That's the way C.S. Lewis wanted it. You read LWW then TMN. I think you are supposed to wonder "How did Narnia get there?" "Why did these kids get to go to Narnia?" "What happens to the kids?".
If you read TMN first, you don't have any questions about Narnia.
"If you read TMN first, you don't have any questions about Narnia."
Or any questions about the Witch (She-b*tch from Charn) or Wardrobe...
I think the books were actually re-ordered (with LWW being first) by an American editor.
I don't think so. I just bought the complete Cronicles of Narnia in one book and it stated quite clearly that he wanted the stories in chronological order with "The Magician's Nephew first", "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe second", etc...
It does help to read the books in the order the author finally intended, but that's not the order they were written or published. And my one sympathy to the reviewer is that the movie should stand on its own without relying on the book(s) to fill the gaps. But I did see the movie, loved it, and find the reviewer's complaints basically an effort at baiting.