Prince Caspian- a good adaptation

Why "Prince Caspian" is a good film adaptation

I love the Narnia books. Like a lot of children, my first experience of them was through the films. Once I loved those, my mum gave me the books, and I discovered new favourites. I still go back to them as comfort reading.

It made me a little bit sceptical about the films, though. I'd seen a lot of films which didn't do justice to their source at all, and I had only seen the films as a child. Perhaps they were worse than I remembered?

They're not. The first two, at least, are so faithful to the books. They change what they have to, but the spirit of the books is still there. I re-watched Prince Caspian last week and ended up admiring it all over again, and so here are 7 reasons why the film of Prince Caspian is just as good as the book.

1. It finds new ways to explore the themes of the book. The book focuses on the importance of the Narnians moving away from their past, and from the Golden Age of the Pevensies. The film also shows this, and it culminates in the scene where the Narnians destroy Aslan's How. There is no more powerful way to show the Narnians moving on, and it's only possible because of the shock of the scene.

2. It gets the Pevensies' relationship absolutely spot on. From the opening scenes where Susan sees Peter fighting and sighs, to Edmund stopping Peter from bringing back the White Witch," to Lucy pulling a face when Susan and Caspian kiss, the characters really feel like siblings. Their behaviour with each other feels just as convincing as it does in the books.

3. The additions and changes made from the book add to the story. Crowning Miraz partway through the battle really helps the audience visualise the threat to Caspian and the Narnians, and making Caspian older focuses attention on their rivalry- again, a good way of contrasting the old and new Narnias. 

4. Susan plays a part in the battle. One of the biggest flaws of the Narnia books is their treatment of its female characters. Susan and Lucy never take part in any battle, and it's really satisfying to see the films change this. Susan takes part on both battles alongside her brothers, and proves what women can do given the chance.

5. The film brings the beauty of the books to life. Admittedly, the books can't really be compared in this area, but scenes like Aslan calling the river god, Lucy dreaming about the dryads, and the looming presence of the Telmarine castle are all just like what I imagined when I read the books. They help it feel like the same story I'm happy to read over and over again.

6. The Telmarines are made more human in the film. The books focus on Caspian and the Pevensies, but the film shows us just enough of the Telmarines' individual motivations and characters to make them seem even more menacing. The threat to Narnia feels even stronger when you can understand the other side.

7. Finally, the acting showcases all the ways the characters develop. Particularly in the cases of Caspian's journey to giving up on revenge and Glozelle's decision to leave Narnia for good, the actors bring new life to the story.

What do you think of the Narnia books and films? Let me know in the comments!