Disney’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe lives up to most of the recent hype. It has the sweep of The Lord of the Rings and contains many goose-bump-inducing moments. Narnia dramatizes the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ in a compelling way. During the German bombing of England in World War II, four British children, the Pevensies, are sent by their mother to stay at a mansion in the countryside. While the children are playing hide and seek in the house one rainy day, they discover that a mysterious wardrobe upstairs is the gateway to the strange and enchanted land of Narnia. Once they conquer their disbelief, they become warriors in the battle between good and evil. They meet many sympathetic characters and eventually come to know Aslan the Lion, who represents Jesus. They also encounter Jadis the wicked Witch, who represents evil.
I have a few quibbles, mostly with the acting. For one thing, not all of the children are strong or convincing actors. For another, the Witch is simply not evil enough. Overall, though, the film is right on target. The scene where Aslan is killed on a stone slab is powerful and moving; the splitting of the stone table parallels the splitting of the Temple curtain in Christ’s crucifixion. My recommendation is to go and see the picture and then read the book (all seven books) if you haven’t. However, Narnia contains violence and may not be appropriate for anyone under ten.
Film Rating: PG
My Rating: 3 1/4 stars
Pride and Prejudice, based on Jane Austen’s nineteenth-century comedy-of-manners novel, recounts aristocrat Mr. Darcy’s courtship of Miss Elizabeth Bennett, whose parents are trying valiantly to marry her off. Darcy and Elizabeth are fascinating people who have their own unique ways of dealing with their lives and circumstances. Both are admirable characters who speak their minds and hold true to their principles. When Darcy and Elizabeth first meet, there is an attraction between them, but they can also hardly stand each other. Elizabeth shows herself to be an independent soul and not a malleable girl who can be manipulated by others. Darcy has a memorable line in which he says, “I have not the gift of easy conversation.” In other words, he’s not good at small talk. That’s all right, though; we all have different gifts and don’t have to be all things to all people.
Recommendation: See the movie, and then read the book. Both are inspiring commentaries on our need to do the right thing while being just ourselves. Keira Knightly and Matthew Macfadyen give strong performances as Elizabeth and Darcy.
Film Rating: PG
My Rating: 3 ¼ stars.
Walk the Line is a fascinating look at the lives and careers of Johnny Cash and his wife June Carter Cash. It’s more a love story than an in-depth history of the performers’ musical journeys, but you’ll probably like the movie if you’re a Cash fan. The film opens when Johnny is about 11 years old, and he and his older brother are going fishing. The brother is killed, and their father, who loves the older boy more, blames Johnny and lever lets him forget it. This negativity on his father’s part is an albatross on Johnny’s back and is a partial cause of his later excessive behavior and addiction to prescription medications.
What the picture doesn’t emphasize is that Cash eventually became a committed Christian. Much more could have been made of his conversion. Nonetheless, Christianity is respected and not denigrated. One of the movie’s best lines occurs when a pastor tells Johnny in Pharisee-like fashion that his church backers won’t support his going to Folsom Prison and associating with the worst kinds of criminals. Cash responds, “Then they’re not Christians.”
The beauty of Walk the Line is that it’s a story of redemption and healing: Johnny comes to faith (implied but not shown), kicks his drug habit, and forgives his father. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon give awesome performances — perhaps the best this year. They do all their own vocals and are the characters they portray.
Warning: Not for children or younger teenagers.
Film Rating: PG-13
My Rating: 3 ¼ stars.
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