The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, the first in an exciting series of films in the making and based on the phenomenal bestselling novels, concerns a war between good and evil, pitting the magnificent lion Aslan against the forces of darkness in the magical world of Narnia. A White Witch has used her dark powers to keep Narnia in winter for 100 years, but it is foretold that four humans will be able to help Aslan break the spell. When the Pevensie siblings— Lucy, Susan, Edmund, and Peter— discover the magic of Narnia by entering the enchanted world through a wardrobe, the stage is set for a classic battle of epic proportions. Years in the making and meticulously created by director Andrew Adamson to match C.S. Lewis’ own vision of Narnia, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe marks the live-action debut of New Zealander Adamson, who came to fore bringing worldwide audiences the loveable green ogre at the heart of the Oscar®-winning Shrek and Shrek 2. Adamson carries to the film a passion for Lewis’ story that began in his own childhood— one that now meets up with extraordinary advances in motion picture technology. The vast scope of the director’s vision of Narnia is brought to life through a mixture of moving human performances and cutting-edge, photo-realistic techniques in CGI, animation and prosthetic makeup that turn the wildly creative worlds and characters Lewis forged into something heart-stoppingly close to reality. Says Adamson: “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe has taken millions of young minds into realms of fantasy— so the enormous challenge as a filmmaker was to try to recreate those worlds in a way that might live up to and even exceed people’s imaginations, that could truly transport you to another time and place. You couldn’t have made this film five years ago. You couldn’t have made a photo-realistic lion like Aslan five years ago, or joined animal legs unto a human body realistically as we did with centaurs and minotaurs five years ago. Now is the right time to be making this story.”

Adamson co-wrote the screenplay with Emmy® Award winner Ann Peacock (A Lesson Before Dying) and Emmy® winners Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely (The Life and Death of Peter Sellers). The film was produced by Academy Award® winner Mark Johnson (Rain Man, Bugsy, The Notebook) and Philip Steuer (The Alamo, The Rookie). Adamson and Perry Moore are the film’s executive producers, with C.S. Lewis’ stepson, Douglas Gresham, serving as co-producer. The film’s stellar cast features Tilda Swinton as Jadis, the powerful White Witch who plunges Narnia into a frozen winter of war and discord. A quartet of rising young talents take on the roles of the Pevensie siblings who journey through the wardrobe: newcomer Georgie Henley is Lucy, the youngest and first to enter enchanted Narnia; Skandar Keynes is Edmund, who falls under the seductive spell of the White Witch; teenaged Anna Popplewell is Susan, the practical sister who remains skeptical about Narnia; and William Moseley plays Peter, the eldest sibling, who becomes a true leader as their adventures mount.

Co-starring in the film are Scottish actor James McAvoy as Mr. Tumnus, the kindhearted faun who risks his own fate to ensure Lucy’s safety; Kiran Shah as Ginarrbrik, the White Witch’s malevolent and horrid sleigh driver; Oscar® winner Jim Broadbent as the Professor Kirke, whose eccentric country home houses the mystical magical wardrobe; and veteran Scottish performer James Cosmo as Father Christmas, whose arrival in Narnia signals the possible downfall of the White Witch. To lend rich emotions to the magical computer generated creatures, Adamson recruited a host of acclaimed performers as vocal talents, including Academy Award®-nominated Liam Neeson as Narnia’s noble ruler, Aslan the Lion; Rupert Everett as The Fox, another ally of the children; veteran British performers Ray Winstone and comedienne Dawn French as the kindly, bickering Mr. and Mrs. Beaver.

In forging Lewis’ vast fantasy world, Adamson collaborated with a creative team that includes Oscar®-nominated cinematographer Donald M. McAlpine, ASC, ACS, Oscar®-nominated production designer Roger Ford, costume designer Isis Mussenden, editors Sim Evan-Jones and Jim May and composer Harry Gregson-Williams. The story’s eyepopping gallery of creatures was created under the supervision of visual effects supervisor Dean Wright (The Lord of the Rings) working with award-winning visual effects teams from three of the most highly esteemed facilities in the industry: Rhythm & Hues, Sony Imageworks and ILM. The film’s creative team further includes four-time Academy Award®-winning visualist Richard Taylor and the wizards from his WETA Workshop. Taylor’s team joined with veteran movie makeup magicians Howard Berger and Gregory Nicotero, whose award-winning K.N.B. EFX Group manufactured hundreds of special makeup prosthetics to bring the myriad Narnian creatures to life.
 

At the heart of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe are the extraordinarily spellbinding characters and creatures who came to life in C.S. Lewis’ beloved tale— from the four young children who are transported from war-torn London into Narnia to the truly incredible mythical menagerie of fauns, centaurs, giants, satyrs, dwarves, minotaurs, minoboars and talking animals they meet on their life-changing journey. The filmmakers’ first and most vital task was to start with the cornerstone of humanity in the film— the four Pevensie children, who take the audience along with them as they discover that a mysterious old wardrobe door is a portal into a land like no other. As casting began, the filmmakers knew one thing: it was essential that the children be as utterly, viscerally real as Narnia is fantastical. Executive producer Perry Moore explains the approach taken in the search for the children: “What makes this story so unique is that it’s about real people. When you think of Narnia, you think of creatures, effects and spectacular dream-lands. But this is all grounded in the reality of a true family. So while there are a lot of great child actors in Hollywood, we made it very clear that we wanted real kids!”

The filmmakers sought the services of veteran casting director Pippa Hall and thus began a two-year hunt throughout England, during which Hall visited endless grade schools, youth clubs and drama groups, interviewing over 2,000 children for the four roles. “I took a video camera everywhere, sitting kids down to get them to talk about themselves, what their favorite books were, what films they liked,” Hall recalls. “I would then send Andrew loads of tapes and he’d watch them all and that’s how we cast the Pevensies.” And what a phenomenal job Hall did as the children each add such a uniquely woven depth and dimension to everyone's childhood memories of this almost inconceivable literary masterpiece.

This unbelievable 4-disc DVD edition, a wondrous celebration of C.S. Lewis’ beloved fantasy world, will only be available for seven weeks over the holidays, making it an excellent holiday gift. The EXTENDED EDITION features a new, extended version of the film with enhanced special effects and an extended, climactic battle scene. Viewers will venture even deeper into the beloved fantasy world of ‘Narnia’ with C.S. Lewis— The Dreamer Of Narnia, an all-new feature-length film about the creative genius behind the ‘Narnia’ mythos. Visualizing the Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe: The Complete Production Experience is an in-depth look at the process and technology of adapting the book into the visually stunning motion picture. The result is indeed a triumph. It is gorgeous to look at, superbly cast, wittily directed, funny, clever and exciting with unexpected twists and turns. It unfolds the slim book into a rich and visual experience that is bold and spectacular and sweeping, while retaining all of its human intimacies. We simply can't see how any of this amazing film could have been done any better. This DVD set is by far one of the best gifts one could bestow upon one's children... and adults, well, we love it as well. A definite MUST-HAVE for anyone with a deep appreciation for astonishing fantasy, pure wonder and sheer awe.

New Extended Version Of The Film With Enhanced Special Effects And Extended Battle Scene, NARNIA FUN FACTS: With this DVD feature engaged, viewers can access optional pop-up facts about C.S. Lewis, the creatures and lands of Narnia, and more. Plus, there is an introduction by author C.S. Lewis’s step-son Douglas Gresham, BLOOPERS OF NARNIA: The cast and crew are caught in some very hilarious moments and outtakes as they miss lines and make other miscues, KIDS AND DIRECTOR COMMENTARY: The delightful child stars Georgie Henley (Lucy), Skandar Keynes (Edmund), Anna Popplewell (Susan) and William Moseley (Peter) had just screened the film for the first time when they recorded this audio commentary. The result is a fresh, witty and lively commentary track, joined by director Andrew Adamson, FILMMAKER’S COMMENTARY: This audio commentary features Director Andrew Adamson, Production Designer Roger Ford, and Producer Mark Johnson, WORLDS OF NARNIA CREATING NARNIA: An in-depth look at this cinematic masterpiece, CHRONICLE OF A DIRECTOR: This personal diary takes viewers on a tour of the film from director Andrew Adamson’s point of view. Viewers can sit in the director’s chair with the director as he brings his skill, artistry and unique imagination to the film. THE CHILDREN'S MAGICAL JOURNEY: Viewers will be delighted with this “behind-the-scenes” tour, led by the film’s charming child stars Georgie, Skandar, William and Anna. Here is a fresh and fun look at making the film, with wonderful moments including the children’s surprise first look at the amazing ‘Narnia’ sets... AND SO MUCH MORE! UB


Distributed by: Buena Vista Home Video
Genre: Fantasy
Rating:

Cast
Georgie Henley as Lucy Pevensie
William Moseley as Peter Pevensie
Skandar Keynes as Edmund Pevensie
Anna Popplewell as Susan Pevensie
Tilda Swinton Jadis as The White Witch
Rupert Everett as Fox (voice)
Sophie Winkleman as Adult Susan
James McAvoy as Mr. Tumnus
Shane Rangi as Sentry Centaur
Patrick Kake as Oreius
Elizabeth Hawthorne as Mrs. Macready
Kiran Shah as Ginarrbrik
James Cosmo as Father Christmas
Judy McIntosh as Mrs. Pevensie
Jim Broadbent as Professor Digory Kirke

Features
Available Subtitles: English, Spanish, French, Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (DTS 5.1), French (Unknown Format), Spanish (Unknown Format), Commentary by: director Andrew Adamson, production designer Roger Ford and producer Mark Johnson Dolby Digital 2.0,child stars Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley and Anna Popplewell with director Andrew AdamsonDolby Digital 2.0, Extended version with enhanced special effects and an extended battle scene, Commentary by director Andrew Adamson, production designer Roger Ford and producer Mark Johnson, Commentary by child stars Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley and Anna Popplewell with director Andrew Adamson, Two Worlds of Narnia featurettes "Creating Narnia" and "Creatures, Lands and Legends", C.S. Lewis: Dreamer of Narnia 75 minute documentary, "Visualizing The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe: The Complete Production Experience" 140 minute documentary, Anatomy of a Scene: Behind the Battle, Art of Narnia Gallery, Bloopers of Narnia, Narnia Fun Facts, Collectible 10-page companion guide, Certificate of authenticity
 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lion,_the_Witch_and_the_Wardrobe
http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/narnia/
 

Despite a number of short-term unwarranted arrests for a virtual plethora of misdemeanors, which, for some odd reason, remain "classified", Cochaman Peef has continued to let his beloved hemp play a substantial role in his ever-waning life. Whether he’s smoking from a hand-blown glass pipe while studying Eastern religion and Woody Harrelson philosophy, or just smoking Jamaican sticks and watching Kung-Fu with David Carradine on DVD [he claims to know Carradine personally, a fact we've yet to dispute] you can be sure that the fruits of the illustrious Cannabis plant are somehow involved in the words... nuff said.
 

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