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Narnia!
Writing reviews is kind of natural to me. I always want to write what I think after I see a movie, and I figure now I may as well, since I have a place to keep them and someone or other might be interested. This one is about Narnia. Over all, I liked it, but this ended up being mostly about faults I saw, so...reader discretion is advised? I don't know.
It started with no lion, guns, and planes, oh my!![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
tkp was happy as a clam—because there wasn't blitzing in the books (nor were there clams, just so we're clear).
There will always be a spot in my heart for the Narnia books: the spot labeled, “it was something I read in highschool that didn’t suck.” I like them but wasn’t raised with them, like some people were. I like them but didn’t see the religious symbolism, like some people do. I like them but felt like C.S. Lewis didn’t like me, and didn’t like our four little heroes, like all of Narnia does without much reason.
The narrator always felt belittling to me, and luckily, the movie made like a film and left that aspect out. But I still wish I could’ve felt more sympathy for Edmund, and figured out why, exactly, these kids are so special to Narnia—but no, in these respects, it was very faithful to the books. There’s something to be said for that . . . maybe: “God do I still wish I could’ve felt more sympathy with Edmund, and figured out why, exactly, these kids are so special to Narnia.”
In some ways, the movie was lesser than those books I remember. I didn’t like a lot of the graphics, I especially felt the beavers and the camp looked cartoony. I felt that the Queen was more icy in the book. But perhaps this was because in the books I could imagine her not wearing a tea cozie (though I love her costume for the final battle!—she was wearing Aslan’s mane!).
And just a general beef: why is it that fantasy books need to have the Giving Of Stuff scene? The Father Christmas scene is the Galadriel scene is all my brothers friends when we played D&D: DMtkp, why aren’t you Giving Us Stuff? (followed by, “I cast Magic Missile into the darkness!” and “If there are any girls there I wanna DO them!”).
But! The first part of the movie was magical. Magical in that it had no magic and felt more magical because of it. Also, Mr. Tumnus kicked Harry’s a Pothead and the Sorcerer’s Stoned in the arse and said, “This is how human-hooved footed cross species are supposed to look, bitch!” and his first scene with Lucy was just awww, so cute. The child actors were incredible, especially Lucy, who should be in the BFG. Just because I want the BFG to be a real people movie and here you go! Found you a good little girl actor. The voices were also excellent, and Liam Neeson is tied with James Earl Jones for Best Lion Voice Ever.
I’m a little confused by the end. I can’t remember what happens in the book, but it seems . . . almost squicky that there are these people with adult experiences in these children’s bodies. Just like Big...except the exact opposite. Also, aren’t they supposed to go back??? For the sequel, dun dun dun.
It started with no lion, guns, and planes, oh my!
tkp was happy as a clam—because there wasn't blitzing in the books (nor were there clams, just so we're clear).There will always be a spot in my heart for the Narnia books: the spot labeled, “it was something I read in highschool that didn’t suck.” I like them but wasn’t raised with them, like some people were. I like them but didn’t see the religious symbolism, like some people do. I like them but felt like C.S. Lewis didn’t like me, and didn’t like our four little heroes, like all of Narnia does without much reason.
The narrator always felt belittling to me, and luckily, the movie made like a film and left that aspect out. But I still wish I could’ve felt more sympathy for Edmund, and figured out why, exactly, these kids are so special to Narnia—but no, in these respects, it was very faithful to the books. There’s something to be said for that . . . maybe: “God do I still wish I could’ve felt more sympathy with Edmund, and figured out why, exactly, these kids are so special to Narnia.”
In some ways, the movie was lesser than those books I remember. I didn’t like a lot of the graphics, I especially felt the beavers and the camp looked cartoony. I felt that the Queen was more icy in the book. But perhaps this was because in the books I could imagine her not wearing a tea cozie (though I love her costume for the final battle!—she was wearing Aslan’s mane!).
And just a general beef: why is it that fantasy books need to have the Giving Of Stuff scene? The Father Christmas scene is the Galadriel scene is all my brothers friends when we played D&D: DMtkp, why aren’t you Giving Us Stuff? (followed by, “I cast Magic Missile into the darkness!” and “If there are any girls there I wanna DO them!”).
But! The first part of the movie was magical. Magical in that it had no magic and felt more magical because of it. Also, Mr. Tumnus kicked Harry’s a Pothead and the Sorcerer’s Stoned in the arse and said, “This is how human-hooved footed cross species are supposed to look, bitch!” and his first scene with Lucy was just awww, so cute. The child actors were incredible, especially Lucy, who should be in the BFG. Just because I want the BFG to be a real people movie and here you go! Found you a good little girl actor. The voices were also excellent, and Liam Neeson is tied with James Earl Jones for Best Lion Voice Ever.
I’m a little confused by the end. I can’t remember what happens in the book, but it seems . . . almost squicky that there are these people with adult experiences in these children’s bodies. Just like Big...except the exact opposite. Also, aren’t they supposed to go back??? For the sequel, dun dun dun.
no subject
“God do I still wish I could’ve felt more sympathy with Edmund, and figured out why, exactly, these kids are so special to Narnia.”
I suspect it has something to do with the idea that the even humblest human is the Master of God's creation (Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve... sheesh) - fit to lord it over on the lesser beings but that's just my suspicion. That, sadly, plays into the Christianists' hands and I think part of the reason I get twitchy by how many Christians are slathering praise on this movie as a tool for conversion and proseltyzing. Not that I'm cynical or anything...
I'm glad to get impartial reviews, because I haven't seen it yet, and want to know if it's worth $10.50 and the cost of popcorn, or if I should wait until it comes out on DVD.
no subject
As to the humblest human being Master--I could see that, except first the kids weren't all that humbel (heh) and second, wasn't Aslan supposed to be a Christ figure? So all the other animals are lower than humans, but the lion is higher? Or what?
I did like the movie though. It's easy to watch without feeling preached at. I think they were careful about that--they don't even use the word "Christmas" when Father Christmas shows up (which I thought was rather silly. Almost like they were too careful). If you enjoyed the story with your son, you'll probably enjoy the movie. Just don't hope it's better than the books (which I was secretly hoping for!)