Movie Review: The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader

The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader
(PG) 130 minutes
A painting that floods a bedroom, bad guys that range from hilarious to horrific, a wave that never breaks - the ideas in this film (and book) are startling ... and fun.
The third instalment in The Chronicles of Narnia series is a long movie but its pace should keep its young viewers quiet.
My review partner and I were 3D novices so had nothing to compare the effects to, but we thought 3D probably added an extra element to the film.
Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and Lucy Pevensie (Georgie Henley) remain in war-torn England, staying with their bratty younger cousin Eustace and his parents, while their older siblings and parents are in the United States. And it's another argument with Eustace (an excellent Will Poulter) that catapults the two willing siblings and their very unwilling cousin back into Narnia.
They are picked up by King Caspian (Ben Barnes) and join his quest to find seven long-missing lords.
But, of course, it turns into much more than that, especially when the first lord, who is found muttering in a dungeon, reveals great evil afoot, out yonder on the edge of the world.
But here is one of the great criticisms of this film - the lord has been in a dungeon for years and yet his long hair is clean and combed and his clothes look freshly laundered.
The wholesomeness - also note the complete absence of blood in any fight scene - can be a little tiring but perhaps we're supposed to accept that it's part of the magic of Narnia.
The evil green mist feeds and draws upon the nightmares and jealousies of the characters and, boy, does Edmund conjure up a doozie at the end (small children may need a hand to hold).
Eustace has his own problems, his greed having led to a changed outlook.
There are light-hearted moments, too, with the improbable Dufflepuds (who owe something to Monty Python) and the irrepressible Reepicheep (voiced by Simon Pegg) who tackles any task with great gusto.
Aslan makes several appearances and if you think that the volcanic island looks a lot like White Island, you'd be right.
All the action culminates with a long farewell sequence, one that ends with the sound of a (wardrobe) door closing for two of the characters and another much-loved character opting for a new life.
Hankies may be required.