What the Flick

The HARRY POTTER series has really benefited from the more mature challenges facing Harry, Hermione, and Ron Weasley as they age into adolescence. The early movies were weighted down with exposition and somewhat clunky performances, but this latest outing moves lightly and entertainingly through the world of Hogwarts, teen-age dramas, school dances, and life-threatening Wizard challenges. Here, in HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, Harry faces two potentially deadly terrors: Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and the infinitely more terrifying first date, as 3 international wizard schools get together for the Wizard Olympics (about as well known around here as the upcoming Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy) and the all-school Wizard Prom. Ron and Harry are pretty hysterical at the prom, while Hermione shows that she's blossomed into a lovely young lady in her party dress. As with all these movies, there are some moments that seem awfully dark for younger kids, including moments of extreme peril for our heroes and some very creepy villians that, frankly, scared the heck out of me. So beware. This semester at Hogwarts is fun even for folks who haven't seen the previous movies or read the books (according to my movie comrade), so maybe this is the time to consider transfering from your dreary Muggle school.

Then there's NARNIA, which has a long involved subtitle that basically sums up the plot: the Lion Aslan (voiced by Liam Neeson), the Witch (Tilda Swinton), and the Wardrobe. Back in WWII, the 4 adorable Pevensie children were sent for their safety (remember the Blitz?) from London to the country; they end up at the large spooky home of an eccentric professor. In one of what appears to be several hundred spare rooms, the youngest child, Lucy (Georgie Henley), hides in an old wardrobe, realizes it is a portal to a mysterious winter world that is terrorized by the Witch, and rallies her siblings and the Narnia locals to battle said Witch with the help of the aforementioned Lion to restore springtime to Narnia. Aslan is as wise and forgiving as the Witch is selfish and small minded and the children -- especially Lucy and her Prince William lookalike older brother Peter (Wiliam Moseley) -- fight as if it were their own battle, in the process learning not a few lessons about helping others, love for one's neighbor, and the perils of ratting on one's siblings. As with GOBLET OF FIRE, the movie is quite entertaining whether or not you know a thing about the C.S. Lewis books upon which it's based or care a whit about the story's allegorical overtones. I thought the arrival of the Pevensie children in the nick of time to save a continent not their own was supposed to represent the Americans in WWII, but I seem to be in the minority there. The character of Aslan and story in general certainly have Christian overtones, but if you weren't looking for them they were no more obvious than those embodied by Neo in THE MATRIX movies (see this article in the Christian Science Monitor) and Ripley in ALIEN RESURRECTION, so ignore the prerelease brouhaha (see here or here or here) about its intentions. Besides, isn't it a given that it's better to open your heart and forgive than to get Turkish toffee and live in an ice palace decorated with frozen statues of people who have pissed you off? (BTW, it it's NOT a given at your house, please don't call me!!)

I thought Narnia was a worth a visit, but its big battle scene (while quite appealing to 7-year-old boys, according to my movie "date") may be too intense for younger kids (sympathetic characters are in mortal peril and Orc-like nasties, dragons, and big cats -- by which I mean leopards -- fight fiercely). The battle reflects the continuing influence of the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, for better or worse, and though crucial to the story may have been a bit too long. Nonetheless, this is an entertaining movie with an uplifting message, plenty of excitement with minimal gore, interesting details, a kind heart, and one of the cutest kid actors you're likely to see (Miss Henley as Lucy). So if you need a break from your own winter wonderland, step through to Narnia.

Hope everyone enjoyed the holidays and is ready for a rocking new year.