This, if it were more real, would be rated PG. However, everything looks fake and in battle scenes you can hardly tell people are fighting. There are no, but if it was made good there would be, intnse action. I think this would be appropriate yet very hard to understand for a 4 year old. The unicorns and other animals are either people in a bad costume or a cartoon animated creature. (For example beavers look like bears, since there people in costumes). BOTTOM LINE: appropriate for 4 and up with terrible special effects. Watch the new one in cenima's now.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
A classic tale of good vs. evil.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 8 and Up
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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Sexy stuff:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe was written by Caroline Gates-Shannon
Parents need to know that this film features little, if anything, to worry about. The battle scenes and the White Witch might scare younger viewers. And some parents might also find the religious overtones of the film objectionable.
Families Can Talk About
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- Families can talk about how this film compares to the book. Is it a faithful adaptation? Is this better or worse than other movies you've seen adapted from books? What would you have included or left out if you were making the movie? What are some of the challenges of adapting a book for cinema? Families could also compare this adaptation to the new version of the film.
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More on The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe
What’s the Story?
Originally aired as a made-for-TV movie, this BBC adaptation of C.S. Lewis's popular story is a classic, quasi-religious story of good versus evil, four siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy wander into the magical world of Narnia through the back of an old wardrobe. Because of the evil White Witch's reign, Narnia has been kept in a state of perpetual winter, and its inhabitants are in a constant state of fear. Help comes in the form of Aslan, the good lion king. The children must fulfill their destiny by battling the White Witch, taking their places on the four thrones, and turning Narnia back into the paradise it once was.
Is It Any Good?
This BBC adaptation of Lewis's story has stood the test of time. It's an enduring and engaging story with a moral. Despite some truly appalling special effects that might look a cheap by today's standards, the movie still brings to life the magical world of Narnia and the classic battle of good versus evil. The film is likely to appeal to a wide range of ages, but at nearly three hours long, parents might need to break the movie down into smaller chunks for younger viewers.
The Chronicles of Narnia is highly recommended for family viewing. Families who enjoy this version of the story will want to check out the big-budget version of the story, released in December 2005.
Movie Details
Studio: BBC, Director: Marilyn Fox
Run time: 171 minutes
Theatrical release: 11/13/1988, DVD release: 11/12/1999
MPAA Rating: NR
Run time: 171 minutes
Theatrical release: 11/13/1988, DVD release: 11/12/1999
MPAA Rating: NR
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Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
If i lived in 1988....awful special effects
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
A classic story for all ages.
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