Just got back from seeing the movie. Excellent I thought: we took along a Kurdish friend who has limited English, and he thoroughly enjoyed it. Though afterwards he did ask the rather obvious question "Why did Aslan come back to life, I did not really understand".
    I took the opportunity of reading the book two days ago(I'd never read a Narnia book before), as I was interested in getting some images and story in my head in case the Disney was too nauseating. I found it amazingly good, and pretty faithful(as far as you can expect that from Hollywood).
The differences are always amusing, when they turn books into movies. McGrath has already commented on the souped-up battles. Well, if you give little-boy directors big budgets, they'll have computer fun, it's the way of the world/ The golden rule of all screen adapations was followed: always include either a steam train, or a coach and horses going up to a big house.
   The second rule is"never use just a big house, use the biggest stately home you can afford, however silly it looks".
A bit pf PC editing too: the Beaver smokes in the book, but not in the film! The wolf's gory death-throes vanish, as does Peter cleaning his sword of blood. Also the relish with which the White Witch has Edmond tied up, and then starts removing her garments(revealing naked white arms) while preparing to cut his throat. As to Aslan's playful resurrection romp with the two girls ("when all three finally lay together panting in the sun"...cool yourself down, CSL). No, no sign of that at all in the film!
Anway , thoroughly enjoyed it. And I really can't why Polly Toynbee and Phillip Pullman are so upset. The chap's a Christian. He's allowed to be, isn't he? And allowed to write rattling good yarns isn't he? The symbolism was heavy handed, and puerile in parts, but it obviously hits the spot with loads of children, whether Christian or atheist. And the Muslim friend we went with thoroughly enjoyed it. I wouldnt quite give the five-stars, like the Guardian, but pretty damn good. Especially Lucy.