Chronicles of Narnia : The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

[orangerful]

Went to the movies with blu_harvest, zaubervz, verdatum, destertale, toothlesshag and romandave today and saw Narnia.



I have to say, I was underwhelmed. Actually, maybe not even underwhelmed, I just didn't feel anything during that movie and it made me kind of sad. I have very fond memories of watching the british miniseries on Wonderworks back when I was little and really enjoying it. Like LotR, I've never read the books, though I feel like I might have attempted to flip thru at least the first one at some point. Anyway, I was hoping this film would fill me with that same happiness that the Lord of the Rings did, or at least rekindle my childhood memories. It really didn't though. LotR has spoiled me when it comes to these kinds of tales. I want characters I can love and cheer for, and I don't feel like this film version of Narnia gave me that. Lucy was the only one I was really concerned about the whole film (cutest little girl!!!), and she stopped living dangerously once her siblings joined in Narnia.

It wasn't the actor's faults either, I think all the kids did a great job. Especially since I'm sure 95% of the time, they were acting all alone. It's just that it felt like I didn't really know any of them. Edmund is still a little jerk, and when he ran off, I could have cared less what would happen to him (that's how I felt during the BBC miniseries too). The lady who played the White Witch was fantastic - creepy and strange and alluring. Peter was cute...though kind of a jerk too...he was just so bloody british, him and Susan! Aslan...well, Aslan was beautiful and amazing as CGI lions with Liam Neeson's voice go...but he was just sorta there. Then not. Then there again. And I didn't really care. I remember bawling everytime I watched the BBC miniseries, but when the sacrifice scene came, I just didn't really understand what was so great about this lion. Sure, everyone says he's great, but he hasn't shown us much of anything.

The opening theme, sung by iMogean Heap, was beautiful, and as the kids went thru the english countryside on the train, I got really excited about what was to come...then nothing really came. And it makes me kinda sad.

I did crack up though. Right at the end. Somehow, the dissappointment, the wanting to like the movie, it all piled up...and when they crowned Peter "The Magnificent!" I just broke down laughing, so hard that my sides hurt and I had tears streaming down my face. I mean, the magnificent? When did that happen? Far as I can tell, Edmund put the dent in the white witches plan and Aslan bit her head off...exactly when was Peter "magnificent"? Hm.....

Also, the Monty Python fan in us all had a giggle fit when the White Witch told Peter that "just because some man in a red jacket gives you a sword doesn't make you king!".

Everyone else seemed to enjoy it though. blu_harvest and toothlesshag are a bit more familiar with the books than me, so I think they got more out of it. (though toothlesshag said she felt it had been disneyfied too much and the "christian" had been taken out of it?) I wanted another epic tale like Peter Jackson's LotR - with sweeping landscapes and well developed characters and an evil side that you sorta understood the attraction too. I wanted something that captured my imagination like Harry Potter. But Narnia fell flat for me.

I didn't not like it, but I didn't really love it. I just sorta...well, I saw it.

Comments

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I have to say that, unlike Star Wars, where Lucas merely ripped off myths to create his own story, the Narnia series was written to mimic the bible and help younger readers understand it. That's what Lewis does. He was very interested in Christianity so it's not as though it's been tacked on my fanatics in later years, it is a retelling of the stories in the bible and emphasizing the values taught there.

And this is where I feel the movie and the books stumble. I was having a great time up until we enter Aslan's camp/army. They were just there. The story sorta comes to a hault because suddenly it's about following the jesus story more than telling a different story. That, or it's just bad storytelling because we get no reason or explaination for why Aslan would sacrifice himself to Edmund. It's all too sudden for my tastes.

Also, I wish they could have done something to "update" it a bit. Not changing the time period, but at least Peter Jackson created/altered a few strong female characters for LotR to make them real people. Susan just annoyed me, she was obviously meant to be too logical and scientific, too "smart" and that bothered me. But I have to say that LotR has spoiled me. I've enjoyed many a children's movie before and since too!

And I shouldn't have to read the book to understand the films, especially the prequel book that was written much later, IMHO. I'm judging the film here, and if it can't stand on it's own then it loses points. But I think it might just be me, as everyone else seems to have enjoyed it, friends and reviewers alike.

[dstntp1lgr1m.livejournal.com]

well.... again, it still seems your really having problems with teh actual story itself. Because the htings you describe not liking aboutteh film..... I felt like it happened pretty muc hthat way in the books too. OH, except they did stress too much with Susan being stupid in the movie. I do have to agree with that.