That’s Entertainment by Tiberius Kerk
That could only mean you are not familiar with CS Lewis’ bestselling books entitled The Chronicles of Narnia which have sold 100 million copies and translated into 47 languages.
This is the third instalment of a series of seven Narnia books written by Lewis. The cinema has already played host to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) and Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia (2008).
With the latest Narnia tale which was written in 1952, the chronicles are almost midway through the entire seven series.
I readily admit I have not seen the first two Narnia movies. My only encounter with CS Lewis is The Screwtape Letters which I thought was magnificent.
In my mitigation, I realise a little too late that The Chronicles of Narnia was originally written for children. I had preferred the company of DC and Marvel Comics, or sometimes Beano and Dandy Comics, in my early years.
Nevertheless, Voyage of the Dawn Treader does not alter that fact that it is an immensely entertaining show, one which will thrill children of all ages, including those past the age of 40.
The story continues where the second show ended – Edmund and Lucy Pevensie unexpectedly fall into the path of Prince Caspian’s ship, The Dawn Treader. How does all this happen can only be explained by the waters that pour out of a painting on the wall.
Obnoxious cousin
In the confusion, their obnoxious cousin Eustace Clarence Scrubb got sucked into the stormy sea as well. Initially Eustace proved to be quite a pain in the neck 
but later he redeemed himself.
As this is a children’s classic born of Lewis’ fertile imagination, there will be a giant sea serpent, a dragon, warriors and ethereal spirits that will accompany you on this journey of fantasy.
The climax of the latest chronicle is when the swords of the seven lords come together on the Table of Aslan, thereby breaking the evil spell that grips the destiny of the Narnia people.
In this age of science, nothing is really impossible, so be prepared for your wildest imaginings coming true. But it is great fun.
I haven’t enjoyed watching a children’s movie for so long. There was a time when Jason and the Argonauts (1963) was the ultimate for my friends and I. Today, The Chronicles of Narnia movies make that look like school canteen stuff.
What powers this movie and its two predecessors is the scholarly eloquence of CS Lewis, an Oxford academician and a child of the late 19th century.
Like his contemporary JRR Tolkien of the Lord of the Rings fame,Lewis left an indelible mark on mankind with his remarkable contributions to the world of literature.
Younger audience
Without diminishing the acting talents of its young cast like Georgie Henley (Lucy Pevensie), Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and Will Poulter (Eustace Scrubb), the Voyage of the Dawn Treader is very much on the scale of the Pirates of the Caribbean except it is specifically aimed at a younger audience.
What else can you say about a Lion called Aslan that expounds wisdom on the edge of a roaring sea like Moses preaching from Mount Sinai.
But to understand where all this is leading to or what it came from, it is required of the interested viewer to plough into The Chronicles of Narnia books.
There is something about the Narnia adventures that touch the child in all of us. Perhaps it could be our unspoken and undying desire to venture beyond our front doors and plunge into the uncharted waters of our imagination, and then swimming relentlessly towards that alluring shining light.
This movie has loads of those qualities. These are the cinematic jewels that bring forth the gleeful looks and delightful smiles on children’s faces.
Maybe it is too late for some of us to return to those carefree childhood years, but Hollywood has at least made it possible for us to relive a couple of hours of those magical moments when the present is forgotten and everything wonderful is right before our eyes.
Only our hearts will know the unbridled joy that embraces every child when the beautiful merges with the joyful that runs hand in hand with the miraculous.
Give your children and yourself a treat. This is a movie specially scripted, directed and engineered for the family.
