Story
Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and Lucy (Georgie Henley) are staying with their extremely spoiled and obnoxious cousin Eustace (Will Poulter). As the three children look at a painting of a ship – The Dawn Treader – on the bedroom wall, the painting comes to life and the children find themselves in the ocean with the ship bearing down on them. They are rescued by King Caspian (Ben Barnes), and Eustace is befriended by a talking mouse named Reepicheep (voice of Simon Pegg). We learn from King Caspian that he is searching for the seven lost Lords of Telmar, who disappeared while on a quest to defeat a great evil.
The children join Caspian on his voyage and encounter many adventures, which test them all, but particularly Eustace.
Themes
Fantasy and the supernatural; good versus evil
Violence
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader contains some fantasy action violence, but has little blood and gore. For example:
- Caspian uses a crossbow to shoot a man who is hanging from a rope. The man falls from the rope, but no blood is shown.
- A rough-looking pirate restrains Eustace by holding his ear. Eustace appears to be in some discomfort and pain.
- A man punches Edmund in the face, knocking him unconscious. A short time later Edmund wakes up in a prison cell.
- A man runs after a wagon full of prisoners and a guard slaps him across the head, knocking him to the ground.
- In a fight between some pirates and the crew of the Dawn Treader, there is sword-fighting, men being punched in the stomach and head, and a man being strangled with a chain. Lucy hits a man across the head, a creature that looks like a cross between a man and a bull throws a man through the air, and a man is kicked through a second-storey window.
- A pirate holding a dagger in a threatening way comes up to Eustace, who is holding a boat oar. Eustace turns around, accidentally knocking the man over with the oar.
- Reepicheep attacks Eustace with a sword, slashing his shirt in several places. The attack is funny and slapstick.
- Under the influence of evil, Edmund and Caspian have an argument. They almost have a physical fight before Lucy steps between them and stops the fight.
- Reepicheep stabs a dragon (Eustace transformed) in the foot. The dragon picks up Edmund in its talons and flies off.
- In a battle between the crew of the Dawn Treader and a giant sea serpent, the serpent wraps its coils around the ship trying to crush it. It snaps at the crew and tries to eat Edmund. The serpent is attacked by a dragon (Eustace transformed) that breathes fire. The serpent bites the dragon and throws it against a rock. Lucy fires an arrow into the serpent’s mouth and the battle ends when the creature is impaled through the mouth with a magical sword.
- A sword is thrown at the dragon, sticking into the dragon’s shoulder. Later we see the wounded dragon land on a beach.
Content that may disturb children
Under 8
In addition to the violent scenes mentioned above, this movie contains some scenes that could scare or disturb children under eight. For example:
- When their bedroom is flooded with water, Edmund, Lucy and Eustace struggle underwater and flounder on the surface before being rescued.
- There are large jars containing large bugs and other creepy crawlies.
- Several of the crew of the Dawn Treader are mythical creatures, half-animal and half-human in appearance.
- A rowboat full of prisoners disappears into a sinister green mist.
- Invisible creatures with gruff voices come into Caspian’s camp, leaving giant-sized footprints in the sand. Lucy is picked up by the invisible creatures and carried off. She pulls a knife on the creatures and is knocked to the ground. The creatures tell her that if she doesn’t do what they want, they will kill her friends. Later the creatures become visible – they are dwarf-like with a single large leg.
- Several scenes show ghost-like and threatening images of the White Witch.
- Edmund discovers the burned remains of Eustace’s clothes, which makes him think that Eustace has been killed. The same scene shows the skeletal remains of one of the Lords of Telmar.
- Eustace is transformed into a frightening fire-breathing dragon.
- A ball of blue light floats down to earth and transforms into a young woman. Later the woman changes back into a blue ball of light.
- The sea serpent that attacks the ship is very scary with a large mouth and many teeth.
From 8-13
Younger children in this age group – especially those under 10 – might also be disturbed by some of the scenes mentioned above.
Over 13
Children in this age group are unlikely to be disturbed by anything in this movie.
Sexual references
None of concern
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
None of concern
Nudity and sexual activity
None of concern
Product placement
None of concern
Coarse language
This movie contains some mild name-calling and put-downs.
Ideas to discuss with your children
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is a fantasy adventure based on the book of the same name by C.S. Lewis. Unlike the previous Narnia movie – Prince Caspian, which was more suited to a slightly older audience – this movie seems to be aimed at 10-14 year-olds. You should be aware that the movie does contain scenes and images likely to disturb younger children, particularly those under 10.
The main messages from this movie are to believe in your own worth and to overcome the fears inside yourself, so that you can conquer evil in the outside world.
Values in this movie that you could reinforce with your children include the following:
- Courage: at the start of the movie, Eustace seems to be a selfish coward, but with Reepicheep’s help, he shows courage and selflessness when he risks his own life to protect the others.
- Selflessness: the movie’s main characters all act selflessly throughout the story.
- Encouragement: when Reepicheep encourages Eustace, it helps Eustace to think more highly of himself and makes him more selfless and understanding.