"It started out as a feeling..." (or Oh, Narnia!)

We're a little behind the times here in Arusha, but this week, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian has finally come to our one cinema complex.

This is not a hefty review. This is just me saying that I went to see it twice, 2 days apart, and I liked it both times. I enjoyed it more the second time around as I was not distracted thinking about all the ways that the film diverts from the book that Lewis wrote. It does take a rather major detour into new territory.

There's been a lot of anticipation in our house for the film because Jesse already had the Regina Spektor song The Call on his iPod so we've been playing it for weeks and weeks. If you've seen it, you'll remember that Regina's lovely voice breaks into a dreamy song right at the end as the 4 English kings and queens of Narnia take their leave and head back to Jolly Old.

I liked the film, even though it's not the quality of Lord of the Rings and even though it departs from the book. But in all honesty, those closing scenes with the lilting loveliness of Regina mixed in, formed my favorite part.

The longing, the leave-taking, the re-entry to another world, the whole goodbye and cross-cultural adventure thing, all set to perfectly poignant lyrics and music, ahhhhhhh... it was sweet.

I love Narnia. I can't help it. I've read the series through more times than I can remember, starting when I was about 8 years old.

C.S. Lewis was a genius... And Regina sings like an angel.