100 Movies Every Catholic Should See #55: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

Directed by Andrew Adamson. Based on the novel by C.S. Lewis

Once upon a fateful day in the late 1870’s, people saw a horse in motion. So shortly after, a train arrived at a station, and a rocket flew into the eye of the moon. Sure we had books, sure we had live performances, but these sights changed history. It was then, almost 150 years ago, that man first learned the power of film. In the generations since the fateful day that audience members screamed and fainted at a moving picture, the world has seen unprecedented growth in the field of cinema. As cinema expanded, so did the audiences. Whether the core draw of a movie is story, directorial choices, acting, choreography or soundtracks, there is truly something for everyone.  In all of thousands upon thousands of film made since then, there are some films that are foundational to every movie lover’s repertoire - a cache of cherished films that are always a comfort to revisit, and that was crucial to cultivating a sense of the power of film in a budding cinephile - In short, a movie crucial to the list of 100.

What can I say? Some of us like the warm fuzzies. Some of us are in it for the nostalgia. 

So let’s talk about a certain lion, a specific witch, and a particular wardrobe. 

For many of us, C.S Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia was required reading. The story of the four Pevensie children discovering a hidden world in the back of a wardrobe and entering the mystical world of Narnia is core knowledge. We know about Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy entering an epic conflict of good and evil that was thousands of years in the making. We know all about how they deal with betrayal from one of their own, and then defeat the White Witch and restore balance with the help of the great lion, Aslan. Yes, yes, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, as with the rest of the series, is crammed full of Christian allegory.  Yes, yes, we all nod our heads wisely - Aslan is Christ.  Many of us know the story like the back of our hands, having all somehow grown up with the same matching paperback set of the well-loved C.S Lewis classics. 

The obvious disclaimer here is that there's very little to speak to in terms of theme, meaning, and theological discussion that could not be gleaned from skipping the middleman and just reading the book. The other obvious disclaimer here is if somehow life has brought you safely thus and you haven't read the Chronicles of Narnia, consider this your invitation to immediately do so. The theological depths lying in the guise of a children’s series is profoundly astounding, and is suited to a hand far more scholarly than I to justly unpack. 

So then the question becomes, what could a secular film adaptation add to a beloved (and overtly Christian), children’s book? The fanbase was ready, skepticism in hand. Would the movie capture the heart and soul of the book?

Yes. 

The movie makes you go on the journey in a manner that feels both tangible and visceral,  and we are the richer for it. This film rocks. 

We live in an age where a constant frustration lies in movie studios mishandling our favorite works. (Looking with a furious side eye at The Hobbit films (2012-2014), Eragon (2006), Anne with an E (2017), Rings of Power (2022-), Persuasion (2022), etc.)

These projects convey a sense of exploitation, where a studio smelled a fan base and decided to pander to it while also providing their own interpretation of the story. The studio comes first, the story is the victim, being gouged of character development and central themes for the sake of quick buck. These adaptations will never be good enough for the die-hard book fans, as they have to remain just shallow enough to be accessible to a wider audience (read: money). And sometimes, the results are just more tragic than anything else.  What is incredibly refreshing, then, is something that understands the source material, adheres to the source material, and produces something wonderful. 

So then some may ask, why watch the movie when the truths are in the book? If the movie is so faithful, then there isn’t so much of a point in watching it, is there? 

Oh but there is. Because as noted above, it rocks. 

There is something to be said about something abstract in a book being made powerfully known through a concrete medium that can be seen and heard and made real . This is partly because the Pevensie kids are so well cast. (William Mosely, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes, and Georgie Henley are wonderful in their respective roles).  Partly because the evil of the White Witch is so well portrayed. (Tilda Swinton is living her best life in this movie. I have never seen an actress lean into a character with so much glee)  Partly because the majesty of Aslan is so well delivered (and that’s on Liam Neeson). Because it’s good. 

Upon watching this film- strictly for research reasons- there was a general amazement in the room at how magical the soundtrack is. It's an epic, rolling score that shines with the genius of Harry Gregson-Williams, a man of a bewilderingly varied film soundtrack career. Truths are more intensely felt with a Gregson-Williams score in the background. These truths are also more intensely felt when the audience can see the conflict on each of the young Pevensie faces as they face a serious journey of faith, betrayal, war, and leadership. 

And yet, it's a comfort movie. The magic of the snow covered branches peeking through the wardrobe coats holds up every time. The earnest tone of the movie is enveloped by a constant charm that shines through acting performances, (especially highlighting James McAvoy’s performance as Mr. Tumnus). The charm also pervades the costume design, the landscapes, the dialogue, and the characters. 

Spanning a variety of redemption arcs, the audience is swept into what evil looks like through the eyes of children. Lucy, the youngest, has the most well-formed conscience. She is the most empathetic to the plight of the Narnians, she is the most distraught that they live in a world that is ‘always winter and never Christmas’. She is the first to see Narnia, the one most attuned to Aslan, and the moral compass of the group. 

We talk a lot about childlike faith. The movie has a steady handed approach to the idea of  Matthew 19:14:

 Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."

It’s a beautiful thing  to see that in action, in the (dare I say valiant) determination shown by Lucy, who instinctively understands her faith in Aslan, and draws her siblings closer to him by her guidance. 

For being nearly 20 years old, we must commend the special effects. The live action Lion King could not, does not, measure up to the animatronic skill and deliberately applied CGI that made up the animal characters in the film (I don’t want to talk about the 1988 BBC Narnia animal effects. Look it up if you want nightmares.)

The film is also filmed largely chronologically, so that the young actors mature and grow in the film in real time. The care and deliberation poured into each frame is a testament to the love and dedication of the cast and crew. What the movie gives you is 3 (eventually 4) plucky protagonists that give you something to root for, an excellent villain, and a tangible force of good. Sweeping shots of ethereal landscapes shine throughout, with a masterful use of color to emphasize the turning of the tide in Narnia. Blossoms and blooms overtake the set as the movie progresses, demonstrating nature’s  healing and restoration when Aslan returns-  as the icy cold of the White Witch cannot endure in presence of the true king. 

“Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; ¹² let the field exult, and everything in it!”

-Psalm 96 11-12

With a series as significant as Narnia, the movie adaptation has to be good. It just has to. And it is. You don’t need to know much about cinematography to appreciate the acting, the sets, the music, the magic. We love to see beauty in cinema, we love to be spellbound by the beloved stories of our childhood, we love to see truths made manifest. Ultimately we love to embrace and be embraced by seeing something we love being excellently portrayed. When a secular studio takes an overtly religious allegory and turns it into an enduring classic of a multimillion dollar blockbuster, well, that’s worth celebrating.

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe stands strong on this list because it is, simply put, magical. With a sparkle in its eye Disney produced a movie that defined childhood nostalgia. For my generation especially, every time we watched this movie as adolescents our age corresponded to a different Pevensie. Their journey and their experience becomes ever more real as we put ourselves in the shoes of each child and their respective approach to facing the wonder of a new world, the prospect of mortality, and the journey of faith. 

We are Lucy when we embrace our present moment grace. We are Edmund when we allow irritation and pride to cloud our view of what is good and just. We are also Edmund when we atone. We are Susan when we try too hard to use our intellect in matters of faith. We are Peter when we fight to further the kingdom of God despite overwhelming opposition. The film makes the Pevensie children so real and tangible. The regret and pain of a fallen Mr. Tumnus is gut wrenching. The comfort and gentleness of Aslan is remarkable.

It's magical, entrancing. 

The movie adds, it does not subtract. 

Whether this is a childhood staple, a forgotten one-time watch from years ago, or a pleasure yet unexperienced, there is no better time than Easter for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. (Yes, this is an Easter movie. There is an argument to be made that it is a Christmas movie. Both opinions are valid but only one is correct).

So please, do yourself a favor and reserve your next movie night for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. An excellent book-to-movie adaptation in a weary world sick of shallow homages, and a wonderful feel-good movie for the ages. 

NOTE: My only criticism of this movie is that it very convincingly led me to believe that Turkish delight was worth betraying your family over. After many attempts I must confess that it is not. It tastes like jellied perfume. 0/10.