Actors: Ben Barnes, Cornell John, Liam Neeson, Alicia Borrachero
Director: Andrew Adamson
Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Rating: PG
Studio: Walt Disney
DVD Release Date: December 2, 2008
Run Time: 149 minutes
A fantastic array of special features giving the viewer an in depth understanding of the scope behind this mammoth production
Prince Caspian, the second installment in Disney’s adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ beloved classics, The Chronicles of Narnia, comes home for the holidays in a fantastic package on both DVD and BluRay. While the scope is infinitely bigger, this mediocre sequel unfortunately suffers from the same problems that plagued The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
Returning to Narnia, the Pevensie family must again rise to the challenge of saving the enchanted kingdom, however the siblings quickly discover that Narnia is a far different place then when they left. Now populated by humans, strife and political turmoil fill the land, as the Pevensie children must help Prince Caspian, the rightful ruler of the land, regain his crown.
Sandwiched between Iron Man and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Andrew Adamson’s above average sequel didn’t find a strong theatrical audience, however an early December release on home video should help take advantage of Christian consumer’s wallets. While the next Narnia adventure surely sports more grandeur, better effects and more action, the world that Adamson has created still feels empty and hallow.
Perhaps the computer animation wizard that brought us Shrek just can’t relate to real, live actors, but CG characters like Aslan (Liam Neeson) and newcomer Reepicheep (Eddie Izzard) are far more interesting and entertaining then the lead performers. Whereas Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings found the pitch perfect cast, Adamson seems to have found actors who were just good enough. The result is faceless performers that can’t carry the dramatic weight of the story.
With the drama beefed up heavily in Prince Caspian, one would have hoped that the leads would have stepped up to the plate. While the action certainly is memorable, including a mesmerizing castle siege and ferocious duel, the performances are equally forgettable. One can only hope that whoever takes over the franchise, if it even continues, will reinvigorate the live performances in the aesthetically pleasing world Adamson has created.
Like the previous installment on DVD and BluRay, Prince Caspian offers a fantastic array of special features giving the viewer an in depth understanding of the scope behind this mammoth production. The BluRay offers an exclusive 360-degree look inside the incredible castle siege, and the making of documentaries showcase the difficulties of working on remote locations and the coordination behind moving a crew the size of a small army. A gorgeous looking transfer rounds out an impressive set on DVD and BluRay.
If the rumors are true, and this could be viewers last cinematic trek to Narnia, then fans should cherish this mildly improved sequel. While Prince Caspian certainly wields a sharper sword then its predecessor, just about everything else in Narnia remains status quo.
