A family of five is sent running for their lives during Germany’s bombing campaigns in London, England, in 1940. For their own safety and without any other option, a mother sends her four children to live with an eccentric man referred to as the professor in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe.

The children -- played by Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, Anna Popplewell and William Mosely -- have never seen the inside of a mansion before. They pay no mind to the fact that the professor (Jim Broadbent) stays in his room and makes no effort to greet them. The housekeeper is clearly the disciplinarian here, and she's easily avoided because of the dumbwaiter and many hiding places in their huge new home. 

After the youngsters decide to explore inside the house and play hide and seek to pass time, little Lucy (Henley) stumbles upon an old wardrobe. She steps inside where hundreds of fur coats envelope her, making it difficult to be found by the others. She moves to the end of the wardrobe only to be frustrated when it seems to go on forever. Ouch! She has touched something prickly, then cannot believe her eyes when she discovers a pine tree in the wardrobe and feels snow crunching beneath her feet. 

Meanwhile, something is hiding from Lucy. A faun named Mr. Tumnus (James McAvoy) confirms his suspicions that he has encountered a human being for the first time. He appears timid and relucant to approach Lucy, but finally invites her to tea. Extremely trusting and naive, Lucy has no idea about the faun's plans to betray her to the White Witch (Tilda Swinton) and perhaps bring forth her demise. However, there is something about Lucy -- a gentle quality, warmth, humor, and intelligence -- that prevents the faun from delivering her into harm's way. 

Upon leaving Narnia, Lucy is very disappointed when nobody will believe her adventure really happened. This doesn’t prevent Edmund (Keynes) from making cruel remarks and snooping around the wardrobe. He inadvertently finds himself in Narnia face to face with the White Witch who magically brainwashes the boy into thinking she will give him all manner of rewards. She presents Edmund with delicious treats on the spot and promises more of the same if he will bring his siblings to her. 

Neither Edmund nor Lucy realize the White Witch is evil and wants the four children as statues outside her palace. For the last hundred years she has occupied the Narnia throne which belongs rightfully to two daughters and two sons of Adam and Eve. Instead, creatures and other inhabitants of Narnia live under her reign of terror. For a century the White Witch  has held Narnia's fate in her hands, placing it into an eternal  winter -- and one without a Christmas. 

There are several strong performances here. Charming newcomer Henley is perfectly cast as Lucy. She projects innocence, sensitivity and courage. She listens beautifully, and her reactions set up each scene with just the right hint of foreboding. Henley's Lucy is the character who grows up before our eyes through this magnificent  journey.

Swinton plays the White Witch with a sense of urgency, self-loathing and self-importance. Combining bitterness, loneliness, and a complete lack of empathy, she conjures up a character who's as frosty and cold as the winter landscape she created.

Director Andrew Adamson had his work cut out for him here. He had to convince the audience that all 60 of his CGI rendered characters were real and that his actors could interact with them. Knowing that Aslan the Lion (voiced by Liam Neesan) was the pivotal character, Adamson wisely hired the WETA Workshop in New Zealand, the same group that created creatures for The Lord of the Rings. The result? Aslan emerges as a gentle, yet ferocious leader, an ordinary lion down to the physical characteristics and fur, but also a  military strategist ready to battle to the death, if need be, inorder to restore Narnia to its rightful rulers.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe draws us into a fantasy world unlike any we have seen before. This visual masterpiece is a delightful treat that most viewers are sure to enjoy.

(Released by Buena Vista Pictures and rated "PG" for battle sequences and frightening moments.)