The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)

 

I think this is one of my favorite versions of this story. The special effects are wonderful in this movie and the actors do such a great job acting out this classic story. I also think it was smart to show the bombing of London in the beginning of the movie. It explained why the kids had to leave London in the first place. I also noticed that Peter used some of the moves he saw in WWII in their final battle against the White Witch. This is truly a timeless tale that can be told again and again.

If you are unfamiliar with the world of Narnia, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is either the first or the second book in the series depending on if you are reading the books in publication order or chronological order. During the bombings of London, the four main characters, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, are sent to the country to live with the professor. While playing a game of hide and seek, Lucy finds an old wardrobe. This wardrobe turns out to be a gateway to the magical land of Narnia that is currently ruled by the evil White Witch who makes it always winter and never Christmas. The four children learn that they are part of an ancient prophecy destined to overcome the White Witch with the help of the real king of Narnia, the mighty lion Aslan. It is a great story with betrayal, redemption, and a message that good will always triumph over evil in the end.