The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Prince Caspian: Two days ago, I didn't believe in the existence of talking animals... of dwarves or... or centaurs. Yet here you are, in strengths and numbers that we Telmarines could never have imagined.

Prince Caspian is not only a better film than The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, but it is also an extremely good action fantasy movie to boot. This movie doesn’t have to explain to us the way the world works, so we jump right into the story involving humans living in Narnia and a young dashing Prince named Caspian.

In Narnia, set 1,300 years after the rule of the Pevensie family, the Telmarine Kingdom changes leadership and Prince Caspian finds himself in danger of being killed. He flees, in an exciting opening sequence, and ends up in the forest where the talking animals are in hiding. Out of desperation, he calls for help from the Pevensie children to return to Narnia.

I found myself really digging the characters and the amazing action scenes throughout this sequel to the first film. Nearly all the problems I had with the first film, namely the acting from the human children, have been fixed here. The kid actors have all matured into good little performers.

And, speaking of little a performer, the talking and swashbuckling mouse named Reepicheep steals every scene he’s in. He reminds me of Puss in Boots from the Shrek movies, but not as annoying. Eddie Izzard does a stand up job as the voice of this courageous mouse. CGI work involving the fighting mice make it believable. The mice kick major ass.

Best lines in the film come from the Dwarf and the mouse

Reepicheep: We were expecting someone taller!

Trumpkin: You're one to talk.

Reepicheep: Is that supposed to be irony?

While the magical world of the first film is gone, Prince Caspian is a darker film with more violence and mature themes than the first film. CGI work on the creatures is more believable and the huge actions scenes are better directed this time around.

By the way, one of the best sequences in the movie is where the Narnians sneak into the enemy’s base and they all use their own personal skills to help each other out. I also got a kick out of the sneaking mice tying up the house cat. Good stuff.

With a darker story and better action scenes, you should find that this little fantasy film is better than the first one and whole a lot of fun to boot. If I had one main complaint, I would have liked to have seen more scenes involving the Telmarine Kingdom. But, don’t let that keep you from missing this good film.

Hey, I’m surprised I liked it as much as I did. Go out and rent it.

Grade: B+

Side notes:

-Harry Gregson-Williams, composer of the recent Metal Gear Solid videogames, skillfully builds on the themes that he carried over from the first film. The score is darker, but not that much. I’m probably going to get this score.

-There is a certain character/villain that makes a surprising yet welcome return in this movie. That actress also reprises the role too in that spooky little scene.

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Cool little mouse.

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Remember him from the movie Elf?
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Admiral Akbar: "A groups of 30 small fighters will break through the station's defenses and fire two..."

Prince Caspian: "What in Rohan is this fish guy talking about?"