THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE PRINCE CASPIAN

One year after “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”, the adventures of Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie resume, who are again transported to the Kingdom of Narnia. This time the dimensional gap is no longer the closet, but the London Underground of Trafalgar Square of the 40s. An earth year is equivalent to 1300 years of Narnia and so the boys, upon their arrival, find that world profoundly changed, after having seen the Cair Paravel castle ruins. King Aslan has disappeared and with him also the fantastic creatures of Narnia, as the Telmarines, commanded by the evil Miraz, have overwhelmed its ancient inhabitants, to the point that now they only exist in the tales of ancient legends. King Miraz after the birth of his son, wants to kill Prince Caspian, heir to the throne after the death of his father, but he manages to escape thanks to the help of his tutor Cornelius. Caspian entrusts Caspian with a magical horn, which the boy will sound in a moment of extreme danger, thus invoking the help of King Peter and his brothers. During the hunt for Prince Caspian, the Telmarines capture the dwarf Trumpkin, who testifies to the unbelievers of the kingdom, the existence of the creatures of Narnia. The arrival of Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy comes providential for life to the dwarf, who will guide them inside the forest. Meanwhile, Prince Caspian, secured and cared for by the black dwarf Nikabrik, decides to recall all the surviving creatures of Narnia: centaurs, talking mice, giants, gnomes and other fantastic creatures, in order to fight against the tyranny of the Telmarines and King Miraz. . Caspian promises that if he ascends the throne, he will ensure that the Narnians and Telmarines can live in peace. However, he has not come to terms with the arrival of King Peter and his brothers Susan, Edmund and Lucy, with whom he initially has a sort of rivalry. The different ideas and strategies between Peter and Caspian will lead to many problems in the war that they will undertake towards the kingdom of the Telmarines. This will bring many casualties to the ranks of centaurs, fauns and other Narnians. King Aslan's help is needed, but he has been missing for millennia and is now only a memory. Lucy is the only one who believes in his return and sees him again in dreams and visions, thanks to which the boys will be oriented in the right direction.
The result is an epic and captivating film, with spectacular duels and battle scenes full of evocative images. The director Andrew Adamson, mindful of the criticisms received with his first film, manages to be faithful to Lewis's novel and to avoid the too violent images of the bloody battle, creating a product for families, without distorting its drama. The characterization of the characters is also well constructed and in particular of the Pevensie brothers, from whom all their strengths and weaknesses, typically youthful, are leaked, but during the adventure the boys will make a path of growth and maturation.
The bad guys deserve a separate discussion, this time all Italians like the excellent Sergio Castellito, in the role of King Miraz and Pierfrancesco Favino, in those of the commander. Their attire is very similar to that of the Spanish conquistadors, which helps to infuse tyrants with a somber and austere appearance. An important metaphor also emerges from the film, which makes us understand how in reality the people of Narnia are also among us: just think of all the animals and ethnic minorities in danger of extinction.

ORIGINAL TITLE: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian REGIA: Andrew Adamson PRODUCER: Walt Disney Pictures, Walden Media, Stillking Films DISTRIBUTION: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Italy SITE:disney.go.com/disneypictures/narnia/ GENRES: Adventure - Fantasy NATIONALITY: Great Britain, USA DURATION: 145 ' EXIT: August 14, 2008

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