Voyage of the Dawn Treader

I had an opportunity to go to an advance screening of the upcoming movie: The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader.  I have to say that it exceeded my expectations and may be the best movie rendering of Narnia so far.

One of the characters says roughly, "Before you can conquer the darkness out there, you must overcome the darkness inside."  The movie is about facing our inner darkness.  When we do, the monsters on the outside can be conquered.

I was totally impressed with Will Poulter who plays Eustace, the young, snarky cousin of Edmund and Lucy.  His transformation through personal pain is at the heart of the movie.  Reflecting on the experience of being transformed and healed by Aslan near the end, he says that it was painful but good.  Like pulling out a thorn.  It hurts but feels better afterwards.

Also, for young children, the sea serpent is really scary.  Parents, you should judge your own kids' ability to handle a big monster.

When Aslan tells Lucy and Edmund that this is indeed their last visit to Narnia, he also says that he exists in their world by another name.  The purpose of their visits to Narnia was so that they would get to know him there.  And what a great truth.  We make a big mistake when we stifle children's imagination, thinking that it will lead them into error.  C. S. Lewis' imaginative fairy tales help us to understand the wonders of God and eternity.