Chronicles of Narnia

Post by **dlbpharmd** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 2:34 pm

I've never read Narnia so I went to the movie last night not knowing anything about the story whatsoever (I did the same thing with LOTR.) I walked away from the movie glad that I've never read the stories, as I thought that was just about the weakest fantasy story I've ever seen. Now mind you I'm not a fan of fantasy that many of you are, but to me the movie was boring as hell. Narnia can't hold a candle to TCoTC, as far as I'm concerned.

Post by **Lady Revel** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 3:26 pm

I read the story as a child and LOVED IT. I read it again as an adult, and wished I hadn't. It wasn't as brilliant as I remembered. It was still good, mind you, but not WONDERFUL.

I am going to see the movie in a couple of hours.

Post by **dlbpharmd** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 4:15 pm

I'm interested in your opinion, since you've read the books.

Post by **Warmark** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 5:30 pm

I've read all the books and thought they were pretty good, I'm ging to see the film, howeer it doesnt look amzing.

Post by **[Syl]** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 10:16 pm

Never read the books, saw the movie today. I didn't like it. The biggest drawback was character development. Dunno, maybe I've been reading too much Erikson and Bakker, but shouldn't it bother me that

Spoiler

Aslan died

? Did I miss the one time they mentioned the apparently important centaur's name (yet I know the horse's name is Phillip. funny)? And I know it's fantasy, but

Spoiler

if Santa is just going to pass around weapons that instantly make everyone a supreme bad-ass (despite how stupidly they may or may not hold said weapons), why doesn't he fight? Or just say, "here's the stick of victory, kid. just say 'hocus pocus' and the Witch dies'

. And exactly how small is Narnia? I know it fits in a wardrobe, but you'd think it'd take at least a few minutes to get an entire army across the place.

And last, I know it's English, and that's cool, but the Lion and the Unicorn? And the armor... kept expecting someone to yell out "For the Holy Land!"

Great production (even if there were some scenes where you can almost reach out and touch the green screen), mediocre casting, horrible plot.

YouTube · Post by **Menolly** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 10:49 pm

To all those who have seen this, Beorn read the full Chronicles in 4th grade, and has reread them many times. As of now, the Chr-stian analogy has flown right over his head, since the Crucifixtion/Resurrection story has not been taught or shared with him.

Do you think Paul and I need to brush up on this aspect of the movie? Or is it presented in such a way that a 12 year old who doesn't really know this aspect of Chr-stianity will again overlook it?

Post by **[Syl]** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 12:57 am

You really have to look for it to see it.

Post by **Lady Revel** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 1:35 am

I think Syl pretty much sums it up.

Spoiler

In the book, I grew to love Aslan absolutely and it broke my heart when he died. In the movie, this feeling was totally absent.

I think the actress who played Lucy did a bang up job, though.

There was a lot more violence than I expected to see, and I know the mother next to me was writhing in her seat.

Spoiler

I'm also not too keen on Santa Claus giving out warrior equipment. Its his job to give toys, not weapons of death.

On the whole, I enjoyed watching what they made out of the book. If I hadn't have read the book, I don't think I would have enjoyed it much. :/

Post by **Usivius** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 1:09 pm

65 million in the first weekend. Disney is happy. They have a new franchise...

Post by **Furls Fire** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 3:25 pm

Oh I loved it!

When Lucy took that first step into Narnia, I took a step back to my childhood, and relived all the wonder and magic I felt from those books when I was 9 years old.

No, it wasn't the Lord of the Rings...but it wasn't meant to be.

All my kids loved it...Chelsea now pretends to be Lucy and walks around with a crown on her head and magic vile around her neck; going into closets hoping to step out into Narnia.

This movie was true to the book...and true to the heart of CS Lewis. It's a tribute to his magic...

Take your children...

Post by **Alynna Lis Eachann** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 4:30 pm

I resented Aslan when I read A Horse and his Boy, and I never figured out why until I discovered the inherent Christian allegory. I don't think it's necessary to understand that aspect of Narnia to enjoy the books, though, especially when you're a kid. For me, it just gets in the way of the storyline.

Planning to go see the movie with my mom. Based on the comments, I think we'll aim for a matinee.

Post by **I'm Murrin** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 11:55 pm

If anyone's interested, Wikipedia has a list of changes made to the story from the original text. There doesn't seem to have been that much changed, really.
Wikipedia - The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Post by **kevinswatch** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 12:13 am

This movie looked kind of interesting from the preview..........but I think I'll pass now. Heh.-jay

Post by **Rincewind** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 2:02 am

im with jay - i'll be spending my cash on King Kong

Post by **SPKx** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 2:20 pm

I saw it. It was good (though the story was shorter than I remember), but it's nothing to brag about.

YouTube · Post by **Menolly** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 4:53 pm

So, which should we see while in New York? Harry Potter for a second time, if we can find an IMAX theater (Beorn really wants to see it in IMAX) or Narnia at any theater?

We'll wait to see King Kong until the crowds die down.

Post by **variol son** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 6:36 am

I, like others it seems, disliked the books more the older I got. However, I must say about the film that there were few if any bad points that weren't also bad-points of the book.

I enjoyed the film more than the book, and it was wonderfully nostalgic and brought back the magic of the cartoon-version of the movie I remember from childhood, but there are many better movies out there.

So, I liked the White Witch, the battle, and the family dynamics. I disliked Aslan's propensity to speak in parables, but he does that in the book as well.

All in all, a great movie for a kid I'd say.

Post by **CovenantJr** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 1:04 am

I loved it.

I've never read more than a few pages of the books, but my girlfriend's a big fan (apparently she reads this book in particular at least twice a year) and she thought the film was wonderful.

Post by **Sunbaneglasses** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 1:44 am

I read them around the age of 11 or 12(someone had convinced me that because I liked Tolkien,I would like the books)I remember being very unimpressed.Wait for DVD for us.

Post by **dANdeLION** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:06 pm

Read it as an adult, and though it was well done, though clearly meant for young people. Saw the movie last week with the kids, and thought it was fine, though I did have some of the same thoughts about the battle as some of you did. There was one particular scene which I know I saw before in another Disney film.....

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

Chronicles of Narnia

Chronicles of Narnia