Once again, Disney has done an excellent job of re-creating C.S. Lewis’s “Chronicles of Narnia” series with the recent release of “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.” The film captures in stunning beauty the amazing ship that Prince Caspian and the crew use to search for the lost seven lords of Narnia on the high seas. The cast was perfectly matched to the personality of each character, giving new faces to the favorite stars from the books on the big screen. They offered compelling performances, charming audiences who came to see it at the theater.
The story did diverge to a great degree from the original book, changing the story line to accomodate a truncated time line, but was still handled in the spirit of the original books. This may be bothersome to some of C.S. Lewis’s fans, but has not bothered other movie goers to a great deal. The changes were still kept within the original spirit of the book, but did cause the viewer to reconsider the path the that the storyline was taking. The ride is worth the watch, though, as the actors richly portray relationships between the different characters as they complete their quest.
Along with compelling storytelling the film also does an excellent job with its special effects. The Dawn Treador sails its way out of the story book and onto the silver screen beautifully. The ship is well-designed and cuts an unforgettable image in the mind of the viewer. The characters move seamlessly from the ordinary world into Narnia and back with ease and believability. The viewer leaves the film with the intended message that C.S. Lewis left behind in his words and getting the opportunity to enjoy a beloved tale in a whole new way.