing predecessor, 2005’s “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”
That won’t stop it from being just as popular, since it reunites many of the players responsible for the huge success of the first film. But where “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” had a faith-driven and spiritual edge that set it apart from the likes of “Harry Potter” and “The Lord of the Rings,” “Prince Caspian” has a more “routine epic” feel to it, which overshadows the sense of discovery that made the first film so charming, unique and endearing.
When the Pevensie children — Lucy (Georgie Henley), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and Peter (William Moseley) — return to Narnia, they find a world more savage from the one they left behind. Aslan hasn’t been seen since in more than a thousand years, and the land’s mythical creatures are on the verge of extinction. Only one person can restore order to the kingdom — Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes), the rightful heir who must lead the Narnians on a brave quest to fight back against the merciless Lord Miraz (Sergio Castellitto).
“The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” may have been based on a children’s book and told through the eyes of a child — specifically, young Lucy Pevensie — but it was still a periodically violent fantasy that was filled with biblical allegories. The returning filmmakers — director Andrew Adamson (“Shrek,” “Shrek 2”) and screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely — take “Prince Caspian” into much darker territory, but at least it makes sense, since the kids are a little older and more mature this time around.
But like the book it’s based on, the story lacks a driving narrative, and the characters aren’t as fully defined as they were before. As the Pevensies came of age in “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” they each learned some powerful lessons — especially Edmond, who almost betrayed his siblings. They’re all on the same page this time around, and that reduces the level of tension within the film. It doesn’t help that Prince Caspian never grows into a fully commanding figure, while the evil King Miraz isn’t nearly as menacing as the White Witch played by Tilda Swinton.
It’s still a very entertaining film, although newcomers would be wise to check out “Wardrobe” if they want to better understand “Caspian.” And even though it isn’t as rewarding as its predecessor, it still stands out from other recent fantasies like “Stardust,” “The Golden Compass” and “The Spiderwick Chronicles.” As Aslan himself said, things may never happen the same way twice, but at least there’s hope for the third film, which might be the charm.
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