May 27, 2008 04:37 PM
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(Updated May 27, 2008 11:16 PM)
C.S. Lewis’ fourth book releases as the second installment in the series of The Chronicles of Narnia. Prince Caspian does not exactly begin where The lion, the witch and the wardrobe left off but rather a 1000 Narnian years later when the power hungry Telmarines take over the magical kingdom. Forced to escape into exile because of the new born son of the ruling king, Prince Caspian finds shelter among the last remnants of the Narnians whom he believed were extinct. The kings and queens of ancient Narnia are unknowingly summoned and they are teleported from London’s tube station to a desolate but beautiful Narnia.
The movie is darker than the predecessor, owing to the evil that rules the lands. Political will, force and immaturity force Prince Caspian to find shelter among the few remnants of the Narnian race and the erstwhile kings and queens who are still trying to figure out what has taken the magic, beauty and mirth out of
Narnia. The Telmarines, under the commands of the cunning King Miraz are on the hunt for Caspian and the remainder of the Narnians who unite in small numbers with a plan to dethrone the King.
The strategy excites but the young Prince’s
foolishness frustrates. After a helpless retreat from the battle, the Narnians seek help from their Jesus like figure, Aslan, who has disappeared since the first age. War looms ever closer and with no hope in sight, the young King Peter challenges the evil King Miraz to a sword fight that goes on for a tiring duration, followed by resumption of the battle. A couple of ‘fun’ battle
strategies revive the interest but only to be concluded in the manner of the ‘battle of Isengard’ with the help of trees. Aslan does return after a long wait, only to wrap up what is left after a predictable series of events. Life resumes in beautiful Narnia and the Kings and Queens return to their tube station back home.
In stark contrast, Prince Caspian lacks the intrigue, beauty,
magic and intense battles that were witnessed in the first movie. Although, the battle sequences here look bigger, they are just simulations of the epic battles from the Lord of the Rings on a smaller scale. From the march into the Palace, that would remind us of the battle at Helm’s deep to the reappearance of the evil witch in the manner similar to the dark side of Lady Galadriel, to the marching of great armies towards the Narnian stronghold which is clearly inspired by the concluding battle at Minas Tirith in Return of the King.
Not to forget, Prince Caspian’s chase from the soldiers on horse back is also a
complete reincarnation of the Ringwraiths chasing Arwen and being stopped by the force of the river in The Fellowship of the Ring.
It is not only the comparison of these and other sequences to those of the exemplary Lord of the Rings trilogy, but Prince Caspian is a departure from the theme established in the
first movie as well. Narnia suddenly seems like a forgotten land with fewer creatures hopelessly led by naïve Kings, Queens and Princes who look incredulous as leaders against the wicked foes.
The magic and intrigue is absent from the first film and therefore, seems like just another fantasy adventure film.
Aslan’s delay into the action does not help the anxious audience either. But director Andrew Adamson does bring in a good bit of humour from his Shrek experience with newer characters but leaves out the depth, complexity and intrigue from the characters and story telling. Had Prince Caspian been a
thorough follow-up of The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe, it would not have tanked under its own weight.
Afterall, audience expectations are high and they need the sequels to better the originals. Prince Caspian is enjoyable nonetheless for its action adventure but disappoints those who go for the magic
beyond just that.
- 7.233 on a scale of 1-10.
