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 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
by Monica Edinger
Watching greedy Edmund gulp down the White Witch's turkish delight on the big screen made me think that perhaps I should give the stuff another try. After all, one of the many indelible images from C. S. Lewis's book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is of that evidently scrumptious treat, so fantastic that you'd be willing to betray your siblings for more of it. "Each piece was sweet and light to the very centre and Edmund had never tasted anything more delicious." Skandar Keynes who plays Edmund had me at first bite.
 The good news is that the movie version of this beloved childhood classic is an intact and straightforward rendition. After opening with the bombing of London and the children's evacuation to the Professor's house in the country, the movie follows the book closely. And so, beginning with Lucy, then Edmund, and finally Susan and Peter, the four siblings make their way through the wardrobe and into Narnia, a land that has been under the rule of the dreadful White Witch for over a century. With the help of a bevy of creatures including an endearing faun, a pair of talking beavers, and that most noble lion Aslan, the children return Narnia to its former glory.
The four child actors fit their characters comfortably, Tilda Swinton is a delightfully sinister White Witch, and the various non-human inhabitants of Narnia are believably presented in famous-actor voices and digital image. A film full of appropriately grand vistas, it also has ample drama and adventure to keep child viewers riveted. The opening sequence of the London bombing and the children's evacuation, while not in the book, gives viewers a better sense of the children's relationships, making Edmund's betrayal and redemption arguably more believable than in the book. Yes, there is that Christian theme, but it isn't any more or less than in the book. As is generally true when children read, unless forced to do something different, they will focus on the story—grinning with Lucy when she first meets Mr. Tumnus, shivering as the White Witch torments Edmund, and cheering as the battle reaches its satisfying climax.
 I saw the movie on opening day with a group of my fourth graders. It had snowed that morning, so Lucy's first glimpse of Narnia looked remarkably like ours of Central Park—a winter wonderland. My excited students literally bounced on their seats as the movie started. And when it was over? One dashed over and said, "You'd better give it a good review. It was perfect!" Then the rest crowded about me, chattering with great enthusiasm. Those who had read the book were as pleased as those who hadn't. For these children, the movie was a satisfying hit.
Just the day before, at our weekly Literary Salon when we have treats and book readings, two children read Narnia selections. After years out of favor, The Chronicles of Narnia are popular again in my classroom. Anna chose to read aloud the section when Lucy first comes through the wardrobe, and Ben the section where we find out what has happened to Mr. Tumnus, the faun. I suspect that these readings coupled with the movie viewing will send a few more of my students straight to the original.
 Contrasting books with their movie adaptations is always great fun. Children, in my experience, tend to be conservative, always complaining about what was left out. However, little is left out this time, and none of the children familiar with the book had a single complaint. Even the child who is easily scared seemed to take in stride the frightening army of the White Witch (perhaps a tad too reminiscent of an evil army in another recent classic fantasy film). While I can't say I was wild about the music, it didn't seem to bother the children at all.
At school, I'll continue to recommend the book to those children I think will like it, encourage them to read selections aloud at Literary Salon, and chat informally with them about the book and the movie. Any teacher doing a more formal study should just take care that the children's pleasure is left intact. For another beloved book and movie classic (The Wizard of Oz), I have the children first read the book on their own, keeping small commonplace books in which they enter quotes, notes, and even sketches as they read. After viewing the film, I ask the children to figure out what exactly a good movie adaptation is and then have them write essays arguing whether this one is or is not. I'm sure children would eagerly do something similar with the Lewis's classic.
Oh, and one more thing. Be sure to have a box of turkish delight on hand. You just never know about taste. •
Monica Edinger is the Fourth Grade Chair at the Dalton School in New York City. When not reading and teaching she often can be found posting on the Child-lit and CCBC-Net Internet discussion groups. Author of a number of articles and books about the use of literature in the classroom, Monica Edinger is the 2007 chair of NCTE's Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts Committee.
promotional images © Disney/Walden
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CBC Teacher Movie Reviews
• 6/15/05 - Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - PG
• 7/25/05 - Charlie & The Chocolate Factory
• Brothers Grimm - PG-13
• Chicken Little - G
• 12/9/05 - The Chronicles of Narnia - PG
• 2/10/06 - Curious George (H. A. and Margaret Rey, et. al.)
• 4/7/06 - Hoot (Carl Hiaasen)
• 3/3/06 - Aquamarine (Alice Hoffman)
• 7/21/06 - Lady in the Water (M. Night Shyamalan)
• 7/28/06 - Flicka (Mary O'Hara)
• 8/4/06 - Ant Bully (John Nickle)
• 8/18/06 - Stormbreaker (Anthony Horowitz)
• 8/25/06 - How to Eat Fried Worms (Thomas Rockwell)
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
"The effects in this movie are so skillful that the animals look about as real as any of the other characters." —Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times
"Well told, handsome, stirring and loads of fun." —Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
"The Chronicles of Narnia is a faithful rendering of a magical tale that should hold adults' attention and delight young moviegoers." —Claudia Puig, USA Today
"Adamson knows how to give talking creatures heart, the special effects work but aren't overwhelming, and the basis is a classic for a reason. Try it on for size; you won't be disappointed." —E! Online
Directed by: Andrew Adamson
Written by: Ann Peacock, Andrew Adamson, and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, based on the novel by C. S. Lewis
MPAA rating: Rated PG for battle sequences and frightening moments
Runtime: 140 minutes
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