Adamson plays on the rivalry between Peter and Caspian, both looked upon as leaders at a tender age, and hints at a romance between Susan and Caspian. For the three of them, the film is a coming-of-age tale, where they discover what they are capable of, and what they aren’t. And that, with age, comes responsibility.

There are hints about this theme of the film at various stages, especially when Peter and the others wonder why Aslan doesn’t appear to help them. It’s Lucy, the youngest, who never loses hope or faith. When Peter says in despair that he wished Aslan would show them some proof that he still existed, Lucy tells him: “Maybe this time he needs proof from us.”

While the film is a little long at 147 minutes ¿ quite a bit of it devoted to a battle that is value for money — by the end of Prince Caspian, the Pevensies no longer need to prove themselves. If there are worlds to conquer at the end of a railway tunnel, they would know they could go about it.

shalini.langer@expressindia.com