How to resolve AdBlock issue? Arts & Life
Finally, now that we’re edging closer to summer, a film suitable for entire family entertainment arrives on the scene. Not surprisingly, it emerges from the work of C.S. Lewis, delivered by a studio that knows how to supply wholesome fun.
Disney’s “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” is a sequel, artfully realized and stunning in scope, which follows up on the spectacular story that began with “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”
Once again, the four Pevensie siblings are in the thick of the action as time travelers to reclaim their royal positions as protectors of the magical kingdom of Narnia.
When the story of “Prince Caspian” begins, the Pevensie kids are just ordinary school kids living in World War II-era London. Peter (William Moseley) and Susan (Anna Popplewell), the oldest siblings, are adapting to typical teenage concerns. Edmund (Skandar Keynes), the younger boy who betrayed his sibling for his own selfish gain in the first adventure, has matured, while the youngest, Lucy (Georgie Henley), retains an innocent faith that will serve the group well at a critical time.
While waiting in a tube station in Trafalgar Square, the quartet is suddenly transported back to Narnia, discovering that the faraway kingdom where they once served as kings and queens has faded into legend.
More than 1,300 years have passed in Narnian time, and the magical kingdom has been relegated to the backwater of the forested countryside. The land of talking animals and mythical creatures exists as little more than folktales to the Telmarines, a tribe of humans that finds its homeland in a state of political turmoil and intrigue, due to some trickery that seeks to deny the throne to the rightful heir, Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes). Even the mighty lion Aslan (voiced by Liam Neeson) has been missing for 1,000 years.
Marked for death by his cruel uncle Lord Miraz (Sergio Castellitto), Prince Caspian has to flee the Telmarine castle. Fortunately, the prince has an ally in Doctor Cornelius (Vincent Grass), who provides a horn that should be used only in the direst circumstances.
The vicious Miraz is anxious to eliminate the prince, since his wife has given birth to a boy who can assume the throne. With adequate warning, Prince Caspian escapes to the woods, where he encounters a Narnian dwarf and talking beaver, both of whom seem eager to enlist the prince’s help.
Meanwhile, summoned by the magical horn, the Pevensie children arrive not a moment too soon in Narnia, saving the life of Trumpkin the Red Dwarf (Peter Dinklage) and endearing themselves to the natives who would like nothing more than to see Narnia returned to glory.
The kingdom of Narnia is populated with all sorts of interesting creatures, including fauns, minotaurs, centaurs, satyrs, dwarfs and furry animals, large and small. Aside from Trumpkin’s ability to speak volumes just by his darting eyes, the most talkative animal is a feisty mouse with a penchant for sarcasm. The source of great comic relief is Reepicheep (voiced by Eddie Izzard), the diminutive rodent sporting a prominent feather in his hair and wielding a nasty sword.
That Prince Caspian ardently seeks to reclaim the Telmarine kingdom is hardly a surprise. Enlisting the aid of the Pevensie children in this cause is facilitated by the impetuous Peter’s desire to wage an all-out battle against the nasty minions of Lord Miraz so that the Narnians can thrive in a tranquil environment. The parallels to the fight against the Nazis in World War II is noticeably apparent, though perhaps subtly reinforced by the use of the London Underground train stations as a refuge during German bombing raids.
“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” is truly an epic film with a majestic sweep that is fitting for the imaginative world of C.S. Lewis. Suspense is rampant with the forceful battles between Miraz’s overwhelming army and the hardy band of outnumbered Narnians. A lot of the battle scenes are very intense, with some images that seem too violent for a PG-rated film.
Nevertheless, “Prince Caspian” is an exciting adventure that does not give short shrift to the emotional pull of the very interesting characters, human and otherwise.
DVD RELEASE UPDATE
Westerns don’t appear that often on the current Hollywood scene, probably because John Wayne is no longer with us and Clint Eastwood is way past his prime. So the best we can do is to enjoy the old Westerns as they gradually find their audience in DVD release.
Watch the West be won all over again with beloved icon John Wayne in the original 70mm version of “The Big Trail,” now neatly packaged in something called the “Fox Grandeur Special Edition.”
This historical classic follows Wayne as brave leader Breck Coleman who guides hundreds of settlers in covered wagons from the Mississippi River to their destiny out West.
This is not the only Western DVD riding into town. “The Garden of Evil” is the 1954 film set in Mexico where three American adventurers attempt to rescue one of their own trapped in a gold mine.
Released in 1951, “Rawhide,” not the TV series starring Clint Eastwood, tells the tale of Susan Hayward and her stagecoach crew getting caught up with outlaws on their journey from California to St. Louis.
These are all part of the “Fox Western Classics Collection” intended to be perfect Father’s Day gifts.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
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KELSEYVILLE – It has been said that the most perfect musical instrument ever conceived is the full symphony orchestra. However, occasionally an inspired leader will join with equally inspired musicians to create a program of stunning individual performances, and this is what happened at Sunday's annual Mothers Day concert at Kelseyville High School.
During the course of the two-hour program no fewer than a dozen of the orchestra's 50-plus members were saluted by conductor John Parkinson and the audience for their outstanding work.
Among them were trumpeters Gary Miller, Jay Johnson and Tom Woodville, who brought the audience to its feet with their dazzling performance of Leroy Anderson's o brass classic "Bugler's Holiday" and Nick Biondo and Peter Stanley who teamed up on Anderson's other instrumental hit "Clarinet Candy."
Others winning individual recognition were flautist Catherine Hall, Oboist Beth Aiken and trombonist Larry Price and two percussionists, Sean Chiles on timpani and Scott Wise on drums. Special recognition was accorded keyboardist Tom Aiken who swapped his usual instrument to play an ancient Royal manual typewriter in a rendition of Anderson's campy "The Typewriter." At its conclusion Aiken ceremoniously ripped the paper from his typewriter and presented it as a memento to a bemused Parkinson.
The three numbers, along with the ever-popular "Blue Tango" was the symphony's salute to Anderson, a leader in America's light classical musical genre on what would have been the composer's 100th birthday. In his tribute to Anderson Parkinson noted that he had been a fixture for many years as an arranger for the Boston Pops, then conducted by Arthur Fiedler. He also took time to preface most of the orchestra's other numbers with brief explanations about the songs and their writers and performers.
The concert opened on an upbeat note with "The Trolley Song" and continued with a series of numbers drawn from MGM's 1974 movie "That's Entertainment'" which also was the theme of the concert, which – with the exception of the Leroy Anderson pieces – focused almost totally on music from Broadway and Hollywood.
Included among the latter were "Singin' in the Rain," "The Boy Next Door," "You Made me Love You," "Broadway Melody," "Over the Rainbow" and others. From the former came "An American in Paris," a medley from "Chicago," "April in Paris," "Mack the Knife," "I Got Rhythm," Peg O' My Heart" and "It's Only a Paper Moon."
On this special day with many mothers praying for sons and daughters on distant battlefields, the symphony's moving rendition of John Williams' "Hymn to the Fallen" from "Saving Private Ryan" was especially poignant, particularly with the concluding muted drumbeats by percussionist Wise.
Following intermission the 14 youngsters representing the CLPA Youth Orchestra took the stage, with three numbers: "Dance" by Bela Bartok, Irving Berlin's "God Bless America" and Richard Meyer's "Tangerine Rag." Orchestra director Wes Follett, who was acknowledged by Parkinson for his role in training and inspiring young Lake County musicians, noted that his was truly an all-American program, since Bartok had spent the final years of his life in the United States.
The Youth Orchestra will present a special concert at Kelseyville's Presbyterian Church on Sunday, June 8 at 8:30 pm. The public is invited and admission is free.
Paula Samonte, the Ukiah jazz singer who has often teamed up with Parkinson in past performances, then took the microphone to render three numbers that were especially arranged for her by Parkinson. They were "I've Got the World on a String," "Don't Get Around Much Any More" and "Orange Colored Sky."
Her sultry delivery and precise timing brought sustained applause from the 300-plus people in attendance. She also announced that she was booked for two performances at the newly-opened Soper-Reese Community Theater in Lakeport, to take place in September.
With the exception of one year, when illness forced her to withdraw, Samonte has been a fixture at the annual CLPA Christmas concerts, but announced today that she would have to skip this year's holiday concert due to the fact that she has been invited to appear in a featured role at an international music festival taking place in Rome. Conductor Parkinson, the orchestra and the audience all joined in wishing her well.
After the concert the entire orchestra posed for a photo, staged and shot by trumpeter Jay Johnson, who doubles as a professional photographer. Clear Lake Performing Arts plans to use his picture extensively for printed materials and also on the group's Web site at www.clearlakeperformingarts.org.
CLPA concert arrangements chairman, Hope Brewer, is busily planning for the fall and winter concert season which will include two Lake County Symphony performances. Dates, times and locales will be announced when performances are booked.
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