One thing I've discovered about myself over the last decade or so is that films I've been somewhat marginal to lukewarm on in the theaters, nine times out of ten I find more enjoyment in while in the comfort of my own home. Maybe my standards lesson when my butt is on the couch. Maybe I'm just a bit more partial to mediocrity when I can watch it while wearing my pajamas. Whatever the reason, the simple fact is that I'm a much nicer girl when I'm in my apartment, a whole plethora of DVD reviews reflecting this truth in this site's archives.

I bring all this up because when I say the 3-Disc Collector's Edition DVD release of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is NOT one of those times you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. While I didn't really care one way or the other about Disney's sequel to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in theaters, at home it bored me senseless, and the only time I imagine myself watching it again is if I'm tired and in need of some background noise to help me sleep.

Only a year removed from their dramatic and triumphant victories in the land of Narnia; Lucy (Georgie Henley), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), Peter (William Moseley) and Susan (Anna Popplewell) Pevensie suddenly find themselves transported back to the magical land while standing in the middle of a London subway station. They discover 1,300 years have past inside their former kingdom and the palace they once called home is now nothing more than a pile of crumbling ruins.

Once again they must summon all of their strength and courage to help save the fantastical land they desperately love, this time coming to the aid of the noble Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes) as he valiantly tries to end the war between his people and the mystical Narnians. This task will not be an easy one. Caspian's uncle Miraz (Sergio Castellitto) wants the throne for himself, and he's assembled an army so massive even the mighty lion Aslan (Liam Neeson) might not be able to summon a roar powerful enough to stop it.

Unlike the first engrossing multifaceted chapter in writer C.S. Lewis' popular literary saga (and I'm talking about the book, not the longwinded movie), Prince Caspian is almost too simplistic. There aren't any surprises, nothing new or inspiring to catch a viewer's attention in a way that feels fresh or original. Platoons of soldiers march across huge green fields, catapults fire, swords clash, arrows fly and winged creatures take to the air in frenzied flight. While technically everything is spot-on the feelings of déjà vu (courtesy of some dude named Peter Jackson – you might have heard of him) are decidedly uninspired.

None of this would be such an issue if returning director (and co-screenwriter) Andrew Adamson kept things running at a brisk pace and didn't feel the need to stretch things out to such an oppressive length. At 140 minutes, this journey to Narnia feels as if it lasts forever, and while the battles themselves are far more visually engaging this time than they were in the 2005 original getting there takes so long I almost fell asleep waiting on them.

There is one moment where thing go perfectly. Recent Oscar-winner Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton) pops up for a frigid cameo so unsettling, so absolutely terrifying and monstrous, not only are we reminded just how brilliant she was in Wardrobe but we're also given a brief glimpse into just how good this sequel could have been. In mere seconds she pounds home Lewis' themes of personal achievement and philosophical faith with absolute certainty, a few words all it takes for her to send chills down my spine and freeze my heart cold with an icy stare.

If the rest of the movie had the conviction and sense of purpose of this one moment then Prince Caspian would have the look and the feel of a classic. Instead it is barely passable, the movie nothing more then functional entertainment almost unworthy of the price of a rental (let alone purchasing). If returning to Narnia is going to keep feeling and looking like this, maybe Disney would be better off just keeping this series of books closed.

As for the DVD, the image looks great and the extras are all up to Disney's usual high standard. For those who are, for whatever reason, fond of the film, I can't imagine they are going to be at all disappointed with either Adamson's commentary track (he's also joined by a number of cast members, including the majority of the kids) or the plethora of featurettes taking up the majority of the second disc. A digital copy of the feature is also included, but why people like this particular extra (I tried watching a bit of it on my iPod and was not impressed) is way beyond me.