Directed By: Michael Apted
Starring: Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, Ben Barnes, Will Poulter, and Liam Neeson
MPAA Rating: PG
My Rating: 8 / 10
There has been a surprising level of consistency when it comes to the quality of the Narnia films, starting with 2005's utterly charming The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and continuing on to 2008's darker, but nonetheless delightful Prince Caspian. Now, we have arrived at the third entry in the franchise, which has quickly (and unfortunately) lost box-office clout following its mega-blockbuster first installment. It's too bad, since The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is every bit as magical and touching as its predecessors. While other family franchises have grown up and developed into more adult-focused, PG-13 fare and while there's nothing wrong with that, The Chronicles of Narnia has retained a certain childlike innocence, despite developing darker themes. It can be frightening, but never too frightening. It can be intense, but never too intense. It can be dark, but never too dark. This might not be beneficial when it goes toe-to-toe with the likes of Harry Potter at the box-office, but I certainly appreciate it. Movies like The Voyage of the Dawn Treader have a special place in cinema and in my heart, whether the public understands it or not.
