I was disappointed in the movie, and I had gone in feeling hopeful. I have a longer review to post somewhere, but to sum up:

1. It gave me a bad case of whiplash
2. Every scene should be tagged "...and then Eustace and Reepicheep steal the scene).

And, most damning of all:

I went with a friend who had neither seen the other two movies, nor read the books since elementary school. When, after the movie, I told her how the book went she look at me, bewildered, and said: "That would have been so much better!"

My first post in this forum.

I went in with low expectations so that I knew I wouldn't be disappointed. As it turns out, I am happy enough with VDT that I say it supersedes PC, yet doesn't reach LWW. LWW was nearly completely the book, PC was the book rewritten, and VDT was the book with some extra plot additions.

The theater was about half-full at most, I think. There were several laughs at the scene where Edmund and Caspian both say "No!" on Ramandu's Island.

There were parts of the movie that I simply love, parts that I say "meh" about, and parts that I hate, but that is so for all movies. Of course I agree with everyone else that Will Poulter and Reepicheep are some of the best in the film. Despite some of the dialogue, I really did enjoy their interactions. I felt that the dragon with its facial expressions were stunningly clear and just plain awesome. I think the same of Reepicheep. The campfire scene between the two of them when their relationship starts to change into a friendship just translated the book to screen in what I feel was the best way possible (at least for that part).

The movie captured the book's essence in many parts. Several times I was clapping my hands, I was so excited to see something (usually Eustace&Reep related). Yet in other parts, it strayed and felt not at all like the Voyage of the Dawn Treader I imagined. The Sea Serpent falls into this category. While I knew they were going to make the change from book to screen in the way they defeat the serpent, it did not feel very much like C.S. Lewis's book to me. It felt like a mindless thriller. I guess that is the way battle is. Perhaps my feelings will change on this as I have more time to think on it, but this long post is on my impressions at my first viewing.

I pitied the younger members of the audience when the Sea Serpent appeared.

I went in absolutely with no expectations, I was just going to take things as they came.

I was not dissappointed, there were many good things about the movie a quite a few bad things. I'll go through the bad first.

My main problem with this movie was not the changes to the story. The thing I disliked the most was the cheap, home-movie feel all throughout the film. I think it was the TERRIBLE camera-work that is mainly to blame for this, plus the lame script.

Now the good things. Well just about everything else was really good, the seven-swords weren't as bad as I thought they would be and the movie captured just about everything I love about the book and it added some really good parts

So all in all I loved the movie and dispite some really bad elements it is well worth seeing.

I pitied the younger members of the audience when the Sea Serpent appeared.

tell me about it! He was creepy when "closed" but then he "opens up" and becomes more frightening, for kids that is.

IT WAS AWESOME!! Trailers and reviews had me concerned, but I loved it. Will Poulter was a wonderful Eustace with a deep, real character. Wish I could watch it again now!

I Absolutely loved it! VOTD was my favorite of the books so I may be a bit biased when it comes to the film but I truly loved it. The first time seeing it I was in knoxville at the premiere (I sat with @Edmund P on the second row ) and I was completely amazed. I came home and saw it again and imbelieve the second time was better for me. Idk if I just missed some things the first time around but I really liked it better the second time and I definitely cried harder lol I was in the lobby of the theatre after it was over still crying ( lol I get a bit emotional ) But I believe that this is the best of the three movies. True there were some things added but they weren't things that after leaving the theatre I was still confused about. It was definitely amazing

I didn't really have expectations.
I didn't really have an opinion walking out of the theatre either.
Narnia films are confusing; I can never initially tell whether I like them. I have to think about them for a little while to make an opinion. I feel like a lot of people just go and see them and try to process them and form opinions as they are watching the movie; it doesn't work that way for me. I just watch it, let the story take all my attention, then try to evaluate it afterward.

But the more I think about VoDT, the more I like it. Unlike the book, the movie had characters that were well developed throughout. The book, annoyingly, had barely anything going on with any of the characters except Repicheep and Eustace. The movie was able to make Edmund and Lucy much more interesting characters than I thought they'd be.

The plot was well made; while the story in the book worked well, it wouldn't have worked in a movie. I'm glad it was cohesive and not a set of largely-unconnected adventures, as it would have been if it were adapted strictly from the book.

I thought the acting was excellent, though there are places where I didn't think Lucy was well-acted. Eustace was especially well acted, and Edmund was also pretty good.

That being said, there are weaknesses in the movie. I would have liked more explanation about the green mist; for example, answers to the questions of where it came from, what caused it, etc. However, it doesn't really need that much of an explanation, because in a story like a Narnia story simply having it be caused by some magical forces is sufficient.
The fact that the movie was made quickly and cheaply are very obvious. The movie is indeed sloppy in places and far less polished than the other two (especially PC - the massive budget PC was made on really shined through in how well-crafted it was as a movie).

So my initial thoughts: 7 or 8 out of 10. I'll have to go see it again, though. My opinions about movies tend to change when I see them more than once.

I laughed. I cried. I love it!

I was so excited walking into the theater and when it began I started hyperventilating a little and had to tell myself to calm down
having seen clips of it beforehand I had a general sense of the plot changes and I was prepared for that! but it was even better than I hoped! I am so happy with this movie!

I was happy they enjoyed themselves and I wonder if non-book fans are getting more enjoyment out of it.

My two friends who saw it with me were non-readers and both liked VDT. My first reaction was more positive than what happend with Prince Caspian. My first time for PC there was a sort of disconnect. Second time was better.

VDT was very entertaining though I didn't like all the changes to be sure; I did like some including the return from Narnia and the water draining back into the picture. And Eustace carefully placing the painiting back on the wall after wanting to "smash it" initially.

So for me the first viewing was a positive one.

Underwhelmed. After following the development of VDT I expected a lot more from this installment. I remember at one point production mentioned this movie would not feel like it belonged in the same series as LWW and PC because they were going to make all these changes and make it more faithful to the books and their own vision of Narnia. In my opinion those changes weren't for the better. This movie felt like diluted film series Narnia or a Narnia film made strictly for fans of the book because to me it didn't feel like it was trying to reach an audience beyond eagle-eyed fans or fans "in the know" so to speak. It's nice to get those wink-wink-nudge moments such as the Jill Pole reference but I would have appreciated it for the sake of telling a good story and the health of the film series if the film also spoke to John and Jane Doe who's never read the books. I guess it fares decently for people who know only the film series but as I think GP put it this movie was still busy telling everyone what's what instead of showing us. It should have struck a balance between those who already know and those who are just discovering.

I did love the look of Narnia. The style of the world remained consistent despite production changes and that was great. Visually it's the same Narnia as LWW and PC. Loved loved loved the Dawn Treader sailing through stormy waters and the unexpectedly freakish sea serpent. It was surprisingly terrifying and grotesque which pleased me a lot personally, but that's just me and I do enjoy my "childrens stories" with some dashes of more adult elements, horror being one of them. Loved Caspian's demeanor as a king, loved him as a prince too but it was great to see how much he'd grown while still being a youthful man. Little easter egg type references and foreshadowing to SC were great for me. I liked the dufflepuds in the film better than in the book! Just wished they could have been in the movie a little more.

Overall I thought it was too lackluster and doesn't live up to the hype that's been building up for VDT. Honestly the trailer that uses "Conviction" in it filled me with more high seas spirit than the actual movie did. Movies aren't just a medium for putting moving pictures to words and here I feel they not only made VDT just moving pictures to words but they also cut out and rearranged pages while integrating very little of their own.

I went with my two older sisters, my plder brother, and a good friend of ours. We saw it in 3D (although to tell you the truth, it wasn't much different). I was very glad that I read all the plat beforehand. I remember when we went to PC, I knew nothong about the changes. So when I saw the movie I was heart-broken. But with VDT, I knew how it was going to go, I knew what was going to happen, so it wasn't so supprising for me.

I went into the movie theatres not expecting too much and though it was a little better than I expected I was still quite disappointed when I went out. I felt like "great I just watched a preview of the movie, now can I see the actually movie" I felt that way because in my humble opinion the movie is very rushed. My feelings on my first viewing were very mixed, but I must say I was more disappointed than impressed

I just got a message from a YouTube subscriber who said he was "shell shocked" by how bad the film was. I think that's a good term for my reaction too. I went expecting it to be okay. I thought there would be some things I didn't like, but I figured the overall film would be more good than bad.

Even when I was talking about the trailer and feeling rather down about the film, I never thought the quality of the film would be this low. I always took for granted that it would at least be technically well crafted, well directed, and well acted. The low quality of almost every aspect of the film caught me completely off guard.

But the more I think about VoDT, the more I like it. Unlike the book, the movie had characters that were well developed throughout. The book, annoyingly, had barely anything going on with any of the characters except Repicheep and Eustace.

I don't know how to begin to respond to this, honestly. Except that I would strongly encourage you to take another close look at the book. Lewis is wonderfully subtle and nuanced in his character development. Apted was clumsy and heavy-handed about it.

I finally saw it for the first time last Sunday afternoon and I loved it! This was the first time I saw the inside of our brand new theater (and the first theater I've been in with reclining seats) and it's about as big as our other two theaters (when there was two theaters, since our oldest theater has now closed) combined. Since I'm no book purist (I would miss out on a lot of good movies if I was), I don't mind if they change a few things around, as long as it's interesting. As long as I can follow the story (which I usually can, even if it's a little rushed), it's good enough for me.

I usually go to the movies by myself (most of my family doesn't like my taste in movies anyways) and like Prince Caspian, the theater was about half full. I'm planning to go a second time next Sunday afternoon (since I don't have a vehicle and the closest theater to where I live closed, I have to go to the weekend matinees). Regardless of what critics or anyone else thinks, if I want to see a particular movie again, that means I liked it just fine (I don't let weak box office numbers scare me away either, since there may be many reasons for that).

I just got a message from a YouTube subscriber who said he was "shell shocked" by how bad the film was. I think that's a good term for my reaction too. I went expecting it to be okay. I thought there would be some things I didn't like, but I figured the overall film would be more good than bad.

Even when I was talking about the trailer and feeling rather down about the film, I never thought the quality of the film would be this low. I always took for granted that it would at least be technically well crafted, well directed, and well acted. The low quality of almost every aspect of the film caught me completely off guard.

But the more I think about VoDT, the more I like it. Unlike the book, the movie had characters that were well developed throughout. The book, annoyingly, had barely anything going on with any of the characters except Repicheep and Eustace.

I don't know how to begin to respond to this, honestly. Except that I would strongly encourage you to take another close look at the book. Lewis is wonderfully subtle and nuanced in his character development. Apted was clumsy and heavy-handed about it.

I disagree on this. I think it all comes down to what we all see in the books. I personally feel that LWW is the weakest of the Narnia movies. I dont think he really needs to 'take a closer look at the book', as Im sure he sees something a bit different. It wouldnt be any different than if he had asked you 'to take a closer look at the books' just because you didnt like VDT. The consensus here on NW is that this is a good movie. In fact, go to box office tracking and (as of right now) buzz is more positive on this movie all movies being charted right now (including Harry Potter). Box office tracking tracks almost 120,000 sources.