Customer Reviews
The best adaptation of this timeless classic 
2008-06-24
The Narnia books are fantasy classics. One of my all time favorite series was given justice in not just the adaptation, but now in this beautiful high def transfer.
Everyone knows the story, and by now, anyone who wanted to see the film already has. The question before us, is it worth getting this Blu-ray version? The short answer is, hell yeah.
The long answer is the reasons why. First and foremost is the clear and pristine transfer. For this type of fantasy film, where the colors are somewhat exaggerated and need to pop, the HD transfer helps make this film into a more memorable experience. The detail is there, just like you would expect from an HD transfer, and the blacks are rich and distinct enough so that there is no crush.
The special features are plenty - although I haven't done a comparisson as to how many there are versus the 2 disc DVD edition, from a quick glance, it has plenty to keep those who love special features satisfied.
Lovely film, lovely transfer. That's all a movie lover can ask for. Buy this, and make sure Disney keeps bringing great films to blu-ray.
A Gift to the Sons of Adam and the Daughters of Eve 
2008-06-23
"Once a king or queen in Narnia, always a king or queen. Bear it well, Sons of Adam! Bear it well, Daughters of Eve!" - Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
When it was announced that Disney had bought the rights to C.S. Lewis' Narnia series, I have to admit that I was worried. Walt Disney Studios haven't always been known to produce faithful adaptations of books (example: The Black Cauldron). But in late 2005, all of my worries were laid to rest. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was one of the most memorable films that I saw that year.
The story is deceptively simple and straightforward. During the bombing of London in WWII, the four Pevensie children are sent to the idyllic countryside to stay with the mysterious Prof. Kirke. While exploring the house Lucy, the youngest, finds herself wandering into a large ornate wardrobe. To her astonishment it leads into a wintry forest where she meets a faun (a mythological figure; half-goat, half-human) named Mr. Tumnus. He invites her to his home where he lulls her to sleep with his flute. When she awakens he confesses that he had been given orders to kidnap any human children he might find and hand them over to the malevolent Queen Jadis, the White Witch. The White Witch, it is revealed, has cast a spell over all Narnia so that it is always winter, always winter but never Christmas. Mr. Tumnus helps Lucy to find her way back to the wardrobe. Lucy tells her brothers, Peter and Edmund and her sister, Susan about her amazing discovery of a land within the wardrobe. Naturally they don't believe her and what's worse they fear that she might've gone mad. But then one night Lucy goes back through the wardrobe into Narnia, unaware that Edmund has followed her. While she is visiting Mr. Tumnus, Edmund encounters the White Witch herself. The White Witch serves him enchanted food and promises to make him a prince if he can arrange a meeting between her and his other siblings. When Edmund and Lucy return, Edmund lies to Peter and Susan about where they've been. But soon all four children find themselves in Narnia. When they go to visit Mr. Tumnus they come upon his home in shambles. The White Witch has discovered his betrayal and punished him for "fraternizing with humans". The children are almost too frightened to go on when they meet a talking beaver named, get this... Mr. Beaver. Mr. Beaver guides them to his luxurious dam where he introduces them to his wife, Mrs. Beaver. The children are repeatedly told that, "Aslan is on the move". After a lengthy scene in which the beavers give a lot of story exposition about a Narnian prophecy, Peter, Susan and Lucy realize that Edmund's gone missing. He's betrayed them and gone to the castle of the White Witch. The three children and the two beavers must make their way to the Stone Table where Aslan, the Lion King of Narnia, will protect them. On their trek they face many dangers and see many wondrous things that I won't go into detail about. Needless to say the four children are reunited and prove themselves to be heroes in a climactic battle with the White Witch's forces.
C.S. Lewis wrote The Chronicles of Narnia as a Christian allegory but the books are often viewed simply as being children's fantasy, which indeed they are, but also much more. The story features talking beats, epic battles, noble sacrifice and a contagious sense of wonderment. The first film journey into Narnia is not only faithful to the book but also expands the story and characters. It may not be on the same level as The Lord Of The Rings but the Narnia films will still be remembered as a classic series.
There are four available versions of this film on DVD, they are:
Single disc edition, which includes two audio commentaries, an informative trivia track, a blooper reel and previews
2-disc Collector's Edition, which includes all the features from the single disc version but also comes with a second disc loaded to the brim with cool bonuses
4-disc Extended Edition, which includes all the features available in the two earlier editions plus a third disc with a biography of C.S. Lewis, and another disc of special features
4-disc Extended Edition + Bookend Gift Set, which contains the 4-disc Extended Edition as well as two collectible bookends of Lucy with the wardobe and Tumnus and with the lamppost
Of these four versions I would recommend the 2-disc Collector's Edition and the 4-disc Extended Edition. While the Gift Set is very nice it isn't really worth the price unless you're a diehard Narnia collector.
Great movie (especially when on Blu) 2008-06-21
Loved the movie, the picture and sound from this blu-ray are fantastic. worth owning.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe-Review 2008-06-20
Excellent DVD. I'd seen the movie in a theater, but thought that the DVD experience was even better (I didn't have to move my head from left to right to get the entire picture). Excellent production and quality.
Outstanding movie! 2008-06-18
Four children, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are sent to live with the professor in a mansion. When they're playing hide and seek, they discover a world that they never thought existed. Here we enter Narnia-where mythical creatures talk and where a cruel white witch reigns over the land. She has a spell to keep it always winter-but never Christmas. No one can defeat the white witch. Except-there is a prophecy- that if 2 sons of Adam and 2 daughters of Eve sit at the throne at Cair Paravel, the white witch will be defeated. Can it be done? The only hope Narnia has is for the four children to sit at the throne. Led by Aslan-the creator of the land-who will come out victorious?
I really enjoyed watching this movie. Not only is it full of great special effects and plenty of action, but it's filled with lots of symbolism. The books are written by C.S Lewis-a Christian author. In his books Lewis put in tons and tons of symbolism. And the movie follows it.
Now for the effects. This movie is chalkfull of effects. The Lion-Aslan actually looks real compared to the earlier Narnia movies. The battle sequence is great. The scenery is great, too. (it was filmed in New Zealand) So if you like action and adventure, and have read the books-then step into Narnia-where everything comes to life!
Incredible 2008-07-16
To tell you the truth I became a fan of this movie after interviewing Anna and William here in Mexico, this version of the movie I find more interesting than the regular one because there are so many more details that people that like looking close to details will completely enjoy.
Other than that the extra features are amazing for people who are either curious or like me that work or study in things to do with movies, its completely amazing.
I just dont know what else to say other that i loved it
Christian entertainment 
2008-07-08
As a biblical allegory, the movie works quite well, making it's points more entertainingly and artistically than a straightforward bible story would. If, however, one wants to know how it works as stand-alone entertainment for a non-Christian child, you would be well advised to look elsewhere.
The Christian references are too obvious to be anything else, and the characters are created to be representative of a religious lesson instead of just a children's story, and it shows. The children are in many ways unlikeable and two-dimensional and the dialogue self-righteous. Tilda Swinton is riveting as a witch creepy and vicious enough to scare adults, let alone children. An older child will find both humor and adventure lacking, while a younger child will probably find all the violence frightening.
a nice transfer, good blu-ray and an ok movie 2008-07-03
I didn't enjoy this movie as much as I did the first time I saw it. However the Blu-ray is a very nice transfer and if you're a fan of the film, it won't disappoint. It's a very nice upgrade from the dvd.
Another amazing BluRay from Disney 2008-06-30
I have had this disc for a month, and am still working through the bonus features on it. Disney jam-packs their BluRay releases with Bonus features, and this one is no exception. When you have a whole extra BluRay (not DVD) of bonus features included.... I think the disc claims over 14 hours.
The video transfer is crip and sharp, and film grain is next to non-existant. Colors are vibrant, blacks are true - you would think that this film was shot with HD cameras rather than being a film transfer. The audio tracks will blow you away - just the bombing scene at the begining of the movie with the Dolby Digital soundtrack will work out your subwoofer - mine was bouncing off the floor. But there is more - like most Disney releases, this includes an Uncompressed PCM audio track, which, gratefully, the studio did not limit the disc to work only over HDMI. This is one of the few titles that I was able to export the PCM in 5.1 channels over my toslink cable!
Don't be fulled by the number of languages listed on the back of the package - there are WAY more audio tracks than this. Every major European language is represented on the disc, as welll as a few middle eastern and Asian languages. The audio comentaries are actually pretty fun on this disc - I think I had more fun listening to the audio commentary of the children and the director than I had watching the movie.
The only drawback to this disc is, like most Disney releases, it is a bit on the pricy side, costing over $25 at Amazon (don't even ask how much this thing costs at Best Buy, you are liable to have a heart attack). However, it was a nice addition to my BluRay collection, and I am sure any fan of this movie and the series would have happily paid twice this for the movie in HD.
a child based fantasy story 2008-06-27
stunning picture(reference)quality, and sound
good storyline(a bit childish but that,s ok
A perfect film for the whole family
a must have in your blu ray libery
