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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1979)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 6; suggested age 6.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Early animated version of the classic.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 6 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The children all end up turning noble and heroic, and even the seemingly lost-cause Edmund redeems himself (but not after considerable suffering and crises brought on by his misbehavior).
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    The body of the murdered Aslan is shown, as are the frozen victims of the White Witch. All are resurrected; the witch and most of her minions are killed offscreen. Cartoon sword fighting against inhuman creatures.
  • Sexy stuff:

    None.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    A grandfatherly professor smokes a pipe
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1979)

Parents need to know that this is NOT the blockbuster 2005 Disney theatrical adaptation of the first book in C.S. Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia," but a long-neglected TV cartoon version, faithful but primitively-rendered by comparison. Suitably softened for network prime time, it still has a disturbing image of the noble lion-messiah Aslan after he has been tortured and (temporarily) killed by his evil enemies.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about Aslan's sacrifice and perhaps the Christian metaphor of his resurrection here.

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 0.0

    LAME!

    It looks like a toddler's coloring book.

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in Michigan
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    roooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    a must see for all!!!

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