The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Yesterday, I finally took the time to see The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and must admit that I was thoroughly impressed.  The acting was quite good, the effects were amazing (as usual in this series), and the plot was very true to C.S. Lewis' beloved book.  As you might expect, my mind immediately went to the implications for any parents and children who might see the film.  Here are a few of my thoughts and suggestions for taking the learning further.

Voyage of the Dawn Treader follows Lucy and Edmund as they return to Narnia again to meet up with Prince Caspian.  Sailing in pursuit of seven missing lords, the children face temptations of greed, rebellion to authority, and jealousy.  When reading Lewis' book, it was difficult to clearly see the connection between these temptations and children;  in the movie, the reality of these temptations in the lives of children is crystal clear.  A young child will understand and relate to Edmund's desire to be in charge and Lucy's wish to be as pretty as her big sister.

A few of the underlying themes are not quite as clear, but open some valuable doors for parents to enter into dialogue with their children.  First (and possibly most importantly) is the concept of spiritual warfare.  In the film, a green mist reeks havoc on the people of Narnia and appears each time an evil force is at work.  As our heroes delve deeper into realms of darkness, the mist carries with it their greatest fears and reminders of past failures.  The children attempt to combat the mist within their own logic and positive thoughts;  unfortunately they are powerless against the mist.  It is only when Edmund uses the Sword of Aslan that the children are released from the power of the mist and the darkness is driven away.  As I left the theater, I was impressed by the powerful visual image presented of the truth contained in Ephesians 6:12  -- "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  Our children need to be aware of the presence of evil forces that come against them and that their only defense is with the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  (Ephesians 6:16-17)

A second important story line surrounds Eustace, the cousin of Lucy and Edmund.  Eustace stumbles upon a treasure and places a golden band upon his arm.  Without knowing it, Eustace has found a dragon's treasure;  the consequence of taking the riches is turning into a dragon.  While in the form of a dragon, Eustace is helpful but continually desires to return to his former state.  It is not until Eustace realizes his own frailty and has a personal encounter with Aslan that he is released from the form of a dragon.  This subplot can be used with younger children to introduce the idea of salvation changing us from the inside out.  Eustace's attitude and heart change on the inside long before he is changed on the outside.  For older children, consider discussing the concepts of spiritual bondage and deliverance, regeneration, or the importance of solitude (devotion). 

I am interested to see where the Narnia series goes next.  At the end of the film, Reepicheep passes into the Land of Aslan (Heaven) and both Lucy and Edmund are told that they will not be able to return to Narnia.  It will be interesting to see if the films maintain their commercial success without the presence of the four Pevensie children.  It is my hope that Caspian and Eustace will be able to entice audiences to return to the land of Narnia for future installments.  The teaching opportunities and the quality entertainment are something I hope to see continue through the entire seven books of the series.