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List Price: $42.99 | | Label: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Disney
Salesrank: 12608
Released: December 12, 2006 |
| Our Price: $11.59 |
| Used Price: $7.52 |
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MPAA Rating: Unrated
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Journey into the world of Narnia and share with your loved ones the most magical 4-disc DVD masterpiece ever! Venture deeper into a beloved fantasy world with this extended four-disc collection that presents the original motion picture featuring new and expanded scenes, enhanced special effects, and an extended climactic battle scene added by director Andrew Adamson. Experience hours of extensive bonus material including an exclusive world-premiere, feature-length film about C.S. Lewis, the creative mind behind Narnia. Enjoy a vivid and in-depth companion guidebook. Plus, visualize the complete production process -- from green screen to big screen -- with an additional state-of-the-art special feature.
Description of The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Four-Disc Extended Edition):
C.S. Lewis's classic novel The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe makes an ambitious and long-awaited leap to the screen in this modern adaptation. It's a CGI-created world laden with all the special effects and visual wizardry modern filmmaking technology can conjure, which is fine so long as the film stays true to the story that Lewis wrote. And while this film is not a literal translation--it really wants to be so much more than just a kids' movie--for the most part it is faithful enough to the story, and whatever faults it has are happily faults of overreaching, and not of holding back. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe tells the story of the four Pevensie children, Lucy, Peter, Edmund, and Susan, and their adventures in the mystical world of Narnia. Sent to the British countryside for their own safety during the blitz of World War II, they discover an entryway into a mystical world through an old wardrobe. Narnia is inhabited by mythical, anthropomorphic creatures suffering under the hundred-year rule of the cruel White Witch (Tilda Swinton, in a standout role). The arrival of the children gives the creatures of Narnia hope for liberation, and all are dragged into the inevitable conflict between evil (the Witch) and good (Aslan the Lion, the Messiah figure, regally voiced by Liam Neeson).
Director (and co-screenwriter) Andrew Adamson, a veteran of the Shrek franchise, knows his way around a fantasy-based adventure story, and he wisely keeps the story moving when it could easily become bogged down and tiresome. Narnia is, of course, a Christian allegory and the symbology is definitely there (as it should be, otherwise it wouldn't be the story Lewis wrote), but audiences aren’t knocked over the head with it, and in the hands of another director it could easily have become pedantic. The focus is squarely on the children and their adventures. The four young actors are respectable in their roles, especially considering the size of the project put on their shoulders, but it's the young Georgie Henley as the curious Lucy who stands out. This isn't a film that wildly succeeds, and in the long run it won't have the same impact as the Harry Potter franchise, but it is well done, and kids will get swept up in the adventure. Note: Narnia does contain battle scenes that some parents may consider too violent for younger children. --Dan Vancini
Stills from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Click for larger image)
The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Four-Disc Extended Edition) Reviews:
Better than the original 
2009-12-25 - "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" is an American fantasy movie released in 2005. It's based on a novel by the British writer Clive Staples Lewis. The novel has been adapted for TV or cinema several times before.
When I saw an old animated version of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", I considered it a very strange story, but nothing more. People entirely new to the Narnia concept will probably react in similar ways when seeing this American movie version. What on earth is this story about?
The truth, of course, is that "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" is a Christian allegory. If you look carefully, it's all in there. The White Witch is the Devil, the treachery of Edmund symbolizes the fall of Adam and Eve, Aslan is Jesus Christ, and his voluntary sacrifice to save Edmund is the crucifixion. And yes, he comes back and resurrects all the dead. Then comes Judgment Day, when the good battles the forces of evil.
Small wonder people think it's a weird storyline...
As already mentioned, the story is based on a novel by C.S. Lewis, also titled "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe". (Incidentally, the professor of the story is probably a humorous reference to Lewis himself!) Lewis' express purpose was to write an allegorical Christian novel for children. He later expanded the concept and wrote six additional novels. Together the seven books are known as "The Chronicles of Narnia".
Frankly, I think this de-Christianized, Americanized and politically correct version of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" is much better than the original!
The clean shaven, old fashioned kids of the original story (not to mention a notorious British adaptation for TV) are more modern in the movie version. Also, the Christian references are less overt. But the best change concerns the gender roles. Lewis was almost ridiculously patriarchal, so in the original story the girls Lucy and Susan aren't supposed to participate in the final battle between Aslan's forces and the evil legions of the White Witch. And why is the Devil symbolized by a woman, anyway? In the movie, the poor devil is still female, but at least Susan is a soldier. Interestingly, Peter (the older brother) is something of a sceptical wimp!
A covertly feminist version of "The Chronicles of Narnia"? Who could have imagined?
The movie even contains unexpected humour, as when the fox delivers the unforgettable one-liner: "I wish I could say their bark was worse than their bite". The bickering between Beaver and his wife is also extremely entertaining.
This movie adaptation of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" also has an ironic twist. It has *very* obvious similarities with Peter Jackson's successful "Lord of the Rings" movies. Indeed, the rip off was clearly visible already in the trailer. The twist, of course, is that C.S. Lewis was personally acquainted with J.R.R. Tolkien. One of Lewis' science fiction novels, "That hideous strength", contains a partial cross-over with the Lord of the Rings universe of Tolkien. It's therefore ironic that a movie adaptation of Lewis' Narnia stories mimics movies based on Tolkien. It seems you really cannot separate Lewis and Tolkien!
I admit of having grown sick and tired of the superstitious musings of C.S. Lewis. A big thanks to Walt Disney for remaking this story into a light, entertaining adventure epic!
Five stars.
This is a fascinating video
2009-12-22 - I always loved to pretend as a kid and this movie is all about that and more. Such beautiful animation and graphics and the story just made me cry (not in a bad way). I read all the books and I am an adult; loved them and love the movie even more. It is a joy to watch.
not worth it 
2009-11-07 - The dvd's were of the highest quality however, the collection itself was really nothing special. No scenes were really added in. Only quick moments which don't add anything to the movie. Don't pay the extra money.
i disliked, wife liked
2009-10-23 - i rated this a 3.
my wife would have rated a 5, i would have rated a 1.
she grew up reading these books and already had this premise in her mind of how it was supposed to look, feel, and unfold.
i just thought the story was horrible, acting not so great, special effects putrid..
BUT i am the kind of guy that loved Lord of the Rings.. so i can appreciate fantasy movies.
Great gift for anyone
2009-10-12 - I bought this movie for my niece for when she turned eight. She watches it almost every day along with my 6 year old niece. Her parents love the movie too.
