When it was released in 2005, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" grossed nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars. Needless to say, Walden Media has very high hopes for the sequel, Prince Caspian, the only film opening up this weekend.

For the most part, "Prince Caspian" lives up to expectations, although it doesn't quite scale the heights set by the original Narnia film. The story's not quite as interesting this time around and the villain isn't nearly as deliciously wicked, but the film is certainly a rousing adventure, with some superb fantasy battle sequences and a funny little sword-fighting mouse that will keep the kiddies giggling for hours.

Based on C.S. Lewis' beloved young reader novels, the original film found four British children transported to the magical land of Narnia, where they became kings and queens after defeating the evil Ice Witch. A year has passed in our world as the sequel begins, when our heroic quartet are summoned back to their beloved country, only to find it in ruins. 1300 years have passed in Narnia, and despotic kings now rule the land. The young Prince Caspian has a claim on the throne, but his uncle isn't going to relinquish his rule without a fight.

Actually, it takes a while to get to the fight, as the characters plod through the backstory and set up the new characters. The problem is that the new characters aren't nearly as interesting this time out.

The last half of the film is dominated by the battle sequences, and they are very well done. All in all, this is another memorable trip to the enchanting world of Narnia.

Home DVD has one notable title, Denzel Washinton’s feel good story, “The Great Debators,”