If anything, though, it feels almost as if too much has been shoehorned in.
Never thought we’d say it, but Voyage Of The Dawn Treader injects just enough oomph back into the limping kiddie-adventure franchise to make us almost wish for Narnia No. 4. Almost.
Shut your ears to the dialogue, and the dinning of New Testament pedagoguery, and you might almost have a good time.
Dawn Treader is more visually dynamic and thoughtful than its predecessor although the dialogue still clunks whenever it over-explains itself or ushers in moral overlord Aslan (Liam Neeson) to deliver his Thought For The Day homilies.
Another mixed Narnian offering which, while it doesn’t bust through the series’ three-star ceiling, at least gives us its best FX, biggest monsters and finest child actor yet.
There’s a little amount of magic and a well staged finale, but it’s quite an arduous journey for the audience to get there for a reward that’s not quite worth the effort.
Turns out to be better than either of its predecessors – even if that's not saying much.
If you’re looking for a thoroughly enjoyable family outing this Christmas, you need look no further. This is a delight.
The problem is that to ensure the survival of the franchise, which still has four parts left to run, The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader needed to be great. Sorry, Narnia fans, but this it isn't.
It’s hardly a thrilling storyline and the only human character who makes much of an impression is the complaining Eustace while Caspian himself is even more of a limp presence than he was in the previous film.
The result is a sweeping, big-hearted adventure yarn.
It never quite becomes a movie to change anyone’s life - but it’s a solid, safe bet for family viewing over the holidays.
This is simply time-filling nonsense designed for those who can't yet handle the infinitely superior Harry Potter films.
Instead of a battle between good and evil, then, what we get is an island-hopping cruise.
The third and best film in this series of CS Lewis adaptations.
Interview: Georgie Henley, actress
Liam Neeson angers Narnia fans by suggesting Aslan is Mohammed
Coming of age: Learning, that lion, and life without Narnia
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader set visit
The Children of Narnia
Ben Barnes felt like superhero on Narnia
General release. Check local listings for show times.