Reviewed by Max Foizey.

Release Date: May 16, 2008
Directed By: Andrew Adamson
Starring:Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell
Rating: PG

I'm excited about the upcoming release of the fourth Indiana Jones movie, as I am a big fan of that franchise. If I wasn't, I'd most likely feel indifferent about seeing old Indy crack his whip again, and indifferent is more or less where I'm at when it comes to "The Chronicles of Narnia." C.S. Lewis' books are highly regarded, and in my younger days I read "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" and "Prince Caspian" before calling it a day. The world of Narnia just didn't grab me. (My sister named her dog Prince Caspian so I'm guessing she was more a fan than I was.)

I hoped to be pleasantly surprised by Andrew Adamson's 2005 feature adaptation of "Lion/Witch/Wardrobe," but instead was let down by a film I found featured shoddy special effects and wooden acting. In my review of that flick I said "I doubt this film will please Narnia fans, and would be surprised if the second published book was adapted at all." I was, obviously, quite wrong. Here I am reviewing "Prince Caspian," because audiences loved the first installment in the chronicles. (How could I have predicted SNL's awesome "Chroni-WHAT?-cles of Narnia!" digital short?)

Make no mistake, this is a much better film than its predecessor, but that's not to say it's a very good film. The same actors who portrayed the four Pevensie children in the first film are back, and sadly their collective acting has not improved. As Lucy, young Georgie Henley fares the best of the group, as her character is given more to do than just look Narnians in awe, but Anna Popplewell (she of the Angelina Jolie lips) seems to equate scowling with acting. As Edmund, Skandar Keynes is lost in the background, and William Moseley simply cannot convincingly pull off what is asked of him as High King Peter.

When the four return to Narnia after being gone for a year, they find more than a thousand years has passed in the fantastical land, and things don't look so good. The evil king Miraz has driven the magical creatures so far into exile, most believe them fairy tales, and only his nephew, the young Prince Caspian, can help the Pevensie kids restore Narnia to its former talking-animal-tolerating glory.

I enjoyed Ben Barnes as the unassuming hero in last year's underrated "Stardust," and he turns in solid work (albeit with a wonky accent) here. He won't have a problem carrying "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" should that next chapter in the Narnia chronicles make it to the big screen. It's nice to see fan-favorite Warwick Davis cast against-type as a shady little guy not to be trusted, and Peter Dinklage shows up as a dwarf curmudgeon with a heart of gold, but the role seems thankless after his impressive work in "The Station Agent."

I found Sergio Castellitto and Pierfrancesco Favino as King Miraz and his trusted General, respectively, the most interesting and entertaining performances in the film. Miraz is as good a villain as Tilda Swinton's White Witch from "Wardrobe," ans Swinton's "Caspian" cameo may be the highlight of the film. The story, ostensibly about faith, demands a cameo is all there is room for the lion Aslan, again ably voiced by Liam Neeson. (After all, if he was in every scene, why would our heroes need to have faith?) Reepicheep fans can rest easy, comedian Eddie Izzard's persona doesn't overshadow the sword wielding mouse.

The screenplay is a bit clunky in the first half, as we wait for the action to kick in, and once it does, I still didn't find myself drawn into the overall story. The attempts at humor more often than not fall flat, but the action sequences are pretty well staged - and decidedly not kiddy fare. Be warned: "Prince Caspian" is darker than its PG rating would lead you to believe. With all the violence, death, and beheadings (though bloodless) I'd be happier if this film got the PG-13 rating it deserves.

The latest chapter in the Narnia saga left me cold, but if you're a fan of the books, or especially the first film, you may find something here to enjoy.

Ready for a new kind of radio? Check out the award winning Max On Movies, every Saturday from 2-4pm on 97.1 FM Talk. You'll hear breaking news about upcoming films, reviews of the latest theatrical and DVD releases, and interviews with your favorite actors, directors, and writers. Max On Movies was awarded a Certificate of Merit in the Special Program category from the Missouri Broadcasters Association in 2007. A member of the Saint Louis Gateway Film Critics Association, Max has written about film for various print and Web media, and appeared as guest critic on nationally syndicated radio shows. It would have been awesome His Royal Badness - PRINCE - would have played Prince Caspian. He'd be all decked out in purple, and the soundtrack would rock "When Narnians Cry." E-mail Max at mfoizey@stl.emmis.com