Release Date: May 13th, 2008
Running Time: 143 minutes

The Film

Ever since watching the Lord of the Rings films I have been waiting for the next major fantasy franchise to explode onto the scene. Many have tried and failed due to the expenses required to produce and market such large stories, but one franchise was destined to do well: The Chronicles of Narnia. Based on the beloved fantasy novels by C.S. Lewis, the dedicated adaptation was an instant success among both lifelong fans and newcomers to the franchise. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe makes a dazzling appearance on Blu-ray, though fails to offer much in terms of a new experience outside of the obvious technical improvements.

The story focuses on the four Pevensie children: Lucy (Georgie Henley), Peter (William Moseley), Edmund (Skander Keynes), and Susan (Anna Popplewell). The London blitz of World War II finds the children being shipped off to live with their Uncle in the countryside. Bored out of their minds in the giant mansion, they decide to play hide and seek. Lucy steps into an ornate wardrobe and is transported to the land of Narnia. She encounters a half man, half fawn named Mr. Tumnus (James McAvoy) who tells her all about Narnia and the evil White Witch (Tilda Swinton) who has brought on endless hardship and winter to the lands.

After spending some time with Mr. Tumnus, Lucy leaves the wardrobe and returns with her skeptical siblings only to find Mr. Tumnus’ home ransacked. A pair of talkative beavers tell the kids how Mr. Tumnus was arrested for high treason. Edmund wanders off and unknowingly encounters the White Witch, oblivious to her pure evil. She learns of the arrival of the children and is dead set on disposing of them because it has been prophesized that the four children of Adam and Eve would overthrow her rule. She immediately sends a pack of bloodthirsty wolves to eliminate the children, but fails. They soon meet up with the leader of the rebellion against the Witch, a regal lion named Aslan (Liam Neeson) and learn that they are more important to the survival of Narnia than they ever imagined.

Directed by Andrew Adamson, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand it is a brilliant, fantastical tale suited for both children and adults. However, the threat present in the giant battle sequences has been reduced from something like Lord of the Rings to fit that wider demographic. Likewise, the story is littered with Christian themes and allegories, but simultaneously feels shallow. The attempt to please everyone results in a very good, visually pleasing film, but one that avoids risks and results in a slightly more tepid experience.

The Disc

The video is a presented in a 2.40:1 full 1080p High Definition transfer. The print itself is pristine, featuring no compression artifacts and only a minor amount of grain that retains the film-like visual quality. The level of detail borders on ridiculous, a major plus for such a rich, detailed world. The blacks are bold and deep. My only minor, very minor, complaint would be that the colors are slightly muted compared to other transfers. Still, this is a very impressive Blu-ray effort.

The audio is offered in an English PCM 5.1 (48kHz/16-bit) uncompressed track as well as English/French/Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound with English/French/Spanish subtitles. The audio experience is phenomenal. First and foremost is the impressive atmosphere that is created through a careful balance of sound effects and music. Everything in Narnia sounds alive, whether it is the children walking through the snow, or the penetrating silence before the clash of two massive armies. When the action ramps up the experience is even better. The battle sequences utilize every channel, producing deep, thunderous bass hits and constant panning effects all while maintaining a perfect balance with the dialogue.

Article Continues.. Page: 1 2