"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader"

Title: "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader"

Director: Michael Apted
Producers: M. Johnson, A. Adamson, and P. Steuer
Editing: Rick Shaine
Composers: David Arnold and Harry Gregson-Williams (Themes)
Starring:
- Skander Keynes as Edmund Pevensie
- George Henely as Lucy Pevensie

- Will Poulter as Eustace Scrubb
- Ben Barnes as King Caspian

- Simon Pegg as The Voice of Reepicheep
- Liam Neeson as The Voice of Aslan the Lion

- William Moseley as Peter Pevensie (Cameo)
- Anna Poppelwell as Susan Pevensie (Cameo)

- Tilda Swinton as Jadis, The White Witch (Cameo)

Plot and Critical Review: Three years after the events of Prince Caspian, Lucy and Edmund Pevensie are staying with their irritating cousin Eustace Scrubb. A magical painting of a ship on the ocean transports Lucy, Edmund and Eustace into an ocean in Narnia.

They are rescued by the Dawn Treader. Caspian invites them on a voyage to rescue the seven Lords of Narnia whom his uncle Miraz banished. In the Lone Islands, where people are sold as slaves, Caspian and Edmund are captured and imprisoned while Lucy and Eustace are sold as slaves. Caspian meets one of the lost lords, who reveals that the slaves are not sold, but sacrificed to a mysterious green mist. The crew of the Dawn Treader then rescue the four. The lord, who becomes the new governor, gives Caspian a sword originally given by Aslan.

At another island, Lucy is abducted by invisible Dufflepuds who force her to enter the manor of the magician Coriakin to find a visibility spell. Coriakin encourages the crew to defeat the mist by laying the lords' seven swords at Aslan's Table, but warns them that they are all about to be tested. Lucy recites a beauty incantation she found, and enters a dream in which she has transformed into Susan, and neither Lucy nor Narnia exist. Aslan chides Lucy for her self-doubt, explaining that her siblings only know of Narnia because of her.

Another sword is recovered from a magical pool that turns anything that touches it (including one of the lost lords) into gold. Meanwhile, Eustace discovers and steals treasure from a dragon hoard. While Edmund and Caspian look for Eustace, a dragon approaches and is driven away from the Dawn Treader. The dragon is Eustace, transformed by the enchanted treasure after succumbing to its temptations. Reepicheep befriends Eustace, and touched by the mouse's kindness, Eustace has a change of heart and becomes useful to the crew.

They arrive at Aslan's Table to find three lost lords sleeping. As they place the swords on the table they realize one is still missing. A star descends from the sky and transforms into Lilliandil, a beautiful woman who guides them to the Dark Island, lair of the mist, where they discover the last surviving Lord. Edmund's fear manifests itself as a monstrous sea serpent that attacks the ship. Eustace as a dragon fights the serpent, but Eustace is wounded by the last sword and flies away. He encounters Aslan, who transforms him back into a boy and sends him to Ramandu's island with the last sword. The mist tries to distract Edmund by appearing as Jadis, the White Witch. Eustace overcomes the mist and puts the sword on the table, awakening the three sleeping lords and destroying the mist and Dark Island; Edmund slays the sea serpent and they liberate the sacrificed slaves.

Eustace rejoins Lucy, Edmund, Caspian and Reepicheep, and they sail to a mysterious shore before a massive wave. Aslan appears and tells them that his country lies beyond, although if they go there they may never return. Caspian refuses, but Reepicheep is determined to enter, and Aslan blesses him before he paddles beyond the wave. Aslan opens a portal to send Lucy, Edmund and Eustace home, but informs Lucy and Edmund they have grown up and can never return to Narnia. Aslan encourages them to know him in their world by another name, and tells a reformed Eustace that he may return. The three enter the portal and are returned to the bedroom.

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It is always difficult to put on screen what is already so well known in a book. In even attempting to adapt a text to a screenplay a filmmaker immediately wrestles with untold numbers of preconceived notions of visuals and well-established emotions and expectations. The most common phrase you're likely to hear after seeing a movie such as "Dawn Treader" will probably be, "They changed it from the book!" Unfortunately I was the one of the many that expressed the same sentiment after I saw this film in the theaters. While the heart of the text is maintained - and by "heart" I mean that they go on a voyage and eventually reach the border of Aslan's country - there are several sub-plots which greatly deviate from the direction and action of the original text. There was, for example, a mysterious fog in the book, but nothing that came close to the smoke monster-type villain portrayed in the film. While the presence of such an antagonist makes the film thrilling, much time is wasted on introducing the character, establishing the plot around it, and then dealing with it as the movie progresses.

Fox hoped to get past such strict criticisms by investing over $100 million in promotion and advertisement for the film. Their investment paid off as "Dawn Treader" became the 12th highest-grossing film of 2010, although it is the weakest of the "Narnia" series with respect to box office revenue. While it feels a more faithful return to the Narnian legend than "Prince Caspian", its departure from the source text leads me to rate it much lower than i'd like.

My Rating: 6/10

Content To Caution:
V-2.5 - Swashbuckling and fantasy-like combat. Glowing swords, too, but not like lightsabers or Sting.
L-.5 - No comment.
DU-0 - Wow!
RT-0 - No comment.
H/S-2 - There be dragons! And sea serpents! And smoke-type monsters!
CH-1 - Sailors telling sailors jokes.
S/N-.5 - You know...mermaids.

The "Reel Revelation": "Another Name"

"In your world I have another name. You must learn to know me by it. That was the very reason you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me for a little here, you may know me better there." - Aslan to Lucy

By what name do you know Jesus? We know His earthly name and believe that it is above every other name (Phil. 2:9), but Jesus gave Himself names (or titles) by which we might know His divine attributes and different aspects of His love for us. Each name is like a window which opens on the person of Christ. Let's peer through some of those windows together.

Jesus said that He is the "Light of the World" (John 8:12):
- Do you believe Jesus can dispel the darkness in your life?

- Do you trust Jesus to show you the way, even when you can't see the road?

- Do you ask Jesus to help you guide those who are lost to His light? Do you ask Him daily?

Jesus said that He is the "The Way" (John 14:6):

- Do you believe that Jesus is the only way to God?

- Do you trust that believing in Jesus will put you on the "narrow path" to Heaven?

- Do you ask Jesus to forgive your sins and keep you in "The Way"? Do you ask Him daily?

Jesus said that He is the "The Truth" (John 14:6):

- Do you believe that Jesus' words are true?

- Do you trust that Jesus' teachings are right for your life?

- Do you ask Jesus to teach you how to live in truth? Do you ask Him daily?

Jesus said that He is the "The Life" (John 14:6)
- Do you believe that Jesus rose from the dead and now lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit?
- Do you trust that, as He promised, Jesus will give us eternal life?
- Do you ask Jesus to help you during this life, that you might inherit the everlasting life to come? Do you ask Him daily?

Jesus said that He is the "The Good Shepherd" (John 10:11):

- Do believe that Jesus can lead you into "green pastures"; better places for your life?

- Do you trust that Jesus is protecting you from harm?

- Do you ask Jesus to guide your life? Do you ask Him daily?

Jesus said that He is the "Living Bread" (John 6:51):

- Do you believe that Jesus will satisfy you beyond what things of the world can

- Do you trust that Jesus will give you everything you need?

- Do you ask Jesus to feed your soul with His Word? Do you ask Him daily?

See you tomorrow - E.T.