I think those that are insisting it was still somehow a driving force are reading things into the film based upon their knowledge of the book.

Love it when people counter a point that nobody argued in the first place. Who said that the journey to Aslan's country was a driving force in the film? I've seen 3 points of view here, if I'm reading them correctly:

1. It was just another thread of several, but it should have been the central thread in the film.

2. It should have been developed more than it was.

3. It was just another thread, and that's perfectly fine.

Seeing Reep standing on the prow *once* doesn't tell the audience that he's just dying to see Aslan's Country,

A lot of people complained that VDT doesn't let you make your own conclusions, since a lot of things were simply verbally explained:
- "Oh, that mansion."
- "The spell; it's lifting!"
- "I'm a boy again!"

Reepicheep standing on the dragon prow in the storm is exactly the opposite. It does allow the audience to wonder why Reepicheep would be out on the prow in the middle of the storm. The connection to Aslan's Country can be made, seeing as earlier in the movie Reepicheep was on the dragon prow looking East, right before telling Lucy about Aslan's Country.

I agree with Edmund's line "Well, we've come this far." It's just not right. Cut it out though, and the moment would have been perfect!

I think that when Caspian allowed Reepicheep to tell about Aslan's Country, he already also dreamed about it. Look: why Caspian didn't tell it himself? He's king in VDT! He had the right to speak first. It's explained in the film: "Maybe you will"? I mean: Ed starts to understand Caspian in that scene. They are brothers in all but blood. And, if you have DVD with newest VDT, there are two deleted scenes. Search them on Youtube: "Doubt" and "Mutiny". In the first one, Caspian doubts in himself, but Edmund calms him down. In the second one, his crew doubt in him. And when Caspian wants to go to Aslan's Country, he really wants to see his father. And Edmund hugs him really truly. The end scene is really touching, as all film!

I wish they had emphasized Reep's longing, because it is the main goal in the book. Caspian and the other four have no doubt they will continue to the end of the world, and if Aslan's world is there, hooray! The rest of the crew had the main goal to seek the seven lords, as explained on Ramadu's island. They become willing to reach the end. However, in the film it's more like a secret between Reep and Lucy, so when they get to close to the end of the world Reep can say, "Guess what guys, I'm a genius! Let's go to the world's end! Surprise!" Just like my parents would say "we're going to the dentist" when we were really going to a play place when I was little. Surprise!

Yes. Lucy only said one time:

Could we sail as far to Aslan's Country?

or something in that style, but nobody thinks she was talking seriously. After the fight with the Sea Serpent they see the Aslan's Country and then they start to understand all. Whether or not, each one dreamed about it besides Eustace but not many knew if others do.