Narnia movie: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:00pm

Maybe it's just where I live, but why is there no buzz for this movie? It's coming out this weekend, but other than a few snatches of reviews here and there, everything has been relatively quiet. Which is surprising, since the Chronicles of Narnia have such a huge following, and this is a family-oriented movie.

Is it the lackluster poster? (I think they were trying to mimic the LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP poster, but that poster focused on the myriad of characters, while the NARNIA one looks like a National Geographic ad).

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:04pm

It's been getting alot of buzz from where I'm at.........
Apparently the studios are trying to get a whole PASSION OF THE CHRIST audience flocking to the theaters, appealing to church groups, etc.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:06pm

It's not that Christian. OK, maybe it is. Aren't fundies supposed to abhor fantasy and fairytales?

I grew up with the books, but I've always found the "Aslan as Christ" allegory incredibly funny. Jesus says ROAR!

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:09pm

So far the reviews have been quite favorable.

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:18pm

No one is saying it is the most amazing film ever, but everyone agrees it is a well-made film.

There HAVE been raves for Tilda Swinton, though. Perhaps an Oscar nod for her?? I hope...

[broadway86]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:30pm

Swinton has definitely been getting solid reviews for her work. As for me, I'm excited to see it. The books were a HUGE part of my childhood. When I first saw the trailer (with the shot of the kids walking through the snow wearing fur coats), I started tearing up.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:31pm

It certainly looks as I had imagined it. Incidently, the huge field they use for the great climactic battle has already been seen in THE LORD OF THE RINGS. Maybe no one will notice?

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:40pm

I am so glad that someone made this post. I have never read the books or come in contact with any of the previously made movies. At dinner last week, a large group of friends and new people I had just met were talking about the film. I think everyone had read the books except for myself. They were all talking about the "underlying meanings" of the books withouot ever mentioning the "underlying meanings." I didn't want to sound like the only idiot at the table, which I feel that I may have been, so I didn't ask. Is one of the characters supposed to be equated with Christ or something, as stated above? Anyone give me a little insight?

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:42pm

****SPOILERS**** Aslan the Lion (Liam Neeson) is Christ. The White Witch (Tilda Swinton) is Satan. And one could make an argument that the four children are apostles with Edmund being the most likely stand in for Judas. *END OF SPOILERS****
Updated On: 12/6/05 at 02:42 PM

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:49pm

SPOILERS GALORE

What EvelynNesbit said. The land of Narnia has been frozen for years by the White Witch, until the return of Aslan, a big talking lion, who brings hope back to Narniankind. One major climax comes when Aslan sacrifices himself, but is later resurrected. Edmund is definitely a Judas character, but it's interesting because after he redeems himself, he becomes the main protagonist of several subsequent installments.

SPOILERS GALORE ENDS

Updated On: 12/6/05 at 02:49 PM

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:51pm

"Jesus says ROAR!"

BlueWizard, you made my day. :)

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 3:03pm

Well this Jew cannot WAIT for this movie to come out. These books defined my childhood and propelled my sense of imagination and are likely a reason I am in the theatre industry now.

Akiva

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 3:06pm

Thanks, I should read the damn books now...lol

[Plum]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 3:11pm

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is one of the books where the Christian imagery isn't too overt. When it gets really overwhelming, as in the plainly apocalyptic The Last Battle, Lewis' writing really suffers. And the racism in The Horse and His Boy really drives me up the wall. But when you can just take the stories as fantasy, they're amazing.

BTW, this a wonderful article on Lewis that appeared in the New Yorker recently.
Prisoner of Narnia

Posted: 12/6/05 at 3:25pm

I've read a few of the books, my favorite being The Magicians Nephew.

SPOILER: (maybe?) The Professor is Diggory, from the first book. And the wardrobe is made from the Apple tree.

I've only read probably four of the books and I love all of them. I love the imagery in Prince Caspian when the children are brought back to Narnia and the apple orchard has spread all the way to the walls of the castle.

The only thing I don't like about the movie thusfar (I haven't seen it) is that I didn't picture Jadis a blond. I pictured here more of a black haired witch. Minus the green skin :)

[Plum]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 3:31pm

C_O, I totally imagined the queen from Disney's Snow White as my white witch. And I prefer to read the books in order of publication, not story chronology. That makes The Magician's Nephew come later than The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. But I'm weird like that.

[metolius]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 3:37pm

It says in the book that she was very pale and white. Part Jinn part Giant. About a week ago I decided to reread the book. Though I can see the alegory, I prefer to use it as a fantasy story. It is much better that way.

[Plum]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 3:40pm

It also says she's gorgeous and probably well over 6 feet tall. :) We can't get everything.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 3:42pm

The Magician's Nephew is also my favorite. I read the entire series four times as a child. Twice in publication order and twice in choronological order. I also ready Lewis's sci-fi trilogy, which was fascinating.

[metolius]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 3:44pm

I read them all in publication order. Though recently when I see the books the order is changed. Why did they decide to do that?

[Plum]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 3:48pm

Because they like to sell them in story chronological order now. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was written first, but the events of The Magician's Nephew take place first in the story's world. I think there's one other discrepency, but I don't remember what it was. Anyway, it's like the Star Wars situation, making the prequel after making the original.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 3:49pm

I am seeing the movie over the weekend and I absolutely can't wait. If nothing else, I hope this movie finally brings Tilda Swinton the credibility she deserves.

[RobbO]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 3:50pm

is there a reason why church groups are renting out theatre's for this movie? i'm sorry but i don't know the backstory of the books. my only exposure to TLTWATW was the cartoon.

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 3:54pm

Well CS Lewis wrote the story as a Christian allegory. What's funny is that there are so many elements of magic that Christians could justifiably oppose this film just as they have opposed the Harry Potter movies.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 3:56pm

There's a cartoon?!

Much of the Chronicles of Narnia is Christian allegory.

As I kid, I read the entire series back-to-back, except for THE MAGICIAN'S NEPHEW. I remember that the Chronicles get really twisted in the later books: although I recall enjoying THE SILVER CHAIR, I can't for the life of me tell you what it's about.

Did anyone watch the BBC series as a kid? I loved those, bland as they were.

Updated On: 12/6/05 at 03:56 PM