Narnia’s Greatest Film Moment Was Cut From the Books (& the Netflix Reboot Can’t Top It)

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While the movies that followed weren’t as successful, Andrew Adamson’s 2005 film, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, was mostly praised by both critics and viewers. It was a fun fantasy story and stayed true to the original book by C.S. Lewis.

One of the most exciting parts of the movie The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was the final battle, where young Peter Pevensie led the Narnian army against the White Witch and her monsters. With thrilling action, a powerful musical score by Harry Gregson-Williams, and impressive special effects that created a huge army of creatures, this battle stood out as a key moment in the Chronicles of Narnia films. Interestingly, those unfamiliar with the book may be surprised to learn that this dramatic scene was largely created for the movie and wasn’t a major part of the original story.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Highlighted the Pevensies’ Combat Skills

The movie’s final battle stretched on for about twenty minutes. Peter bravely stood his ground, trying to reduce the enemy’s numbers before close combat began. He started by sending gryphons to drop large stones on the approaching monsters. After causing chaos among Jadis’s forces, he led a cavalry charge to break through their lines. When the charge lost steam, he ordered a retreat to higher ground, where archers on the hills could provide cover for his soldiers.

Peter didn’t just fulfill a prophecy – his clever battle decisions were a key part of Narnia’s success, giving them a real advantage. While Jadis wasn’t a strong strategist, her army was powerful and nearly defeated Peter. Luckily, Aslan arrived just in time with rescued soldiers from Jadis’s castle, saving him from certain defeat.

Peter was the most impressive fighter in the battle, but each of the Pevensie siblings had their own brave moment. Edmund destroyed the magic wand Jadis was using to petrify enemies, Susan killed the dwarf Ginarrbrik before he could harm Edmund, and Lucy used her cordial to heal the injured Narnians.

The Chronicles of Narnia Novels Placed Less Emphasis on Action Than the Films

The Battle of Beruna, featured in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, isn’t described in much detail. The novel’s account is short and somewhat unclear because the chapter about it, told through Lucy’s eyes, focuses on her separate journey with Aslan and Susan. While Lucy and Susan were busy reviving statues at Jadis’ castle, the battle was taking place. By the time they arrived at Beruna, the fighting was almost over, and Lewis only devoted a couple of paragraphs to describing it.

Lucy noticed the Narnians were losing the battle and saw Peter fighting Jadis, but she couldn’t see much else happening. Although Edmund did manage to break Jadis’ wand – just like in the movie – this didn’t get mentioned until later.

C.S. Lewis’s friend, J.R.R. Tolkien, handled similar themes in The Hobbit. Both authors, having experienced World War I, avoided celebrating violence, particularly in books meant for children. However, the Chronicles of Narnia movies were designed as big-budget action films, much like Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings. This meant they had to show more detail about battles than Lewis included in his original novel.

Netflix is planning a new series based on The Chronicles of Narnia, but it will face high expectations compared to the earlier films directed by Adamson, particularly his version of the Battle of Beruna. However, this isn’t the first story they’ll tell. Unlike the original movies, which followed the books‘ release order, the new series will present the story chronologically. The first film will be a prequel to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, focusing on the backstories of characters like Jadis and featuring a more intimate, less large-scale conflict.

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2025-12-02 01:06