de_niro_2001 C S Lewis died the day before the first ever episode of Dr Who was broadcast and like Dr Who this version of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has excellent production values but low budget special effects. I think the animatronic of Aslan must have absorbed quite a lot of the special effects budget. The two-dimensional animations of the various creatures contrasting with the three-dimensional Aslan mar the impact of an otherwise good production as do the rather humanoid beavers and wolves. But Barbara Kellerman is every bit as good as Tilda Swinton and the four child actors playing the Pevensie children are excellent. Thanks to the films of more recent years and a DVD promotion by the Daily Mail this BBC version of the second Narnia book will have gained a new following. It might lack the special effects and spectacular New Zealand locations of the 2005 film but I still recommend it highly.

freemantle_uk The Chronicles of Narnia has had an enduring nature, entertaining children and adults alike. There has been adaptations of it's most famous book, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, from a rubbish animated movie in the 70s to Disney's fine blockbuster effort. One of the best known version is the BBC version from the 80s.Told in six 30 minutes episodes, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe tells the story of four children, brothers and sisters, Peter (Richard Dempsey), Susan (Sophie Cook), Edmund (Jonathan R. Scott) and Lucy (Sophie Wilcox), who have been evacuated to the countryside from wartime London. In the mansion of the professor where they are find a wardrobe which leads to a magical world, Narnia. But Narnia is under the tyrannical rule of the White Witch (Barbara Kellerman), keeping the land in a state of permanent winter. There is a prophecy that four humans would save Narnia, but Edmund is taken in by the White Witch's promises, and its up to Aslan (Ronald Pickup) to guide the children.A clear comparison is with the Disney version, and like say an adaption of play, where different people can make two very different versions of the same material. Whilst Disney and it's director Andrew Adamson had access to a multi-million dollar budget and made their version a large-scale epic, the BBC and Marilyn Fox had much less to work with. Because of this the BBC made a more low key version, and their version make the children younger, like in the book. The BBC does not flag up the action element, and tires to give a more low key tone. This version has the major religious films of betrayal and redemption, well handed by Fox. Edmund is shown to be more naive and lying to himself about his betrayal, then in the Disney version where he was the more angry younger brother. Fox has a different style to Adamson, and its shown with small things like Edmund debating his conscience, and Maugrim voice-over when the children read his notice. These difference don't make either version better or worse then the other.This version casted more nature looking children in the main roles. Peter and Edmund just looked like normal boys, Susan had a natural pretty look, whilst Lucy was shall we say, not the most photogenic child in the world. Sadly these child actors were lacking and were not that convicting, with Sophie Cook offering the best performance. The best actor in the TV serial was from Barbara Kellerman who just oozed evil in her show stealing performance as the White Witch.Because the BBC had a limited budget and it was filmed in the 80s, the special effects are awful. Their is a limited scale, and some thinks looked daft, like the Beaver costumes, and the usual of animation, with some silly designs, like some sort of winged four legged creature with a roster head. But the costume for Aslan did at least look better and more like a real lion.The BBC gives The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe a quaint claim and is worth watching for younger viewers, but don't expert an action packed adventure.

TheLittleSongbird Yes, it isn't perfect-: the special effects do look a little cheap, but because of the overall loveliness of the adaptation, with the scenery and costumes(and the faithfulness to the book), I can't help but like it. The whole production looks lovely(apart from the beavers' costumes and some of the animated mythological effects, Aslan though looks great), and there are some truly memorable scenes, like Edmund's encounter with the White Witch, Lucy's meeting with Tumnus and any scene with Mourgrim, helped by the sparkling and very faithful dialogue. Though, I do think that very young children will find Mourgrim a bit too frightening, because I did especially when the children learn of Mr Tumnus' arrest. The music is memorable, and sticks in your head for a while. Extremely beautiful too, especially the main theme, when Lucy is enticed to sleep and her dream, Edmund's entrance from the back of the wardrobe into Narnia and the escape from the beaver dam with the wolves on their way there. The performances from the youngsters are very good, especially Sophie Cook and Sophie Wilcox, but Edmund was too much of a brat and his change doesn't convince. I liked Michael Aldridge, from Last of the Summer Wine, as the Professor, at times he was very funny with a touch of mystery. Although one may compare him to Liam Neeson, Ronald Pickup acquits himself brilliantly as Aslan, and the beavers and the other animals were well performed. For me, the standout was Barbara Kellerman as the White Witch. One may think she was a little pantomime, but she did have a certain frostiness and menace that is needed, so much so it reminds me of Miss Hardbroom in the Worst Witch. Her costume and make-up were also incredible. All in all, despite the effects and some frightening scenes, a beautiful and well-acted adaptation of a great book! 8/10 Bethany Cox

dianekrebs This is one of the finest children's shows I've seen (and wonderful for adults too). I felt as if I were part of this exquisite movie and when it was over, I was so immersed and hardly realized where I was. The children are perfect - Lucy especially. And the excellent diction of all the characters makes this British movie very clear and understandable by those of us in the US who don't appreciate the beauty of the language because we don't understand the words properly spoken. The show also gives a beautiful example for our children and grandchildren. They can see that the children in this movie are often tempted just as they are, and that they are imperfect. Yet they see that they are forgiven, still loved despite their mistakes. And they present a very close, caring family even though they have differences of opinion. This is part of what makes it so special. This movie, if we watch it with the children, is an opportunity to discuss values and goals we have for them and to bring out what C.S. Lewis has so cleverly done with the story. I can't say that there were no flaws at all, but I was very disappointed in the 2005 version after this one. That version made me feel as if I were outside of the story, looking at it as one might look at a piece of art. Here I was part of the story and I really want to share it with others. It's something to watch over and over and always see something more in it. The music, too, although sparingly used, fit the scenes so well. It was beautifully done. This is a definite 10, in my estimation.