Prince Caspian has shown me a much darker, cooler side of Narnia, even if it is less deep in terms of storyline. Much like the first film in the series, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian revolves around the four Pevensie siblings: Lucy, Edmund, Susan, and Peter. However, it also introduces a new major character to the series: Caspian.
Caspian has been Prince in the world of Narnia for years, cousin and successor to King Miraz. However, one fateful night Miraz himself has a son, and soon after orders that Caspian be killed so that his child can succeed the throne instead. Warned just in time, Caspian makes a daring escape and is on the run from that moment on, from his own family and kin.
Just before his escape he is given a trumpet that, he is told, will summon the four kings and queens of old to aid him. That's where our heroes come in.
Let me just say that this second movie has a very, very different feel from the first. The Pevensies are like the Jason Bournes/James Bonds/Indiana Jones' of Narnia. Slick, cool and experienced, they rapidly dispatch of any extra-personal obstacles in their path. I swear, they're superhuman or something, (and I mean that in the best possible way). An action flick this is, down to it's bones.
For the most part, the film remains faithful to C.S. Lewis' book. Though it utilized some stylish character development, inner conflict, and a romantic subplot, I found that this didn't so much stray from the novel as expand on it. The result is an enhanced storyline fit for a moviegoing audience. When I left the theater, I felt an urge to turn back in and watch it over again.
Pros: Awe-inducing action from beginning to end, dark storyline, deep inner conflict, cool characters and development.
Cons: Kind of shallow storyline. Also, some people may not be expecting a fullblown action flick.
Final Score: 8 out of 10
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