I loved seeing it in the cinema for the first time. I didn't go to the movies much because I was noise sensitive and anxious in my youth and I didn't like all the trailers and stuff. (I still don't go to the movies much.) The fact that the experience was a rarity for me made it all the more exciting. (Though the trailers were a pain.) It gave me this great feeling of childlike awe and wonder, much like C. S. Lewis describes the characters in the Narnia books experiencing at certain points like when they're on Ramandu's Island or when they see Narnia being sung into existence by Aslan. 

I remember going to see it in a local theater. I didn’t think it was a bad adaptation at all except for a few changes from the book. In fact I was generally more pleased with it than the other two films. The scene with Lucy meeting Mr, Tumnus was what I liked the best.  My initial impression with the battle scenes was that they tried to copy The Lord of the Rings, which was very popular at that time. Most of the film followed the book fairly closely, although the script adaptation could have been better.

It was very exciting for me, as it was mostly filmed in my country, and I was able to provide news snippets, transcripts of interviews, and other little bits.  I was already an adult, but the buzz and anticipation were wonderful.

I have been writing a 20-years history thread, drawn from the news items of the day, starting when Narniaweb began in late 2003.  I add to it every couple of months, and it's currently up to January 2005.

https://community.narniaweb.com/index.php/community/general-movie-discussion/news-from-20-years-ago/#post-355749

2005... the year I turned 21 - ahh to be 21 again. Actually, I was nearly 22 when LWW came out in cinemas.  Not that my age is particularly relevant to the question. Let me see... I had grown up watching the BBC series, and then got into the books as a child and teen, and in my late teens I moved to Tasmania.  I introduced some (maybe even most) of my friends at the church I was going to at the time to the Chronicles of Narnia, we went as a group to the local cinema the evening it first came out (Boxing day, 26th December in Australia).  I could not contain my excitement.  I was overall quite impressed with the production - my favourite scene at that time would have been when Lucy met Mr. Tumnus for the first time.  Oh, and I went to see it again a couple of weeks later with a friend who had missed out on coming with the group.  Ahh, lovely memories.

@pete I grew up with those films. The fact that it was cancelled makes me cry. But it's time for new.

I can actually remember anticipating for the movie to come out. I’ve first read Narnia when I was 10 in 2003 and I was 12 when the first Walden film was released, so I was actually somewhat new to Narnia. 

I enjoyed the movie, and it doesn’t stray far from the book. Though there were things I could have done without, I still appreciate the effort they put into it.

I remember seeing this at my church when I was about 12. I loved every minute of it, especially Lucy meeting Mr. Tumnus for the first time. Knowing the behind-the-scenes details makes that so much better.

I bought all three of the Walden movies on Blu-ray, although I liked the first one the best.  I watch them over again quite often as I have with the BBC series.  In fact if the movies were shown again in a theater near where I live I would like to see them.  Most people here probably own them, although some people have felt that they could have been more accurate to the books, which I think is true. Still, they are very enjoyable for the acting and beautiful special effects even after viewing many times.  🙂

It's been great to see all the responses to this! It's crazy to think that it really has been 20 years since this movie came out and how timeless it has seemed to be. Would love to hear more thoughts and memories of LWW as the year continues on!

20 years?! Oh, boy... 😬 

I remember looking forward to it in the run up – finding out snippets of news on NarniaWeb and other sites. I don't recall too much about the cinema-going experience, but I had a mostly positive experience of it! Some issues with changes made from the book, but I liked it enough to get it on DVD. I haven't watched it in a few years now, but I'm sure I will be entertained again once I come back to it! 🙂

I had no idea what Narnia was before I watched the movie, I was about six years old and my parents got me the DVD. I didn't immediately become obsessed with it, but over the years that definitely changed 🤣 . I think it holds up really well, and is the best movie of the three! My favorite moments are all based around the soundtrack, I think. The somber, yet mysterious music that plays as they're on the train, the upbeat 40's song as they play hide and seek (which, if anyone knows the name of it, please let me know! I couldn't find it on the full soundtrack for some reason), and of course, The Battle. That song is amazing, and the actual battle scene that goes along with it is also very good.

This isn't really my favorite scene, but the scene where Aslan sacrifices himself gives me chills, every time. The whole scene is just so ominous, and sad. I still get emotional watching it, knowing what it's based on.

@abbiette The song was a historic one recorded in1939 by girl group The Andrews Sisters. Title is 'Oh Johnny'. 

I think it's not credited on the CD because it's just historic background music rather than composed for the film.

@coracle Thank you so much!! You just solved my years long search. I had wondered if it was actually an old song, or if they had just done a really good job making it sound like it fit the time period. I love that it's actually a historic recording!

Do you like the first Narnia movie better now than when it was first released? I think that after twenty years I have more affection for it.  The same holds true for the other two Narnia films. I think I can forgive all of the films’ mistakes more easily.  Or is it because many of today’s films are so much worse that the Walden films look better to me than when they were first released? I guess you can learn to love something that is imperfect in many ways but has achieved positive results.  🙂