JESSA MAE A.

ALBARACIN
MAED I-ENGLISH
ENG 505

A Movie Critique: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

This movie is based on C.S. Lewis' beloved fantasy novel, this visually stunning adaptation brings to
life a magical land filled with captivating creatures and timeless symbolism. The beginning of the movie
opens in war-torn London during World War II. The film introduces the four Pevensie siblings - Peter, Susan,
Edmund, and Lucy - who are being evacuated to a countryside mansion to escape the bombings in the city.
The children's mother tearfully bids them farewell as they embark on their uncertain journey to the
countryside. Upon arriving at the mansion, they are greeted by the stern Professor Kirke, who will be their
guardian during their stay. The mansion's vast and mysterious interior captivates the siblings, and it is during
their explorations (basically, when they decided to play hid and seek out of boredom) that the youngest,
Lucy, stumbles upon a seemingly ordinary wardrobe tucked away in a spare room. Curiosity getting the
better of her, Lucy steps inside the wardrobe and, to her astonishment, finds herself in a snowy, magical
world.

We can see in the movie how Lucy convinced her siblings that what she saw was true. In fact, one of
her siblings, Edmund, saw it himself but then denied it by saying “Some little children just don't know when
to stop pretending.” In other words, Edmund did not tell his other two siblings that he went to that magical
place too, and that broke the heart of Lucy. These four siblings have different personalities and differences
among each other. The reason why sometimes they just cannot get along with each other.

Let us first start with the eldest sibling, Peter. Peter, the eldest of the siblings, exudes a sense of
responsibility and protective nature towards his younger brothers and sisters. He is courageous, level-
headed, and takes charge in challenging situations, often assuming a leadership role among his siblings. The
reason why Edmund got to misinterpret his leadership all the time.

Second is Susan. Susan is the second oldest and has a practical and sensible personality. She is the
voice of reason among the siblings and often seeks to maintain order and safety. Initially, Susan finds it
challenging to believe in the fantastical world of Narnia, preferring to rely on her logical reasoning. Susan is
smart and the reason why Peter often times misunderstood her because she relies on her logical reasoning
and not good luck (we can see this one on the scene where they need to cross the river to get to the other
side going to Narnia).

Third in the sibling is Edmund. Edmund, the younger of the two brothers, starts the story with a
rather troublesome and selfish personality. He feels overshadowed by Peter and seeks ways to assert his
independence, often leading him to make poor decisions. And this personality will then show later on the
movie where he was tempted by the White Witch's promises of power and grandeur. Edmund's actions and
choices in the story are primarily driven by his desire for recognition and a sense of importance. He feels
overshadowed by his older brother Peter and seeks ways to assert himself and prove his worth.

And of course, last but not the least of the sibling is Lucy. Lucy possesses a childlike innocence,
curiosity, and unwavering belief in the magical world of Narnia. Her open heart allows her to be the first to
discover the enchanted land through the wardrobe. Lucy's pure faith and empathy make her an essential
source of hope and compassion, influencing her siblings and those around her positively. However, among
all these differences that they have within themselves, these also helped them to overcome the challenges
that are ahead of them. They put aside all their differences and let love and kindness rule over them.

Before I present the three things that for me is essential and is symbolic to the movie, I will first
present the symbolism that underlies among the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe — which are three
important things to be considered in the movie. Hence, the title itself.

The lion was named Aslan. Aslan the lion serves as a powerful Christ figure in the story. He embodies
qualities of love, sacrifice, and redemption. Aslan's ultimate act of self-sacrifice on the Stone Table, where
he willingly offers his life to save Edmund, draws direct parallels to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. His
subsequent resurrection further emphasizes the theme of redemption and victory over death. Aslan also
symbolizes honorable protection and leadership. He is Narnia's legitimate king and the personification of
righteousness and justice. Aslan leads and guards both the Narnia inhabitants and the Pevensie siblings
throughout the story. Those who trust in him are given strength and hope by his presence, empowering
them to resist the White Witch's control.

The witch, specifically the white witch. The White Witch serves as a direct contrast to Aslan, the
benevolent lion and Christ figure in the story. Aslan embodies self-sacrifice, love, and redemption, while the
Witch represents selfishness, cruelty, and temptation. The White Witch's obsession with her own beauty
and immortality highlights the dangers of narcissism and selfish desires. Her self-centeredness blinds her to
the true beauty of the world and leads her to exploit and manipulate others for her gain. This serves as a
cautionary tale against the destructive consequences of extreme self-centeredness.

The wardrobe serves as a portal that leads the Pevensie siblings from the ordinary world of war-torn
London into the magical realm of Narnia. It quite ironic how they wanted to get away from war just to be
war again in Narnia. The funny yet amazing thing is that they got the chance to lead the war. The wardrobe
also symbolizes the power of imagination and the idea that ordinary objects can hold extraordinary
potential. Just like how these four siblings tend to be ordinary and turned out to be extraordinary beings in
Narnia. They in fact were considered as the sons of Adam (Peter and Edmund) and daughters of Eve (Susan
and Lucy), that will save the entire land of Narnia from the cruelty White Witch. These siblings just need to
embrace their own imaginations. As we see in the movie that whenever they come out of that wardrobe, it
seems like as if nothing had happened in the real time and world. The wardrobe is also described as an old,
antique piece of furniture. Its aged and mysterious appearance symbolizes a connection to the past and
hints at the history of Narnia and the enchanting events that occurred within its borders. It also suggests
that the magical world of Narnia has existed long before the Pevensie siblings stumbled upon it,
emphasizing the timeless and enduring nature of the land.

Additionally, as I watched and absorbed the meaning of the movie, I came with these three
important things that can also be seen as symbolic in the movie. These are Family, Leadership, and Sacrifice.

The movie mirrors how family should support each other. The movie started during World War II and
their mother decided to evacuate her four children to a safer place. As the four of them arrived in that
mansion, they never left each other’s side even if they have differences within themselves. There was this
part in the movie where Professor Kirke talked to Peter and Susan about what they think of Lucy’s statement
and experience of the wardrobe. Susan did not believe about this of course because for her it is logically
impossible. Peter also did not believe Lucy at first. However, the Professor gave a slight belief on what Lucy
was seen inside the wardrobe. Peter said to the professor, “You’re saying that we should just believe her?”
and then the professor answered, “Is she your sister, isn’t she? You’re a family.” This line makes me realize
that no matter what happened, no matter how impossible it may seem, you should always believe in your
family, because family is all that matters. Even though they did not have their parents with them, it is clear
that they always got each other’s back; from the beginning of the movie up until the end. Circumstances
might challenge their faith and love for each other especially when Edmund betrayed his siblings, but still
they chose to believe and trust one another. Because for them, that is what family is all about — never
leaving your side.

Leadership was also seen in the movie. We have the leadership of Aslan, Peter, and the White Witch.
Aslan, the wise and noble lion, represents the epitome of just and selfless leadership. He is the rightful king
of Narnia and cares deeply for its inhabitants. As a leader, Aslan guides and protects the Pevensie children,
offering them guidance and wisdom. He leads by example, showing sacrificial love and courage, inspiring
loyalty and devotion from those who believe in him. As the eldest sibling, Peter naturally assumes a
leadership role among the Pevensie children. Throughout the story, Peter's leadership is characterized by his
sense of responsibility, courage, and protective nature. He takes charge in challenging situations, making
tough decisions to ensure the safety of his siblings and the other creatures of Narnia. Peter's bravery in
leading the charge during the Battle of Beruna showcases his growth as a leader, inspiring others to follow
his example. The White Witch's leadership is characterized by tyranny, fear, and oppression. She rules over
Narnia with an iron fist, keeping the land trapped in an eternal winter and instilling terror in its inhabitants.
Her ruthless and authoritarian governance stands in stark contrast to Aslan's benevolence, emphasizing the
consequences of abusive leadership.

Moreover, in the Battle of Beruna we can see who has a good leadership between Peter and the
White Witch. We can see the difference between a leader and a boss. The White Witch showed the exact
example of being a boss. She first instructed her people and then lets her people go in the war as she was
only looking as her people slowly got killed by the opponents. The White Witch just started fighting the
moment she realized that they are slowly losing the battle. On the other hand, Peter showed the true
meaning of being a leader. He fought together with his allies. His allies were not afraid to fight because they
know that Peter was there for them. This scene made me remember the quotation of George Kelly when he
quoted “Remember the difference between a boss and a leader. A boss says, “Go”. A leader says, “Let’s go!”.
The movie presents various leadership styles, showcasing the qualities of good leadership, such as courage,
selflessness, wisdom, and the ability to inspire and unite others. The film emphasizes the importance of
choosing leaders who prioritize the greater good and work towards a just and harmonious society.

In the movie we can see how the White Witch really wanted to get Edmund. The reason why the
witch wanted to get and kill Edmund was because there is this rule in Narnia that whoever betrays someone
or is a traitor, that person would belong to the White Witch, meaning she would have the right to kill. By the
law, if the White Witch was denied her right, and did not receive a kill, then all Narnia would overturn and
perish in fire and water. This is where I perceived sacrifice in the movie. One of the most poignant examples
of sacrifice is when Aslan willingly offers himself in Edmund's place on the Stone Table. The White Witch
demands Edmund's life as a consequence of his betrayal, but Aslan, embodying sacrificial love and
redemption, intervenes to save him. Aslan's selflessness and bravery in facing certain death for another
exemplify the ultimate act of sacrifice. Fortunately, Aslan resurrected because the White Witch forgot that
one important rule written on the Stone Table — “If a willing victim that has committed no treachery is
killed in a traitor’s stead, the Stone Table will crack; and even death itself would turn backwards.”

The movie's depiction of Aslan's sacrifice is a crucial and intensely moving scene that has a
significant impact on the whole plot. His decision to offer his life in place of Edmund's betrayal serves as a
powerful symbol of atonement and redemption. This act of selfless love exemplifies the ultimate sacrifice,
paralleling the Christian concept of Christ's sacrifice for humanity's sins. Aslan's death appears to be a
victory for evil, but it leads to an even greater triumph when he is resurrected, defeating the White Witch
and symbolizing the ultimate triumph of goodness over darkness. His resurrection is attributed to the
"Deeper Magic," signifying a higher power that governs Narnia and underscores the importance of faith and
divine order. Aslan's sacrifice becomes a catalyst for Edmund's redemption, highlighting the transformative
power of forgiveness and remorse. His selflessness inspires hope and courage in the hearts of the
characters, motivating them to stand against oppression and injustice. Ultimately, Aslan's sacrifice is a
timeless reminder of the enduring power of love, the cycle of renewal, and the belief in higher forces that
bring about redemption and new beginnings.

The movie leaves an indelible impression on the hearts of viewers, reminding us of the enduring
power of hope, forgiveness, and the eternal battle between light and darkness. "The Lion, the Witch, and
the Wardrobe" stands as a captivating cinematic experience that continues to inspire and delight audiences
of all ages with its timeless tale of wonder and heroism in the enchanting land of Narnia.