A thrilling ride: 'Prince Caspian' blends conflict, humor in a mix aimed at tweens

By Christy Lemire, Associated Press

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Photo by Murray Close

Ben Barnes portrays Prince Caspian in the film, "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian."

More is more in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, the follow-up to the 2005 fantasy hit The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. It's simultaneously darker and funnier, more substantive and more engaging, more violent and more technically accomplished.

You can't call it a sequel because it's an adaptation of the second book in C.S. Lewis' series, but seeing its predecessor is a must to understand what's going on - and it'll make you appreciate how much better this movie is.

Prince Caspian picks up a year after the Pevensie children - eldest Peter (William Moseley), young woman Susan (Anna Popplewell), teenager Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and youngster Lucy (Georgie Henley) - left Narnia and returned to World War II-era London. But 1,300 years have passed in the magical land where they once served as kings and queens; now under the rule of the Telmarines, the place is in ruins. The animals are hiding in the forest and the majestic lion Aslan (voiced by Liam Neeson) hasn't been seen in a millennium.

The foursome is accidentally summoned back by Prince Caspian (British stage actor Ben Barnes), whose life is in danger. His power-hungry uncle, Lord Miraz (Sergio Castellitto), and his wife have a newborn son who Miraz hopes will one day be king - instead of the prince.

The birth sends Caspian fleeing on horseback through the dark of night in the film's thrilling opening. Andrew Adamson, veteran of the Shrek movies who also directed the first Narnia, shot the film with a cast and crew of thousands in rustic settings in New Zealand, Slovenia, Poland and the Czech Republic. Weta Digital, the masterminds behind the Lord of the Rings trilogy, are among the special-effects experts providing a spectacular appeal.

Once the kids return to Narnia - which they reach through a tube station, recalling the route to Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series - they must join Caspian and the chatty, furry creatures of Narnia to fight Miraz and his massive army and restore the throne to its rightful heir.

Sound like a fun adventure for the whole family? It's not. This Narnia is strictly for tweens and up with its palace intrigue, frightening creatures and protracted battle scenes. (Adamson co-wrote the script with Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who all collaborated on part one, as well.) But despite the heavier themes, it has a healthy share of light moments, too. British comic Eddie Izzard steals the show as the voice of Reepicheep, a swashbuckling mouse who calls to mind Antonio Banderas' Puss in Boots character in the Shrek flicks.

Peter Dinklage brings depth and humor to the role of Trumpkin the Red Dwarf, who's as quick with a sword as with a cranky one-liner. And Tilda Swinton makes a too- brief appearance as the crazy White Witch, a tantalizing reminder of the great range of this recent Oscar-winner.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

A return to the land of chatty, furry creatures.

* Grade: B+

* Rated: PG

* Running time: 137 minutes