The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader *** (2010, Ben Barnes, Will Poulter, Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes) – Classic Movie Review 3266

Director Michael Apted’s tauter and leaner 2010 third Narnia episode has considerably improved on its predecessors on the adventure front, with more imaginative and appealing special effects, music, cinematography and sets this time. Staying reasonably close to the C S Lewis book’s storyline, the film runs like a series of incidents rather than having an actual satisfying plot, but the incidents are generally exciting and fun.

This time a nautical sea painting comes to life and washes mid-teen Lucy and Edmund Pevensie (Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes) and their annoying cousin Eustace (Will Poulter) across the sea back to Narnia aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader, along with King Caspian (Ben Barnes). Their mission is that seven missing magical swords representing the Lords of Telmar must be reunited to break a spell that imprisons the lords.

The young actors are fine, involved and engaging, and Poulter’s key performance grows as the film goes on and his character gradually become more sympathetic. However, while small kids may like it, adult audiences will have to be very patient with Reepicheep the swashbuckling mouse (voice of Simon Pegg) (or is it a rat?), who has far, far too much to do.

Disappointingly, Barnes, Aslan (voice of Liam Neeson) and the White Witch (Tilda Swinton) have all too little to do, despite appearing prominently on the posters, while Susan Pevensie (Anna Popplewell) and Peter Pevensie (William Moseley) hardly appear at all.

The 3D adds remarkably little – it’s just a gimmick this time. All in all, the result’s a brisk and capable family entertainment if a shade unmemorable.

It follows The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008).

After the release of The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader in December 2010, there was hope that the prequel story The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew or The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair would follow soon after, but neither film materialised. However in January 2016, the plan to reboot the franchise with The Silver Chair was announced.

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© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3266

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