When I first saw “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” in the theaters, I liked it but it wasn’t the greatest movie of the year in my opinion. When it came time to assemble my Top 10 lists of 2005, I reflected upon the film and, while it still wasn’t the greatest of the year, I put it on my list. However, I really never fully appreciated “Narnia” until my four year old son saw it with his grandparents and fell in love with the movie.

It was then that I realized the profound impact this film can have on children. It wasn’t just a couple hours of escapism. It succeeded in exactly what its original author C.S. Lewis set out to do – tell a tale for children that was grounded in honor and respect while showing them a world of good versus evil.

When I finally got a copy of “Narnia” on DVD, its powerful influence was demonstrated again – this time on my two year old. Even at his young age, he loved the film. It connected with him as much as any episode of “Winnie the Pooh” or “Pokemon.”

“Narnia” definitely grew on me. Watching it additional times on DVD made me wish it had been made when I was a child, and I’m kicking myself for not reading all the books in my youth. All I had was a crummy animated special, which I rented for my kids before this DVD came out. Needless to say, the story was there but the animation was minimal – nothing like the tour de force of digital wizardry you’ll see in the live action version.

The movie is available for purchase as a single disc, and as a two-disc collector’s edition. Depending on where you might purchase it, this double-disc set will cost about ten to fifteen bucks more, but it is well worth the price. Unlike some weak double discs, the “Narnia” collector’s edition is packed with extra features and insight on all aspects of the film.

The first disc comes with a blooper real and pop-up facts that can be played throughout the feature. It also has a filmmaker’s commentary, but more interesting is the additional commentary track featuring the director and the four young actors playing the Pevensie children. In general, I don’t like actor commentaries because it ends up a conglomeration of inside jokes and boring, egocentric stories. However, in many ways, these young stars trump regular Hollywood actors in wit and wisdom. The children speak highly intelligently about the filmmaking process and the meaning of the film. Additionally, it becomes strikingly clear that the four actors who played siblings grew to be a family away from home.

This closeness of the cast becomes even more clear on the second disc with hours of additional featurettes and behind-the-scenes examinations of the movie. The most touching one focuses on the children and how being a part of Narnia was as special an experience as that other kids had watching the film.

The filmmaking process is examined in-depth. Highlights include an “Anatomy of a Scene” that shows how the production crew literally went all over the world to assemble one of the many action sequences. There’s also a strong focus on the digital elements of the movie, which actually explains why some creatures (like the Beavers) look so-so, but Aslan the lion looks incredible.

However, the filmmaking process isn’t the only thing covered on this second disc. There are extensive sections about Narnia itself, from the mind of C.S. Lewis. A map of the land explains where the action takes place, and there’s also an interactive timeline that chronicles the stories from all seven books (which you might not want to look through if you don’t want the further adventures spoiled).

Without speaking down to the audience, the behind-the-scenes information is broken up enough that children can enjoy it as well, especially an easter egg in the “Creatures of the World” section that allows you to hear about each one either from the filmmaking perspective or the story perspective. This makes the entire DVD – not just the feature films – great family viewing.



Specifications: 5.1 Home Theater Mix. DTS 5.1 Digital Surround Sound. Widescreen (2.35:1), enhanced for 16x9 televisions. French and Spanish language tracks. French and Spanish subtitles. English language subtitles for the hearing impaired.