TV Movie Review: ***^The Silver Chair

This is the 1990 BBC version.  So the special effects are poor and some of the characters in their costumes look silly.  Aslan appears to be a big stuffed stuff animal with someone manipulating the mouth.  This movie does however tell the story, which is very compelling.  Jill Pole and Eustace Scrubb want to get away from boarding school, and Eustace calls to Aslan to take them to Narnia, and they are because they are needed.
Prince Caspian now king, has become old.  He has no one to inherit his kingdom, because his son has been lost many years, and everyone who tries to find him disappears.  Jill, Eustace and Puddleglum (Tom Baker) who is a Marshwiggle, sot of a man with mud in his veins and who enjoys the marshes, set off on the rescue.  Jill must remember the instructions given her by Aslan.  Travel north to a city abandoned by giants.  The find an inhabited city, where the giants are preparing to have them for dinner, literally.  The make their escape, and follow the next instruction to go under the ancient city which is next to the inhabited city.  There they are taken prisoner, and lead to the room of the second in command, a dark knight.  The Green Lady, ruler of the underworld is out.  The dark knight is chained to a silver chair.  He warns his companions not to free him.  However he is transformed, and begs them for release.  Finally he begs in the name of Aslan (the last clue) so they release him.  He destroys the chair which has been keeping him under a curse for many years.  He is the lost prince.
Then enters the green lady (Barbara Kellerman who also played the white witch.)  She tries to lull them to sleep with incense.  However Puddleglum breaks the spell, by putting his hand in the fire.  Everyone comes to their senses, and a battle ensues.  The green lady transforms into a green serpent (who killed the queen many years before) but the prince is able to kill the serpent.  The Green Lady's hold on the underworld is released, and they return to the surface and Narnia.
I like the ending.  Aslan sends Jill and Eustace home.  But he tells them he is known by a different name their world, and they must know Him better.

Book Review: The Last Battle: Narnia 7

The Last Battle:

This is a bitter sweet book, because it is the last, and I am going to miss the characters.  This book presents the last king of Narnia, Tirian, 200 years after the last book, The Silver Chair.  There is a rumor that Aslan has returned, but in fact a monkey has manipulated a donkey to put on a lion’s fur, and then they use him to give the allusion of Aslan’s return.  The monkey then uses his power as the spokesperson for Aslan, to get people to chop down talking trees, and work for the evil country over the mountain the Calormenes.  In fact the Calormenes have plans to conquer Narnia, which they have been trying to do for many years.

Tirian and his unicorn friend try to stop the destruction of the trees, and torture of horses, and find themselves captured.  Tirian asks for help, and Eustace and Jill from the last book show up to help him.  They are able to help him gain his freedom, and then join him in a battle against the Calormenes.  They have also stolen the donkey, and want to expose the fraud, but the ape is quicker, and says a donkey dressed like a lion is trying to convince people Aslan has not returned.  Tash who is the god of the Calormenes has returned, and is in the tent where Aslan was previously.  There is a great battle.  People get thrown into the tent and Tash takes care of them.  Tirian and the leader of the Calormenes go into the tent, and Tash takes up the Calormene leader.  Peter, Lucy, Edmond, Digory and Polly, the other previous visitors to Narnia from England are there, and Peter orders Tash to take his, and leave.  He leaves with the leader of the Calormenes under his arm.

They discover a doorway in the tent, which lead to a beautiful kingdom.  They take this door, and find Aslan, and many old friends and kings.  Turns out, all of those involved in Narnia over the years were at a train station, and there was an accident and they all died.  All except Susan, who had put off the memories of Narnia.  This movie is great fun.  The Prevensies also discover their own parents who were also killed in the same train accident.

Book Review: The Silver Chair: Narnia 6

This is another adventure Narnia novel written by C.S. Lewis and published in 1953.  In this adventure we again see Eustace Scrubb, who enters Narnia with a school friend, Jill Pole.  They enter into Aslan's country, and Aslan wanted to talk to them both, but Jill accidentally pushes Eustace off a cliff.  Aslan saves him with his breath, then explains the mission to Jill, and sends her off with his breath as well.  They arrive in Narnia just as King Caspian is leaving.  Eustace is to talk with someone he knows, but doesn't recognize the older king, so the miss him.  However they go off in search of the King's son, who was taken prisoner ten years earlier, as he was trying to find the murderer of his mother.
This is a high adventure with many adventures.  They are joined on this adventure by Puddleglum, who is a Marsh-wiggle.  He is the practical member of the team.  They run into giants in their journeys, as they are looking for an ancient city.  They are scheduled for the dinner of the giants, but when they realize they are the meal, not the guests, they are able to make their escape.  They then find tunnels under the ground, which lead to the lower regions.  They find a prince, who is under the control of a green witch.  However the green witch is away.  The prince loves the witch and honors her, and says he is soon to be made king of the surface people as they are planning an invasion force.  A strange thing happens nightly, with the prince saying he goes wild.  The travelers want to watch, and in doing so find an interesting mystery.  This is the prince they are seeking, and nightly he is lucid for one hour, during which time he is strapped to a silver chair, which keeps the enchantment going.  The travelers are convinced to untie him, and free him.  However before they can make their escape, the green witch returns, and proceeds to charm our friends with with a vapor on the fire and a harp.  She would have succeeded, convincing the others that there was no Narnia, and no Aslan, only the underworld which she controlled.  She would have succeeded except for Puddlglum stepping on the fire, putting out some of the fire, mixing the smell of his flesh with the vapors, which destroys the charm.  She sees the battle is up, and turns into a snake and strikes at Prince Rilia, who is just auick enough to catch her by the neck.  Her bite is poison, which is what killed Rilian's mother.  He manages to get his sword up to strike her, as do Eustace and Puddleglum.  Between them the manage to cut off her head.  Turns out she had all her people charmed, which charm is broken.
This movie brings back to excitement of the Narnia series and is very entertaining. 

Book Review: Voyage of the Dawn Treader: Narnia 5

I must admit, this book is not my favorite of the Narnia series.  Maybe I am a land lover.  This book has Lucy and Edmund along with their snotty cousin Eustace.  It has Caspian on a journey to find his father's companions who took this journey many years previous and were lost.  It is exciting at first, with them restoring the Lost Islands to Narnia.  However it get tedious with them always heading East looking for Aslan's country.  This book is actually enjoyable until they get to the island where the star is in charge.  They find the last of the people they are trying to rescue, but then they continue East.  It becomes tedious.  It took me many days to read the last few chapters.
The idea is the partake of a water of light, sort of like the water of life, or tree of life, and can see more light.  Reepicheep is looking to go to Aslan's country, and he achieves this goal.  Eustace, Lusy and Edmund are send home, but promised there is a portal from our world to Aslan's country.  Aslan appears as a bird, and as a lamb, and a Lion.  Not as enjoyable as some of the others, but still a good book over all.

Book Review: Prince Caspian: Narnia 4

This is another great Narnia book.  The children are pulled back to Narnia after a year of their time, but thousands of years of the Narnian time.  They are pulled back because Prince Caspian blows on Susan's horn, which promises help.  The four Prevensie siblings find Narnia much changed.  In fact they do not even recognize Cair Paravel at first because everything is in decay and ruin.  Caspian's father was murdered by his uncle, and now the uncle is after him.  However Caspian escapes to the wild kingdom, and meets dwarves and animals that talk which have been chased into hiding by the king.  Prince Caspian and his people are not original Narnian, but came to the world through a passage between worlds in a cave.  They are Telmarines.  The Telmarines conquered the world some time ago. 
The retaking of the world can only be successful with additional help.  Lucy sees Aslan, who advises her to go a certain way, but the older children over ride her, and so their help does not reach Prince Caspian quickly.  When they do arrive, it seems insufficient.  However Peter decides to take on the king in one-on-one combat to buy time.  They all hope Aslan has a plan.  Aslan's plan is much different than what you might expect.
I again enjoyed this book.  It is the second Narnia book written, but is fourth time wise in the series. 
Symbolically, this book is much like an apostasy which has come over the world, although there are those who still believe.  Lu sees Aslan, and could lead the others to him if they would just follow, however the don't.  Sometimes we are like that.  Those who see Jesus could lead many others to Him, if they would just believe and follow.

Book Review: The Horse and His Boy: Narnia 3

This book takes place during the golden age of Narnia, when King Peter, Queen Susan, King Edmond and Queen Lucy rule in Narnia.  It is the third book time wise, but the fifth book written. 
Two young people, one young man and one young woman, Shasta and Aravis both have Narnian horses, and when their own situation becomes bad, the horses convince them to run away to Narnia, where people and animals are free.  They meet along the trail, and form an alliance.  Aslan scares them, or herds them along the way.  Aravis is from an aristocratic family, Shasta from a poor family.  When they reach the city of Tashbaan, the capital of Calormen, they are both worried of being identified and sent home.  The dress as poor people, leading dumb beasts of burden.  The horses cut their tails to play the part.  Shasta is mistaken for the Prince of Archenlan, who is visiting Tashbaan with King Edmond and Queen Susan.  Prince Rabadash of the Calormen is infatuated with Susan, and they are visiting as part of a courtship.  However Queen Susan has decided he is not the man for her.  However they have to use deceit to get out of town.  Prince Corin, of Archenland returns, and Shasta is able to continue his journey.  Prince Rabadash is angry at being rejected, and takes 200 horse to attack Archenland, and then Narnia.  Aravis has overheard the plans, and consequently the journey is not just a journey to freedom, but also a journey to warn the people, as the army of Archenland is close on their heals. 
This story includes a twist.  There is one part which is a bit confusing.  Aslan scratches Aravis' back, and wounds her severely.  He later explains it was so she would know the injury she caused a servant girl who was beaten because she ran away.
When Narnia comes to the assistance of Archenland it is Edmond and Lucy who lead the Narnians.  Peter is in the North battling giants. 
I very much enjoyed this adventure.

Book Review: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Narnia 2

This was the first of the Narnia books written, and tells the story of four children, sent to the North during WWII where they can escape the bombing of London.  The are sent to "The Professors" home, which is a very large estate.  The professor is Digory Kirke, who was the magician's nephew from the earlier Narnia book.  He is older now, and not aware that his home has a passage to Narnia, but Lucy, the youngest sibling discovers this.  The other siblings are Peter, Susan and Edmond.  The story of Narnia is too outlandish and her siblings do not believe her stories.  She made the entrance through a wardrobe, but when they try it doesn't work.  However they eventually also find themselves in Narnia, and in the midst of an adventure.   Narnia has been under a spell for 100 years of winter with no Christmas, a spell from the White Witch.  On the other hand, Aslan has returned.  With him comes spring and new hope.  I have seen this movie many times, and also the BBC version, but I was still moved with the sacrificial death of Aslan, who gives his life to a absolve Edmond, who had tricked Edmond into supporting her.  He gives himself to ridicule, and humiliation, but he does not open his mouth.  He is killed by the witch/queen.  Susan and Lucy watch.  They are so tender-hearted, that I could not help having a tear in my eye.  They remind me of the women at Jesus' tomb.  The stone on which he was lying cracks, and Aslan is not there.  The girls missed this, and when they come back to stone tablet they assume his body has been taken to be misused, but then he stands among them.  A more ancient magic, before even the beginning of the world says a life freely given for another will be returned, and so it was.  Then comes the freeing of those enslaved by the witch, and the great last battle. 
The four children grow up as kings and queens of Narnia, but they go on a hunt, and wander back through the wardrobe, and are again children, as if no time has passed.
This book is one of the best of all time.  Wikipedia reports in the top 100 books from 1923 to 2005 according to Time magazine, and number nine according to BBC's the big read.

Book Review: The Magician's Nephew, Narnia 1

Although published in 1955, this book is the prequel, or the first of the Narnia books written by C.S.Lewis.  This book gives some important detail as to the world of Narnia.  For example it answers the question as to how the wardrobe had become a doorway between worlds, what was the light post doing there, where did the witch come from?  In fact this book shows us the creation scene, with Aslan singing, and blowing life into Narnia, much in the same order as the creation of the world in Genesis. 
There is a valuable lesson in this book.  The magician really isn't a good man, using people and mistreating them.  When he gets to Narnia, he cannot hear the animals talking.  He is not willing to believe anything that doesn't make sense to him, and consequently the animal are just ferocious beats he is scared of, he does not hear their words, nor their songs and sees them only as threatening.  On the other hand, the two children hear music, and understand th animals, and have a terrific experience. 
In similar fashion, those who hear will hear, while to others the Gospel is just hogwash.  But who is to say that things perceived by the Spirit are not real.  I believe it takes someone on a higher plane to listen to, and accept things of the spirit, which are accepted on faith.
Enjoyable read and I recommend this work.

Movie Review: *****The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

This movie introduces us to a cousin, who through the course of events changes from a twit to a hero during this voyage.  There is a great evil which has gotten loss on the land.  Everyone must face their own selves, and their worse fears become reality.  Peter and Susan are not part of the adventure, as they now live in the United States.  Lucy, would like to have the looks of Susan, and casts a spell, which basically changes herself to Susan, and Lucy disappears.  She quickly repents.  King Caspian, and Edmund bicker over power, and Edmund is still drawn by the Black Witch.  The cousin, Eustace Scrubb (Will Poulter), because of his greed, is turned into a dragon.  However the dragon also helps them with his strength and fire.  The cousin finds courage with the help of Reepicheep, a heroic rat.  They face their fears, and in the end fight a sea serpent.  It is the cousin, who meets Aslan and is healed.  Getting a new outlook for himself, he sets in motion the cure to the evil.  The rat, Reepicheep, who has befriended the Kings, and proven himself in battle, travels to Aslan's Kingdom.  King Caspian stays behind, to lead his people.  He learns to appreciate the things he has, rather than seeking those he has lost (his deceased father.)

Movie Reviews: *****The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Prince Caspian was released in 2008.  A year later in the lives of the four king, but 1300 years later, in the world of Narnia, our heroes are called back.  In Narnia a group of humans has somehow gotten into the world, and taken over, and banned the Narnian's to the forests, who are then just a thing of legend and folklore.   Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes), is the son of the king who has been killed, and the kingdom taken over by Prince Caspian's uncle, who when he has a son, has no more need for Prince Caspian.  Prince Caspian makes an escape from the Uncle's guards, and makes his way to the forest where he meets the Narnians, but also calls back our four young kings with Susan's horn.  Then begins the conflict between the Narnians and the Telmarines.  The Telmarines have greater technology, catapults, as well as greater numbers.  Lucy sees Aslan, but cannot convince her siblings, and such, he does not come to help them until they are desperate, and Lucy has been sent on a mission to find him.  And so the gospel parallel, is that we only find Jesus when we truly seek Him. Some of the special effects were almost corny--particularly the water, and so this movie was not quite as good as the first.

Movie Review: *****The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.

 This is a beautiful introduction to this series.  The movie was released in 2005, based on the book by C.S. Lewis.  Starring as the four kings are Georgie Henley, Anna Popplewell, William Moseley and Skandar Keynes.  In so many ways this book symbolizes the life of Christ.  We have a deep freeze (apostasy) caused by the wicked witch and her powers.  It has kept a winter of 100 years without Christmas upon Narnia.  However with the coming of the children of Adam and Eve, Aslan is on the move.  Edmund is deceived by the witch, and in being deceived betrays his siblings, as well as others.  He is betrayed by a lust for power, and fulfilling physical needs, warmth and drink and food.  These are tools Satan also uses, physical gratification, pride, power.  Because of this treachery, Edmund becomes subject to the Witch.  He is in need of a savior, and Aslan takes this part, and also resurrects, and provides a resurrection of sorts for those the Witch has frozen.  In the end good triumphs over evil, the Witch is undone.