The problem with capturing cult children's fiction on celluloid is that, more often than not, the little things that go a big distance in making the books timeless -- and appealing to grown ups and little tykes alike -- are lost on screen. The Harry Potter [Images] series is a good example.

That caveat means that though grown ups might The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe too simplistic, it makes delightful viewing for children, regardless of whether they have read the books by C S Lewis or not.

The major credit for that goes to the animation, background score, some very nice acting and the locales. In that order.

Are you ready for Narnia?

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The story is as straight as a fairy tale. At least that's what comes across on screen, because I must confess I have not read the books.

Lucy (Georgie Henley), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), Susan (Anna Popplewell) and Peter (William Moseley) are the Pevensey siblings, whose father is fighting the Germans in the Second World War and whose mother has to send them away to an uncle to escape Hitler's [Images] aerial attack on England [Images].

In the eccentric Professor Kirk's (played by a very avuncular Jim Broadbent [Images]) house, Lucy stumbles into a cupboard that is the doorway to a magical land, called Narnia.

But of course, her older siblings refuse to believe her, putting it down to the child's imagination running amok. Until they all land up in Narnia.

In the land of magic, the White Witch wields unbridled power. She is forever on the lookout for humans, because a prophecy says that when two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve (meaning four humans) come to Narnia, the land will be rid of evil, and the perpetual winter created by the Witch (Tilda Swinton) will pass.

The Pevenseys are unwilling saviours. When they realise the dangers that lie ahead, all they want to do is get out of Narnia, where animals and trees � all of who talk � are divided in their allegiance. The good ones are for Aslan (a majestic, animated lion, voiced by a very good Liam Neeson), while the evil ones have rallied around the Witch.

An epic battle is due, and no prizes for guessing who wins.

What carries the film is the superb animation, and the delightful little quirks the voiceover artists and screenplay writers have given the animals. Like this, for instance:

Mrs Beaver: You've been sneaking second helpings, haven't you?

Mr Beaver: Well, you never know if your next meal's going to be your last. Especially with your cooking.

The film has been shot in New Zealand [Images], which seems to be overflowing with the kind of places anyone would love to die in. And the locales almost inevitably remind you of Lord Of The Rings, as do some of the battle sequences.

For those who want to, you can see plenty of Christian metaphors, such as Aslan christening Peter as Peter Wolfsbane, knight of Narnia, after the boy kills one of the Witch's wolf police animals.

The animation, I repeat, is astounding. Especially the lion. And, here is the sad part: An Indian studio, Rhythm And Hues, has created the lion and the battle scenes. When the credits roll, other studios are mentioned by country and state, but not Rhythm And Hues (although the Indian studio comes first in the credits). Outsourcing blues?

The children act very nicely, as do some of the cameo actors. But some of the battle scenes seem a trifle tacky, and the transformation of the children to fighters for a cause is not stunning enough. Peter, for instance, looks definitely uncomfortable with a sword.

The bigger point about this otherwise nice film is that immortal children's films leave even us cynical adults with lumps in our throats. If you don't agree, watch Sound Of Music again. Narnia fails to do that. A senior colleague went to the film's premiere with his wife and 5-year old daughter. The little girl was the only one who stayed wide awake throughout the film. 

So, if you want to give your child a lovely Republic Day weekend gift, you know what movie to pick. And, if you are the brooding type, ponder over why such great animation cannot be seen in our desi films, though there is no dearth of such stories in our literature and, as Narnia proves, no dearth of talent in the field of animation either.