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The Chronicles Of Narnia - Prince Caspian / Voyage Of The Dawn Treader [1989]


RRP: £9.99
Our Price: £4.72 (subject to change)

Rather underated BBC Narnia adaption - we loved it
Review date: 2008-07-09 Rating: 8 out of 10

I have just finished watching the 2nd BBC Narnia DVD with my son (9) and he loved this as much as the Lion & Witch. The few cartoon overlays in DawnTreader are far less annoying than in the earlier serial. Anyway the makeup for the Narnian animals is so superb throughout the Chronicles of Narnia, and all the sets are so well made, imaginative and varied, that's really a minor quibble. The cast and children are excellent throughout - nasty cousin 'Eustace' shines in this series, and young Prince Caspian is a very dashing lead. Eustace and Prince Caspian return in the final BBC Narnia adaption 'The Silver Chair'. DVD picture quality, sound and the special effects are quite good on this DVD, although the picture colour is a little light, common with 35mm film transfers.

In Prince Caspian the four Ancient Kings and Queens of Narnia [Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy] are summoned by Aslan's horn. They are whisked from an underground railway station to a very different Narnia from the one they knew and ruled. Elsewhere a young Prince Caspian lives in mortal danger from his Uncle Miraz who plots to usurp his throne. Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy find the ruins of their citadel Cair Paravel. Although only a year has passed in their world, 1300 years have passed in Narnia. Soon the paths of the Ancient Kings and Queens cross with the dwarf Trumpkin and another quest to save Narnia begins. In some respects this BBC adaption is better than the new Disney film 'Prince Caspian' simply because the BBCs Prince Caspian is clearly a young boy with no power at court and so completely at the mercy of his evil uncle. Disney's casting of a 26 year old as Caspian rather misses the point - at this age Prince Caspian would have been King Caspian for the last 8 years and nasty Uncle would have been imprisoned in The Tower long ago, if he was lucky. Otherwise though the new Disney film is a visual delight with special effects and budget a 1980s BBC could only dream off. Plus this BBCs Prince Caspian is relegated to a few rather skimpy episodes [Disney beefed up the orginal book with many new ideas that work really well on-screen, e.g. the epic attempt to capture Miraz's castle]. However, being such a paws-on God, you do wonder why Aslan takes so long to get his claw out.

This BBC season has two of C S Lewis's books combined, Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The two stories logically follow on from each other. As a child The DawnTreader book was one of my favourites and this is a very faithful adaption. In this book Lucy and Edmund are spending their hols at the house of their unpleasant cousin Eustace. While looking at a picture of a viking style longboat they are all unexpectedly drawn into the scene and back to Narnia. Floundering in the water they are rescued by Prince Caspian in his ship the DawnTreader. Following Aslan's wishes, Caspian is undertaking a quest to find the seven Lost Lords of Narnia. This journey captures the magic of a long sea voyage to far off fantastic lands - and beyond, where there be dragons and much else besides. The dragon sequences are particularly well done. Note though that this Region 2 DVD set has all six episodes shown in their entirety as Aunty intended, each with the great intro, music and credits, unlike on the US region one DVD where the serials were edited and cut into two 'feature films' (removing scenes and somewhat badly affecting pace). Serialisation allows proper use of the scripted 'cliffhanger' and means your children can watch one or two episodes before bedtime. Disney's film of Voyage of the DawnTreader is due out in 2010.

The BBC Chronicles of Narnia series of DVD's, first screened from 1988 to 1990, are superb value and highly recommended for anyone with preteen children, probably from 4 up. Perhaps they compare rather unfavourably to the new Disney versions, particularly in terms of special effects, but the BBC often scores with the shear quality of it's adaptations in terms of casting, screenplay and script (Narnia fans will probably love both anyway). The only reason not to buy this DVD is that the four DVD BBC set 'The Narnia Chronicles' is even better value as it includes the complete three seasons: The Lion & Witch, Caspian & DawnTreader, and the Silver Chair (another twelve episodes - 6 hours), plus many extras. Check out other brilliant BBC DVD serialisations like 'The Borrowers', 'Five children and it', 'The box of Delights' and 'The Shoebox Zoo' which are actually quite sympathetic with the Narnia stories, so when you get the groans from the kids that there's no more Narnia DVD's to watch, turn to these instead.

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Reviews


Back to Narnia
Review date: 2008-05-16 Rating: 6 out of 10

A few years ago, C.S. Lewis's "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" followed boldly in the footsteps of Lewis' pal Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings Trilogy," with a gleaming new big-screen adaptation, full of top-notch CGI, costumes and settings.

In the months before it's released on DVD, however, it might be time to dust off the 1990 BBC adaptations of "Prince Caspian and the Voyage of the Dawn Treader," crammed into one long movie. The first half suffers from the hokey production of the first film, but the second half blossoms into a fantastical sea voyage.

It's been months since the Pevensies went to Narnia through the wardrobe, and now they waiting for a grim summer vacation. But they don't know what changes have gone on in Narnia. Young Prince Caspian has been raised by his cold uncle King Miraz (Robert Lang) ever since his father's death, with only an old nurse and an aged part-dwarf professor as his friends.

But when Miraz's queen has a baby son, Caspian finds himself on the run, and is taken in by the "Creatures in Hiding," talking beasts and magical people. But that isn't enough to ensure victory. Caspian blows the Horn of Queen Susan, and the Pevensies are whisked back into Narnia to assist the young Prince and his ragtag army in reclaiming his throne.

No sooner have Lucy and Edmund gone to their "awful cousin Eustace"'s house, than a painting on the wall draws them in -- and deposits all three kids beside a giant Narnian ship. Caspian, now a young man, takes them on board and explains that he's on a mission to find some loyal lords who Miraz exiled from Narnia.

But the voyage only gets more dangerous, with the group being captured by slavers, consumed with greed over "gold water," taken captive by invisible creatures, attacked by sea serpents, and Eustace is even turned into a dragon when he greedily claims a treasure trove. But the greatest threat is ahead: the very edge of the world.

It's a tricky thing to take two books and mash them together into one big movie, and it's a credit to the BBC that these stories aren't completely unwatchable. In fact, they unfold at a quick but steady pace, paying plenty of attention to the individual characters. The first half has several flaws, but the second half makes up for that in drama and severity.

This is less fantastical and more battle-oriented than the first movie of this series, especially given Peter's rather flat duel with Miraz right before war breaks out. But the filmmakers take time out to dwell on the minor characters like the sailors, Reepicheep the warrior mouse, and the lovably skeptical dwarf Trumpkin. You gotta love someone called "Big Mick."

Unfortunately, the movies do suffer from some decidedly hokey special effects; dragon-Eustace shifts size and looks absurd, and Miraz's army is clad in Ye Olde Dungeone and Dragone Armoure, complete with black bat motif. Very "Batman goes to the Renaissance Faire." The special effects are redeemed somewhat with a dazzling Dawn Treader, creepy Sea Serpent, and a centaur that still looks better than "Harry Potter's."

Barbara Kellerman still cackles and squeals, and Sophie Wilcox still whines all the time. But the two Caspian actors do an excellent job with their roles, both as a young naive boy and as an experienced king. David Thwaites is the breakout role here, taking Eustace from a whiny brat who gets under everyone's skin to a mature young man who thinks of others first.

Two stories in one -- the first rather flat, the second graced with some genuine chills and heartwarming moments. "Prince Caspian and the Voyage of the Dawn Treader" has some serious flaws, but it's definitely worth watching.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Richard Dempsey
Sophie Cook
Jonathan R. Scott

Creators:
Richard Dempsey (Primary Contributor)
Jonathan R. Scott (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503260224
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-06-16
Audience rating: Universal, suitable for all
Region code: 2
Running time: 120 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1989

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