) to take control. The end result is the most satisfying Narnia film yet, but problems with the source material prevent it from being great.Unfamiliar and indistinct central characters has been the biggest roadblock from keeping The Chronicles of Narnia from reaching Harry Potter levels of success. That problem is rectified here, with the two oldest Pevensie kids, Peter and Susan, reduced to cameo roles. The adventure focuses now on the ambitious Edmund(Skandar Keynes), and the devout Lucy(Georgie Henley). Both are again sucked into the world of Narnia through mysterious circumstances, this time with their pestering cousin Eustace Scrubb(Will Poulter).
Narnia only calls on the kids' assistance when under the most dire circumstances, which makes it off when the enigmatic King Caspian(Ben Barnes) shows up to say that there's been an unprecedented amount of peace since he took the throne. And yet there they are aboard his ship, the Dawn Treader, investigating an unseen evil in a land close to where Aslan's country is rumored to be.
The rigidness of their quest can be a drag, and at times it looks like there's no real point to their Odysseyan(I'm pretty sure I made that word up) mission. That's a problem created mostly by the novelization, which is light on action and focuses mostly on phasing out the characters in preparation for the next series of stories. In one way, the lack of a real defining villain is a good thing, in that we get the first solid characterization of both Lucy and Edmund that we've seen so far. I like Lucy's jealousy over her older sister's beauty, and Edmund gets ample opportunity to prove that he's no longer living in his brother's shadow. Simon Pegg(Shaun of the Dead) is the most pleasant surprise by far, voicing the brave sword wielding mouse, Reepicheep.
Fox, in conjunction with Walden Media, shelled out a pretty penny to keep Narnia's hefty special effects budget in place. Now after three movies and continued lackluster visuals which we could've seen anywhere, I have to think if this franchise continues it's going to be at a considerable discount. The addition of post converted 3D adds nothing, so if you're debating on which version to see just stick with the old fashion variety.
The end of the film offers some truly weepy moments, and I have to admit it got a bit dusty for me. The characters are older, and Narnia is a young kid's game. Even as a kid I found the heavy Christian themes a little awkward, and I really could've done without the way it's jammed in weirdly here. With the deck cleared, there's always the chance the franchise could begin anew with an influx of new blood and a more focused vision. That's basically what the next book in the series, The Silver Chair, would promise. Only time(and box office success) will tell if Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the first step in a reinvigoration, or just a fond farewell.
