Like the C.S. Lewis novel it's based on, the new "Chronicles of Narnia" film, "Prince Caspian," follows a tradition of darkening sequels.
The movie is a fierce and somber battle epic, with scene after scene of soldiers in pewter armor, lined up in rows like a sinister marching band as they face off against the Narnians, who stand there with their bows and arrows, trembling bravely at the odds against them.
From the start, you feel a comedown in magic. Instead of the wardrobe they employed before, Peter Pevensie and his three fresh-faced siblings now journey to Narnia through a London subway tunnel. They've been summoned by the valiant, shining-eyed Caspian, whose evil uncle has usurped his throne.
As Caspian, newcomer Ben Barnes has pouty lips, an anonymous European accent, and long hair that glows like something out of a shampoo commercial. He comes off like the second coming of Orlando Bloom.
Like the C.S. Lewis novel it's based on, the new Chronicles of Narnia film, Prince Caspian, follows a tradition of darkening sequels. Owen Gleiberman has more.
The forces of Narnia -- spitfire dwarfs, towering centaurs, and other noble misfits -- have been exiled to the woods and it's up to Caspian to gather them into that hopeful and collective thing…a fellowship! After the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, I realize I'm in the minority in finding the gathering of a fellowship to be a rather blah excuse for the plot of an adventure film.
Finally, everyone picks up their swords and begins to slash and plunge. When that happens, the movie seizes your attention, even if it does start to look like any other mystically righteous clang-of-metal war movie. "Prince Caspian" is darker than "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," the first film in the series. But that's mostly because it's more earthbound.
"The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" hits theaters this week.