"THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: the Voyage of the Dawn Treader" — ★★★ — Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, Ben Barnes, Liam Neeson (voice of Aslan); PG (frightening images, fantasy action); in general release
While not a completely faithful adaptation of the classic it's based on, "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" is, in the end, all about faith.
This third installment of the film series likely won't disappoint Narnia enthusiasts of either the film and literary variety. It's colorful, visually sharp and contains steady amounts of action, some of which may be a little too scary for the little ones.
But for those who value the rich Christian themes in Lewis' work, the most redeeming quality of the film may be that it doesn't compromise the spiritual message of "Dawn Treader."
With older siblings Peter and Susan across the ocean in America, Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and Lucy Pevensie (Georgie Henley), regarded as royalty in Narnia, are stuck at their relatives' home in England, sharing space with their surly cousin Eustace (Will Poulter). But they are swept back into the magical world by swells of water from a painting that features a "very Narnian-looking" ship. A frantic Eustace is along for the ride.
The three children are brought aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader, where King Caspian (Ben Barnes) and his crew are seeking seven Narnian Lords who disappeared on a voyage east. On board is the brave mouse Reepicheep, one of C.S. Lewis' favorite characters, according to Lewis expert and Utah resident S. Michael Wilcox.
As the ship stops at various islands, danger unfolds and temptation swirls around them — literally. A green mist is emanating from Dark Island, threatening to corrupt and overtake the magical world. In order to defeat the darkness, the characters must gather the swords from all seven Narnian lords and lay them on Aslan's table.
Lucy, Edmund and Caspian are warned that they must also defeat the darkness inside themselves. The two Pevensie children long for that which their older siblings seem to have in abundance — Edmund for respect and authority, and Lucy for beauty.
The green mist and seven swords are significant departures from the text of Lewis' book. They are effective, however, at creating visual symbolism, defining a clear conflict and giving the characters an urgent quest.
Perhaps the most profound moment of the book, Eustace's transformation into a dragon, takes place off screen — which was probably a wise decision.
Poulter seems a little over the top initially but settles in nicely and endears himself — as anyone playing Eustace should. Barnes completely altered the accent he had in "Prince Caspian," making for a less-stilted performance. Hensley is grown up and confident but still shows glimpses of sweetness and wonderment.
The show-stealer, however, is the noble and undaunted Reepicheep. A particularly sweet moment occurs when the mouse puts down his sword and comforts the grieving boy-turned-dragon.
Parents should be warned that the final action sequence, an encounter with a sea serpent, is probably the most frightening moment of all three Narnia movies. The 3D elements don't necessarily add much, but aren't distracting, either.
The movie is not without its disappointments — one particular moment will have some viewers recalling the movie "Ghostbusters" — but the ending is handled brilliantly, especially when weighed against the text. The final scene beautifully depicts the lillie-covered waters and towering wave that separate the children from Aslan's world. There, the lion speaks profound words that can be deeply meaningful to Christians and other faiths alike.
The screenwriters must be commended for resisting the temptation to secularize this moment. The movie version of "Dawn Treader" clearly defines themes of darkness and light, refreshing in today's world of moral relativism.
"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" is rated PG for some frightening images and sequences of fantasy action; running time: 114 minutes.