Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Really can't watch one Narnia movie without watching both, especially when you're watching them with someone who has never seen them before!


Genre: Action/Adventure, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Adaptation and Sequel
Run time: 2 hours, 20 minutes
Rating: PG for epic battle action and violence.
Starring: Peter Dinklage, Anna Popplewell, Ben Barnes, Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, Liam Neeson
Synopsis: One year later, the Kings and Queens of Narnia find themselves back in that faraway wondrous realm, only to discover that more than 1,300 years have passed in Narnian time. During their absence, the Golden Age of Narnia has become extinct and Narnia has been conquered by the Telmarines and is now under the control of the evil King Miraz, who rules the land without mercy. The four children will soon meet a curious new character: Narnia's rightful heir to the throne, the young Prince Caspian, who has been forced into hiding, as his uncle Miraz plots to kill him in order to place his own newborn son on the throne. With the help of the kindly dwarf, a courageous talking mouse named Reepicheep, a badger named Trufflehunter and a Black Dwarf, Nikabrik, the Narnians--led by the mighty knights Peter and Caspian--embark on a remarkable journey to find Aslan, rescue Narnia from Miraz's tyrannical hold, and restore magic and glory to the land.

Like "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" there are some serious family issues in "Prince Caspian." However, it's not the family issues that I want to focus on. In fact, it's not even really Caspian that I want to focus on...instead I'd rather turn our focus to Peter.

One year after returning to being a teenager, Peter is frustrated and "unfulfilled" with life in England. So when he and his siblings return to Narnia, he immediately tries to step back into the role of "High King"...allowing his pride to get in the way...and we all know what happens to pride...

Having once been humbled by the presence of Aslan and the overwhelming task in front of him (first movie) Peter has now forgotten those lessons and allowed his pride to cloud his actions. It isn't until Peter tries and fails, that he realizes his mistake and relearns the lessons previously learned. He has to humble himself, accept that others were right, and ask for help before their mission to Narnia is fulfilled.

Far too often, this is the hardest lesson for us to learn. We want to do things in our own power, we're convinced that we know everything and know the best way to handle things, only to have them crumble around us because we didn't connect to the One who does know everything. Sometimes we have to come face-to-face with the "king of all" before we can fully see the truth.

Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Now I know what you're thinking..."Really? She's going to do this movie? Doesn't she know that this is an easy movie to find spiritual themes?" You're right, this is a rather easy movie when it comes to seeing it with Christian eyes. But how often do we look at something obvious and miss the importance because it's something we're used to? Ever tried to get a fresh look at the Gospels? We look at this movie and see the clear parallel between the gospels, the idea of grace and dying for love, but what about the other messages?


Genre: Action/Adventure, Art/Foreign, Drama, Kids/Family, Science Fiction/Fantasy and Adaptation
Running Time: 2 hours, 19 minutes
Rating: PG for battle sequences and frightening moments
Starring: Tilda Swinton, Georgie Henley, William Moseley, Skandar Keynes, Anna Popplewell, James McAvoy, Liam Neeson
Synopsis: Four young adventurers playing hide-and-seek in the country home of an old professor stumble upon an enchanted wardrobe that will take them places they never dreamed. Stepping through the wardrobe door, they are whisked out of World War II London into the spectacular parallel universe known as Narnia--a fairy-tale realm of magical proportions where woodland animals talk and mythological creatures roam the hills. But Narnia has fallen under the icy spell of a mad sorceress, cursed to suffer through a winter that never ends by the White Witch Jadis. Now, aided by Narnia's rightful leader, the wise and mystical lion Aslan, the four Pevensie children will discover their own strength and lead Narnia into a spectacular battle to be free of the Witch's glacial enslavement forever.


I do want to focus on the general theme of love, but under a different context: that of familial love. The four main characters - Peter (William Mosely), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and Lucy (Georgie Henley) - are typical siblings...they argue, they fight, and they drive each other crazy. As a typical "oldest child" Peter is bossy and a know-it-all which, of course, causes problems between him and Edmund, who often feels lost in Peter's shadow. So when Edmund is given an opportunity to have something better then Peter, he takes it without thinking - setting events into motion that aid the main theme of the movie.


It seems to me that this movie portrays a very basic familial idea...that family - whether biological or chosen - is so intertwined with our lives that any and all interactions will impact our lives and our everyday choices. This of course doesn't absolve us of any responsibility for our own choices and actions, but I do believe that - as Peter and Edmund exemplify - family relationships do play a role in who we become.

There are two scenes in the movie that stand out to me. The first is the scene where Peter, Susan, and Lucy chase after Edmund when he goes to the White Witches (Tilda Swinton) castle and Peter is adamant that they must save Edmund. The second is in Aslan's camp when the White Witch comes to claim Edmund as her own and Peter stands in front of Edmund and challenges her. It seems to me that of all places it could show up, the family is the most important place for love. It is the first place we learn about love and the one place we can always return to find it again.