The story begins just a year after the Pevensies returned from Narnia where they ruled as kings and queens. Everything changes, however, when the four children – Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and Lucy (Georgie Henley) – are swept from a train platform to a beach in Narnia where they discover 1,300 years have gone by, entirely mutating the world they once knew.

 

The Narnia they now inhabit is ruled by foreign invaders, the Telmarines, who have put the mythical creatures under persecution. A cruel man named Miraz (Sergio Castellitto) has usurped the throne from the rightful heir, Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes), driving him to hide in the forests of the land and make a magic-horn call that brings the Pevensies to his side. It is up to the five humans to lead a menagerie against the armies of the Telmarines with only faith on their side.

 

The film picks up steam rapidly, leaving no lull in the action, even during the opening credits. The incredible merger of cinematography and effects proved a grand achievement in fantastical filmmaking, deserving just as much credit as the actors, whose performances are stronger the second time around.

 

Barnes performed well as the exile Caspian while Peter Dinklage gave his character incredible life as the dwarf Trumpkin, ever teased for his height.

 

The rich action and exciting battle sequences give the film a darker tone than the first. If there's truly any magic in Narnia, it's that a film with so much violence can escape with just a PG rating. The film crew cleaned up a few shots to earn the family-friendly rating and prevailed accordingly. It's arguable, however, that the film is more for adults than children.

 

The film had a perfect run-time of 147 minutes, leaving nothing more desired, and not overstaying its welcome. On opening day the theater I attended sold out, packed much like a comic superhero film might be, and earned applause by the time the credits rolled. Filled with children noisier than the cinema's surround sound system, the entirety of the film kept a captive and mute pre-teen audience.

 

Many of the movie's best shots brought memories of Lord of the Rings as well as the film's score which was a masterpiece unto itself. Regina Spector performed a terrific piece to ease the film from conclusion to end credits.

 

In an age where movie sequels usually come off as lame, Director Andrew Adamson of Shrek fame established a future for Narnia with Caspian, taking risks along the way. The film gained tremendously from the tinkering the screenwriters did with the book. 

 

The third Narnia film, "Voyage of the Dawn Treader," is due in theaters May 7, 2010.