Review of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008) by Dg J — 30 Nov 2013

1,300 years after the Pevensie siblings left Narnia, a Telmarine prince, Caspian, the rightful heir to the throne, is awakened by his mentor Doctor Cornelius, informing him that his aunt, Prunaprismia, has given birth to a son and Caspian's life is endangered. (Caspian is only a foster son of his uncle, Miraz, the regent who wishes to take power and who will cheerfully kill him now that he has his own son.) Cornelius gives him Queen Susan's ancient magical horn, instructing him to blow it only at his greatest need. Knowing that his uncle, Miraz, would kill him to steal the kingship, Caspian flees. Pursued into the woods, where the Telmarines fear to go, Caspian hits a branch and falls off his horse. He is rescued by two Narnian dwarfs, Trumpkin and Nikabrik, and a talking badger named Trufflehunter. While Trumpkin acts as a decoy, Nikabrik saves Caspian. Confused, Caspian blows the horn to summon help.

The film cuts to England, in which one year has passed since the Pevensie children returned from Narnia. World War II still wages on and the children, slightly melancholic, are waiting in the London Underground station for their train to school. All of a sudden the station starts collapsing, and the Pevensies are magically transported to Narnia. At first they cast off their shoes and run into the waters of the bay, for fun and the joy of returning to Narnia. Edmund, however, looking upward to the cliffs, is the first to realize that he doesn't remember any ruins in Narnia. While exploring the ruins, Lucy sees landmarks and announces that they are at Cair Paravel. After using their old scouting abilities, Edmund recognizes a catapult and realizes the site was attacked.

In the Telmarine castle, while Miraz takes delight in his newborn son, the lords of the council learn that Prince Caspian is gone. Lord Sopespian blames Miraz, but Miraz blames the Narnians and tells the lords to fight them to get Caspian back, though Miraz actually intends to kill Caspian.

The Pevensies save Trumpkin from being drowned by two Telmarines; he quickly realizes that the four children are the Kings and Queens of Old and they continue on together. On the way, Lucy glimpses Aslan and tries to convince the others that she has seen him, but only Edmund believes her.