The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

All Critics (187) | Top Critics (42) | Fresh (129) | Rotten (63) | DVD (15)

Squanders both its first-rate computer graphics and its sturdy international cast.

November 15, 2011 Full Review

Andrea Gronvall

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

Adamson barrels the action along in an even-handed manner that should keep most of the family happy.

October 18, 2008 Full Review

Tom Charity

CNN.com

Top Critic

Adamson adjusts to the darker tone nicely, but the kids, so richly drawn in the first film, often seem to be carried along in the wake of the chugging plot.

May 22, 2008 Full Review

Hank Sartin

Time Out New York

Top Critic

Too many fights, not enough magic.

May 19, 2008 | Comments (12)

Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

Top Critic

At every turn, the filmmakers go for clutter and tumult where simplicity would do -- and Adamson, to put it kindly, isn't the fleetest of action directors.

May 19, 2008 Full Review | Comments (4)

David Edelstein

New York Magazine

Top Critic

Prince Caspian may be less full of innocent wonder than its predecessor, but it is a smarter, better film. Like its young stars, the Narnia franchise has, for better and worse, grown up.

May 16, 2008 Full Review

Christopher Orr

The New Republic

Top Critic

I can't comment on whether it does Narnia literature justice, but as a film fan, I can whole-heartedly recommend it as an example of fantasy done right.

October 14, 2012 Full Review

Ali Gray

TheShiznit.co.uk

It's a relatively entertaining romp, but it would be surprising if anyone is counting down the days until the third movie.

July 14, 2011 Full Review

Alex Fletcher

Digital Spy

Adamson seems to have decided the great battle at the end of the previous film was its best part and has set out to recapture it but more so, leading to some truly outstanding set pieces, but resulting in a film that is less than the sum of its parts.

March 18, 2011 Full Review

Joshua Starnes

ComingSoon.net

Caspian is a visual sleeper hold from frame one; a constipated effort to erect widescreen wonderment, yet the production is missing dimension and needed narrative gusto.

June 2, 2010 Full Review

Brian Orndorf

BrianOrndorf.com

Darker, more complex and less prone to the cutesy wow-factor, this is a gripping tale with a thoughtful message.

September 17, 2009 Full Review

Rich Cline

Shadows on the Wall

The body count is high, the running time is particularly long for a children's film, and the themes are fairly heavy. But, like Wardrobe, it's a lush and mostly entertaining production.

September 4, 2009 Full Review

Mike Scott

Times-Picayune

Most of C.S. Lewis's peculiar magic is lost.

April 23, 2009 Full Review

Peter Keough

Boston Phoenix

Excessively violent but oddly dull...a Crusades allegory for teeny-boppers

February 27, 2009 Full Review

Fr. Chris Carpenter

Orange County and Long Beach Blade

The creakiness of the plot mechanics and the light condescension I detect don't have me looking forward to the third Narnia movie.

February 9, 2009 Full Review

Jeffrey Chen

Window to the Movies

...the opening hour essentially proceeds at a crawl...

February 2, 2009 Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Narnia fans will devour this film. Casual fans should enjoy it as well. If you had fun watching the first film, this DVD is definitely worth a look or more.

January 15, 2009 Full Review

Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

Andrew Adamson shows a more confident and defined vision that works on several levels, however it's unable to overcome a nagging feel of disconnect.

December 23, 2008 Full Review

Ryan Cracknell

Movie Views

Both the three-disc collector's edition DVD and the three-disc Blu-ray version are loaded with enough features to almost make you forget that the film is disappointing.

December 1, 2008 Full Review

Brian Webster

Apollo Guide

It's unfair to characterize it as Lord of the Rings-Light, but it's difficult to avoid that conclusion after watching this earnest but seriously under-inspired effort.

December 1, 2008 Full Review | Comment (1)

Brian Webster

Apollo Guide

just as Lewis's books were better received by children, this film series is certainly more kid-friendly than Peter Jackson's versions of Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

November 23, 2008 Full Review

James Plath

Movie Metropolis

It's entertaining, value-for-money stuff.

October 18, 2008 Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian [UK]

• 1. Edmund Pevensie: Do you think thre's anyway we can get back? I've left my new torch in Narnia!
  – Submitted by Emma E (6 months ago)
• 1. Aslan: Things never happen the same way twice, dear one.
  – Submitted by Rafael A (7 months ago)
• 1. Lord Sopespian: Crush them all...
  – Submitted by Typhon Q (7 months ago)
• 1. Peter Pevensie: What do you think happens back home if you die here?
  – Submitted by Sheriea J (7 months ago)
• 1. Prince Caspian: High King Peter?..
  2. Peter Pevensie: I believe you called.
  3. Prince Caspian: Oh yes... But.. I thought you will be older.
  4. Peter Pevensie: Well if you like, we can come back in a few years.
  – Submitted by Krystoffer Dave L (12 months ago)
• 1. Trumpkin the Dwarf: Oh.. you've got to be kidding me! You're it? You're the Kings and Queens of old.
  2. Peter Pevensie: High King Peter, the Magnificent.
  3. Susan Pevensie: You could probably left the last bit.
  4. Trumpkin the Dwarf: [laughs] Probably..
  – Submitted by Krystoffer Dave L (12 months ago)

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