The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
By Marshall Fine
Rating:
Who's in it: Ben Barnes, Eddie Izzard, Peter Dinklage
What's it about: Four British children return to the magical land of Narnia a year after their first adventures to help a prince reclaim his throne.
Time flies: Actually, in Narnia, more than 1,000 years have passed – and humans have banished Narnian magical creatures to the woods. It's up to the Earthlings to help the two groups reunite and get along. But they have to fight an epic battle to do so. Meanwhile, in real time, three years have passed since the first movie – and the four actors who play the children aren't cute little kids anymore. Nor are they particularly better actors than they were in “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” More alarming, the special effects aren't nearly as eye-popping as in the first film; in fact, they look pretty cheap. And, in terms of plot, there are few surprises; most of it feels recycled from other fantasy stories – and the ending looks like a direct lift from “The Lord of the Rings” films.
Long story short: It's not for anyone past the age of 10.
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