Which is the Hottest Summer Blockbuster Movie of 2008?

What a pleasant surprise this movie turned out to be! I went not expecting much, (I disliked the first one immensely!!!), and came out so won over, I have gone to see it again a number of times. It was not only entertaining, it had psychologically intriguing characters and actually _interesting_ battle scenes (and so well executed!). It did take some artistic license with the storyline and characters, but to me, it only improved things. It closed gaping holes in the book regarding character and story development. It expounded where it needed to (How were the Pevensies affected by their last time in Narnia? WOULD Peter and Caspian just become jolly friends, or could there be some friction? etc.), and it let other details go. (Lewis was really sparse on so many details, and yet, would choose the oddest things to describe in detail. We really didn't need to hear about apples/feasting/food all the time, and worrying about changing their clothes back upon return to this world really eclipsed the emotional impact the goodbyes at the end could have had. )



I DO think this film may have alienated its main audience from the first film (little kiddies and adults looking for a cute fairy tale), as this is indeed far heavier (in action, character psychology, and violence) and more realistic in the consequences of actions. I don't think this is a movie appropriate for little ones--they could be bored or a little traumatized.



The acting was FAR better as well. Welcome, Ben! You and Will did an especially wonderful job giving your characters depth. I very much look forward to the next one, and I am very curious how they will handle the transition from this book/movie (more realistic and heavy), back to the more fantasy fairytale feel of the first one.