The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion [Paperback]

I'd heard rumblings that The Official Illustrated Movie Companion by Perry Moore was pretty incredible. Then this week one of the NarniaWeb moderators said to me, "Wow! That was a really good book." So having heard enough, I trooped down to Barnes & Noble to see for myself. It took only sixty seconds of thumbing through the book to realize that I had to buy this book. I settled down this evening with a cup of tea to see what all the fuss was about and never quit reading. Now it's 2:00 AM and I've just finished this amazing story and the only thing I can say is, "Wow! That was a really good book."

At 225 pages, the book has over twenty chapters and a number of full-page illustrations, movie frames, concept art, and candid on-set photography. Producer Perry Moore begins the book by telling how as a Walden Media employee he helped negotiate with the C.S. Lewis Company for the rights to the create the film. He then takes us through pre-production describing the production team, pre-visualization for the film, and the various iterations of the script.

Children's casting director Pippa Hall has written a chapter on what it was like to cast the kids in the film. (She looked at over 4,000 kids in the casting process.) William, Anna, Skandar and Lucy each have their own chapter. Moore describes how each actor got the part and how they interact to the other three as true-to-life siblings. He goes into depth on each actor's personality, providing us with a unique and special view of each child and what they bring to the film.

Tilda Swinton also gets her own chapter. Moore met with Swinton at the very beginning of the moviemaking process and throughout the entire casting process everyone kept clamoring for Swinton to be the one to play the White Witch. After reading about how she approached the role it seems clear that she brought a passion to the character which shines through in the finished product.

There's a lot of information on the special effects, costumes and prosthetics which bring the magic to the screen. Howard Berger, Dean Wright, and the folks from Weta all have their own chapters in which they tell about the filmmaking process from their own special perspectives. Interviews with Andrew Adamson and Douglas Gresham (C.S. Lewis' stepson) illustrate the depth of commitment that the filmmakers had to the source material. At times, however, it seems that the flow of the story is a little broken up as different production teams wrote their own chapters and some information is repeated.

Prepare to be spoiled. The book gives some big clues into the changes that were made from book to screen. We find out more about Tumnus' added screen time in the White Witch's dungeon and the expanded role of the fox. There are also descriptions of extra scenes and dialogue that were added by the filmmakers and not found in the original text.

This book also shares some intimate details about the filming process. We're treated to delightful diary entries from Anna Popplewell (Susan) and a few cast and crew interviews by Georgie Henley (Lucy). You'll see a touching photo of William comforting Georgie and read about the touching bond between James McAvoy (Mr. Tumnus) and Georgie Henley. You'll read the inspiring story of Susan's mischievous arrow that is still in a New Zealand forest waiting for a zealous fan to find.

The book ends with Douglas Gresham's heartfelt words that this film has been a life-long dream for him. He says "I have dreamed and schemed about making this film almost all of my adult life and indeed even back in my teen years, and now I have watched this lifelong dream come true before my eyes - a privilege afforded to very few."

For fans that really want to know the story of what happened behind the scenes of this movie, this book is a must-have. Just as making this movie right was a consuming passion for the filmmakers, the book itself is truly a labor of love. After reading all the way through The Official Illustrated Movie Companion (you won't be able to put it down), I'm confident that your reaction, like mine, will be: "Wow! That was a really good book."

-Tirian

Travelling the fantasy trail that "Lord of the Rings" blazed, "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" is one of the most hotly anticipated movies of 2005. It has battles, epic adventure, magic and a massive clash between good and evil, set against the lush backdrop of New Zealand. And it's adapted from a classic early fantasy.

Yes, it sounds a bit like a cash in, now that "Lord of the Rings" is over. But Perry Moore's "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe: Official Illustrated Movie Companion" reveals that it's anything but. In this rich colourful book goes behind the scenes, to show us how the movie came together and how it unfolded.

Moore describes how the project got off the ground, scouting for locations and the pre-visualization that helped them create Narnia's otherworldly battles and beasts, especially the lion-god Aslan. Director Andrew Adamson seems to be almost frothing with enthusiasm during his own interview, and at various other times.

Costume sketches, computer graphics, and careful details are included, such as the symbolic carving on the wardrobe doors, or the studies of how centaurs would move if they existed. There is even more stuff about how WETA Workshops brought Narnia alive, with armor, monsters, prosthetics, and some very imaginative CGI animals.

It's not all fun and games, though. Moore describes their problems as well. There was some difficulty casting Edmund, and Skandar Keynes almost didn't make it on. And there was also the question of including Father Christmas in Narnia, but not having a mall Santa. With the help of an Alan Lee picture, they gave the jolly old fellow a radical revamp. If the pictures are anything to do by, it's for the better.

It also gives us a glimpse at the actors. Of particular interest are the four main ones, describing their personalities and the funny quirks they have, and the pranks William Moseley and Keynes played on one another. Anna Popplewell contributes a film diary, and Georgie Henley conducted surprisingly insightful interviews with cast and crew.

As Brian Sibley did with the "Lord of the Rings" guides, Moore does a great job of giving readers a feel for what this movie is going to be like. And, perhaps even more importantly, the amount of enthusiasm and talent that is going into the movie's production. If this is any indication, all is going to be well.

Moore keeps the tone of the book conversational and friendly, with plenty of funny stories to balance out the intricate descriptions of gritty acting and CGI effects. For example, Georgie Henley playing a dictionary game, and calling out a naughty word, or Anna Popplewell being afraid of mice. Not many making-of guides include that human factor, so it's refreshing to have that balanced out.

There is also a wealth of movie photos here: Peter battling the Witch, the gifts, petrified Narnians, goblins, the Witch's ice castle, and the kindly old professor. There are also behind-the-scenes stuff, everything from "centaurs" in greenscreen leggings to a guy hauling Aslan's head across a field.

Perry Moore does an excellent job with "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion," giving an exciting glimpse through the wardrobe doors.

This book is a must-have for all Narnia fans, as well as anyone interested in the process of making a movie. It describes the A to Z process of securing the rights to the movie, selecting the key people to make the movie, and everything leading up to the incredible final product.

The writing is intelligent yet accessible and conveys the sincerity and genuineness that seems to be so lacking in most Hollywood projects. This book provides credibility for the movie's message and sets this project apart from other recent releases. This book is also visually stunning and includes early sketches showing how some of the fantasy characters were conceived and created. This aspect provides a fascinating glimpse into production that most movie-goers rarely get to see.

It is amazing to me that a relatively young author can write so powerfully about such heatrfelt sentiments and can convey an accurate picture of years of diligent work so effortlessly. He makes the making of the movie seem just as riveting as the movie itself. What a pleasure to read!