SYNOPSIS: One year after the incredible events of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” the Kings and Queens of Narnia find themselves back in that faraway wondrous realm, only to discover that more than 1300 years have passed in Narnian time. During their absence, the Golden Age of Narnia has become extinct, Narnia has been conquered by the Telmarines and is now under the control of the evil King Miraz, who rules the land without mercy.

The four children will soon meet an intriguing new character: Narnia’s rightful heir to the throne, the young Prince Caspian, who has been forced into hiding as his uncle Miraz plots to kill him in order to place his own newborn son on the throne. With the help of the kindly dwarf, a courageous talking mouse named Reepicheep, a badger named Trufflehunter and a Black Dwarf, Nikabrik, the Narnians, led by the mighty knights Peter and Caspian, embark on a remarkable journey to find Aslan, rescue Narnia from Miraz’s tyrannical hold, and restore magic and glory to the land.

REVIEW: “We've anxiously awaited your return my liege.” And return they did! Just as the Kings and Queens of Narnia matured, so did the sequel. We witness the progression of boys to men, girls to women, child’s play to epic battle. “You may find Narnia a more savage place than you remember... “ The savagery causes the royal family to grow up even more, real quick. No room for fun and games, it’s strictly business this time. The kingdom is still magical, but it has gotten dark and bleak compared to how it was. It is still an adventure, but a lot more violent, realistic, and mature. There is always a conflict when dealing with corrupt sons of Adam, which happen to be ruling over the kingdom. The treachery and tyranny is what causes the Kings and Queens to be summoned back to Narnia.

This movie was exciting and inspiring. It is more down to earth than the first one and all around better too. I really don’t think I’ve ever been at a movie with as much cheering and clapping as this one. I think this one took the top spot in that category. Granted, about 25% of the audience were children. Regardless, the whole audience was really into it and enjoying every minute even though it is over 2 hours long. It didn’t even seem that long. I don’t recall ever being bored. There was plenty of action and a very good storyline to keep you tuned in. On the other hand, however, the progress of the story was abrupt at times.

It was nice to see the original 4 reprising their roles. It was similar to how you see the Harry Potter crew grow up before your eyes throughout the years in their movies. They are all a lot less innocent and a lot more regal. Their performances were good enough considering they don’t get much of a chance to really act because there is too much going on. One actor that did stand out was Peter Dinklage as Trumpkin. That guy can act. His facial expressions along with his voice strengthen his performance. I also need to mention that at least this time Lucy (Georgie Henley) was not constantly crying. As you can imagine, the cinematography was breathtaking. From the streets and subway of England to the forest, hills, mountains, castles, and sky blue waters of Narnia, the look of this film truly elevates its quality. Even the majesty of the Kings and Queens as well as Caspian (Ben Barnes) adds to the effect of the picture. The special effects, such as the talking animals, were very well done and realistic so they didn’t distract too much. Writer/Director/Producer Andrew Adamson outdid himself with this one. If his work on the first Narnia was good, and this one was better, I can hardly wait to see what’s in store for us on the next episode which he is signed on to do. This series could really catch on and be almost as big as Lord of the Rings or, dare I say, Harry Potter . . . I dare, I dare.