The Chronicles of Narnia

C. S. Lewis's classic fantasy comes to life in this epic BBC production, which arrives in a three-disc DVD set including all three installments: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1988); Prince Caspian and the Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1989); and The Silver Chair (1990). The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which earned BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) honors for Best Children's Program, introduces four British children who are evacuated to "the biggest, weirdest house" in the countryside at the height of World War II. There's Peter (the eldest), practical Susan, plucky Lucy, and "perfectly beastly" Edmund. Through an old wardrobe, they enter Narnia, a once-glorious land now in thrall to the White Witch, under whose cruel reign it is always winter--but never Christmas. However, these "sons of Adam and daughters of Eve" signal the reemergence of Aslan, Narnia's former lion king, and as legend foretells, "Wrong will be right when Aslan comes in sight." In Prince Caspian, the brave quartet are called again to Narnia to help a young prince who has been marked for death by his uncle, the cruel king Miraz. The miniseries concludes with The Silver Chair, in which Eustace, the "horrible cousin" to Peter and company, returns to Narnia with a kindred misfit classmate, Jill, to help reunite the now-elderly King Caspian with his kidnapped son. This spectacular saga of good versus evil will stir fantasies and fire the imaginations of young Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings fans. However, viewers should not expect a special-effects extravaganza: shot on video, this is charmingly low-tech, with costumed characters and special effects that do not dwarf the story. Still, there are enough swashbuckling swordfights, enchanted talking animals, and fierce beasts to captivate even the most jaded of viewers. Highly recommended. (K. Lee Benson)