'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Trader' is truly all about the voyage, not the destination. Sure, Narnia is threatened and the kids and crew of the goodf ship Dawn Trader have to expel the threat, ergo the need for the voyage. This threat is nameless and disembodied; an evil that will eventually ruin this idyllic land. Pretty vague, but it's good cause to suck the two youngest Pevensie children back to Narnia to help fight the good fight, collect swords and lay them on some table, teach a spoiled cousin how to be brave and moral, yada yada yada. Whatever. The point is it's a beautiful film to watch, and 3D doesn't hurt. I just love traveling with them and the rest of the crew, including King Caspian, to the different islands with their various terrains and creatures. Be warned: a final monster is pretty horrific and may scare very young children.
The story is less gripping than 'Lord of the Rings'; the children and other characters are less engaging than those of 'Harry Potter,' his friends and enemies; the humor and various plot complications of 'Stardust' or 'Elle Enchanted' are absent. But just take a day cruise on a fantastical ship and enjoy the ride.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Trader
Director: Michael Apted
Writer: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Michael Petroni from the book by C.S. Lewis
Cast: Georgie Henley, Skander Keynes, Ben Barnes, Will Poulter, Gary Sweet, Terry Norris, Bruce Spence, Tilda Swinton, Anne Popplewell, William Moseley, Arabella Morton
Time: 115 min.
Opening December 10 at the AMC Van Ness in San Francisco
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