REVIEW: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (PG)

The second big-screen outing for C.S Lewis' beloved Narnia series sees the young heir to the Telmarine throne, Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes), fleeing for his life as his evil uncle Miraz’s wife gives birth to a son. After the suspicious death of Caspian’s father and now that he has an heir of his own, Miraz wants Caspian out of the way so that he can rule over Narnia, which has now faded into legend and is on the brink of extinction.

Meanwhile, back in London, a year has passed and Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are trying to adjust to life in the real world and wishing that they could return to their kingdom. It seems their prayers are answered as they are magically transported back to Narnia through an underground tube station to assist Prince Caspian in overthrowing his uncle and restoring magic and glory to the land.

Prince Caspian does not disappoint. The battle scenes are extraordinary and make you feel as if you are fighting alongside the Narnians as they try and reclaim their kingdom. It's a lot darker than the first and more remindful of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers or Harry Potter’s: Prisoner of Azkaban.

Eddie Izzard brings the film to life in the role of Reepicheep, a bold, chivalrous and extremely cute mouse, whose character is very similar to Puss In Boots in the Shrek movies. Trimpkin (Peter Dinklage), is also charming as the valiant dwarf who strikes up a close friendship with Lucy.

The Pevensie children’s acting has improved ten-fold, but it is Lucy that again steals the show with her heart-warming performance and Aslan, despite having a minor role in the film, really is the most striking character when he finally appears. You almost want to reach out and stroke his mane, as this valiant lion smiles and roars.

The attempt to fulfil the Hollywood requirement of romance with a cringeworthy Susan and Prince Caspian sub-plot is frustrating, as is the random appearance of the White Witch, which has no relevance to the progression of the film. 

Still, Prince Caspian is a worthy follow-up to the Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe, and whilst it does not have the magic of the first it still sits up there alongside Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings as an epic fantasy tale.