Thehibikiew
Not even bad in a good way
Ricardo Daly
The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.
Fleur
Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.
ifyougnufilms
The children are badly animated blue-eyed zombies, Aslan has all the fierce majesty of a Hanna-Barbera animal-clown, and Narnia is a sloppily drawn, garish seventies water-color mess. This awkward attempt to create an animated version of Lewis's classic illustrates why the author was so reluctant to have his many-layered "children's" books given the film treatment. He believed no film maker could adequately portray the rich world of Narnia or particularly the awe-inspiring nature of Aslan. Melendez,of Charlie Brown fame,attempted to oversee the work of international contributors to this crude Saturday morning cartoon version of a great book and the result is flat and an aesthetic disaster. Of course, in fairness it should not be compared to the later, more successful advanced technique Disney version, which might have pleased Lewis, but even comparison to earlier animated versions of classic tales, makes it clear Melendez and crew didn't have a clue as to the real power of the story or try create a moving or even slightly eye-pleasing film. Perhaps they excused their carelessness by considering it just a kid's story. They certainly show little respect for children or C.S. Lewis's fine work that has enchanted children and fascinated adults for generations. That Melendez and his crew did not understand the story or their responsibility to children is obvious in the self-congratulatory voice-over comments offered on the DVD.
katiep
This charming animated film is great for stirring up the imaginations in children. I first saw The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe when I was 7 years old, and have loved it ever since. We had it on tape when I was a kid and watched it over and over. But after I grew up a little I forgot about it. Then when I was 17 I read the book for the first time and searched for the animated movie again. It was not only nostalgic to hear the familiar, old dialogues and music and to see my favorite characters again, but I realized how true to the book the cartoon movie really is. I was also old enough to recognize and appreciate the message that the story delivers in such a clever way.The animation sometimes looks inconsistent (maybe the artists got tired, or took shifts drawing!) but the drawing style is so unique and unforgettable. Some scenes and sounds really are funny, too, if you're paying attention. I really do like the actors' voices, also; they all did a great job. They sound kinda British? The music is really cool, too! I wish the score was available on CD.I give The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe a 10/10 for originality and overall charm. It's not an obnoxious Disney cartoon. Nor is it a musical with drawn-out songs that take time away from the story.
magicklou
This cartoon amazingly captures an atmosphere expressed in all the Narnia books which is often ignored and smothered by other lavish adaptations. Rather than concentrating on the magical/fantasy glitter and glam elements, the over riding feeling here is that of the ordinary world suddenly being made extraordinary, and is totally bewitching and lasting.
It's the lack of distancing techniques that make this possible; No time period is set, the animation is simple, the background score minimal. We (the viewers) can totally believe that it is just another plain boring old rainy day and then things start to happen.....Children will generally prefer it's simplicity and honesty over the campness of BBC's 1988 version.
scooby-41
This is one of the best animated films I've ever seen. C.S. Lewis' classic book comes alive with vigor and fun. I recommend this to anyone who has read books by Lewis, and especially to fans of the Chronicles of Narnia. The illistrations are exceptional and the music is very good.
