SoftInloveRox Horrible, fascist and poorly acted

BroadcastChic Excellent, a Must See

Glucedee It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

djansen24 Ah, Narnia... Just mentioning the name of this enchanted land sends a soothing cool breeze over your face. Opening this masterpiece series of children's literature is always a delight. So, the book was begging to be put on the big and small screen. I had seen this 1988 television adaptation when I was very young and just now bought the DVD copy at a flea market. I remembered having a good experience watching it as a child, and was glad I got to see it again. While primitive in its production values compared to modern films and television, this show is as good as the recent film adaptation was not. Yes, there is some mediocre acting (especially the actress playing the white witch -- a lesson in overacting if ever I've seen one, although her performance will probably send chills down children's spines), but there is also some very good acting, especially on the part of the children and Mr. Tumnus. I suppose playing the witch convincingly must be challenging, as even the fabulous Tilda Swinton couldn't do a convincing job of being intimidating in the recent film version. But where the video is rough around the edges, it excels in tone. The movie version although loaded with state of the art effects, did little to capture the whimsy and fancy of the novel. Indeed, it felt more like an adult action film marketed to children. And it took itself so seriously!. There is a light touch carried all throughout this 1988 television version. The music is just right, the actors have a certain delight on the set pieces that makes their performances all the more charming, and the pacing is nice and slow, taking its time to let you soak in the world of Narnia. Though that very same quality may be lost on the new generation accustomed to fast paced slam action effects and hollow story lines, it will still surely charm youngsters. It is a good family TV series and highly recommended for rainy day viewing. You do feel like you are taken to a new world, even with the low budget. Enjoy!

adamaaronallen This BBC Production is one that i have truly fond memories of watching,when i was a child. It is still i believe to be the Best production of C S Lewis's book that exists today. (dare i say better than the new film ) This now classic version will still enchant young people and adults alike for many more years to come. Barbara Kellerman a fine actress.Plays the white witch just as i imagined her to be in the book.And i find the over all innocence of the film all the more endearing. The special effects are indeed special (considering the fact that this was a fairly low budget production) However there is nothing cheap about this production.All in all,this is a great series well worth the watch! The story is a moral and good one,that encourages friendship and loyalty. and is also one of those films that as one watches one is filed with excitement and the desire to go on a great adventure. And so to conclude,i would say this is a remarkable film. which still looks pretty good. if you are willing to over look the fact that the story comes before the special effects. I am sure it will continue to inspire many for years to come.

mister_peculiar Here I was, hadn't seen the film in 8 years and I was extremely sure that I would either love it again like I did 8 years previously when I was just a kid and would watch it every single day or I would absolutely despise it.The reason I started watching this, by the way, was because I had seen the new version and it was just like walking back into my childhood and I wanted to just see the old BBC films again. And I have to say, they are still touching.Watching this one just has to realise, "I am watching a movie from 1988!" So, give it the benefit of the doubt. Pretty bad special effects all, and not exactly the most brilliant acting skills ever, but the effort put into it and the magic of the books spills into this series.For all fans of C.S Lewis and his charming and magical series, this is a must see, cause that classic factor just makes you enjoy the fact that those beavers don't look real and Aslan looks like he's being controlled by the people that are under the lion's body, instead of finding it just ridiculous.The classic factor just gives this film a 8/10. Sounds pretty high, I know, but its just that classic factor, especially if you've grown up with them.

stilldancinn903 So the BBC did not have a multi-million dollar budget. In fact, I doubt it even had a million dollars on its hands to make this movie. People who need an action scene to be entertained will not enjoy this movie. But any Narnia aficionado would be proud to call this 1988 edition of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe the TRUE adaptation of Lewis' masterpiece as opposed to the cheesy & flashy one that was released in 2005.C.S. Lewis was clearly a genius; the producer of the 1988 film obviously recognized this and chose to keep the script of the movie as faithful to the text itself as humanly possible. The producers of the 2005 movie, however, clearly thought that they could come up with something better than his words. Guess what? They were wrong.The criticism of Sophie Wilcox that runs rampant on this site is vomit-inducing. Young Sophie portrayed the role of Lucy with poise and grace, and she delivered each line with the ability of an Academy Award winning actress. All of the comments about her buck teeth and weight are simply not necessary; Wilcox has overcome her awkward preadolescent years and emerged into a beautiful butterfly (check her resume and pictures on google).While there may be some merit to the comments about the cartoon drawn animals and "subpar" acting of other members of the cast, I think it is the imperfections of the movie itself that make it so worth watching. For without the random yelping of Richard Dempsey (Peter) and awkward pauses between scenes, this movie would not provide the comedy or family fun that many seek when renting a film.Overall, this movie deserves a 10 out of 10 for its genuine acting, great story, and comedic relief.