WakenPayne I revisited yet another adaptation of Narnia that I watched as a kid and back then I actually loved it, I mean when I saw the remake by Disney, while I also liked that I thought "What? They already have this!" but... Not to hate on this movie but looking back, I prefer the Disney version.The plot, 4 children are taken into the country in World War 2 away from London, there they go to the house of a professor and when one thing leads to another the youngest, Lucy finds a magical world inside a wardrobe but the magical world is under the tyranny of a Witch that has made the world always freezing with snow and no matter how much time is spent there, only a few seconds will go past. Once she tells them all about this they don't believe her but soon they find it under other circumstances and must rise up against the White Witch.Okay my problems, for one Barbara Kellerman. In the Silver Chair I thought she was bad but passable but HERE... Every note she hits is loud and over the top evil. She's supposed to talk Edmund into betraying his family by getting him to prefer her with sweets and offering him the position of the royal heir but when she shouts, erratically gasps and acts completely insane - the scene comes off as hilarious the first time you're watching it.What else? As I may have already brought up the effects don't really hold up, stuff like the Beavers and when there are other people pretending to be animals (except Aslan, that effect does hold up even if they make no effort to lip synch it) it really shows the limitations they had and how it doesn't really work. Because when I think Beavers I think 6 foot tall people wearing obvious prosthetics and clearly rubber gloves. That and being that around about half of it is set in woods I think the sets, while they're okay I don't buy they're in a fantasy world after the woods. With that said some do stand out as being good like the Witch's castle, Tumnus' house and the beaver's hut. Mainly my problems are stuff like Care Paravel (I haven't read the books so I don't know if I spelled that right, if I read the books and it's wrong then it will change).Now onto what I liked. I enjoyed the story, even in some areas improving on the Disney version such as playing out Aslan's sacrifice as a complete gamble, even talking out battle plans with Peter to give them the best chance of winning, and as I said for the budget, Aslan looks pretty damn good and I don't have a problem with the actors all that much, aside from the one I mentioned But easily my favourite performance in the thing goes to The Professor. I want to know his story, he clearly knows about Narnia in this version in the sense of convincing the other kids that Lucy is telling the truth and saying he was once a King there as well, I wish he had more screen time as well. I also liked the 2D animation. It gives it it's own style that I think existed before the days of CGI.So in terms of watching it... I'd say it has more then it's fair share of problems but I'd say it can be worth it. As I said I do like the story and while I may be seen as unfair to the effects and sets I acknowledge there are some that are really good. I'd say it is worth it to fans of the source material and as a kid this was harmless. So I'd say while I didn't really like it, I can see why some people do.

adamaaronallen This BBC Production is one that i have truly fond memories of watching,when i was a child. It is still i believe to be the Best production of C S Lewis's book that exists today. (dare i say better than the new film ) This now classic version will still enchant young people and adults alike for many more years to come. Barbara Kellerman a fine actress.Plays the white witch just as i imagined her to be in the book.And i find the over all innocence of the film all the more endearing. The special effects are indeed special (considering the fact that this was a fairly low budget production) However there is nothing cheap about this production.All in all,this is a great series well worth the watch! The story is a moral and good one,that encourages friendship and loyalty. and is also one of those films that as one watches one is filed with excitement and the desire to go on a great adventure. And so to conclude,i would say this is a remarkable film. which still looks pretty good. if you are willing to over look the fact that the story comes before the special effects. I am sure it will continue to inspire many for years to come.

pawleydeitra This movie may have been true to the book,unfortunately that's the only thing it had going for it.The casting however was awful somehow the four young actors and actresses who were chosen to play the children were horribly miscast. The acting seemed a bit too forced at some points. Sophie Wilcox was unconvincing as Lucy(Lucy is not supposed to be ugly) Richard Dempsey who plays the oldest is shorter than Edmund. I know some people say'Oh she wasn't that bad" but in my opinion and a lot of other peoples she was awful. Though the 2005 didn't go entirely by the book,they managed to do a better job yes,they had a better budget,but the least BBC could have done was spend more time with the casting of the children because that just ruined the entire movie for me.

jug_86 I must agree with all the past comments on how great this film is compared to the 2005 version. This film is full of magic, joy, hope, and just enough terror to make even me still a little scared. Unlike the 2005 version that felt me feeling as though I had missed out on the true magic of Narnia.The performances by all the children and the white witch are superb and perfectly catch the essence of the characters as described in the book by C.S.Lewis.It is clear that the special effects do not stand up to the CGI effects of today but I think even now children will be as enchanted by the story and amazing costumes as I was as a child.I still love watching this film and recently purchased it on DVD so I didn't have to swap the tapes half way through.This is a must buy for any children's film collection.