Rating: 
Summary: Some of the *worst* acting I've seen
Review: Don't waste your money. Thankfully I borrowed this from the library. This is some of the worst acting I've ever seen, and a complete insult to a great book and a great author.
If the intention was to find a cast who is completely incompitent, than the goal was accomplished. Since it was made in 1990, the poor special affects can be forgiven, but not the acting.
There's not much more to say. This was disgusting.
Rating: 
Summary: Azlan sends two children off to rescue Prince Rilian
Review: "The Silver Chair" is the four and final adaptation of one of The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, although I am surprised that this series was not able to complete the entire set of novels In this story Eustace Scrubb (David Thwaites) is being tormented at school and while looking for a place to hide from the bullies ends up entering the magical world of Narnia from a garden shed, along with another persecuted classmate, Jill Pole (Camilla Power). There Aslan gives them the task of rescuing Prince Rilian, the stolen son of King Caspian. This requires them to travel, along with Puddleglum the Marshwiggle (Tom Baker), north to the Deep Lands of the underworld belonging to the Green Lady (Barbara Kellerman). There they meet the Black Knight, who is under the enchantment of the evil Green Lady, who tortures him in a Silver Chair that sends him into a terrifying rage. By the time you get to "The Silver Chair" you have either accepted the limited special effects of this production or not. Yes, the animatronics of Aslan are almost unbelievably simplistic, but the kids always talk to him like he was a real lion and ruler of Narnia and that is all that really matters in the end. The costumes and sets are pretty good and above all the story is faithful to the Lewis narrative. One of the things I enjoyed most about the "The Silver Chair" is the way that Lewis elegantly works in Christian elements into the story. Azlan works hard to have Jill learn a series of signs, by which she and Eustace will be able to achieve their goal. However, Jill has problems remembering the signs and Eustace does not really seem up to the challenge. Then again, most great children's literature works on two levels, although clearly "The Silver Chair" and the other chronicles will appeal more to the kids, which is fine, because that is really who they were intended for even though they are arguably too good for the little ones.
Rating:
Summary: More of the same from Narnia - which is not a bad thing
Review: Another installment in the classic children's series The Narnia Chronicles, "The Silver Chair" continues the pattern of presenting stand-alone stories that work within a grander story arc. Also like previous installments, "The Silver Chair" brings back familiar characters while also introducing new cast members, lending the story an air of familiarity while still remaining fresh. In this installment Eustace, the ill-mannered lad who learned the error of his ways in "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," along with his schoolmate, Jill, pair up for adventure. While fleeing bullies at their school - a progressive and modern (for its time) institution that Lewis openly and repeatedly scorns - Eustace and Jill find themselves thrown into the world of Narnia. Once there, Aslan gives Jill a series of vague instructions to follow during their adventure. Eustace and Jill find themselves on a quest to find the lost Prince Rillian, the son of King Caspian (who in this tale makes two brief cameos as an old man). They team up with Puddleglum, a gloomy a creature called a Marsh-Wiggle who always sees the down side of things. Together, the three go in search of the Prince. The setup tells the reader right off what sort of story it will be: a traveling adventure in which the group works through a series of dangerous situations and visits new and strange lands. The story takes a few chapters to get moving properly, shortening the main quest; there are only three or so key locations. Still, those locations are a mix of classic genre archetypes and fantastic settings. For an important segment of the story - a castle of giants - genre archetypes rule the day. "Silver Chair," though it visits places in Narnia not previously seen, feels less epic than previous installments. However, a glimpse of a greater and more wondrous world near the end helps alleviate that failing. The character of Jill undergoes almost the same transformation that Eustace did in "Voyage," while Eustace himself plays the role that Edmund, Peter and the gang did in earlier books. That's not altogether bad, but it's not altogether good, either, especially if you are reading the whole series straight through. because Jill's transformation immediately follows Eustace's. All in all, "The Silver Chair" is not as engaging as others in the series, with a loose plot tied together largely by a "you must trust Aslan" theme, but does not fall nearly as flat as "Caspian." For a good stretch the story moves along at a brisk pace and offers a playful series of adventures, delivering just the sort of engaging story that makes the Narnia Chronicles such a beloved series. Sure it suffers from too slow a start and too slow a finish, both which drag the story down, but at its core it's more of the same from Narnia. And that's not a bad thing at all.
Rating: 
Summary: A great movie
Review: Back at school, Eustace finds that he no longer fits in with the people he once considered friends. When he helps Jill Pole escape from the bullies, they find a doorway that takes them to Aslan. Aslan has a special job for Jill, she must rescue Prince Rilian, the long-lost son of the venerable King Caspian. With the help of Puddleglum (played by Tom Baker, the 4th Doctor Who!), the two children set off on an adventure. [Color, originally aired in 1990, with a running time of 2 hours.] This movie (actually two television episodes) is based on the fourth book of C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, and (unfortunately) is the last in the series made by the B.B.C. The production is excellent, with the special effects being even better than those of the earlier shows. The story is grittier, reflecting a darker, harsher story than the previous ones. As such, my children did not quite like it as much as those earlier ones. However, it still was a great movie, and I enjoyed sharing the Christian symbolism that I saw throughout the movie. We all really liked this movie, and highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: This is BOOK FOUR, not BOOK FIVE: DON'T BE DECEIVED
Review: Beware! The evil, foul-minded people who are publishing these works (The Chronicles of Narnia) have profaned the fantastic writing of C.S. Lewis by rearranging the order of the seven books so as to confuse the reader and steal away some of the magic and wonder by imposing it in a chronological order rather than the artistic one in which it was rendered. Is the horrible time witch at play again or it could be that rascal Screwtape at work? I shake my head sadly at the poor folk who will read these books in the wrong order, actually thinking that perhaps the author meant for them to read Volume Six first. Yes, of course these books come highly recommended but I think it is most important to stress that they should be read in the proper order, which is as follows: 1. The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe 2. Prince Caspian 3. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 4. The Silver Chair 5. The Horse and His Boy 6. The Magician's Nephew 7. The Last Battle Please, do yourself a favor, if you are reading these books for the first time, read them in the right order.
Rating:
Summary: A Must See for Narnia fans
Review: If you have ever read the Chronicles of Narnia, then you will enjoy this DVD. The acting is well done and it adds so much to the image in your mind that you have from the book. My children have read the books, and now are enjoying the movie. Well made and a classic like the writings from which it was taken.
Rating:
Summary: A classic story and a spiritual allegory
Review: If you have not read any of CS Lewis classic book series about Narnia, please do so. The stories are wonderfully written and will engage you like few other works. Part spiritual allegory and part fantasy and adventure, these stories are timeless. My personal favorite of the 7 stories is this one: The Silver Chair. Starting with the unexpected trip into Narnia, the story involves the search for a missing prince and a dangerous and exciting journey to find him. While the plot is quickly engaging and always enjoyable, even after dozens of readings, in this story Lewis uses some of the most powerful of Christian allegories to depict faith, deception, and courage. Choices made along the way are often disastrous and are the result of convenience and comfort over faith. Truly a sound statement into our own journeys, and a spiritual struggle depicted accurately. I will not spoil the plot, but if you have not enjoyed this series, pick up any of the seven books, or better yet get them all at once. The story starts either with "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe" which was the first published, or "The Magician's Nephew" which is chronologically the first. Either way, you won't be disappointed. Next to "The Silver Chair", I also found "The Horse and His Boy" and "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" to be absolute classics. Buy this series, and enjoy one of the true treasures in literature from a fabulous writer, the world renowned CS Lewis.
Rating:
Summary: A classic story and a spiritual allegory
Review: If you have not read any of CS Lewis classic book series about Narnia, please do so. The stories are wonderfully written and will engage you like few other works. Part spiritual allegory and part fantasy and adventure, these stories are timeless. My personal favorite of the 7 stories is this one: The Silver Chair. Starting with the unexpected trip into Narnia, the story involves the search for a missing prince and a dangerous and exciting journey to find him. While the plot is quickly engaging and always enjoyable, even after dozens of readings, in this story Lewis uses some of the most powerful of Christian allegories to depict faith, deception, and courage. Choices made along the way are often disastrous and are the result of convenience and comfort over faith. Truly a sound statement into our own journeys, and a spiritual struggle depicted accurately. I will not spoil the plot, but if you have not enjoyed this series, pick up any of the seven books, or better yet get them all at once. The story starts either with "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe" which was the first published, or "The Magician's Nephew" which is chronologically the first. Either way, you won't be disappointed. Next to "The Silver Chair", I also found "The Horse and His Boy" and "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" to be absolute classics. Buy this series, and enjoy one of the true treasures in literature from a fabulous writer, the world renowned CS Lewis.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite books in the Narnia series!!!
Review: One of the great things about the Narnia series is how each individual book stands alone! I mean, while it may be necessary to read them in order to better understand what's going on, each book has a certain charm unique in itself. And while I may like ALL of the volumes, I believe the BEST books are those in the middle, particularly "The Horse and his Boy", "The Magician's Nephew", and "THE SILVER CHAIR". These are the books in which C.S. Lewis really shines! In this particular volume involving cousin Eustace and his classmate Jill Pole, Lewis hits hard at the British school system (I dread to think how he'd view America's public school system today!) The bullying that Eustace & Jill face is what launches their adventure into Narnia, and what an exciting adventure it turns out to be! Puddleglum is an excellently crafted character who accompanies them on their journey into the wild north, where they encounter a beautiful witch and a dangerous race of intelligent giants. It's a well-done piece of storytelling, worth reading a second time!
Rating:
Summary: A Challenge For Eustace and Jill
Review: Poor Jill, she's being bullied again! Eustace finds her crying behind the gym. She wishes she could get away from the horrid-but-trendy Experiment House School, and the further the better. Eustace knows of just the place, he went there last term. The world Narnia, a land of talking animals and magical landscapes, ruled by Aslan, the wild talking lion. All they need to do to get there is to call to him. They do, and are whisked away. Just in time, it seems. Aslan has a quest for the two children. They must go to the wildlands of the north, a harsh, barren nation of giants, and find the lost Prince Rillian and bring him home. If they remember and follow the four commands they are given, all should go well. But things are not as they first expect...
There's a rather ominous feel to "The Silver Chair". Bleak moors, muddy swamps, bitter blizzards, ruined buildings, an old and withered King Caspian and near-deaf Trumpkin, plus mumblings by the Earthmen about the apocalypse, all give the Narnian world a feeling of great age, of weariness, as if about to fall apart. This sets things up very nicely for "The Last Battle", I thought, where the world and the series come to an end. So too does the fact we get to glimpse the beautiful Aslan's Country at the start of the book, a land first glimpsed in "Voyage of the Dawn Treader", and a land that features very prominently in "The Last Battle".
I quite like the characterizations, particularly Eustace. He's a character who changed quite dramatically for the better in "Voyage of the Dawn Treader", but as we see in the book still has quite a bit of growing to do. I think Lewis handled him quite well. I also like the idea Puddleglum the frog-like Marshwiggle. He's quite the pessimist, but likes to think himself as quite the opposite. Bit like that myself, actually...
C.S. Lewis was a devoted Christian, and his beliefs shine through in all his work. "The Silver Chair" is no exception. In fact, I'd say the allegory here is probably some of the strongest in the series. I think it's got to do with faith and obedience. Just as Jill and Eustace are given commands by Aslan to follow, Christians are given commands to follow by God (through the Bible). They might seem simple to follow in theory, when at reading or in prayer (or in Aslan's Country for Jill and Eustace) but out in the real world, things are a lot more difficult. Things may be not what you expect, (as Eustace didn't expect to arrive decades after his first visit), you may get caught up in the here and the now and lose the greater purpose (just as the kids are tempted away to the city of Harfang for the sake of comfort), or you may be bogged down with pessimism (just as Jill and Eustace were bogged down with Puddleglum). You shouldn't lose heart though, even if you do mess up, it's never too late to get back on track. (Just as our heroes discover. The stuff up three of the four commands Aslan gave them, but they remember the fourth and save the day). As a Christian, I also got a lot out of the war of wits between the adventures and the Green Witch in Chapter 12. I can really relate to the debate that rages on, the challenge of whether what they believe in really exists. It's a struggle that christians face all the time, amongst non-believers and in their head. Lewis is a perceptive guy, he pinpoints these feelings exactly in this chapter.
Along with Lewis' christian allegory is some rather biting social commentary in the form of Experiment House. It is a school without religion of any kind and with less discipline, letting the kids run free. His description of the bullies at Experiment House getting constantly in trouble, punished lightly by a talk with the teacher, and through this becoming the favorites of the teachers rang so true to me. I remember seeing this sort of thing happening at some schools I went to growing up. The disturbing fact that the Head of the school becomes Prime Minister by the end of the book rings just as true, sadly in this day and age. Countries these days are run to be secular and deregulated, just like Experiment House.
With such an emphasis on allegory rather than story, some younger readers may find the adventure sparse in places. I know I did when I was younger (fifth grade). Still, that doesn't mean that there isn't plenty of adventure to be had. I remember I was absolutely captivated by the idea of Bism, a civilization in the centre of the world, where gemstones are alive and edible.
Once again Pauline Bayne's illustrations are fantastic. I love the way she draws the giants. Rather than just being larger, bulkier versions of people, the giants faces are characatured, cute and grotesque at the same time, quite similar to the way Lewis describes them. The map of the northern wildlands is a nice touch too.
"The Silver Chair" is the fourth Narnian Chronicle to be written by Lewis and the sixth chronologically. Whichever order you like to read them in, it's a fair way down the list. You'll get a lot more from this book if you've read the ones previously, but it's probably not essential. The explanations and back story here is pretty thorough. If you were going to read only one Narnian book before this, I'd make it "Voyage of the Dawn Treader", as it tells the story of Eustace and how he came to be who he is on his first adventure into Narnia.
Recommended for fantasy fans, lovers of all things C.S. Lewis and christians looking for a spiritually relevant read.
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