The Countdown is over...

Last night at nine o'clock, My family and entered the darkened theater and sat down for the next installment of C.S. Lewis' the CHRONICLES OF NARNIA.




I've been following the production for more than a year. I remember being happy last May 16 because I knew in a year's time I would see it. I got excited last august when I saw the first video blog featuring Ben Barnes as Prince Caspian (I am Prince Kesspian), my family and I were out East in a hotel room reloading the page to pick out everything we could. So it's been a fun ride to look forward to something so long and finally see it and to have it exceed your expectations is something that is so fulfilling...enough about me! On to my thoughts of the movie. I shall attempt not to spoil anything....I shall attempt at least, let's see how long it last. :)I'm not a critic so I'll talk about what I know and what I think..."I think you'll find Narnia a more savage place than you remember." Definently! There was none of the other-worldly, magical feel surrounding this movie. This Narnia was tough and hopeless.

The Pevensie children have developed into a formidable four some. In the first film, they bickered amongst themselves, ignored each other, and betrayed each other (how much worse can you get?), but in Narnia they discovered each other's qualities and how to work with each other for the good of a whole country. I enjoyed watching their family dynamics so much in this film. Su and Peter are still looking out for Lucy on every occasion, but Ed has now become "Pete's" right hand man. Rebecca mentioned this at the theater, and I know I said I'd only say my thoughts but she formulated her thoughts before I could:) "It's so nice to see Ed being a nice guy."
And it was! He saves the day, stands up to Miraz, watches Peter's back and leaves his torch in Narnia. :) What more could a book-lover ask of the screen writers?
(Bye the bye, the jokes were MUCH better this time, and I was amazed at how many lines from the book were incorporated into the script. It was so fun to hear them, like meeting an old friend)
Lucy is ecstatic to be back in Narnia, having never lost her faith that someday they would return. She gets a rude awakening when animals are wild, her friends-the trees- are in a deep sleep and Aslan doesn't come roaring in and frighten her enemies away like the last time.
Su.....there was so much controversy surrounding Susan. Susan knows she will have to leave Narnia, she can't say there forever, so she is excited to be there, but dreads leaving it again, which I can understand...and perhaps that is reason enough for Aslan not to call them back from their own world again.
I'll talk about this because it's been known for weeks so hopefully I'm not spoiling any one. SPOILERS AHEAD!! Susan fighting. Queen Susan the Gentle? the One who stays behind at Cair Paravel in Horses and His Boy? The best argument I've heard against this plot point was that fighting was not in Susan's nature, she disliked it. Lucy was the valiant, she would go to battle to heal and to fight among the archers. In the books, Susan is good at Archery and Swimming. Archery, but she doesn't shoot to kill. I thought it would bother me, a girl fight 'just as good as the boys' or what-not. But that wasn't the way Su fought, at least not in the last battle. She has to protect Lucy, I won't tell you why :) But She sends Lucy out and stays to fight to make sure her sister gets through. Remember the family love I was talking about? I had no problem with that I was cheering for her...and then as the Telmarine Army attacks Aslan's How, Su fights alongside the rest, but at that time there is no Hope. Aslan and Lucy haven't come, the How is being bombarded, and they are fighting for their lives. This is not the time and place to stay behind and guard the castle. So..I liked her, I liked her character, I understood her desicions, and I cheered for her as she defended her sister. [END SPOILERS!] (I think)
Peter...because of what I'd heard I was expecting to be annoyed with Peter for 3/4s of the movie. He was stubborn, and proud but the whole time he seems to be aware that, try as he will, he's NOT High King Peter the Magnificent anymore. He puts on a show almost. But when he realizes that the show isn't helping a thing, THAT'S when he becomes the King Peter of the Legends. He fights Miraz (THE BEST SWORD FIGHT I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!), has a camaraderie with Caspian and remembers to lean on his siblings abilities.
The Structure of the plot changed so that the movie was easier to follow...nothing about that bothered me...
Reepicheep was...himself! It was funny to watch his heroics and hear his famous lines "Your Majesty, I shall take eleven mice through that door at once!"
Trumpkin...was great!! Liked him a lot:)
Oh Caspian..he-he forgot the Main Character:) he...was Caspian. I totally excepted Ben Barnes as Caspian. Not exactly what I imagined him as when I first read the books but I like this interpratation just as well. The Sorcery and Sudden Vengence scene I thought was very well acted, as well as the Castle raid when He learns the truth of his father's death.But especially the last parts when he is putting his life on the line for Narnia, and realizes that he really can't rule Narnia yet. At the End, I was very willing to leave my beloved Narnia in the hands of the New King.
Glenstorm the Centaur. Great character, and a mighty adversary. The Night raid is what I remember about him most. They wait in the woods for Ed's signal and then he rears up and charges the gate. Great cinematic moment. Then in the retreat, he rides through the courtyard and grabs Susan. I was cheering (Inside) for that scene.So that's enough...I'm written out :) GO SEE IT!! It's worth it!! You'll be cheering (hopefully inside)

Oh and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my Mommy and Daddy!!! 27 years today!!