The Long Awaited Review: "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader"

Well, here it is at last folks: the long awaited review of the new movie “Voyage of the Dawn Treader” due out in theatres December 10^th and the first post in “Narnia Week”.  Yes, I’ve dedicated this entire week on “The Pen and Parchment” to Narnia.  As some of you know, I got a big surprise last week when I received an email stating that I had been chosen to go to a pre-screening of the movie before it came out.  How often does that happen, right?  The screening was last Thursday in Minnesota, which is a good 8 hour drive from where I live in Central Illinois.  There were a couple of times when I didn’t have any clue how I was going to get out there, or if I was going to get out there at all though I really, really, really wanted to go.  But then a friend of mine decided that she wouldn’t let me miss this opportunity and we drove up to Minnesota and back all in one day: then she went to work the next morning and I went to school.  We were both extremely tired, and she was much more tired than I was because she stayed up to help her husband with the directions while I napped on and off in the back seat.  But it was great!  She’s never read the books (naughty, naughty Anne!  Lol! :D)  but she thought the movie was excellent.

So here is my review.  Let’s start with the basics, shall we?  Most people know the story of “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” but for those of you who don’t, here’s the basic summary:

Lucy and Edmund are forced to stay with their intolerable cousin, Eustace Scrubb, when their parents are on a business trip in America.  In Lucy’s bedroom there is a portrait of a beautiful ship sailing on deep blue waters, and one day, as the siblings are musing over the painting, they and their cousin are sucked in through the frame and end up back in Narnia.  The ship is called “The Dawn Treader”, the first ship built in Narnia for hundreds of years, and it is run by King Caspian himself whom Lucy, Edmund, and their older siblings, Peter, and Susan, helped put on the throne.  Caspian set out from Narnia to find the Seven Telmerine Lords, friends of his father whom his uncle Miraz banished from Narnia during his tyrannical reign.  Lucy and Edmund are only too happy to help in the expedition, though Eustace has other ideas in mind.  Along the way they have many adventures as they search for the missing lords, discovering many different and magical lands populated with friends and foes alike.  Perhaps, if they keep sailing, they’ll even come to the land of Aslan himself! But there’s only one way to find out…

Ok, that was a rather interesting summary.  I haven’t read the book in ages, you see, but it is my absolute favorite of the series so I figured I knew enough about it to just wing it.  :D

So now, back to the movie. 

The first question you are probably all asking is, “was it better than ‘Prince Caspian’”.  The answer is quite simply, “yes”.  :)  Was it as good as “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”?  Uh… I’ll let you make your own opinions.  (yes, I am that cruel.  Mwahahahaha!!!)

The graphics and special effects were absolutely stupendous!  Beautiful, really… just gorgeous!  And I was told that what I was watching wasn’t quite the finished product yet, so all the more reason to go see it again when it comes out in December.  The ship looked just like I imagined it too… and that’s saying a lot, because I have very specific images come to mind when I read a description: I like it that way.  And for everyone who’s curious about Eustace and the Dragon?  Amazing.  I don’t think there’s another word to describe it.  That was, by far, my most favorite part of the film.  And there were quite a few good parts.  :D  As for the White Witch – yes, they did bring her back… AGAIN – but it was done very well.  It didn’t feel forced or out of place at all, like it did in the movie, “Prince Caspian”.  It worked well.

The only problem I really had with the movie was that they messed with the plot again.  I won’t tell you what they did: you’ll have to figure that out on your own.  *cruel grin*.  But they did mess with it.  As a stickler for the books, I wasn’t too happy with some of the changes.  Admittedly, some of them were much need and were absolutely awesome!  But others…  there were just those spots… those spots that ate at me through the entire program, slowly, slowly chipping at my satisfaction.

Eh, I’ll stop complaining.  :D  Don’t let me discourage any of you: it really was a fest of awesome awesomeness!  Except for those few parts…

Ok, I’ll shut-up now.  :D

In other words, you should all go see it as soon as it comes out in theatres without delay!  I’m sorry this review is so vague, but I’m not supposed to give details.  Hopefully my mysteriousness peaks enough interest that you’ll be running to the theatres on December 10^th.  They are getting better!  And if this movie was anything to go by, the next will be even better.