Metaphorical Movie Magic!

[chaosvizier]

With the Lord of the Rings finished and Harry Potter more than halfway done, a new fantasy series rises up to try and capture the magic. Can C.S. Lewis join J.K. Rowling and J.R.R. Tolkien in the ranks of fantasy movie legends? Do any of these people have names that aren't initials? W.T.F.?

The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe



Let's get one thing out of the way quickly. A lot of people have raised the issue of Christian allegory in the books, and how Aslan is like Jesus, dead and resurrected, and all that. Whether that's truth or fiction is, ultimately, irrelevant. The issue at hand is more "is it a good movie?" rather than "Oh No Someone Snuck Christian Allegory Into The Film WOE!" Get over it, folks. If someone like me can sit through this film and not burn in holy righteous fire, then you'll probably be ok too. I didn't get smitten for watching Schindler's List despite my Germanic genetics, and I've seen enough movies with stronger allegory than this without batting an eyelid. Allegory does not a bad movie make; turn off the anger and turn on the movie appreciation part of the brain.

Once you do that, you'll actually find a fun movie.

That being said, there remains the question of whether all seven (I think) of the Chronicles of Narnia will be transformed into film. I read them ages ago (and should re-read them, as I've forgotten a lot), but I recall thinking some of them were not very exciting, and might not make good movies. And, unlike Harry Potter or LOTR, they aren't quite one single story stretched out, but more of a series of stories in the same world. That's tough to foresee. But we'll worry about that when those movies actually start showing up.

The plot: Four hobbits children travel through Middle Earth Narnia on a quest to defeat Sauron The White Witch while being helped by a powerful wizard lion.

The pros: This is a very visual movie. From the scenery of Middle Earth New Zealand to the clothing and armor of the armies to the wardrobe itself to the White Witch's many outfits, everything is beautifully rendered and presented. You can feel the chill of the snow-covered forest and the White Witch's ice palace at Minas Morgul. The armies of good are bright and colorful; the armies of evil are dark and grim. You can feel the emotions of the children as they're confronted with a land that goes against their logic- wonderment, self-indulgence, safety, responsibility. The score helps accent the scenes, lending force where needed and staying in the background when supporting. Most of the acting is strong, and the special effects, including WETA's famous battle simulator, blend in quite well.

The cons: Liam Neeson? Good actor, bad choice for a lion. You need a voice with a bit more oomph. Let's face it, James Earl Jones once again wins the pick. And, much as this book isn't really a clone of Lord Of The Rings, it was painfully easy to make LOTR parallel cracks throughout the movie. And I'm bad that way. "Look, the White Witch is raising an army with fire and steel! It looks like Isengard!" And it does. As a minor nitpick, which isn't really much of an issue, Susan gets a magical bow that has great accuracy. Does she use it in the battle? Nah. Does she use it ever? Once. Take that, Deep Roy. Lo Pan would have sent her to the Hell Of Annoying Whiny Older Sisters.

The verdict: I really enjoyed this movie, a lot. Straightforward fun and excitement and adventure. And polar bears.

Disclaimer: I apologize to my movie-watching companions for the "Don't touch the hair" moment. And the Isengard thing. And a few other choice tidbits. My bad.

Disclaimer: Turkish delights are nasty things. If I was gonna betray my siblings, there'd better be a shitload of Cadbury's chocolate involved.

Comments

[zenkevin666.livejournal.com]

If I remember correctly, Tolkien & Lewis wrote LOTR and CoN at the same time (they were friends at Oxford).

I agree, Susan is a bitch, but Peter would hand Lo Pan his ass on a stick!!!

(I love gettting on you about Lo Pan!!).


"Disclaimer: Turkish delights are nasty things. If I was gonna betray my siblings, there'd better be a shitload of Cadbury's chocolate involved."

Shit, I would sell my siblings out for Angelina Jolie's phone number!!!

:)

[chaosvizier.livejournal.com]

Lo Pan wouldn't take shit from a lion and four whiny kids. He'd send them to the Hell Of Strangely Unattractive Yet Sexy Evil White Witches. And their dwarven sex slaves.

Yeah, Angelina's phone number would be worth all sorts of sibling treason. Hoo hah!

[fanboyextream.livejournal.com]

You just wait to see her as an angel... actually she does a good job in the hellblazer movie. Anyway shame on you for finding her attractive, just remember wwvd?

[chaosvizier.livejournal.com]

She was good in Constantine, true. It's her face- there's something slightly odd about it that gives her an otherworldly or unnatural appearance. That's why she looks right as Gabriel or Jadis- she's something supernatural.

[the-wanlorn.livejournal.com]

If I remember correctly, Tolkien & Lewis wrote LOTR and CoN at the same time (they were friends at Oxford).

That they were friends suddenly makes me understand why there are so many parallels. Or something.

[zenkevin666.livejournal.com]

yeah..when you think about C.S. Lewis going to Toliken's home and seeing his walls scribbled with notes for the LOTR books, you could just see his mind working...

Also, if I remember correctly, they also would read over each others writings, giving ideas and suggestions the entire time..

(I did a paper on JRR back in high school and college)..

[chaosvizier.livejournal.com]

Obviously JRR did better. Otherwise CS would have bought another S for his name so they could be rhythmically and structurally similar. JRR Tolkien vs CSS Lewis in a Fantasy World Cage Match!

[zenkevin666.livejournal.com]

Dude you are insane!!!

:)

[chaosvizier.livejournal.com]

Or they could play Fantasy Figures chess. Like those Civil War chess sets, only with characters from their respective novels. "Aragorn to C-7." - "Jadis to A-1. Check." - "Samwise X Jadis." - "Aslan resigns." - "Gandalf does strutting Magneto dance."

[angledge.livejournal.com]

CSS? Cascading Style Sheets?

[chaosvizier.livejournal.com]

He was ahead of his time, I suppose...
So what does JRR stand for? Juniorer- more junior?

[the-wanlorn.livejournal.com]

If you are remembering correctly (and I have no doubt that you are), then that makes the outrage that comes from hardcore fans of either when you suggest that the other is very similar even more irksome ridiculous!

[zenkevin666.livejournal.com]

I know...

I love causing trouble!!

:)

[drradium.livejournal.com]

Bravo Bravo! Another fabulous movie review by Sir Chaos.

[chaosvizier.livejournal.com]

Thank you, thank you. I aim to please.
I'm still behind, though. Gotta get down with Aeon Flux and Shaun of the Dead too.

I call BOOLSHEET.

[angledge.livejournal.com]

You would betray your sibling for a pile of Hershey's kisses WRAPPERS.

Re: I call BOOLSHEET.

[chaosvizier.livejournal.com]

Quiet, you. ;-)

[miss-katelynne.livejournal.com]

I find it hilarious that there are so many LOTR parallels running through this story. I've always thought LOTR was full of Christian Allegory as well... and don't get me started on Harry Potter!

I tried to read my son's copy of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and was shocked at how poorly written the first few pages were (I didn't get past that) and then my husband pointed out that C.S. Lewis was a professor and probably not accustomed to "dumbing down" his writing for kids. I guess. Is it worth giving it another try?

[chaosvizier.livejournal.com]

Allegory is allegory. Just because some character dies and was reborn doesn't automatically mean that the tale is a Bible-thumping proselytization tool. It's a story. Accept it for what it is and move on.

That being said, Ian McKellan would make a pretty funky Jesus. Heh.

[sasscat.livejournal.com]

My sister and I got extra speshul seats for people with wheelchairs and crutches and other impediments to stair-climbing. Most awesome seats evar. Also, we weren't too close to the poor mortals who had to sit where their tickets told them, so I didn't feel too bad for whispering, "One sword to rule them all..." as Peter drew his Christmas gift and it glinted with ELVEN FREAKING RUNES and sending my sister into hysterical giggles.

Actually, I think I spent most of the movie making LOTR cracks and sending my sister into hysterical giggles. Good to know it wasn't just us.


I have this sudden urge to go find one of the lamp-posts in town and then look around for a wardrobe, but then I realise I'd be leaving Narnia and going to wartime Britain, which is the wrong way around entirely, so I shall loiter around here and hope to see either Father Christmas or Tilda Swinton.

I already know half the centaurs. :-)

[chaosvizier.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, Peter drawing the sword, of course. Too bad you're a little twit, Peter; not even Anduril could help you smack around Tilda Swinton.

I did like how the White Witch was not just an evil sorceress, but that she went head-first into battle and delivered her own style of asswhupping. Not to mention I'd really like one of those superfreezyspearthingys that she had. That thing kicked ass. Well, that and a chariot drawn by polar bears.

[sasscat.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, I want to turn people to stone, mmmmmmstone.

(Shush, you. That's wood; it doesn't count.)

I think I liked Edmund best out of the kids, but that's my predilection for redeemed villains. And the White Witch best out of most of them, but that's my predilection for unredeemed villains.

[chaosvizier.livejournal.com]

Villains are always better. Especially if they're intelligent villains, or sympathetic, or just downright cold. Like The Mouth of Sauron. Sure, he only had two minutes of screentime on a DVD, but he still had a certain aura that made him awesome. On the opposite, there's Magneto from the X-Men. Villainous, but clever and sympathetic and devoted to the rightness of his cause. He kicks ass.

And then there's me, of course. ;-)

[sasscat.livejournal.com]

I still wildly fangirl Hannibal Lecter. He eats rude people! He's like Darwin's Chainsaw of Natural Selection!

Huh; I just discovered this comment waiting to be finished and posted in a window behind the window I was working in. SIlly Sasscat. But yes, Dr. Lecter is awesome and I have just realised that the flatmate who's taking a shower has not CLOSED THE BATHROOM DOOR. Damn. Now why couldn't it be one of the two cute flatmates so I could wander aimlessly past and sneak a perv?

...It's amazing how I can get so easily sidetracked. Anyone would think I was really itching to get laid.

[the-5th-element.livejournal.com]

Of all your cross outs, I like the Minas Morgul one the best, because it was true. Haha.

I've watched the old BBC version of this movie and a few of the other stories for years now. They played them as a mini-series on PBS. I was in love with them. Surprisingly though I've never read the books. I guess anything with a giant kitty cat in it is gold for me. :)

As far as all the religious stuff, it's in there, C.S. Lewis meant it that way. But in my opinion I didn't get a sense of any of it in this movie so I don't know why people are so crazy about it.

I liked the score, but I would have probably liked it better if it had been done by who it was originally supposed to. Amy Lee from Evanescence. I'd heard it a while back and was super excited only to find out she made some music but they rejected it for being "too dark" and "too epic." Even though this is a rather epic movie.

Don't even get me started on Turkish delight! From watching the other version as a kid I had built up this image of it in my mind like it must be THE GREATEST CANDY IN THE WORLD. Only to have my brothers friend who is Turkish go to Turkey and bring us both back some to taste. *Innocent Childhood Bubble Bursted* Grossest thing ever!

As for Susan and her bow....in the old version, so im sure it was in the book....Aslan mentions to both sisters that he doesn't really want them to fight at all and that their weapons are for only the most desperate of circumstances. This has led many a debat that Lewis was misogynistic. Eh, whatever they're like 10 anyway. I wouldn't want a 10 year old walking around with a dagger or a bow and arrow.


Anyway I loved this movie as I knew I would. And the little Lucy in this one was wonderful compaired to the annoying bucktoothed one they used in the BBC one. I guess British dentistry has come a long way. Anyway I want an Aslan of my own so I can pet his mane and snuggle up with him falling asleep to his giant Narnia saving purring, especially on cold days like this. :)

[chaosvizier.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen the old movie/series or read the books in ages, so I'm a bit behind on my data. I need to reread those things sometime soon. That's what amazon.com was invented for, I guess. Heh.

I suppose Susan was more of a backup figure rather than a front-line soldier. And she did get to blow the Horn of Gondor her help-summoning horn, so I guess it's ok.

[skullgrrl.livejournal.com]

And whats wrong with Turkish Delight? Yeah yeah take it all back, bro, this one is going to cost you some new pictures! hehehe

[chaosvizier.livejournal.com]

Hahaha... now now, there's a difference between Turkish Delight and Delightful Turks!

[skullgrrl.livejournal.com]

Uh huh. maybe a good save in YOUR country hehehe

[chaosvizier.livejournal.com]

I'm totally busted here, aren't I?

[skullgrrl.livejournal.com]

more than you could ever know.
but get on Yahoo messenger and i will show you a taste of the pics you missed LOL