Reviewer's grade: B
This sequel to 2005's "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" sees Lucy (Georgie Henley), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), Susan (Anna Popplewell) and Peter (William Moseley) back in the land of fauns, Centaurs and son-of-God-inspired lions for another round against the forces of evil.
This time they're out to help Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes, "Stardust") lead the Narnians against uncle Miraz (Sergio Castellitto), who has usurped Caspian's throne through murder most foul. Like its predecessor, "Caspian" has terrific production value, but the storyline is way too busy, which prevents meaningful character development. Characters from the book like Trumpkin and Trufflehunter (and many others) are included to satisfy literate fans, but they gum up the works by crowding the cast list.
Throw in the length (two hours twenty minutes) and violence that borders on inappropriate for kids under ten or eleven, and you get a colorful but mixed bag of fantastical hoo-ha. PG
"?Mike Robertson
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