The Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian (2008)
Directed by Andrew Adamson
Written by Andrew Adamson
Starring Ben Barnes, Sergio Castellito, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Hensley, Anna Popplewell, William Moseley
Release Date May 16th, 2008
Published May 15th, 2008
With allusions to christian legend and shakespearean drama, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is a deeper, more soulful take on the work of C.S Lewis even as it manages to be less talky and more action packed than its predecessor The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe. Ben Barnes, a young English theater actor, takes on the role of Prince Caspian, a Hamlet-esque character, heir to the throne of the Telmarines. Early on we see that men are conspiring to kill Caspian and the crafty Prince makes a deft escape.
Caspian's uncle Miraz (Sergio Castellito) has chosen now to seek to take his nephew's throne. Having just had a son, Miraz can set a new royal bloodline should Prince Caspian meet his end. What Caspian does not yet know is that Miraz was also responsible for the death of his father. Escaping into the forest, Caspian finds something unexpected: Narnians. Meanwhile in England, Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy have waited a year to hear from Aslan about when they can return to Narnia.
Returned to their youthful teenage present, each misses the days when they were kings of the paradise of Narnia after the defeat of the White Witch. When the call comes and our four heroes are returned they find a Narnia entirely unlike the one they left behind. Aslan is nowhere to be found and Narnians are scarce in number. The Telmarines are set to crush what few Narnians remain. Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy now must team with Prince Caspian to fight against overwhelming odds to once again bring peace to the former paradise.
Written and directed once again by Andrew Adamson, The Chronicles of Narnia has become a richer, more thoughtful epic. Where Lord of the Rings became bogged down by a slavish devotion to technology, Andrew Adamson's Narnia is a near perfect balance of CGI and humanity. Adamson takes great care to bring a human, emotional connection to every aspect of his production. Though still a relatively young director, Adamson shows the control and confidence of a veteran. His confidence is well displayed in how quickly Adamson thrusts his audience back into the story of Narnia without getting detoured by reintroductions.
With delicate balance Adamson initiates new audiences without boring the returnees with information we already have. Adamson seamlessly integrates new characters without causing too much confusion for fans seeking the familiar, most of which is lost in the story's shift in time.
That said, the production is not without issues. As much skill as Adamson shows as a storyteller, his visual style can be a tad hectic and confusing. Early scenes feature unnecessarily shaky camera work and too quick edits. The technique improves throughout, the early clumsiness the only betrayal of the fact that Prince Caspian is only Adamson's second live action feature.
Our terrific heroes return with newfound confidence and star presence. The standout remains Georgie Henley's Lucy who remains impishly cute and yet brings layers of new experience to 11 year old Lucy. William Mosely strikes a kingly pose as Peter the oldest and the leader.
Anna Popplewell is a young actress who can do more with a tilt of her head than many of her contemporaries can with pages of dialogue. Finally Skandar Keynes as Edmund, who struggled through a whiny, weakling performance in Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, shows great improvement in Prince Caspian. Edmund takes a more prominent role in the next Narnia chapter and Keynes looks ready for a breakthrough.
Finally there is Ben Barnes. Saddled with the title role this young actor begins at a disadvantage with all eyes on him but it does not take long for the young stage veteran to show why producers felt so much confidence in this film novice. Barnes is a handsome young man but more than that, he has a strong conflicted presence that fits a character so heavily based on Shakespeare's Hamlet.
An epic work of adventure and excitement, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is a tremendous piece of work, the rare sequel to surpass the creative heights of the original. It helps that the source material is stronger. What helps more is a talented returning team of behind the scenes pros and rising before the camera stars.
