Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (2005)

There's not a lot I can add about this film that hasn't been commented on already. This first Chronicles of Narnia installment is a wonderful film with touching Christian symbolism and an effective, magical journey about tempation, forgiveness and the fight between good and evil.

The story revolves around four children from 1940's London who, due to Nazi bombing runs, are forced to take residence in an aloof Professor's castle estate to escape the daily bombardment at home. The castle is, at first, unwelcoming and hollow. Yet, during a game of hide and seek, one of the children stumbles across a wardrobe. As she squeezes her way toward the back of the wardrobe she suddenly finds herself in a snow covered forest. From this moment on the four children's lives will never be the same.

They say that a 80% of a successful film comes from casting and the cast of Chronicles is wonderful, especially Georgie Henley as the youngest sibling, Lucy Pevensie. The Christian symbolism is quite obvious, with Aslan, the Lion leader, sacrificing himself for the sins of others, only to be resurrected, overcoming death and leading the battle against evil.

The film is fun and scary and magical and exhilerating and touching... and much more. For children and adults, it's a must see.