Staring: Geogrie Henley, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skander Keyney, Tilda Swinton, Liam Neeson, James McAvoy, Shane Rangi, Jim BroadbentKiran Shah, James Cosmo, Ray Winstone, Philip Steuer
Director: Andrew Adamson
Production company: Walt Disney Picture and Walden Media
Music by: Harry Gregson-Williams
Release: Dece3mber 7, 2005

Plot: After surviving an air raid during World War II, the Pevensie children (Peter, Susan, Edmund, Lucy) are evacuated from London to the country home of Professor Kirke.

During a game of hide-and-seek, Lucy discovers a wardrobe and hides inside, only to find that she has entered a magical winter world. Lucy finds a lamppost and encounters a faun named Mr. Tumnus, who invites her to his home and tells her that she is in Narnia. Tumnus puts Lucy to sleep by playing a flute lullaby, and when Lucy wakes up, he sadly explains that the White Witch cursed Narnia to eternally experience winter and never Christmas, and any humans encountered are to be brought to her. However, Tumnus instead sends her home, where Lucy finds hardly any time had passed, and her siblings disbelieve her story due to the normal state of the wardrobe.

One night, Lucy successfully returns through the wardrobe, but Edmund follows her. Edmund meets the White Witch, who claims to be queen of Narnia. Edmund tells her about his siblings and Tumnus, and the Witch offers him Turkish delight and kingship if he brings his siblings to her castle. After she departs, Edmund and Lucy reunite. Lucy informs Peter and Susan, but Edmund lies out of spite. When Peter and Susan bring the issue to Professor Kirke, he suggests Lucy is telling the truth.

Review: C.S. Lewis originally wrote the set of books in 1950. The fantasy has beenejoyed by all ages and through many generations. Making it a wondeful feel good story of self descovery and inner growth towards maturity. The reader takes a jouney with the Pevensie children as they grow up in war torn Britain. Their trip to stay with a distant and reclusive Uncle opens a whole new world of docovery.

This movie is the first of the recent adaptations of the series. It starts off when the children have moved to their Uncles home and are exploring the many unused rooms. Although it is the first in the movie franchise it is not the first in the series. Forn that one would need to read The Magicians Nephiew. Which explores and explains how the reclusive Uncle ended up where he was and was he had in his possession that opened the door to Narnia for the children. But to tell you that here would be a spoiler.

This is a classic story that has stood the test of time and is great for a lazy Saturday afternoon with the kids.

M J Flack