The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (film)

Prince Caspian is a 2008 epic fantasy film, made by Disney and Walden Media, based on the original C.S. Lewis novel.

It opened in theaters on May 16, in the United States and on June 26 in the United Kingdom. It was released on DVD, on November 17 in the UK, and December 2 in the US. No Extended Edition follows Prince Caspian.

After Caspian hit theaters, Disney was disappointed at how much money it dropped at the box office, and so decided against any future productions. Fox 2000 Pictures then joined Walden Media and decided to pick up for the sequel, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

Plot
One year has passed in Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie's world, but unknown to them, hundreds of years have passed in Narnia, after they had their last adventure in its hills. The land is now ruled by the Telmarines, a brutish human race who drove the old Narnians into hiding.

On the night a baby is born, Doctor Cornelius tells his student, Prince Caspian, to flee to the woods. Because his uncle Miraz now has an heir, he can get rid of his nephew.

Caspian flees into the woods, followed by a number of guards led by Glozelle sent to kill him. But he soon falls off his horse and encounters two Old Narnians, dwarves, Trumpkin and Nikabrik who find him just when the assassins arrive. Reminded by Cornelius that he should blow the horn in his most dire need, he does so.

Back on Earth, the Pevensies are still trying to adapt to their life in England. Peter is having the hardest time, getting caught in a fight at the station. Suddenly, as the train rushes by, the tunnel turns into a cave in Narnia. The Pevensies soon recognize the location as Cair Paravel, their old castle, but it was forgotten and slowly began to rot away. Luckily, they locate the Treasure Room (with the aid of Edmund's flashlight), which contained their weapons from Father Christmas (except Susan's horn, which she left while hunting for the White Stag) and Narnian clothes that fit them during the beginning of their reign.

Meanwhile, Miraz exhibits a captured Trumpkin as proof that that the Narnians weren't extinct, and have kidnapped Caspian. This gives the council enough evidence to raise an army to exterminate the Narnians once and for all. He has two men go to drown Trumpkin but he is rescued by the Pevensies. To prove that they are the Kings and Queens of Narnia, Trumpkin fights against Edmund, who beats him. They soon learn that the trees are sleeping and a few animals can't talk anymore.

Caspian wakes up in a hollow tree, overhearing a talking badger, Trufflehunter, as well as Nikabrik talking about what to do with him. Trufflehunter doesn't want to kill him, but Nikabrik does. As they take him to the Dancing Lawn, they are chased by Telmarine soldiers, who are quickly taken out by Reepicheep. At the Dancing Lawn, most of the gathered Narnians don't trust Caspian. But Caspian promises to bring peace between their people if they will help him claim the Telmarine throne from his uncle, and the Narnians accept him as their king.

On route to Aslan's How, Lucy sees Aslan, though the others did not and only Edmund believes what she saw. After reaching Beruna river, they find they can't cross it because of a large Telmarine force building a bridge. Finally, the others follow Lucy's lead and safely cross the river.

That night as they rest, Susan and Lucy discuss why nobody but Lucy could see Aslan. Later, Lucy goes looking for Aslan but instead of finding Aslan in the woods like she did in the book, she almost encountered a Minotaur named Asterius. Peter goes to strike an old enemy, only to be stopped by Caspian. They make up, join forces and come to Aslan's How, which is built over the Stone Table.

After Narnians raid a large number of supplies from Glozelle, Miraz edits his story to show Caspian as the instigator of the revolt. To win the war, Peter proposes (with the support of Trumpkin, Edmund and Reepicheep but against Caspian, Susan, and Lucy's advice) they strike at the Telmarine castle. But Caspian spoils the plan by freeing his teacher, learning that Miraz killed his father and tries to get the truth from his uncle, alerting the palace to their presence; nevertheless, to Susan's shock, Peter still orders the attack. The castle is breached, but crossbowmen kill over half their number, and the rest retreat. As a result, Miraz is crowned king, and a huge army marches on to Aslan's How.

After the army returns, Nikabrik convinces Caspian to participate in a ritual that will resurect the White Witch. From inside a wall of ice, the Witch tries to convince Caspian to free her with a drop of blood. Peter, Edmund, Lucy and Trumpkin arrive. Edmund kills the werewolf and Trumpkin stabs Nikabrik just as he is about to kill Lucy. Peter kills the hag and then, seeing Caspian being manipulated by the White Witch, knocks him down and faces the White Witch. She quickly begins convincing Peter to release her. Before he can do anything, Edmund shatters the ice, destroying the White Witch.

With the Telmarine army arriving at the How, Caspian suggests that Peter fight Miraz in a duel to the death, the prize being surrender, in order to buy time for Susan and Lucy to find Aslan. Miraz, who can't afford to look cowardly in the face of his army, accepts the challenge. As the two combatants fight, Susan is forced to let Lucy go on alone as they were being followed by Telmarine horsemen. She kills all but one of the enemy cavalry; this one knocks her down and almost kills her before Caspian arrives and kills the soldier. The two return together to the battle site.

Soon, Peter wounds Miraz, but leaves his fate to Caspian. At first, it look like Caspian is about to take his uncle's life, but stabs his sword into the ground, saying that Miraz can keep his life, but he is giving Narnia back to the Narnians. But one of Miraz's generals, Sopespian (Glozelle in the book), stabs him with a Narnian arrow and blames it on the Narnians. The Telmarine forces bombard the How, then charge with horsemen. But Caspian and his troops cause the earth beneath the enemy to collapse, Susan rallies archers to shoot them down, and Peter leads a massive charge. Even though the cavalry was easily being killed, the Telmarines called in another garrison which Peter hesitated to retreat from the massive force. The trebuchets were ordered to prevent the escape and they did eliminating the choice of retreat. With no where to run and no surrender possible, the Narnians are forced into an inescapable battle in which the odds are against them.

Lucy is still being chased - until Aslan arrives and drives the Telmarines away. After they finish reuniting with each other, Aslan gently rebukes Lucy for not seeking him sooner. She asks why he didn't come to save them like he did on their last visit to Narnia; Aslan simply replies "Things never happen the same way twice." He then awakens the trees to aid in the Narnians' fight, destroying the trebuchets and driving the Telmarines to Beruna river. He then summons the river god, who destroys the majority of the army, as well as swallows Sopespian. As the survivors surrender, Aslan heals Reepicheep (who lost his tail in the battle), and proclaims that Caspian is ready to be king.

At the Telmarine Castle, Aslan revealed that the Telmarines originally came from Earth, who were once pirates who found a portal to Narnia. He offered them a chance to return to their homeland or stay in Narnia. Using his breath, he turns a tree into a portal. Prunaprismia and Glozelle are the first to go and as soon as they step through, they vanish. Some are doubtful and fear that they may be sent off to their doom. The Pevensies offer to go through, and Peter gives Caspian his sword to symbolize his right to the throne. Caspian says he will wait for their next return, but Susan reveals a shocking secret: she and Peter can't come back, as they had learned all they needed to know; Edmund and Lucy, however, will return someday. Knowing that Narnia is in good hands, they make their goodbyes; Susan even kisses Caspian goodbye, knowing they will never meet again. The Pevensies walk through the portal, back to Earth; and Edmund learns, to his dismay, that he left his flashlight in Narnia.

Differences between the Book and Film Adaptation

 * The film opens with Caspian's flight. In the book, Trumpkin told the Pevensies of Caspian and his story after they had been in Cair Paravel for two days.
 * In the film, while reading, Susan meets a boy who has an unrequited crush on her, and Peter gets himself and Edmund into a fight. There are no such occurrences in the book.
 * In the book, the children are waiting for the trains to take them to school at a country railway station. In the film, they are on the London Underground.
 * In the film, Miraz isn't crowned King until after the night-raid. In the book, he had been the King for years as he was crowned shortly after he secretly murdered his brother, King Caspian IX.
 * In the book, Caspian is a young teenage boy of thirteen; the same age as Susan. In the film, he is coming of age and therefore, closer to Peter's age.
 * In the film, all four Pevensies leave their shoes on the beach and explore the Cair Paravel ruins barefoot after paddling. In the book, Lucy and Edmund are the only ones to go barefoot, and Susan berates them into bringing their shoes with them.
 * The apples at the Cair Paravel ruins are red in the film. In the book, they are golden.
 * The Pevensies deduce that they are in the ruins of Cair Paravel much more quickly in the film than in the book.
 * A chase scene is added on the way to Dancing Lawn.
 * In the book, no mention is made of Minotaurs fighting for Caspian, and two other species (wolves and Black Dwarves) who fought for the White Witch are expressly mentioned as unviable allies.
 * Trumpkin tells Lucy that the Trees "retreated so far into themselves they haven't been heard from since". In the book, he doesn't believe in dryads and naiads.
 * Trumpkin is portrayed as being more skeptical of authority in the film than in the book.
 * In the book, the Pevensies turned back after they found a town at Beruna and a bridge built over the ford. In the film, they find the bridge still under construction by Telmarine soldiers.
 * In the book, the Pevensies met Aslan before they meet Caspian.
 * In the film, the Narnians launch an attack on Miraz's castle. In the book, an attack on Miraz's castle was considered, but the idea was abandoned.
 * In the film, Doctor Cornelius is arrested and thrown into prison by Miraz after Caspian's flight and is rescued by Caspian during the attack on the castle. In the book, Doctor Cornelius escaped the castle shortly after helping Caspian to flee.
 * In the film, Dr. Cornelius tells Caspian that Miraz killed his father after Caspian rescues him from prison. In the book, Dr. Cornelius reveals this secret to Caspian when helping him to escape.
 * In the film, Queen Prunaprismia is unaware of her husband's schemes to get the throne and is a much more sympathetic character, whilst in the book, she was as strict and cruel as Miraz, though it is never mentioned whether she knew of him murdering his brother and his plans to kill Caspian.
 * In the film, Caspian blows Susan's horn during his flight after falling from his horse, just outside Trufflehunter's home. In the book, he blew the horn at Aslan's How after meeting the Narnians.
 * Caspian is knocked out by Nikabrik during his flight in the film. In the book, he was knocked out by a tree branch.
 * In the film, the first Narnians Caspian meets are only Trufflehunter and Nikabrik whilst in the book, he also met Trumpkin.
 * In the film, Trumpkin is captured by the Telmarine soldiers who chase Caspian into the woods when he intervenes in Caspian's flight. In the book, he was captured on his journey to Cair Paravel.
 * In the book, at Aslan's How, Nikabrik, the Hag and the Werewolf were preparing for the ritual to summon the White Witch, in direct treason to Caspian, who was unaware of what they were about to do, when Peter and Edmund arrived with Trumpkin in time to stop them. In the film, Caspian at first goes along with the ritual, and the White Witch's apparition is summoned, tempting Caspian and Peter before being destroyed by Edmund.
 * In the film, Caspian meets all four of the Pevensies before arriving at Aslan's How. In the book, he only met Peter and Edmund at Aslan's How and didn't meet Susan and Lucy until after the battle was over.
 * Susan never fought in the book: only Peter, Edmund and Caspian fought, while Susan and Lucy stayed with Aslan and helped him to restore Narnia to its former glory.
 * In the book, Glozelle kills Miraz and is decapitated by Peter. In the film, Sopespian kills Miraz and is finished off by the River God, while Gregoire is decapitated by Peter. Glozelle survives and is the first Telmarine to go through the Door in the Air.
 * In the book, the River God was released after the bridge was destroyed. In the film, the River God destroys the bridge after Aslan wakes him up.
 * Caspian's nurse is not seen in the film, nor is she mentioned and it was Doctor Cornelius who told Caspian the stories of Narnia.
 * In the film, Caspian forms an attraction to Susan, which results in Susan kissing Caspian goodbye before the Pevensies leave. In the book, however, Caspian was never attracted to Susan, nor did she ever kiss him for they only met briefly.
 * In the film, Peter gives Caspian his sword to keep before the Pevensies leave. In the book, he was given Susan's horn.
 * In the book, the Pevensies changed back into their school clothes before they went back. In the film, their clothes appear to change by magic, leaving it unclear how Edmund managed to leave his torch in Narnia.

Director

 * Andrew Adamson

Writing Credits

 * Andrew Adamson
 * Christopher Markus
 * Stephen McFeely

Cast

 * William Moseley - Peter Pevensie
 * Anna Popplewell - Susan Pevensie
 * Skandar Keynes - Edmund Pevensie
 * Georgie Henley - Lucy Pevensie
 * Liam Neeson - the voice of Aslan
 * Ben Barnes - Prince Caspian
 * Peter Dinklage - Trumpkin The Dwarf
 * Sergio Castellitto - Miraz
 * Alicia Borrachero - Queen Prunaprismia
 * Vincent Grass - Doctor Cornelius
 * Warwick Davis - Nikabrik The Dwarf
 * Shane Rangi - Asterius the Minotaur
 * Ken Stott - the voice of Trufflehunter
 * Eddie Izzard - the voice of Reepicheep
 * Cornell John - Glenstorm
 * Lejla Abbasová - Glenstorm's wife (Windmane)
 * Pierfrancesco Favino - Glozelle
 * Damián Alcázar - Sopespian
 * David Bowles - Lord Gregiore
 * Simón Andreu - Lord Scythley
 * Stewart Kenneth Moore - Lord Stewert
 * Predrag Bjelac - Lord Donnon
 * Juan Diego Montoya Garcia - Lord Montoya
 * Yemi Akinyemi - Ironhoof
 * Carlos Da Silva - Suncloud
 * Ephraim Goldin - Rainstone
 * David Walliams - one of the three Bulgy Bears
 * Tilda Swinton - White Witch
 * Klara Issova - The Hag
 * Jirí Krytinár - An Old Narnian Dwarf
 * Gomez Sandoval - Lightning Bolt the Child Centaur
 * Jan Pavel Filipensky - Wimbleweather
 * Harry Gregson-Williams - The voice of Pattertwig
 * Sim Evan-Jones - The voice of Peepiceek
 * Joseph Moore - Train Station Bully
 * Ashley Jones - Geeky Boy
 * Douglas Gresham - Telmarine Crier
 * Mana Hira Davis - Telmarine Soldier in Boat
 * Winham Hammond - Telmarine Soldier in Boat

Filming
Filming took place in Auckland, starting February 12, 2007. Other filming locations were Cathedral Cove, Barrandov Studios in Prague, and the Soča region In Slovenia. Filming ended September 8, 2007.

Music

 * Composer Harry Gregson-Williams returned to score this film as he did in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
 * Regina Spektor wrote a song called "The Call", which comes at the very end of the film, when the Pevensie kids were leaving Narnia, and also in the soundtrack.
 * Switchfoot did a song called "This is Home", which was in the soundtrack.

Rating
Prince Caspian is rated PG for epic battle sequences and violence. It was expecting a PG-13 rating, and many are still expecting an Extended release to recieve a PG-13 rating.

Marketing and Release
The film was originally was supposed to be released December 14, 2007, but was pushed back to May 16, 2008. The first official trailer was released December 4, 2007 on Narnia fan sites, such as NarniaWeb, to potentially 400 million people on the fan site NarniaWeb, alone. A spot for the movie was shown at Super Bowl XLII. It aired at about 7:38pm EST. The ad can be seen at NarniaWeb here: http://narniaweb.com/news.asp?id=1416&dl=15129960 in qualities from QT Low, QT 1080p, WMV High, and on You Tube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLjw_x-6owM.