I quote the whole title, because I long, in my heart of hearts, for movies of all the books.
I saw it this weekend in a packed theater (even at the 3:20 show). There were good points and bad points to the movie, but I believe most of the bad points come from the inevitable comparison to the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I kept reminding myself of two things through out the movie: 1) It's not Lord of the Rings. It's a kid's story. 2) I've read these books like 10 times... I know what's going to happen already. That said...
THE GOOD
1) It follws the book very well, from what I remember, and appears very faithful to the feel of the original story. The children find themselves ina world where they can, in fact, make a difference, and Peter's struggle to find the king inside himself is brought out very nicely.
2) Casting was perfect. The children look exactly like I always pictured them in my head. Susan could have been a little prettier, but other than that.. spot on.
3) The griffins... wow. Definitely the best CGI part of the movie. And the tie-in back to the bombing of London being used as part of Peter's battle strategy was great.
4) The Beavers were funny.
5) "Do you know why you're here, faun? You're here because *he* turned you in. For sweeties."
6) Liam Neeson's voice. Always good.
THE BAD
1) It felt sort of pieced together, without alot of high dramatic elements. But again... I knew everything that was going to happen. And it's NOT Lord of the Rings. But the return of Aslan could've been much more dramatic. It was the key turning point in the movie. It pales in comparison, though, to Gandalf's return in Fangorn.
2) I don't understand what happened after Aslan killed the Witch. Everyone just sort of blurred and vanished. Was that just to emphasize Peter's emotion at that moment or what? I heard it suggested that it was all of Jadis' servants vanishing when she was killed. But it appeared to be the Narnian soldiers blurring.
3) Some of the animals were not as convincingly real as I would have liked. Particularly Aslan, though he did have his moments. His roar was good though.
4) Jadis' robot-like fighting style. While certainly logical for an Ice Queen, it just didn't do alot for me. And given how skilled she apparently was, I find it a little odd that Peter lasted so long against her with *no* training.
5) Professor Kirk's connection to Narnia and the Wardrobe was barely touched on and done so in a very confusing way, particularly if "The Magician's Nephew" never gets made. I had hoped that a little combining of stories would take place and we'd get a touch of back-story from "TMN" in this movie. But alas...
So... did anyone else see it?
Posted by Woodside Kid (Member # 699) on :
Yup. I saw it first showing on Friday morning (working the overnight shift does have its occasional advantages), and I enjoyed the hell out of it. I went with three friends from work, two of whom had never read the book. It was a lot of fun watching one of them. When it got to the Stone Table sequence, if she had been any farther forward in her seat she'd have been in the next row!
Of the four children, I thought the boy playing Edmund was the best-cast of the lot, particulary at the beginning; he was such an awful little shit.
I'm afraid I have to disagree with you about Aslan, though. I thought they did a terrific job on him.
As for the differences from the book, I noticed a couple of places where they changed some of the dialogue (for the worse, I'm sorry to have to say). I've only read the book twice though (once 25 years ago, once this spring), and I'm not as familiar with it as I am with Tolkien. Since one of my friends is borrowing my copy of the series, I can't check it for myself.
One of my co-workers, however, has been a fan of the series since she was a little girl. She was supposed to see the movie on Saturday, so I'll find out what she thinks tonight at work. She's already said that, during the scene in the Beavers' house (which was on a "making of" documentary on Starz), she noticed dialogue that Mr. Beaver spoke in the book coming from his wife.
I remember reading an article a couple of months back that said if this movie reaches the $200 million dollar mark, the studio was going to greenlight Prince Caspian. According to scifi.com's wire, the LW&W made $67.1 million this weekend. Hopefully they'll pull in the rest they need; I'd like to see them do the rest of the series.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
IIRC, PC features the return of all four kids, right? It's not until Voyage of the Dawn Treader that it drops to just Lucy and Edmund with Eustace in tow. The Silver Chair is just Eustace and Jill Pole. The Horse and His Boy, and The Magician's Nephew don't feature the Pevencey kids, Eustace, or Jill at all (the Pevencey's are briefly in THAHB, but as adults), and in The Last Battle, three of the four show up, I think, along with Eustace and Jill.
Here's a question unrelated to casting... on the four thrones at the end, each throne had an icon at the top depicting the gift the kids had received. There was only one shot where you could see Edmund's icon, but I didn't make out what it was. I'm curious, seeing as how he didn't get a gift. They did a good job of having people's heads block it in all the closeups, and that makes me think there wasn't really anything there.
Posted by Mark Nguyen (Member # 469) on :
I don't remember if Philip the horse was an addition or not... I certainly don't remember Peter riding a unicorn, either - though you cuold pretty easily tell which shots had the actor sitting astride fake white horse.
Awesome movie. Oddly though, I found myself comparing it more to the previous animated and live action versions, than to anything LOTR - choices regarding what was left out (Edmund pulling the sled, no one mentioning Santa Claus / Father Christmas by name) and what was added in (Philip and the unicorn, a lot of the battle's embelishments, etc.). Still, while the pacing was a littl eoff, I certainly didn't find myself looking at my watch as I did during LOTR. Also:
-The battle blurring was a dramatic choice, I'd say. When Aslan killed the Queen (in the book, I believe he simply trampled her and she vanished; here, Aslan quite clearly mauled her), the battle ended soon therafter. I think they blurred everything to speed up the passage of time and get everyone united and on the saving of Edmund.
-I'm willing that more than a little of the real-world sequences were cut out, including all the Professor's backstory - almost odd to get Jim Broadbent to do two very short scenes.
-Aslan aside, all the other animals were very well done IMO, especially the beavers. I think this is the first time talking animals have been done so dramatically.
-I don't remember the books establishing tha the Pevensies' dad was off fighting in the war - only that they had been sent away. I suppose it would make sense, though.
Mark
Posted by Toadkiller (Member # 425) on :
I thought it was very good. Some of the blue screening of the landscapes was not great, at least not LOTR level work.
As for the story adaption - it seemed well and justly done. Even as it was it was a pretty long movie. I'd have liked to see Lucy defend herself but I suppose the knife throwing scene was all the rating could handle.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
I can't remember... when did Lucy defend herself in the book?
I'm not sure the professor got a whole lot of backstory in the book. It wasn't until The Magician's Nephew that you find out the Wardrobe was made from a tree that came from Narnia (or something like that) or that the professor has actually been to Narnia before. They sort of hinted at that in the movie, though.
I don't think anything about the kids' parents was really established in the book. I believe it just started out with them being sent away because of the air raids, though the very beginning of the movie did a good job of explaining that.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
What's with Liam Neeson choosing all the weird "wiseman/mentor" roles in recent years?
Posted by Toadkiller (Member # 425) on :
I don't know that Lucy did, for sure. I've been sensitized (caught it from my wife) to the girls, esp. in Disney movies, waiting on the boys to save them. We didn't - really - have that here except for the fairly critical for Peter's development scene with them being treed by the wolves....
Certainly the girls being with Aslan is a pretty big plot point.
I guess I was just whining .
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Man, I'm going to have to reread this book. Granted, I was about eleven the last time I did, but I'm hardly recognizing any of the stuff you're all talking about...
I am glad the movies (assuming they go forward with the others) are apparently being made in the original book order. Not the chronological reordering you get these days.
Posted by The Ginger Beacon (Member # 1585) on :
Well I'm glad none of you went down the Poly Toynbee route (she published this article in the Guradian newspaper last Monday).
I havn't seen it yet (but from what I hear it's close enough to the book for once, that spoilers are pretty safe), but seeing as all of you seem to like I will.
I just hope I don't get dragged to see Lassie over the hols...
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Oh don't get me wrong. I do find the theme for theme links to Christianity to be smeared on a bit thick, but I'm just pretending that I don't care. Aslan is cool. And to be fair, the rest of the books (save The Last Battle) have very few religious overtones that I can recall. They sail on a boat, rescue a prince, kill a snake, etc.
I'm more offended by that woman's article wherein everyone who calls themself a Christian must be like those Nuns she mentioned who used guilt and threat to get people to do things. I love it how people writing about how something is so one sided on an issue take the very same position themselves.
But hey... this is treading dangerous close to Flameboard territory. I'll be done.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
Have to wait till Boxing Day. GAH!
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
quote:Originally posted by Aban Rune: I'm more offended by that woman's article wherein everyone who calls themself a Christian must be like those Nuns she mentioned who used guilt and threat to get people to do things. I love it how people writing about how something is so one sided on an issue take the very same position themselves.
But hey... this is treading dangerous close to Flameboard territory. I'll be done.
So I should not mention the christian group that just forced Target (via threatened boycott) to add the word "Christmas" all over their stores because "happy holidays" just was not good enough for them? Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Those people just need to get lives and start worrying about something that matters. And put quotes around "christian" when you use it to describe them, please I don't remember Jesus ever boycotting any stores (or celebrating his birthday for that matter).
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
"So I should not mention the christian group that just forced Target (via threatened boycott) to add the word 'Christmas' all over their stores because 'happy holidays' just was not good enough for them?"
Oh, I doubt the threat was even required. After all, we're talking about the same store that had to come up with such an obviously bullshit excuse for letting their pharmacies deny people their prescriptions. Besides, no-one with a functioning intelligence really believes these people could create an effective boycott over this issue.
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
Wigii! I'm curious to see it, because when I read the books I had no idea about the religious stuff and I'd like to see exactly how thick it is. (One of my mates went to see it, and he said that Aslan might have well as shouted out "Okay, I'm going to die. For you sins. But I will then come back. A bit like that other bloke did, but this is different, because I am a Lion. Grr! See? Jesus never roared. Grr!")
(Also, looking back, the religious stuff in "The Last Battle" makes TLTWATW look like an ode to aethism.)
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Yah, he may as well have entitled "The Last Battle", "Ragnarok, Armageddon, and Rapture, But with Kids and a Monkey"
And I agree that Aslan's death and resurrection was probably the biggest disappointment of the film. It could've been done alot better.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Surely not Ragnar�k, though. That's for filthy pagans.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
Ragnarok woulld be cool to see onscreen though- Fenrir could eat that lion and the midgard serpent could spew it's posion all over the annoying kids...
But I dream.
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
And the Cloud would come and KICK THE BUTT!!!!!
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
OK I'm generally trying to ignore this thread now until sometime after the 26th when I see the movie. Until then I found this AWESOME and LENGTHY trailer - for those who haven't seen it or for those who want to see bits of it again. It's through ninemsn.com see here: TLTWATW
I watched the large, full screen streaming trailer - I gather they are all the same - but I'm sure it went for a good 10 minutes.
OMG it is still sending shivers down my spine!
I loved these books as a kid - they started me on my journey into the world of fantasy and beyond. If the movie is half as good as what I've seen in this trailer/preview I WON'T be disappointed.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
It's not quite ten minutes long, but it sure is long.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
Aslan's resurrection was somewhat disappointing, as many have pointed out. Still, very very good movie. Me want more.
Posted by Mark Nguyen (Member # 469) on :
Hey, was it ever established how much time passed on EARTH between "Wardrobe" and "Caspian"? It must have had some frame of reference, since the kids were pretty amazed when hundreds of years had passed since their last appearance.
Edit: Answering my own question, it's interesting to see that the events of the first four books happen while millions of people are still slaughtering each other across Europe...
Mark
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
So Narnia lasted a grand total of 2555 years? I guess that's what happens with bloody talking animals and heathenistic Middle Eastern's running all over the place. I wonder if anyone ever suspected the Calormen of secretly developing weapons of mass destruction. Maybe that's why the Pevensie's were there during AHAHB... they were an inspection committee.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
I FINALLY saw it! I've been holding off for a few different reasons, but tonight was the night - I went. Like Harry Potter a couple of weeks ago I RELISHED sitting in a "Senstadium" cinema all to myself! Pick of the seats etc. NO annoyances. It's how I like it.
The movie: I'm speechless. I don't have words to describe at the moment the pure bliss that I have just experienced. As I mentioned these books meant a lot to me as a kid and they still do now. I adored the BBC series, I've been following the production of the movie from the first inklings mentioned on theonering.net and I was NOT disappointed with this movie AT ALL. I don't want to go on cause I'm sure most of you are not fans. I don't know who I can experience how much I loved this movie. The music was also beautiful (something I also feel strongly about). I don't think there was a grand, sweeping LotR theme or themes, no Harry Potter's Hedwig theme - or even the beautiful themes of the BBC series - or maybe there was, but the music too was perfect.
For any Loreena McKennitt fans - here of which I would say there are none, I noticed that violin work was done by a fellow session musician of hers - Hugh Marsh.
Caer Paravel - beautiful.
The Beavers - brilliant. "How's my fur?"
When I originally hear that Tilda Swinton was cast as Jadis I was thoroughly excited and was in happy agreement with the casting decision. Well, that has NOT changed. She was BETTER than I thought! And here I was thinking that Barbara Kellerman from the BBC series was the quintessential White Witch... not anymore!
Nice touch having her wearing Aslan's mane on the battlefield... I'd seen a pic of her from that scene before but I never realised she was wearing the fur from Aslan's mane.
As for the 'angular' fighting style that she posseses - mentioned in the first post - I believe this was VERY effective and was nice possible continuity... remember she was from a completely different world than Narnia or Earth. James McAvoy... did a good job too.
Anyone else notice her ice-crown melted throughout the movie as Narnia emerged from Winter.
The kids were fantastic - agree with what you all say. You could almost see them grow throughout the movie. They filmed the movie in chronological sequence - which was a good idea - cause they had definately aged. This is a good thing because... that Narnian air...
They were just some undigested thoughts of a movie I finished seeing not 15 minutes ago.
Wow, I don't think I have anything movie wise to look forward to now in 2006 after Harry and Narnia. Oh X-men 3.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
V for Vendetta. That'll be worth watching.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Andrew: I saw it again not too long ago and for me it was definitely better the second time, not that I didn't enjoy it the first.
I picked up the thing about the melting crown the second time. I noticed she was wearing fur the first time, but didn't realize it was Aslan's mane until you mentioned it. How cool!
Her fighting style grew on me too, and you're right, it does seem quite alien, which ties in nicely with her origins.
The battle scene gave me bigger chills the second time than the first, and when the Griffins soar out over the mountain to begin their attack run, I almost let out a big "YAH!!" The music during that scene is just great. There are also a couple of great songs over the ending credits. I'm getting the sound track.
Oh... and I'm a big Loreena McKennitt fan. I sent her my illustration of "The Lady of Shalott" once and got a response from her office.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
OMG OMG OMG! You did! COOL! Where is your picture of The Lady Of Schallot - I think I may have seen it on your web page?? No?
Oh the Gryffins!! I got such a lump in my throat when that part started - and having Peter at the front and Edmund controlling the rear guard.
The music is DEFINATELY fantastic. I have the soundtrack although I haven't listened to it yet as I was waiting until I saw the movie.
I thought the Fox sounded like Alexander Siddig (Bashir) but I saw that it was Rupert Everett - just bits there is sounded very Bashir for some reason! Maybe they're from a similar region in England? Anyway the Fox - I LOVED when it said "Your Majesty" to Edmund and not Jadis.
I think I'll have to see it a second time too.
I still haven't seen King Kong yet, I have no real urgency to see it though.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
I'm sure the piece isn't on my website right now, since it's very old, and not very good (to me anyway), but I had a postcard made of it, so I'll see if I can find it for you.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
That'd be nice to see.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
I'm hoping the DVD will feature exatras- like in addition to Aslan's mane, she has his balls on her her ring.
But that's just me, I supppose.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
I looked for it this morning, but have yet to find it. I know I have it somewhere...
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
quote:Originally posted by AndrewR: I thought the Fox sounded like Alexander Siddig (Bashir) but I saw that it was Rupert Everett - just bits there is sounded very Bashir for some reason! Maybe they're from a similar region in England?
No-one in Britain actually speaks like Rupert Everett or Siddig El-Fadil do!
Never read any Narnia, managed to avoid the BBC series, the very reminder of its existence is enough to conjure in me deep feelings of dread, associated as it is with a particularly horrible chapter of my life.
I am, despite myself, really looking forward to V For Vendetta though.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
What didn't you like from 1988-->1990?
Well Everett and El-Fadil must be from similar British enclaves of Hollywood? As opposed to the ones that Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan live in. Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
If those enclaves have the word "Royal Shakespear Company-speaking chaps" above them, then yes.
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
*Wikies* They did that many of them? And up until 1990? Wow. But no, 1988 was a really bad year.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
They did TLTW&TW, PC, TVOTDT and TSC. What does Wikies mean!?!
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Maybe they're from a similar region in England?![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)