Talking Pictures

Rich Bonaduce reviews “The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader”

Rich’s Quickie: The Narnia series ends (?) on a high note.

After switching studios, you may notice a bit of a difference with the latest and possibly last installment of The Chronicles of Narnia. Fans of the original novel(s) by C.S. Lewis may have their qualms about what is and what isn’t in the movie, but strictly as a movie-going experience, Dawn Treader moves quickly from one thing to another; but not at a break-neck pace. It simply knows where it needs to go and it gets about getting there. No sooner does the movie begin with our heroes on earth does the magical painting transport them back to Narnia fro another quest. Each of our heroes not only has an overall shared goal, but each must also face their own personal challenges which allows for a small and rare bit of character development for a PG children’s movie. Nicely, there is virtually no language, skin or violence (except for a bit of swashbuckling swordplay), only a surprisingly intense struggle against a rather nasty-looking beast; so this is one to which you can bring the family.
Finally, although the graphics are first rate, the 3D is a bit of an afterthought; apart from a scene here and there, I didn’t see a huge reason to have it in 3D. Not that it looked bad, mind you; it just didn’t seem to make much of a difference or add much to it. At the same time it certainly didn’t drag it down. Dawn Treader promises to bring back some of the magic and adventure of the first Narnia movie, and I think it does and then some.

Movie Grade: B

Director: Michael Apted
Writers: Christopher Markus (screenplay) & Stephen McFeely (screenplay) and Michael Petroni (screenplay), C.S. Lewis (novel)

Rated PG for some frightening images and sequences of fantasy action

Tags: Rich Bonaduce reviews, talking pictures, The Chronicles of Narnia Voyage of the Dawn Treader
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