Have You Seen Prince Caspian? (Josh Harris)

1. I would rate it as good as the first movie, in that even though there were some different elements from the book (a negative) the special effects were better (a positive).
2. Yes, we enjoyed it.
3. I would not take my 8 year old grandsons, but they might be able to take it in a couple of years.

Posted by Jerry | May 17, 2008 9:11 PM

Josh,

I have not yet seen it. I was disappointed that the first one followed the inaccurate BBC adaptation, down to the changing of Fenris Ulf's name to Morgrim. Doug Wilson at Blog and Mablog has a pretty scathing review of Caspian and some observations delineating a lot of potential problems with Hollywoodifying Christian titles.

Posted by drew | May 17, 2008 9:37 PM

Josh,

I think the real issue is how big of a book geek you are...

Caspian deviates from book *far* more than TLTW&TW. This irritated me at first... The script robs some of the characters (Caspian & Peter, especially) of some of the dignity they have in the Lewis book. And, Aslan doesn't have much screentime.

That said:

1. IF you can get past the lack of conformity to the books, Caspian might be a better movie than TLTW&TW. The movie is quite a rush and there are some nice touches. While Aslan isn't on screen much, I think he's portrayed more powerfully in this film.

2. Yes... A lot of the priceless moments in the book are retained. If you take the movie on its own merits, I think it's a winner.

3. My oldest is 6, and there's no way he's seeing Caspian. I'm guessing that the whole film would be a little 'intense' for anyone under 10. There is more violence, but the 'gore' is minimal. So, YMMV.

Posted by Dluxe | May 17, 2008 11:02 PM

1. I personally enjoyed the movie better than the first one, possibly because I had better excpectations for how strictly they were going to stick to the book (I lowered them a lot), but mainly because I think it was just a stronger movie as a whole. The soundtrack was better, the flow of the movie worked better, the special effects were better, the battle scenes were very well done, and I enjoyed the characters more.

2. I agree wholeheartedly with Stephen's problems with the adaptation (as a matter of fact, those were the exact areas which I pointed out to a friend of mine asking how good the adaptation was), but besides that I enjoyed it immensely. The Susan-Caspian side-plot, besides being an addition, felt unnecessary even apart from the book, and seemed like an attempt for Hollywood to get the obligatory romance in instead of an actual compelling part of the story. Besides that, though, I did enjoy the movie, and viewed the changes the same way I viewed Faramir's character in Lord of the Rings: very different from the book, but good in their own right.

3. I know quite a few people who have remarked that Caspian really seemed to push its PG rating, and I quite agree. Although there is almost no blood, there are a lot of throats slit and people stabbed and the hag and the werewolf are very creepy. Plus there's one scene where a ton of characters die, and although it doesn't actually show them dying, the scene is emotionally traumatic. For this reason I wouldn't take younger children to see it, but older kids will enjoy it I'm sure.

Posted by Sam B. | May 17, 2008 11:06 PM

I've seen it, and I enjoyed it. No, it didn't follow the book as closely as LWW, but as my friends and I were talking about afterwards, some of the changes were necessary to adapt the book to film format. Granted, there are some things I wish they'd kept, but I still thought it was a good movie. For kids? I'm not a parent, but I'd say no.

Oh, and I didn't think they focused too much on the Susan/Caspian thing--except for one brief moment near the end, I didn't think you could tell there was anything going on between them.

Posted by Elizabeth | May 18, 2008 12:06 AM

1. Just saw it...I thought the visuals were better than the first and made up for what was lacking in the content of the movie, making it, in my opinion better than the first
2. Didn't read the book ....enjoyed the movie
3. Due to the inferences and suggestions of violence including decapatations,the weird looking characters (I might even have a bad dream or two because of this one!!) and stabbings, I think a 12 yr old would be a good start... depending on the maturity level.

All in all....I wasn't disappointed and plan to buy this one as well.

Posted by Angela | May 18, 2008 1:05 AM

First off, I liked the movie. Yes it has some problems. Major problems, in fact. But it was produced by Hollywood and it's expected. People seem so shocked that they would change the storyline. C'mon. How long has Hollywood been around? Also, people complain that there are secular elements in the Narnia movie. Well, yes. Secular producer + secular actors + secular studio = secular movie.

So I think it boils down to personal preference and how much you can handle. If you enjoyed the first movie, you will enjoy this movie as much, if not more. If you go to the theater expecting a Prince Caspian "movie" and not a Prince Caspian "book played on big screen", then you will enjoy it a lot. The movie captures the essence (essence, mind you--not all of it, but at least the core) of the Prince Caspian book.

OK. I'm done defending. Now on to the ranting.

The main issue I have is probably something that most people didn't even notice: the women fought in the battles, particularly Queen Susan. Yes, she can shoot an arrow without missing, and that's clear in the book. C.S. Lewis, however, clearly hated even the idea of placing Susan in battle. Yet in the movie, Susan almost single handedly kills five or six guys in a row. It didn't ruin the movie for me (again, I'm expecting this since it's coming from Hollywood), but I think there's a danger that Christians might become numb to the issue of women in battle.

Now. How old do kids have to be to watch it? Obviously, depends on the kid. It's violent, but is about the same intensity as the first movie, in my opinion. So if they've seen the first movie, they can see this one.

TK

Posted by Thomas | May 18, 2008 2:49 AM

Our family saw the movie this past Friday and really enjoyed it. It distinguished between good and evil and showed how Aslan "made everything right" again. He showed up when all was going bad. I definitely didn't like the part where Susan kissed Caspian and pointed that out to my kids who didn't care for it either. They all said "yuck!" But all in all we had a fun family night.

As for being too violent - there was no blood in the movie. And the violence proves how we as humans can never "make things right" without divine providence. We just make a mess of it over and over.

Posted by stephanie | May 18, 2008 9:54 AM

I thoroughly enjoyed it, although I did think it should have been rated PG-13, for while there was no blood, the fighting was much more intense than the previous movie. I don't have too much a problem with Susan doing a lot of fighting, and I am very glad she didn't have any more control over matters. Yes, she was a bit of a controller, but I didn't think it was quite as bad as the first one. This movie is much more sad in places, as Peter sees consequences for his pride.

By the way, as a side note to whoever pointed out the Fenris Ulf and Maugrim differences, I've done a bit of research about this discrepancy, and from what I've read, the American version said "Fenris Ulf", while the British version was "Maugrim". So, overall, I believe that C.S. Lewis wrote Maugrim, and us Americans changed it.

Posted by Josh C. | May 18, 2008 1:55 PM

Hey all, I saw Prince Caspian this past week, here's my thoughts:

1. I thought PC was better then the Lion,the witch,and the wardrobe in:
acting, picture, and clearer moral.

2.OK, things were changed in the movie adaption of Prince Caspian as compared to the book because the movie needed to have a better script to fill in at least over an hour and a half of film,(really, most of what the book is is a long walk in the woods with a little battle in the end and some dancing trees, C.S. Lewis' son agrees.
Also, C.S. Lewis did plan to revise and extend the Narnia books due to lack of story depth before he died.)

I believe they did a great job filling in the story to make a great movie, there is much more depth and there's a clear moral of having faith in Aslan's return throughout the film. Apart from Aslan's line 'Things never happen the same twice' and the whole Susan and Caspian thing(we do know Caspian marries a Narnian and Susan never goes back to Narnia)I thought this Film was a Great achievement of a book to film movie. I also think the character development was awesome especially with King Miraz(whom was wonderfully cast and portrayed throughout).

The Goal of the film was to make people go back and read the Prince Caspian with better understanding of its characters, story, and moral. So people can appreciate it more fully.

When you see it again just appreciate it for the movie it is and know that all the film crew (this includes lewis' son) grew up reading the Narnia books and did their best to bring it to You as a movie.
I can't wait for the next 5 Narnia films! :)

Thanks, -John Buckley

Posted by John Buckley | May 18, 2008 3:53 PM

We went to see Caspian on Friday. I am a *HUGE* fan of the books, and I was very disappointed by the first movie. The LW&W was a warped adaptation and there were many things that were just wrong, including completely missing the main theme of the book. Caspian isn't wrong-er, just differently wrong.

As a film, the movie was better than LW&W. I liked Trumpkin's performance and Reep was done pretty well too. Nice action sequences and all, sets were very good, and the battle sequences were pretty well done.

Still no real character development. The first third was extremely rushed. The editing was a mess, and I found myself very distracted by the odd time lapses (Miraz's castle *must* be right next door to Cair Paravel, or they must have delivered Trumpkin by catapult to the rowboat.) I also had a hard time connecting to Caspian or the Professor. (The Gandalf/Yoda moment was just empty.) The character of Susan was completely off (Xena, Warrior Princess), and Aslan's appearance came off simply as deus ex lion. I didn't really enjoy the movie at all beyond the action sequences. It wasn't bad, just weird and uncomfortable and .... iffy. I kinda left feeling sorry for the movie.

As for the kid factor, my kids won't be seeing it for a long time, for the following reasons:
* The violence is just too much for the less than double digits. Removing blood does not necessarily remove the violence. Its not Lord of the Rings level of violence, but it sure wants to be.
* The romance is just sophomoric. Completely unnecessary. We try to avoid teeny-bopper romances as a general rule.
* But the big reason is this: I do not want the books I love (and love to share with my children) to be ruined in my children's imagination by these movies. I want them to experience Lucy's trial of faith, Caspian's desperation, and the heroism of the true Narnians in their own imaginations, untainted by this film.

They may get to see them, maybe after I've made 3 or 4 more cycles through the books, and when they are prepared to write their own rants about why they were completely cootiefied by the movies.

Posted by Jeremy Mayhew | May 18, 2008 4:11 PM

Hey Josh,

I saw the movie opening night, with my family including younger brother (9) and sister (11). Yes, some of it was intense, but personally, we loved it.

1. As a teen (16), I thought it was better. Prince Caspian, overall, was a more intense book than The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The battle sequences, especially the non-book addition, were really intense and tough to watch, but I think it was a better film in the long run. Some of my personal friends have said it is now their favorite movie, trumping LOTR and other master films. They didn't leave anything major from the book out and their additions only added to the "awesomeness" of the film as a whole.

2. With non-book additions, I really, really enjoyed it. I am a Lewis fanatic and he is my all time favorite author. Even so, I still really enjoyed the additions.

Peter in the books is an awesome character: good big-brother, wonderful king, etc. In the books he has flaws too, but I felt the additions added to his character really improved it. The intense scene I mentioned above is actually "his fault" and his pride and what stems from it, really adds to the message of the movie. The film does quite a good job, contrasting England with Narnia. In England, the first picture you have of Peter is a haughty boy in a fight because a guy bumped him. In Narnia, Peter is still restless, feels threatened by Caspian's presence and ultimately his character development from that is an awesome picture of becoming a man and putting away childish things.

In regards to the Susan/Caspian "issue", I wouldn't say Susan has a crush on Caspian, but the other way around. Normally, I would have a problem with both that added romance and then, there's the issue of Susan fighting. I think it's important to note that Lucy did not fight, but instead went to find Aslan, which was her role. Knowing Susan's character and who she becomes in later books, is important to realize now in the character development. Contrasting her life in England (a funny interaction with a boy on the train who "likes" her) and Narnia (Caspian's crush) and how she deals with that, and then taking up her stance with the guys on the battlefield, is a bit of fore-shadowing, I'd say, for who she becomes. Overall, again, I'd say it adds to the quality of the film and a wonderful progression in the character development.

3. My 9-year-old brother watched it and came away better for it, but he's got quite a few older siblings and has seen more intensity then is probably good for him. It depends on the child. Dinsey was good about keeping it "PG", i.e. no blood as in gore and gushing, but at the same time, it's very bloody, lots of death and some really intense scenes. But, they aren't unnecessary and really help to paint the picture of what pride can ultimately cause.

Posted by Jordan Diann | May 18, 2008 4:27 PM

Hi Josh,
I went to see Caspian on opening night with a group of friends and came away with many thoughts.

1. I personally liked TLTW&TW better than PC for several resons. I feel there was more accurate character development in the first, and the first followed the book more closely. I did; however, really like the opening sequence of PC. It immediately grabbed your attention and threw you into the emotion of the story.

2. If you have not read the book recently and are not a big CS Lewis fan, then this movie is good. If I had to rate it as a stand-alone movie I'd give it an 8 out of 10. But compared to the book (and my own personal expectations), I'd give it a 3.

3. To me, the action sequences were more intense than a PG rating. I think that the battle sequences (though not gory) were still intense and came across very much feeling like LOTR. I also thought there were some modesty issues with some of the outfits that Susan wore, which to me was a big disappointment.

I did not like how Aslan was portrayed through his "things never happen the same way twice" comments. I was hoping that the dynamic of Lucy following Aslan and the others not seeing him would have been played out in more detail than just a dream sequence.

All that being said, I did enjoy the movie, and will most likely see it again, but am still partial to the books. :)

Posted by Emily | May 18, 2008 7:37 PM

1. Was it better or worse than The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe?
Much better. I didn't fall asleep this time.

2. Apart from non-book additions, did you enjoy it?
I thought it was extremely entertaining, even though I laughed at all the parts where I wasn't supposed to! My friends and I (graduating seniors and college students) REALLY enjoyed it... but not in the way I think it was meant to be enjoyed.

3. How young of a kiddo do you think can watch it? I know this question is subjective, but I'd like to hear how intense you think the actions scenes were.
Some of the action scenes were brutal enough to make me flinch, but I don't think they went overboard with gore. There is some very frightening stuff (which IS in the book, btw) about calling the witch back from the dead. I wouldn't take Abby to see it.

Its worth seeing with good friends to laugh at it :)

-jen silard

Posted by Anonymous | May 18, 2008 8:07 PM

I must strongly disagree with your friend Stephen Altrogge.
Although he is somewhat correct, he sounds more like a book-puritan and a hater of anything outside the book that's put inside the story than a true Narnia fan. I very much recommend it!

1. It was much better than the movie Lion, Witch, Wardrobe (which I yet still love) by putting an even stronger theme of faith than either of the books ('trust that Aslan will help you') in it and still kept to the main theme of war and trees coming to life (read "Planet Narnia").

2. They clearly brought many of the detailed dialogues from the book into the movie, usually followed by an uproar in laughter. Adding scenes was essential in order to not lull everyone to sleep at a detail-deprived-book adaptation film (honestly, the book was a journey in the forest followed by a battle in the end).

3. This is the darkest and most violent PG movie I've yet seen, but probably the best. Anyway, kids who haven't watched LOTR shouldn't watch this movie without a parent-preview made.

The Susan/Caspian scene actually wasn't that bad, since she was kissing goodbye (in a not-too-sensual way) to what she would prefer if Aslan hadn't other plans (realistic too).

Posted by Sam Nemati | May 18, 2008 8:32 PM

Well...I JUST got back from seeing it. I have somewhat mixed feelings on it.

First off, make no mistake - it WAS a good movie. However, it did deviate somewhat from the book; they added scenes in there that weren't in the book (though I knew they'd have to do that before they even started filming...just knowing the nature of the book) and left some scenes/details out.
I was actually pleasantly surprised with how the movie went - but that may just be because after all I had heard I almost expected not to recognize anything from the book in there...but that was not the case.

I think the Caspian/Peter power struggle actually added depth to the characters that wasn't there in the book...and rounded out Peter as more "human" (with real inner struggles) than the "angel"-like character of TLTW&TW...however, I think they could maybe have ended with him on a better note - maybe him realizing that he'd learned a lesson...something they didn't make so clear.

It seemed to me like a pretty fast-paced movie, and it seemed like you never really got to know Caspian well...though Edmund and Lucy were nicely portrayed in this one I thought. I came out with Edmund as my new favorite Pevense.

I didn't really read all of the comments above, but I think someone said that, though Aslan wasn't in this one as much as the previous one, he was more powerfully portrayed. I would agree with that (omitting the powerful Stone Table scene from TLTW&TW). The scenes he WAS in were meaningful.

I didn't think the Susan/Caspian thing was really necessary (though it wasn't as prominent/overbearing as I thought it might be). I mean - she kisses him right after she gets done talking about how it wouldn't have "worked" between them, and how she'll never see him again. How silly is that? Plus he marries a star...

Sooo...to answer your questions more directly:
1.) They are quite different in feel, but I think this one had slightly better cinematography and a more professional feel to it. Until I see them back-to-back, I don't think I can say which one was my FAVORITE.

2.)Yes...I quite enjoyed it! It was a great movie. My parents also enjoyed it.

3.) Hmmm...that depends on the personality/maturity of the kiddo you are talking about. But for me, I'd say 10 y/o? There was quite a bit of action/battle action, but they did a good job of not "really" showing anything like "gore". It was mostly all implied - like someone's sword would go down, and you'd hear the other person fall or something. There were also just hitting people over the heads with the hilt of swords instead of using the blades some places. The part that I'm remembering that might scare a little kid most is when the were-wolf, "hag" and black dwarf try to get Caspian convinced that he needs the White Witch's help to win the battle (I actually ended up liking how they did that scene, though it differed from the book-version).

So, overall, I'd recommend seeing it, and I'd give it a 8.5 out of 10 stars.
:)

And if you DO see it, I will be interested to hear what you thought of it.

~Lady Tai

Posted by Tai Sophia Polczynski | May 18, 2008 9:51 PM

I loved Prince Caspian, and am craving to see it again (unlike with the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe), and I feel no need to 'qualify' most of the changes they made. I will mention first my few slight disappointments, but then go on to tell you some reasons why I loved it!

My main disappointment is that Susan gives Caspian a passionate, though hasty, kiss. A kiss is like a spark that lights a fire. Why do that when it is clear you aren't made for each other, but are called to different worlds? Yes, the issue of Susan fighting is troublesome, though it doesn't bother me personally too much. One thing to consider is that she is fighting by bow and arrow, not hand-to-hand. I also wish there was a bit more of Caspian's character in it, since he sometimes takes a subordinate role to the four Pevensies, but maybe that'll change with the Voyage of the Dawn Treader!!!

As for the Christian themes, I felt it was very clear that this movie doesn't emphasize Aslan in the same way as the first one, but in a different way. Aslan isn't always present, (some have complained that he is not on screen enough) but I think the point is that HE IS WAITED FOR. This movie isn't emphasizing Aslan's death and resurrection, but rather the issue of trust in Aslan even when we can't see him. Each of the characters must learn to trust Aslan, trust his will that he reveals even when it seems to contradict what they think makes sense. Aslan's messages are "Follow me. Wait for me. Seek to glorify me. Trust that I will come to save you." Each of the characters must choose how much trust they put in Aslan.

~For example, Peter and Susan choose to believe that it is better to use common sense than to follow Lucy's vision of Aslan.
~Lucy chooses to follow her siblings in turning away, rather than follow her assurance that she saw Aslan.
~Peter is tempted to do things for his own glory and not Aslan's.
~Caspian is tempted to give in to the 'dark magic' that is offered to him by Nikabrik rather than waiting for Aslan. (There is a nice moment here, where Edmund displays his sure faith in Aslan by helping Peter and Caspian resist the dark magic.)
~Narnians in general must decide to follow Aslan and their leaders.

And yes, moments of sacrifice shine through. A minotaur (a good Narnian) sacrifices himself to hold open a gate for Narnians fleeing Miraz's castle. Peter risks himself by dueling Miraz to the death. Susan risks herself to shoot riders that are chasing her to let Lucy go free.

So yes, true themes from the book come through only more clearly in the movie. Beautiful moments from the book, such as the delightful journey of Susan and Lucy from Beruna, are not present. Lewis's indirect and pithy humor does not shine through as easily, such as in homey moments when the Pevensie kids are fighting over food: "One or two tempers nearly got lost at this stage." But these things are part of the book's unique character and Lewis' unique voice, and any movie would obscure it them.

In summary, the book is still beautiful and dear in its own form, but the movie has a new character, one that is like the book's character, but enhanced with new moments that are true and moving in their own way.

Depending on maturity level, I would definitely not take any child younger than 10 to this movie. It is very suspenseful, which for me is more of an issue than the violence part of it. I think my 11 year old brother can handle it, but just barely.

Posted by Phoebe | May 18, 2008 10:09 PM

I saw the movie on Friday. Even though I am a great fan of the books, I enjoyed it a lot. I was expecting most of the changes because I have been following all of the latest news about it here: http://narniaweb.com
so I knew that I had to view it as a sequel to the movie LWW and not as the movie adaptation of the book.

1. I think that this was a better movie than the last one. It was bigger and more intense. The acting was better and the animation was better.

2.Like I said, I did enjoy this movie. It had a lot of my favorite lines from the book in it. It was funnier than the last one. I laughed a lot.

3.My younger brother (10) will enjoy watching it when he is taken to see it, but my younger sister (7) will enjoy it much better when it comes out on DVD and she can watch it on our much smaller TV screen. Fighting scenes seem much less intense on a smaller screen.

Posted by Jo | May 18, 2008 10:16 PM

My kids saw it this weekend with their friends, and I'd add this to my little issues with it: Susan evidently leads a battle scene. I haven't seen it, but I've read about it and my girls mentioned it. Having 2 girls, and knowing how Lewis felt about women in battle, as well, I was disappointed with this aspect of the movie interpretation. It's not an example that I'd like my daughters - or my son, for that matter - to accept as a norm.

Posted by Jennifer | May 18, 2008 10:29 PM

I wanted to briefly answer your 3 questions from my perspective, but I also have a longer review over at my blog if you are interested at: http://www.dirtymennonite.com/2008/05/prince-caspian/

1) It was better.
2) I enjoyed it. It was good but not great.
3) A mature 11 or 12 year old is probably about my limit. Alot of young looking kid actors killing people. Not sure if a 7 year old could process that very well.

Posted by Ryan Egli | May 18, 2008 11:54 PM

hmmm... I have very mixed feelings over the movie.

1) Depends on what you are looking for... Entertainment value? It was most definitely better than LWW. However, when you define the movie from how true it was to Lewis' dream and maintain the story line, the movie fails miserably. The basic storyline is intact, however the details were totally ignored, and quite a few completely new events were added that both corrupted a few characters and had no value other than cinematic effect.

2) It was enjoyable, now granted removing the non-book additions takes away a good half of the movie. Even with the additions and liberties it is still and entertaining movie.

3) The violence is not quite on LOTR scale, but could be disturbing for young children. Overall the battle scenes were done tastefully; however it still has two epic battles, naturally people die. On the other hand my biggest complaint was the character of Susan. Coming from a communication major's view, her character was intentionally changed from the last movie to this one. All the cinematography focus on making her look attractive, and her costumes don't help any either. Additionally, there is a strong theme of a awkward teenage relationship between Caspian and Susan, that culminates in them having a semi sensual kiss in the end. Overall was annoyed me with this change was the overt attempt to romanticize what was a friendship in the book, and change Susan's character from a strong female leader role model, to a girl who might take charge, but still wants to play around with guys in all her spare time. Maybe I'm jaded, but overall I was very disappointed with that change.

Posted by Justin Gunter | May 19, 2008 12:15 PM

I took 6 teenage girls and our daughter, 10, to see it yesterday afternoon. We all enjoyed it very much. My three daughters and myself have been reading the book out loud all week except for the last chapter which we will read today. My book-puritan daughter had issues with the changes but still said she really liked the movie. To me, as an adult, I felt the spiritual truths were evident in a beautiful way:
God is always around us even when we don't see Him
We do have to choose to believe in Him
Sometimes it may seem He is not showing up, that the battle is lost, that we can't continue on, but He always rescues us in His timing not ours.
We as women have to wage war with the enemy as well. We need to learn to fight with our Sword ( God's Word) and shoot the enemy.
We as women need to know how to use God's Word, His love, His power to bring healing.
And of course, young man Can and MUST fight the spiritual battles they face and be the mighty men God created them to be!
We actually had a neat time outside the theater encouraging one another on to remember we are God's royalty here on earth meant to spread His kingdom against the gates of hell.
We loved it!
Age? Our ten year old is very obedient and when I thought it was to much I would tell her to shield her eyes and she did.
Rick and Joyce Johnson

Posted by Joyce | May 19, 2008 12:35 PM

Just wanted to quickly mention, someone said if I child can't watch Lord if the Rings, they should not watch Prince Caspian. I have to disagree. The camera shots are so different and LOTR has blood everywhere. PC takes special precautions to make sure that the blood is minimal and confined to cuts and gashes, not holes in bodies... if that makes any sense.

Posted by Jordan Diann | May 19, 2008 3:18 PM

The Prince Caspian movie may not be for young children. There are some scary scenes. But overall I enjoyed it very much and felt the special affects were outstanding. I enjoyed seeing the spiritual truths come to life. I would have enjoyed seeing Aslan more, but I still felt the movie was very good.

Posted by Willa Wood | May 19, 2008 5:27 PM

The Prince Caspian movie may not be for young children. There are some scary scenes. But overall I enjoyed it very much and felt the special affects were outstanding. It was good to see the spiritual truths come to life. I would have liked seeing Aslan more, but I still felt the movie was very good.

Posted by Willa Wood | May 19, 2008 5:29 PM

We went to see it as a family. Our youngest is a 6 year old boy. He is not bothered by the battle scenes, and his dad felt he could handle it. I think he would have handled it fine, but he fell asleep and missed the last battle scene anyway! Just as well, I suppose.

My oldest daughter is what I have seen in your comment section called a "book-puritan." She typically detests changes in movies, but of course, expects them. This movie was no different. She had read all the reviews and knew what to expect, thus forewarning us all. Her comments were that she thought the romance was silly and totally not necessary. She was a little annoyed that they made Caspian so much older than he is in the book, but understood that in order to bring out Peter's internal struggles with his own pride, they had to make them closer to the same age. She said she was ok with this change. We did not like that Susan was participating in the battle. Especially since in the previous movie Father Christmas makes a point to say, "Battles are always ugly when women fight."

I personally liked it as a movie, though of course it did not stick totally to the book. I did like the spiritual elements they showed. For instance, at the end when Aslan told all the children to rise and called them Kings and Queens. Caspian stayed on his knees and looked up and said, "I don't think I'm ready." Aslan's response was, "It is for that very reason that you are."

Overall, I would watch it again.

Posted by Shelby M | May 19, 2008 5:57 PM

I think if you step back from loving the great book, this movie is a great movie.

1. I liked this movie better than the first one, simply because it was obvious that the movie was changed to rob the storyline of its Christian symbolism, eventhough that is hard to do with Aslan's death and ressurection. In this movie, while Aslan isn't seen much, his power, authority is ever present even when many people don't believe in him. The higher authority and power of God was woven throughout the movie.

2. It is a very well done movie. The time doesn't seem to be as long in contrast to most review.

3. I'd think 10 would be an appropiate age, but you might be able to watch on DVD with a little parentaly editing depending on how they arrange the chapters.

All in all, this is a good movie. Most of the changes (minus the Susan/Caspian kiss) really enhanced the characters. For example, as a man who comes away from the books wondering if Peter is a real 'guy'....it was refreshing to see him struggle with pride and subsequent consequences to learn of his deeper need for Aslan. I think the high water mark of this imagery is that Aslan doesn't remove Peter as a king or reprimand him. Peter is a flawed, but redeemed man serving Aslan.

I suggest going to see it. This was the first movie my wife and I have seen in the better part of 6 mos., and it was worth the wait.

Brian

Posted by Brian | May 19, 2008 8:18 PM

1. Was it better or worse than The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe?
It depends on how you view it. As a movie, it was actually better, or at least, more exciting. As far as the book goes, it was worse, because it didn't stick to the book as much as LWW.
2. Apart from non-book additions, did you enjoy it?
Yes, most definitely. I was a little disappointed to see Caspian and Susan kiss (because that made it sad, because they ended up parting), and to see how Peter got in fights, even with Caspian, but otherwise it was good. The battles showed how people can fail if they don't take God into account.
3. How young of a kiddo do you think can watch it? I know this question is subjective, but I'd like to hear how intense you think the actions scenes were.
It was very intense. The movie contained elements of LOTR and (according to the people next ot me) 300.

Posted by Anonymous | May 19, 2008 11:26 PM

1. Was it better or worse than The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe?
It depends on how you view it. As a movie, it was actually better, or at least, more exciting. As far as the book goes, it was worse, because it didn't stick to the book as much as LWW.
2. Apart from non-book additions, did you enjoy it?
Yes, most definitely. I was a little disappointed to see Caspian and Susan kiss (because that made it sad, because they ended up parting), and to see how Peter got in fights, even with Caspian, but otherwise it was good. The battles showed how people can fail if they don't take God into account.
3. How young of a kiddo do you think can watch it? I know this question is subjective, but I'd like to hear how intense you think the actions scenes were.
It was very intense. The movie contained elements of LOTR and (according to the people next ot me) 300.

Posted by Anonymous | May 19, 2008 11:26 PM

I just saw the movie tonight, and I thought it was really good. It's been so long since I read the books that I don't really remember too many details, which may contribute to why I enjoyed it so much.

I liked it better than TLTW&TW, maybe because it was more like LOTR. Many of the sequences reminded me a lot of The Two Towers.

There are some poignant, heart-wrenching moments that almost made me weep, such as when a decision Peter makes leaves some of the Narnians trapped inside the castle to die.

The action scenes were really intense. I'm a 22-year-old girl, and I had to close my eyes for some parts, out of suspense. I'd say 12+.

Posted by Chelsey | May 19, 2008 11:51 PM

I thought it was a wonderful movie, and definitely a return to the old Disney movies with morals and a sound plot!

I would take children 8 and up to see it. The so-called "violence" was no more than Swiss Family Robinson on a grand scale, and the only truly creepy part, featuring the witch and her henchmen was, indeed, beyond creepy, but was short enough to cover nightmare-prone eyes. However, a "good vs. evil" plot doesn't work without that element. The age appropriateness obviously would apply to being able to understand the storyline of Caspian's uncle trying to kill him.

As far as the "romance" goes, it was the obligatory Disney touch, and Caspian was heroic enough there is no reason she shouldn't have been attracted to him.

Posted by DerrDerr | May 20, 2008 12:22 AM

1. I would say the movie was excellent. Maybe even an improvement to the book! Even though the Caspian-Peter rivalry was not penned by C.S. Lewis, and Aslan did not make a long appearance in the movie as he did in the first film, I would say that it illustrated the point that, just like Peter took matters into his own hands without waiting for Aslan, we also try to do things without God, and fail. Admittedly, the relationship between Susan and Caspian was an unnecessary Hollywood addition, but besides that, I liked the change. For that matter, anyone who has a bone to pick with the director for adding the storming of Miraz's castle should look at The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe's river crossing scene, which was also a addition, I think, for the better.

2. Apart from the additions, I enjoyed it a lot. The characters were well developed, the whole movie was well tied in with the last one, and I found it to be a very good adaptation. The visual effects are stunningly photo-realistic, and the film is really a spectacular show. It's the type of film that is best when viewed in the theaters.

3. As to the age-range that could watch...well, I'm no expert at that, being 14 myself, but my six-year-old brother watched it in the theaters last night, and he loved it. Maybe just a mature 6 and up??? The violence itself isn't unbelievably intense, although there is a lot of battle and killing. The actual iffy scene is when an extremely ugly hag and a werewolf try to resurrect the white witch by black magic, trying to convince Caspian and Peter that Aslan has no more power, and the witch will help them to defeat Miraz. Although bringing the witch back is not put in a good light, it is intense, dramatic, and rather frightening. However, I'm the type who isn't really affected by that type of thing (I watched "The Fellowship Of The Ring" when I was eight.) Oh well, there's fifteen trillion other opinions out there anyway, so don't just read mine.

Posted by Sam K. | May 20, 2008 1:51 PM

My wife and I watched this on opening night and enjoyed it.

However, there is a part of the movie that I believe exploits black magic in a very dangerous way.

In this day of 4 year olds watching Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, I would say Prince Caspian is mild in comparison.

Would I let my 5 year old watch this movie? Yes, but not the scene with the blatant witchcraft.

Best Wishes,
Michael

Posted by Michael | May 20, 2008 6:58 PM

My husband and I saw the movie on Sunday night. We are sorely disappointed with the lack of substance and accuracy portrayed in Prince Caspian. The main characters had little to do with Aslan; there was more self-reliance as the "thing that got them through" rather than Aslan's providence. Also, the additions were horrible; there is a scene where a whole bunch of Narnians die after being caught inside the castle gate when it came crashing down. Finally, for a more complete review from a CS Lewis scholar, may we direct your readers to Dr. Bruce Edwards' blog: http://cslewisblog.com/

Christina and Toby Coley

Posted by Christina S. Coley | May 20, 2008 8:40 PM

that was the best movie ever! I'm a huge narnia fan , so i was expecting 100 % ,but i got 200%! i watched on the opening night, of course, and i want to watch it again on the movies! even though they put different scenes on the movie, it made the story more exciting and with more battle sequences than the book, and I sure loved it! can't wait for the next movie, the voyage of the dawn treader, which will be released may 7, 2010

Posted by matt harder | May 20, 2008 9:00 PM

1. I thought the movie was good, I think that I had too high expectation and a part of me was disappointed, at first. I think will go see the movie again.What I did enjoy is Aslan. He is not in the movie a lot, but his presence is very strong. I saw myself in the characters and what happens when we do not put our faith in Jesus and we do things our own way
2. I did enjoy it. So much that I am now reading the books
3. I do think a child under 10 should see, but before the children watches the movie, the parents should talk to their kids first.

Posted by Marie | May 20, 2008 10:18 PM

"As far as the "romance" goes, it was the obligatory Disney touch, and Caspian was heroic enough there is no reason she shouldn't have been attracted to him."
Perhaps, and it does show up in every Disney sequel, but it seemed like too many changes, too quickly.

Posted by Anonymous | May 21, 2008 1:01 PM

I was rather disappointed in their drastic deviations from the book. I have always thought Peter would make a nice older brother, but the movie changes him, Susan is a complete wreck, and Aslan is minimized far too much. I think you have to know who Aslan represents to properly interpret him. That being said, I much prefer the first movie.

Taking the movie away from the book, I liked it and would watch it again. (Except the kissing part)

As for little people, I sat next to my youngest brother who is 8 during the movie. He clung to me the entire time and then declared at the end that he loved it and wanted to see it again! I did have him close his eyes for the whole White Witch scene and we always look away and say "ewww yuch!" when unmarried people kiss, which Gabe and I did quietly. :)

Posted by Megan M. | May 21, 2008 4:05 PM

Caspian is much better than the Lion, the Witch... as a film.

I enjoyed it very much.

It is safe for the whole family. the violence is minimal and not gratuitous.

And what is all the fuss about the kissing scene? Nothing wrong it one bit.

Posted by William | May 21, 2008 5:25 PM

I saw the movie and highly enjoyed it. I liked it better than the first film in the series. It was changed from the book more than I had hoped, though in some ways the changes were for the better. I'm not sure why there's all the fuss about the kssing scene either.. after all She did mention that she was 1,300 years older than him, and it was just a way of saying goodbye forever... Great movie, but don't expect too much accurateness to the original story.

Posted by Matthew Beay | May 21, 2008 11:26 PM

Josh,

I love Narnia! My family loves Narnia, we listen to them on cd all the time. I went and saw Prince Caspian on Monday. By then, I had already heard that it didn't follow the book. That was really helpful and I was able to enjoy the movie as a movie and not analize it.

1. Was it better or worse than The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe? As a movie, it moved better. It was very well done and exceeded what Disney did in the Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. I think I prefered LTWATW for casting. Thought they did a great job in PC, the first was better. And of course in the first, they stayed true to the story for the most part.

2. Apart from non-book additions, did you enjoy it? I loved it. Even most of the non-book addiditions were very good.

3. How young of a kiddo do you think can watch it? I know this question is subjective, but I'd like to hear how intense you think the actions scenes were...A mature 10 or 11 year probably could see it. It is more intense than the first.

On a whole the movie was terrific. (Since I wasn't expecting much, I enjoyed it.) I didn't prefer the actor that they choose for Caspian and how they portrayed the Caspian. The "love" scene at the end with Caspian and Susan was pretty, well, pathetic. Sorry if that makes anyone upset. My brother saw it with me and he looked at me and pretended to throw up. :-) I would give it a 3 1/2 - 4 star rating.

Posted by YellerDaisies | May 22, 2008 7:03 AM

"And what is all the fuss about the kissing scene? Nothing wrong it one bit."
They aren't going to see each other again, and what will they tell their future spouses? People should be encouraged to keep their virginity.

Posted by Anonymous | May 22, 2008 5:13 PM

Josh,

Before implying that the movie was not true to C.S. Lewis' wishes... I'd recommend reading the book first.

You're opinions will hold more water then...

(p.s. I saw it and liked it. I'd recommend)

Posted by Benjamin | June 18, 2008 3:10 PM

Posted by Anonymous | May 22, 2008 5:13 PM...

I hope you are being sarcastic...

Posted by Benjamin | June 18, 2008 3:14 PM

Have You Seen Prince Caspian?

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