Chronicles of Narnia reviews are coming in....

[CTXRover]

...and so far look very promising for the hopeful mega-franchise Disney would like out of this one.

As I type this, there are 11 positive (mostly very positive) reviews posted at Rotten Tomatoes and only 3 negative reviews.

Although not posted at rottentomatoes yet, both Ebert and Roeper, probably the two most famous movie critics, gave Narnia two (enthusiatic from the audio on their site) thumbs up!

Its looking pretty good so far.

I'm very excited for Narnia. The trailers and preview videos look amazing.

 

[CTXRover]

As an update, Narniaweb.com, a great fan site for the film, has been collecting reviews it has found as well. Some of these reviews, many from the UK, may find their way onto Rottentomatoes in the coming days. As it stands now, according to Narniaweb, there are 30 positive reviews out there and 3 negative reviews (the same 3 negative ones on RottenTomatoes at this point).

 

[Timmay]

Yep, things look good so far. From what I have heard form a person that saw a preview, it is great.

We will just have to see what the turn out is for it, and if it has legs after Christmas.

 

[imagineer boy]

I've seen some previews on TV where they quote some critic reviews, and it looks very promising. Ebert and Roper giving it 2 thumbs up is very good, and several other critics calling it the best film of the year, and a real oscar contender. I really hope this is true! :sohappy:

 

[CTXRover]

12/6 Update:

At Rottentomatoes, Narnia is now 82% "fresh". In other words, of the 17 posted reviews thus far, 14 are positive and still only 3 negative.

At Narniaweb, there now 38 positive reviews they've found and still only 3 negative reviews (93% positive)

 

[MKCustodial]

Down here, most reviews have been medium at best. I guess it's bound to do better in the US, since you guys grew up with the books and all. But down here? The lion will be fed to the ape. :king:

 

[luvorlando]

I saw it last night and thoroughly enjoyed it! It's a deep and dark story, with just the right amount of light-heartedness thrown in. The animals and creatures are amazing.

Be sure to stay through the credits. :wave:

 

[Shaman]

I saw it last night and thoroughly enjoyed it! It's a deep and dark story, with just the right amount of light-heartedness thrown in. The animals and creatures are amazing.

Be sure to stay through the credits. :wave:

Thanks for the heads up...glad you enjoyed it! :wave:

 

[Legacy]

Am I one of the few people in the world who is not overtly excited about this film? I'll end up seeing it of course, but it's not one of those "Have-To's" that some other movies are.

Maybe I've just become too jaded of all the unoriginal remakes coming out of Hollywood recently.

 

[MKCustodial]

I think I'm even less excited than you, Jeff, 'cause I'm definitely not catching it on the silver screen. Maybe on pay-per-view. I just didn't feel anything for it, with tall the trailers and publicity and whatnot... I got many more priorities over this one right now.

 

[Legacy]

I think I'm even less excited than you, Jeff, 'cause I'm definitely not catching it on the silver screen. Maybe on pay-per-view. I just didn't feel anything for it, with tall the trailers and publicity and whatnot... I got many more priorities over this one right now.

I know what you mean. I'm sorry, but a movie that gets front page on USA Today will only turn me away. I think Disney has too much riding on this beast, and frankly I would rather see Kong anyway. It looks pretty sure, but so did Matrix Reloaded. I know the story works, but something just doesn't bode well for me with this film.

I know it will do well, but it's the long term that has me a little bit hesitant.

 

[ogryn]

Jonathan on... The Chronicles of Narnia
Written by Film 2005 with Jonathan Ross

Still on something of a family fantasy film high in the wake of the most recent Harry Potter adventure, I came to The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe with high hopes of another cinematic treat for children young and forty-something.

Sadly those hopes soon dissipated in the face of a film that lacks style, sophistication and real heart. The characters of the four children are not adequately developed, despite the rather long and laboured preamble before they are transported to Narnia, and it's not even entirely clear why we should be siding with Aslan against the supposedly villainous White Witch.

True, her followers are generally on the hideous side, but on that basis half the contestants on The X Factor [Oggy Edit: American Idol style show devised by Simon Cowell] would have been consigned to the dustbin of talent show history weeks ago.

Structurally the film lacks cohesion, and the shortage of consistency extends to the visuals, where up to the mark effects sit alongside costumes and masks that smack of television budgets. While there are some very amusing and touching performances from Jim Broadbent and others, their talent is sadly under used in a film whose sense of wonder is fatally undermined by its distracting shortcomings.

Opening on Thursday the 8th of December, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, is a film which children will doubtless be keen to see. But I'd be surprised if they're asking for the DVD a few months down the line.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2005/12/07/film_2005_narnia_2005_article.shtml

 

[imagineer boy]

Geez, that critic showed no mercy. I don't care what the critics will say. I'm seeing this!

 

[CTXRover]

From Showbizdata.com:
QUOTE:

The first British reviews of Disney's The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe are the kind movie ads are made of. Consider Peter Bradshaw's five-star review in the Guardian, which includes these opening comments: "The result is a triumph. It is gorgeous to look at, superbly cast, wittily directed and funny and exciting by turns. It unfolds the slim book into a rich visual experience that is bold and spectacular and sweeping, while retaining its human intimacies. I can't see how it could be done better." Under the heading "A Winter Wonderland," David Edwards comments in the London Daily Mirror: "Boasting astonishing special effects, great performances from the cast and the wickedest witch of all time, films don't get much better than this." Sukhdev Sandhu's review in the Daily Telegraph, which includes the observation that "this must be the first Hollywood picture in ages to feature baddies -- wolves, in fact -- who speak with American accents," is much more restrained, but it concludes this way: "Look at it too closely and it tends to fall down. But the same could be said for the first couple of Harry Potter films, and that series has improved hugely over time. This is a worthy opening salvo." The first reviews in the U.S. have also begun trickling in. They are not nearly so passionately enthusiastic as the British ones, but most are quite positive. Writes Carina Chocano in the Los Angeles Times: "What's best about it is that it seems real by the logic of childhood -- it looks as things should look, if kids had it their way."

 

[CTXRover]

12/7 update

Rottentomatoes now has 21 positive reviews posted and only 6 negative reviews. Of the "cream of the crop" (the more respected critics), it stands at 5 positive and one negative.


Narniaweb posts 52 positive reviews and only 7 negative.

Continues to look promising overall for this film as more and more positive reviews continue to pour in and negative reviews are just trickling in from time to time.

 

[Timmay]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2005/12/07/film_2005_narnia_2005_article.shtml

He just kind of rambles without saying much...I wonder how much he really paid attention during the film.

 

[MKCustodial]

I don't care what the critics will say. I'm seeing this!

In the end, that's how you should be doing things anyway. I've never let a critic decide for me if I should watch a movie or not.

 

[MKCustodial]

One big review out down here. It says the movie is not that bad; that the effects are pretty good, but that the 4 kids are awful; that those who've read and/or grown up with the books, are gonna love it, but that the general audience will find it tiresome; and that is seems the perfect movie for the Flanders (from the Simpsons).

That last bit cracked me up. :lol:

 

[Legacy]

One big review out down here. It says the movie is not that bad; that the effects are pretty good, but that the 4 kids are awful; that those who've read and/or grown up with the books, are gonna love it, but that the general audience will find it tiresome; and that is seems the perfect movie for the Flanders (from the Simpsons).

That last bit cracked me up. :lol:

So Narnia is Flander-riffic?

 

[CTXRover]

12/8 update

Rotten Tomatoes now posts a total of 45 positive reviews and 13 negative reviews for a 79% "Fresh" rating. Among the more respected critics, over 80% of reviews posted are positive.

At Narniaweb, they have discovered 59 positive reviews and 8 negative reviews thus far, or a positive rating among 88% of reviews they've uncovered.