Category: Adventure

Year: 2010

Rating: 7.0/10 (614 votes)

Director: Michael Apted

Country: USA

Language: English

Runtime: 115 min

Release Date: 10 December 2010 (USA) See more »

Taglines: Return to magic. Return to hope. Return to Narnia.

Writers: Christopher Markus (screenplay), Stephen McFeely (screenplay), and 2 more credits »

Movie Storyline
Lucy and Edmund Pevensie return to Narnia with their cousin Eustace where they meet up with Prince Caspian for a trip across the sea aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader. Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, merfolk, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world.

Cast:
Georgie Henley - Lucy Pevensie
Skandar Keynes - Edmund Pevensie
Ben Barnes - Caspian
Will Poulter - Eustace Scrubb
Gary Sweet - Drinian
Terry Norris - Lord Bern
Bruce Spence - Lord Rhoop
Bille Brown - Coriakin
Laura Brent - Lilliandil
Colin Moody - Auctioneer
Tilda Swinton - The White Witch
Anna Popplewell - Susan Pevensie
William Moseley - Peter Pevensie
Shane Rangi - Tavros
Arthur Angel - Rhince

Sound Mix: Dolby

Color: Color

Filming Locations: Cleveland, Queensland, Australia

Soundtracks:
"LANGHAM PLACE (ELEGIE) [LONDON AGAIN (SUITE)]" Written by Eric Coates Performed by New Symphony Orchestra, Eric Coates Conductor Courtesy of Decca Music Group Limited Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

Trivia:
When Michael Apted signed on to direct in June 2007, filming was set to begin in January 2008 for a release date of May 1, 2009. Shooting would have begun in Malta and then moved to Prague and Iceland. A few months later, the Walt Disney Company announced, "In consideration of the challenging schedules for (its) young actors," it was delaying the release date to May 7, 2010, and filming was moved to October 2008. The shoot got rescheduled to Playas de Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico, where two-thirds of the film would be shot at the water tank that was used for Titanic and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Filming was also scheduled for Australia. Disney and Walden eventually grew concerned over Mexico's safety, and Australian officials at Warner Roadshow Studios in Queensland offered to become the project's base for the whole shoot.

Quotes:
Lilliandil: [Caspian, Edmund, and Lucy look up into the sky as a brilliant blue light descends upon them]
Lucy Pevensie: Look!
[the light transforms into Lilliandril]
Lilliandil: Travelers of Narnia, I am your guide.
King Caspian: You are most beautiful.
Lilliandil: If it is a distraction for you, I-I can change forms.
Edmund Pevensie/ King Caspian: Noo!
[Caspian and Edmund look at each other. Lucy looks at them and rolls her eyes]

User Review:

Eustace and Reepicheep took centre stage instead , rated: 5/10
Possibly the least satisfying film of the three in the series as the story (or direction rather) goes into fantasy (illogical) mode, leaving most of the adults questioning its purpose. Although intending to complete the series with an extra feature by entering into the third dimension, the film didn't seem to have much need for it. Less the muddling direction and lacklustre 3D effects, the film scores on other aesthetic aspects.

Affairs get hasty in returning Edmund and Lucy back to Narnia with their cousin Eustace (resembling the pronunciation of 'useless') this time. You know right from the start that either a spectacular Narnian adventure lies ahead or sloppy screen writing gets in the way of proper plot development.

Unfortunately, it's the later.

It's interesting to hear what Edmund actually said in the film after the party has been picked up by Prince Caspian and his vessel in the open sea. "If there's no wars to fight, then why are we here in Narnia?". I cannot agree more in wholesome with Edmund as he couldn't have better summarised the entire film.

It is true that there is no longer the epic battle scenes that have inspired the previous two installments, but it is also true that you don't need battlefield action in order to make a good story. What Director Michael Apted (of 'The World Is Not Enough' fame) did was to get them shuttling between random islands in quick succession as they hurry around to find seven ancient swords of old Narnian Lords in order to undo the evil that has plagued the seas.

I didn't just express the film's synopsis as that is all there is to the entire film, which is why I'm really puzzled that the screenwriters did not develop more details within the major plot pieces. Adding on to the mountain of woes, several plot elements go unelaborated to leave the audience (especially those who have yet to read C.S. Lewis' novel that the film is based upon) in serious disarray.

There are nevertheless some delights to watch for, such as the courageous talking mouse Reepicheep who seems to have grown wiser and less hysterical as in the previous film. Albeit a tiny creature, he's a positive mind who never fails to inspire others around even during the darkest moments. This makes him my favourite character who earns my respect as Reepicheep definitely makes a stellar role model for children.

Eustace adds most of the comic relief and spices up the silver screen with his friendship forged with Reepicheep during the adventure. With a quirky demeanour of an intelligent scholar who is often cynic and snobbish, Poulter pulls his role off incredibly well with his own flavour.

In all, this makes a proper closure to The Chronicles of Narnia series in an unsatisfying fashion that nevertheless boasts great visual effects and fantasy adventure fare for the boring weekends.

Not a must to catch this in 3D, according to my humble opinion.

Comments: