“Prince Caspian” is an extraordinary film, a “must see” for everyone, no matter what their age.I give it my highest recommendation.
By Deacon Keith Fournier
From the moment we walked into the theatre I could feel the excitement in the air.
The make up of the crowd spoke to both the extraordinary appeal of the writings of http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=3274 of this wonderful film. The Box Office results from the first weekend confirmed what I was about to experience.
Prince Caspian Rules.
The audience was an inter-generational sampling. There were grandfathers and grandmothers, mothers and fathers, children of every age, teenagers, and grandchildren. As the lights dimmed, many people were hurriedly trying to find a seat, while they juggled their popcorn, hoping not to be too conspicuous.
It was the first time in years that I have actually seen the movie ushers have to come along with flashlights to help people to find empty seats.
As the http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=3292 Miraz, ruler of the Telmarines, reached out from the big screen to draw the audience in. The texture, sound and visual effects were magnificent.Because his wife had now borne him a son, Miraz had determined to rid himself of Prince Caspian, the rightful heir to the throne. He now threatened his own rule. He used the power of his office to deceive the Council with lies concerning Caspian.
This evil action simply sets the stage for the fine development of this central character as an example of how wrong choices corrupt. The moral moments start early on in this film for those with eyes to see.
The Prince is awakened from his sleep by his wise teacher and protector, a friend of his deceased Royal Father.The Teacher had handed on to Prince Caspian a love of the old ways and of the Narnians. Again, this character is masterfully developed as a prototype of wisdom, loyalty and dedicated service.
In his paternal and professorial manner he warned the young Prince of the imminent danger that faced him. In so doing he selflessly risked his own security and stood for the greater good.
Caspian was instructed by his teacher to flee the castle and travel through the woods. The soldiers feared the woods, and the trees, believing them to be inhabited by the Narnians and filled with the old magic.
The film soon bursts forth into almost non-stop action as a wonderful Epic adventure unfolds, drawing the viewer into its action and excitement.
The Council, discovering that that the Prince was gone, gathers to address the situation. When questioned, the evil King dispatches his soldiers under the pretext of saving the Prince whom he first alleges had been kidnapped by the Narnians.
He later persuades the Council, through the use of corrupt allies, that the Prince had actually masterminded the affair and was working with the Narnians against the established order.
Some of the soldiers chase the young Prince into the woods. As the Prince falls off of his horse, he blows Queen Susan’s horn, which legend has it was left behind by the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve who once ruled Narnia.
There the film transitions to England where we meet the Pevensie children, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. They are older now but somehow even more endearing. Back in England, the former royalty of Narnia have resumed their regular, daily lives. Yet, they pine for the marvelous wonder and glory of their days in Narnia.
The once great King Peter of Narnia is engaged in a pedestrian fistfight with schoolboys in the subway. Certainly this is not the noble fighting of his distant past when his bravery in Narnia was the stuff of stories.
But all of that soon changes.
They enter through a portal in the subway into a beautiful land, and walk along the shore without a care in the world. We soon discover that this land is Narnia, which has changed significantly. More than 1,300 years have passed in Narnian time.
This strange new land is nothing like the Narnia they remember. In their absence the former glories of Narnia have faded into darkness and the hope that once animated the kingdom has been squeezed out by despair.
The once peaceful relationship between creation, the animals and the humans (Telmarines)has been wounded and divided. The stories of the old Narnia are spoken of only in the whispers of those who keep the ancient ways alive secretly, out of fear.
The children soon find the old castle, encounter Prince Caspian, and the rest of this wonderful movie is a masterpiece of character development which builds upon true friendships, valor and adventure, as they help the Prince to grow into becoming his own man,combat his evil uncle Miraz, and restore Narnia, all before assuming his fathers throne.
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