Tread lightly

Director: Michael Apted
Starring: Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley

The third instalment in C.S Lewis’s timeless tale of Narnia – a land of magic, talking animals and battles to restore good over evil – returns to the big screen with a modern day adaptation.

Lucy and Edmund return to Narnia, this time with their cousin Eustace to set sail (quite by surprise, after being swallowed into a painting) with their royal friend, Prince Caspian. Once aboard the Dawn Treader their voyage is less than plain sailing as they encounter magical creatures and sinister enemies, a river that turns to gold and mysterious islands – all in an attempt to save Narnia once more, with help from their friend and protector, the Great Lion Aslan.

While the storyline doesn’t do much to try and stay afloat, the special effects and sense of nostalgia created through Apted’s slightly dated, mannered directing style lends to the charm of an innocent, childhood adventure that will keep younger audiences thoroughly entertained. So what if it’s not all that clear what they’re trying to save Narnia from; it’s a delightful fantasy that will sit well with the young – those who remember the original stories may not be so enthralled.

Genre: Adventure | Family | Fantasy
Age Restriction: PG
Runtime: 115 min