"B" Rating by Robert W. Hammerle

To begin with, there is a lot to like in the tale of "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian." Far better than the first installment, this is an action packed film that should please children of all ages.

Unlike the first "Narnia" film, this one is saved from its predecessor's all too obvious emotional shallowness by the fact that it is, at heart, a war picture. It is really one gigantic combat film, and the special effects, as reflected in the previews, are at times spectacular.

After a one-year absence from Narnia, the four Pevensie siblings return only to discover that over one thousand years have elapsed in Narnia time. Evidently, time flies in Narnia when you are having a lousy time, as the kingdom is now in chaos.

Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes), the heir to the throne, has had to flee the clutches of his evil uncle (Sergio Castellito) who seeks to declare himself King. Like a latter day Robin Hood, he flees to the forest where he finds his own band of merry men.

In this case, it is not only the Pevensie children, but also various oppressed survivors of Narnia. As before, these include an eclectic collection of Centaurs, dwarfs, badgers and various charming small rodents.

Aside from the special effects, the strength of this movie is found in the various characters helping the Prince recover his crown. While all four youths playing the Pevensie children are average actors at best, the movie is carried on the shoulders of a tremendous villain, namely the aforementioned Sergio Castellito. It is not an exaggeration to say that he is to Prince Caspian what the Wicked Queen was to Snow White (1937).

In addition, the wonderful Peter Dinklage appears in a significant supporting role as a reluctant dwarf siding with our heroes. Dinklage has proven time and time again that he is a sensational actor ["The Station Agent" (2003); "Lassie" (2005); "Find Me Guilty" (2006); and "Death at a Funeral" (2007)]. He is a treat to watch as a wee little man very comfortable with his size.

The only drawback to this movie from an adult's standpoint comes from its "PG" rating. Given the fact that it is meant to appeal to six-year-old children like my granddaughter (who along with her brother loved this movie), all of the violence in the battle scenes are completely sanitized. There is a lot of death in this movie, but it is all done bloodlessly and without the slightest bit of agony.

While I recognize that every movie has to make certain trade-offs to obtain a sought after rating, this film could have been exceptional had it opted out for genuine pathos as opposed to an all to often child like cuteness. This is especially true given its compelling soundtrack, which could very well be recognized by the Academy at Oscar time.