Weekend at the Movies II: Prince Caspian

I’ll be the first one to admit–I have NEVER liked the book Prince Caspian. Don’t get me wrong, I loved The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I always secretly wanted to taste Turkish Delight. But Prince Caspian? I had a harder time getting immersed in the Pevensie’s return to Narnia–I think because the story focuses so much on the eldest children (Peter and Susan–who were huge yawns to young me). I enjoyed Voyage of the Dawn Treader much more than this one.

However. I loved The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe movie adaptation, and as it has been a loooong time since I have read Prince Caspian, I had to give it a watch.

Whoo-boy. What a wonderful, wonderful film!

The movie begins with a woman screaming. She is in labor, and gives birth to a son. The expectant father, Lord Miraz, receives the joyful news…and issues a death warrant for his nephew, Prince Caspian X of Telmarine. Caspian is warned by his loyal tutor and sneaks out of the castle, armed with his sword, a horse, and an important gift of a horn, which his tutor instructs not to use unless in the greatest most desperate need. In order to evade the assassins, Caspian races on horseback into the forest–where the dreaded Narnians once lived. When Caspian comes across a Talking Beast (a badger) and two Dwarves (one red, one black), he realizes that the Narnians are not extinct, that the superstitions involving the woods are true, and in his panic, he blows the horn.

The horn is actually Queen Susan’s horn…and by blowing it, he has summoned the former Kings and Queens (sons of Adam and daughters of Eve) back to Narnia.

Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are living in 1941 England. Only a single year has passed for them since they returned from Narnia–so when they are magically transported back, they are not quite sure what the ruins they stand in are. As fate would have it, the ruins are of Cair Paravel, their old castle home when they were the rulers of Narnia. While only a single year has passed for the Pevensies, 1300 have passed in Narnia. The children have been summoned back to help Caspian and Narnia fight back and flourish once more.

The imagining of Narnia and the Telmarines was beautiful. I loved the dreary, militaristic feel for the Telmarines, against the vibrant (but sadly few) Narnians. While the Telmarines built their war machines and forged their steel, the Narnians used what meager resources they had, and faith.

Now I’ve never been one for religious parables. While the Christian themes are even stronger in Caspian than they were in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the wonderful battle scenes, the pretty damn good CGI, and pretty solid acting all around make this just a wonderful movie. Regardless of theological preference (or non-preference), Caspian should be seen by all and appreciated for the fantasy movie it is.

A quick note on the actors–I have to profess my love for the casting director. The actors for the Pevensie children are perfect. Peter is annoyingly superior and bossy, but with his heart in the right place (despite his hard head). Susan is wishy-washy, but shows some steel in this second movie. Edmund is BRILLIANT, as he was in the first film, and has a pretty convincing sword arm. He kicks ass in this movie, I cannot wait for Dawn Treader. And Lucy, dear Lucy. As a young girl reading The Chronicles of Narnia, Lucy was always my favorite of the children. The little actor that plays Lucy is perfection–she can actually act, and she isn’t some typical, dimpled cutesy Hollywood doll with golden hair and bright blue eyes.

And Prince Caspian himself…well, his accent is pretty bad (“Ay ahm PRINCE CYAZPIYAN!”), but his acting is otherwise very very believeable. And…he’s hot. I’m shallow, I know.

So there was no wonderful uber-villain worhty of the White Witch in this movie (King Miraz is quite good as a villain, but he ain’t got NOTHING on Tilda Swanson’s horrific White Witch)…but she does make an appearance. The political machinations of the Telmarines might not appeal to some younger audience members, but I enjoyed it highly!

So, if my rambling review hasn’t made it clear–this movie is a keeper. Even if you didn’t like the book (or have no knowledge of the book)–go out and watch this one. You won’t be disappointed.