This movie is a great action/adventure film. It has alot of magic in it. I love it! The story is great!
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
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Is it age appropriate?
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Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Timeless classic faithfully rendered.
Themes in this movie include: family relationships, honesty
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 9 and Up
The good stuff
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Role models:
What to watch out for
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What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was written by Cynthia Fuchs
Parents need to know that the film has some sad, scary, and violent scenes for a PG film. The movie begins with a bombing during the Blitz in London. The children are separated from their mother, which could upset some younger audience members. There are other sad scenes where animals die -- including principle characters. A friendly fox is chased and caught by a pack of wolves, who also chase the children. A witch yells at a young boy, chains him in prison, and stabs him. She also abuses her servant, stabs her enemies with a sword that turns them to stone, martyrs the lion, and leads troops into battle. The children learn to fight, then engage in hand-to-hand combat and sword fighting; one sister shoots an enemy with an arrow. There is a pitched battle with deaths and grave injuries. While not overt, the movie includes Christian imagery (a martyred, Christlike lion, a rebirth from magic water) and allegorical storylines.
Families Can Talk About
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- Families can talk about the bonds among the four siblings, as they comfort and provoke one another while away from their mother and fearful about the war. How is Narnia a fantasy born of this combination of supporting one another and concern about their future? How do the animals and creatures in Narnia represent different aspects of the children's daily lives -- their courage, fear, and desires?
- Families might also discuss the Christian iconography in the film.
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More on The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
What’s the Story?
Based on C.S. Lewis' beloved novel, THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE begins when the Pevensie children -- Peter (William Moseley), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), Susan (Anna Popplewell), and Lucy (Georgie Henley) -- are sent away from the dangers of World War II to live in the country with Professor Kirke (Jim Broadbent). While playing hide and seek, they discover the magical wardrobe that serves a portal to Narnia, a kingdom under the power of the evil White Witch (Tilda Swinton). Here they also discover their own strengths, as they learn of a prophecy declaring their participation crucial to saving Narnia. When 6-year-old Lucy first meets the faun Mr. Tumnus (James McAvoy), her siblings won't believe her. But soon all four children have tumbled through the portal into Narnia and find they must rescue Edmond who has been enticed (and kidnapped) by the Witch. While the Witch holds Narnia under a wintry sway, she dreads the return of Aslan the lion (voiced by Liam Neeson), the character C.S. Lewis endows with savior-like properties. The Pevensies come to realize it's their destiny to save the kingdom. At first, they resist the dangerous mission, but Narnia friends teach them specific tasks they'll use in battle. By now, Peter, Susan, and Lucy are looking for Aslan, in hopes that he will help them save Edmond, currently in chains at the Witch's feet, even as she and her wolves are hunting the children. The Witch's power depends on her capacity to instill fear in her subjects, while Aslan inspires hope, the faith that conditions might change, that the sun might warm the earth.
Is It Any Good?
Long and lush and directed by Shrek's Andrew Adamson, Narnia makes a case for love among siblings by granting them a common enemy. The scariest scene comes at the start: a night sky is filled with smoke and warplanes. As the Germans bomb London during WWII, the Pevensie children scramble to the backyard bomb shelter. designates moral positions in part by associating certain animals and mythical creatures with them. These embodiments take a cue from the Lord of the Rings franchise, assembled according to beauty and horridness: sleek and elegant animals like cheetahs and horses and centaurs form Aslan's crew; ogres, dwarves, and minotaurs constitute Jadis' fearsome assembly. None of the Christian elements are obvious and a viewer could watch the movie without realizing any of this -- as with the book.
The final battle returns the children to the film's opening: they witness (and now enact) violent destruction of bodies and material. The fight images are rendered in grand terms, as the two armies gather on hilltops and leaders raise their arms to prompt forward motion. This motion initially is like thunder -- a rush of rumbling hooves and wheels. At the moment of first impact, when a cheetah and a tiger leap on one another, the sound goes out for an instant. It's awful, maybe thrilling, but only for a moment. It recalls the awesome power of war, to pretend glory and abstract honor. And that is scary.
Movie Details
Studio: Disney, Director: Andrew Adamson
Run time: 140 minutes
Theatrical release: 12/9/2005, DVD release: 4/4/2006
MPAA Rating: PG for battle sequences and frightening moments.
Run time: 140 minutes
Theatrical release: 12/9/2005, DVD release: 4/4/2006
MPAA Rating: PG for battle sequences and frightening moments.
Our Members Say
See all 122 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Perfect for anyone who's up for nothing but Adventure and magic!
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I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Perfect for anyone who's up for nothing but Adventure and magic!
This movie is a great action/adventure film. It has alot of magic in it. I love it! The story is great!
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
AWESOME!
This is a great movie with great values based on a classic book. It is action-packed, funny, and all-around awesome. There is one extended battle scene (stabbing, swordplay, arrows) and one brief bombing scene at the start. It is implied that Aslan attacks the White Witch and some creatures are turned to stone. Aslan is stabbed with a knife, but is soon resurrected. All of the violence is bloodless.
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I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
GOOD
one part is very sad. they do have one big battle.
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I rate this title off for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
an ok film but a little vilont for a PG rated film.
The movie and the story are not fantastic there just ok. This movie is not for kids 8 under due 2: some brief scary images, intense battle sequences for a PG rated movie, and for peril and scary moments.
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
One of my favorites!
Personally I love this movie. If you ignore the Christian allegories (which I prefer NOT to do)Its just a wonderfull fantesy movie.
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I rate this title iffy for age 6 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
FANTASTIC!
SKANDER IS SO CUTE IN THIS ONE!!!!
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Excessive consumerism
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
A Perfect Family Film
Hi, I'm ten years old and I think this movie is fantastic! It shows how siblings and family's may be mad and upset with each other, no matter what to always care. there is one part near the end however and children that are 8-9 that are not used to fake violence and/or cruelty may need to cover there eyes and ears but otherwise a fantastic film to watch over and over again!
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I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Get the Disney movie not the BBC one!
This movie is scary but great at the same time. I can't give away any big things that happen in the movie. But i think you will like it so go watch it! PS. get the Disney movie not the BBC one!
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
great for all ages
I think it was a fine family friendly christian movie with independent godly characters who care about family and learn some good lessons
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Adorable Movie
I'm fourteen years old and I adore this movie, as well as the book. It has very good role models, like Edmund for example. His character at the beginning of the story shows how cruel and hard the world can be; it turned him spiteful and angry all the time. This caused him to betray his own family to a terrible evil. Later in the story he realises the error of his ways, and I can't imagine the depth of regret he must feel. The battle scene is a little bit gory for younger kids, but 7 years and up should be fine with it, with all the other violence in the media these days. Something I like best about it is, while it was modeled rather religiously, you'd never be able to tell just watching the movie. That makes it easy for people like me (agnostic) to enjoy it.
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I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
Several freaky parts, but still an awesome movie!
My whole family loves this movie. It also follows the story of Jesus' life, which is great. This wonderful movie will be a classic forever!
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Enjoyable movie; but watch it before your kids do
I enjoyed this movie. The sacrifice of Aslan may be too much for kids that don't watch many violent movies or are easily scared. In frustration, Peter says that he is going to kill Edmund. It isn't meant literally but you might want to explain that to children so they understand. He could have just as easily said, "When I get a hold of him" or something similar.
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
AWESOME!!!!!
This movie was awesome! I thought that is was way better than the second movie! There was not much violence, and it was action packed!! The cast was GREAT, and the special effects were even greater!!! I would give this movie an A+!!!!
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I rate this title iffy for age 6 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
Good movie!
A good movie. but the second one was better!
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I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
THE BEST MOVIE EVER
I absolutley love this movie! SHOW IT TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW 'KAY? OKAY!!!!
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Ratings at a Glance
| 50% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 50% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
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