The Chronicles of Narnia franchise is by no means Harry Potter but nonetheless, it has captivated a sizable following. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the third film in the series and continues the story, following Edmund and Lucy back to Narnia, this time with their annoying cousin Eustace.

After Prince Caspian overthrew his evil uncle in the last film, he has since become king. He is now on a quest to find the swords of seven lords and reunite them at Aslan's table to vanquish the evil mist that has been lurking about. For this reason, Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and Lucy (Georgie Henley) have returned to Narnia from England.

The series has grown a lot in the past two and a half years. Many of the characters have matured in that time. No longer a little girl, Lucy tries to find her own place in the world, wanting to be as pretty as Susan. Edmund as well deals with his place in society even going as far as challenging King Caspian for the title. Unlike the last films, Peter and Susan won't be joining Edmund and Lucy as they have grown too old for Narnia.

New to the film is Eustace Scrubb, played by Will Poulter. He's a child who favors science over faith, resulting in quite the quarrel between him and his cousins. Once he arrives in Narnia, all that begins to change and he becomes closer to them and the larger-than-life mouse Reepicheep (Simon Pegg). He is the standout character of the film, and should the series continue on, it'll likely follow his adventures in Narnia. A choice I believe will be most beneficial.

I found The Voyage of the Dawn Treader inundated with CGI effects, more so than any of the other films. Some of the effects, such as the snow spell scene, worked quite well, and monsters looked especially ferocious. Others, not so much. I feel the studio relied too heavily on them as it took away from emerging yourself into the fantasy world.

Overall, the third film in the Narnia series lives up to expectations. It's not quite as good as the first two though. Whether you've read the books or not, you'll definitely find something to enjoy about it. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader will be sure to please fans and newcomers alike.

Follow me on Twitter @Majiesto