Pocket Plane Group
Miscellany, Inc. => Ensign First Class Blather => Topic started by: Ghreyfain on December 12, 2005, 11:23:52 PM
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Back in a bit. Will finish later. Movie good.
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YAY! I wanted to see it that Thursday at Midnight, but I wasn't able to because of finals. I'm very excited for when I actually do get to see the damn movie. The Narnia Chronicles (all of it) is very high up on my favorite books list.
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I thought it was cool. I was glad they didn't sacrifice (no pun intended) the Christian themes.
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I don't see how that would be possible, without gutting it into a story about a magical universe where children play with a cuddly lion and nothing nasty ever happens.
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If this turns into a religion thread, I will fuck you up.
But yeah, I'm glad Lucy wasn't just a whiny fat kid like in the other movie (done by the BBC?)--she was a lot younger, and so her character actually worked. Edmund wasn't quite as spoiled as BBC-Edmund, but good nonetheless. Peter was of course quite vanilla, but that's because he's Peter. His armour in the battle was way cool, though. Susan seemed okay, but again, the story always struck me as being more about Lucy and Edmund than anyone else.
Main characters aside, everything else was SO. COOL. The creatures and landscapes and monsters and costumes and so on were all fantastic. The secret police wolves could've been a lot more sinister--that is, they should've been more werewolf-like. I suppose I'm just not scared of Siberian Huskies, what with having a Spurgus Dog of my own. Azlan was quite nifty, too. Much better than the poorly choreographed puppet from the old movie.
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I'm saddened to hear about Edmund. He's supposed to be a complete and total asshole for most of the book. I think the animated version done by I-don't-know-who captures him perfectly.
Maybe they're intending on doing other books. It's my understanding that they are -- depending on how well this movie does. In that case, it would be to their benefit if they downplayed Edmund's poor personality . . .
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Yeah, since he becomes a decent guy in... The Voyage of the Dawntreader? Then there's Edmund Mk. II as the jerk in that one. Who become a decent guy, and has to show Edmund Mk. III how not to be a jerk, if I recall the movies/novels properly, which I probably don't. I just remember really disliking Lucy. Why'd she have to be so fat and whiny? Argh! This new movie totally improves on her, though, so to anyone who was worrying: don't worry.
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I have heard from various sources that the production design is awesome, but the movie itself is boring. Yes? No?
I might just wait and rent it. I don't generally like child actors.
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I've always thought Edmund/Lucy were the protagonists of the series -- at least they are in the most novels, aside from Aslan of course. 4 novels i think. I''ve heard somewhere that C.S. Lewis considered Edmund MKII (i can't remember his name) to be his alter ego/main protagonist however.
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I still giggle when I think about my friend Jeff impersonating the BBC Miniseries Lucy in 4th grade, in his best clipped British tones. "I'm a fat little girl." Which is undoubtedly funnier if you were there to hear it, but that's your loss, not my problem.
Anyway, Lucy is meant to be quite young, I think, which is why her older siblings won't take her seriously at first. The story is very much about Lucy and Edmund. Peter and Susan are just there to be... older and less interesting.
I want to go see the movie now.
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Screw the religon themes if it has any. I liked the book when I was younger and I have every intention of seeing the movie this weekend. I remember seeing the cartoon version of it.
I'll talk more later on it once I've seen it.
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I loved these books as a child. I am delighted the reviews are leaning towards good, I would have preferred brilliant but good is fine.
I named one of the dogs Puddleglum, a golden retriever mix, he was excellent in all ways. What a sweetie.
@Ghrey - Just in case you wish to go on your usual Regullus's dog sucks rant and Spurgus rules (which I am sure he does as dogs usually do), don't, because Puddleglum's life ended tragically prematurely and I would become amazingly hostile and pepper you with rude and lengthy ims for eternity.
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I liked Jadis a lot, although her dress was weird.
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Which one? Pic 43 or pic 44, on this site? (http://www.cinemaemcena.com.br/multi_fotos_filme.asp?cod=3276)
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Am I the only one who remembers that his name was Eustace?
And anyway, I think I've had enough Modern Mythology In CGI to last me a while.
I'm waiting for all the studios to gather up all the hot directors and put out a three and a half hour long blockbuster entitled
SWEEPING DIGITAL CAMERA MOVES.
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Hmm. Nitpicking -- but, shouldn't she have black hair?
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Ok, they are both weird, but I meant the first one which she wears during the first half of the film. The collar gives her a very strange profile, like a men with broad shoulders.
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Hmm. Nitpicking -- but, shouldn't she have black hair?
Hm, I don't know. I reread the book only recently. I paid a lot of attention, but I can't remember any reference to Jadis having black hair, IMO it just says that Susan has black hair and Lucy's blond.
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Ok, they are both weird, but I meant the first one which she wears during the first half of the film. The collar gives her a very strange profile, like a men with broad shoulders.
I agree on the first one. Gives way too much of a manly look... But the second one is a chainmail dress, which looks just about as right as it can, when fasioned into a dress.
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Am I the only one who remembers that his name was Eustace?
Eustace and Gillian rocked! Prince Caspian too was excellent and the horse but I forget his name.
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Ok, they are both weird, but I meant the first one which she wears during the first half of the film. The collar gives her a very strange profile, like a men with broad shoulders.
I agree on the first one. Gives way too much of a manly look... But the second one is a chainmail dress, which looks just about as right as it can, when fasioned into a dress.
Yeah, the chainmail dress looks horrible in one scene where she makes a couple of steps, but the rest of the time it's not very striking, most of the time it was that furry stuff around her neck (and the obvious lack of make-up) that caught my eye.
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I named one of the dogs Puddleglum, a golden retriever mix, he was excellent in all ways. What a sweetie.
...dog sucks rant and Spurgus rules...
Puddleglum is among the Top Ten for awesomest dog names I've ever heard. Others are Rascal (Rasputin), Carlos [Santana], Pogo, and Seiko (the watch dog). I'm also disappointed that you seem to think I actually have an objection to any other dog. Anyways, I don't. All dogs are awesome.
I liked Jadis a lot, although her dress was weird.
I thought the same thing. It was like a football player's ball gown, or something. When she wore the head-dress that made her look like a lion, though, that was way cool.
SWEEPING DIGITAL CAMERA MOVES.
But this one had better sweeping digital camera moves than LotR! Well, better than the first two. Nothing can beat the oliphants, or the giant hunks of Minas Tirith being catapulted into the ranks of orcs.
Jadis' appearance.
I like how her hair was frozen back into that crazy do during the winter, and she had to tie it back when summer came. Heheh.
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Hmm. Nitpicking -- but, shouldn't she have black hair?
Hm, I don't know. I reread the book only recently. I paid a lot of attention, but I can't remember any reference to Jadis having black hair, IMO it just says that Susan has black hair and Lucy's blond.
Maybe it's just because of the illustrations. Yeah, I can't even find any references to it in the Magician's Nephew. It's because the illustrations show her as having black hair.
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I read that Tilda Swinton insisted on the White Queen being all white. The directors wanted some black in the costume somehow because black = obviously EVIL character, but Ms. Swinton convinced them that it was a very stupid idea and insulting to the audience.
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SWEEPING DIGITAL CAMERA MOVES.
But this one had better sweeping digital camera moves than LotR! Well, better than the first two. Nothing can beat the oliphants, or the giant hunks of Minas Tirith being catapulted into the ranks of orcs.
I can even see the ad campaign.
This summer...
Get swept up... in adventure
Get swept up... in passion
Get swept up... in danger
SWEEPING DIGITAL CAMERA MOVES
IN THEATERS EVERYWHERE JULY 3
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I am not sure how I feel about the film.
It was entertaining to watch, and people clapped at the end (which is odd).
But I don't think I liked the modern puns that I am sure weren't in the original (c.f. the beavers' Home Counties accents and married couple jokes, the horse's "My name is Philip!" line). In that respect I thought it oscillated between almost a parody of the books, and a failed epic (because the adolescents facing up to the monsters with their looks of childish heroism I found a little silly, hence 'failed').
Like I say, it was entertaining, which I suppose is the primary goal of cinema. Can't help but wonder how much the idea to make it was inspired by LotR.
Mr. Tumnes was creepy... like a very camp child molester, or just a very innocent adult.
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On the illustrations in my book, she has fair hair, white skin and white clothes. One should never really refer to illustrations, anyway. In the text, Mr. Tumnus has his tail over his arm to ensure that it doesn't get wet; however, on the pic right next to the text he has a very short tail like a goat (that's how it looks in the film, too).
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The long, drawn-out battle-pre-battle-oh-god-is-it-the-battle-yet scene did annoy the hell out of me. I've SEEN this before. I've seen it in dozens of movies. I've seen it in GODDAMN NEVERWINTER NIGHTS. Come on.
But it was all so cute and pretty! Except that all adults are creepy and evil (wasn't the faun like, NOT NAKED in the book when he took the little girl back to his secret home?). Lucy's adorableness was a bit over the top, but hey. Oh, and they didn't speak in Ye Olde Talke at the end, which is really the best and most bizarre part of it all (except for Santa Claus popping up).
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I read that Tilda Swinton insisted on the White Queen being all white. The directors wanted some black in the costume somehow because black = obviously EVIL character, but Ms. Swinton convinced them that it was a very stupid idea and insulting to the audience.
But C.S. Lewis had a big part in the dictation of the illustrations, and his witch had black hair. Long, pin-straight, black hair. For all I know, maybe she was Asian.
Although I do like Tlida Swinton. She's terrific.
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But I don't think I liked the modern puns that I am sure weren't in the original (c.f. the beavers' Home Counties accents and married couple jokes, the horse's "My name is Philip!" line). In that respect I thought it oscillated between almost a parody of the books, and a failed epic (because the adolescents facing up to the monsters with their looks of childish heroism I found a little silly, hence 'failed').
I didn't like the language, either, it was far too modern (I so loved how Jadis talked to Edmund when she first met him, and the way the siblings talk to each other when they are grown up, alas, all gone in the film) and the jokes were rather lame.
But it was all so cute and pretty! Except that all adults are creepy and evil (wasn't the faun like, NOT NAKED in the book when he took the little girl back to his secret home?). Lucy's adorableness was a bit over the top, but hey. Oh, and they didn't speak in Ye Olde Talke at the end, which is really the best and most bizarre part of it all (except for Santa Claus popping up).
The book says he's wearing a scarf. It doesn't say anthing about other clothes, so I assume he's actually naked.
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Tumnus doesn't wear clothes. He didn't in any of the other movies, either. He does have an umbrella -- if that's any consolation.
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I have to say that it was the quickest three hours I have ever spent. After the movie I felt like very little happened, but I was not bored once. I don't know if that is bad or if it is good.
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The book says he's wearing a scarf. It doesn't say anthing about other clothes, so I assume he's actually naked.
That is unfortunate. Because of the creepy.
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I want them to make the Magician's Nephew - that was my favourite. I think they are making Prince Caspian next, though.
I dunno: everytime I see a film based on a book I like, I always get distracted at some point and instead of enjoying the film find myself saying "Oh come on, that's so wrong!" or "Nice handling of that scene- the changes are still credible and work well". I will probably only see it if escorting nephews/nieces to it.
You know, I never spotted the parallels b/w the Easter story and Aslan when I was reading the books. Never occurred to me until I read EDIT: an article about his life a few years ago. Why do people keep bringing it up? it seems to suggest that C.S.Lewis had trouble coming up with original ideas.
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You know, I never spotted the parallels b/w the Easter story and Aslan when I was reading the books. Never occurred to me until I read about a few years ago. Why do people keep bringing it up? it seems to suggest that C.S.Lewis had trouble coming up with original ideas.
A lot of his work has Christian allegories; he was very proud of his faith and spent a lot of time as an apologetic.
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Umm, yes Joe, I know. Perhaps I should edit my post to read "when I read an article discussing his life a few years ago. I decided not to let it bias me against the books."
Besides, it's not nearly as interesting as say, that Percy Grainger was into S&M. I mean, if he'd been into cannibalism or Noh opera (not a good comparison there, I'm thinking of W.B.Yeats) well it might be of marginal interest. All this unnecessary focus on his private beliefs makes it seem the books are about secretly indoctrinating the readers.
We should be focussing on important points - like did Mr.Tumnus have a scarf? (I am pro-scarf.) What colour was The White Witch's hair? (I always thought it was white.) Is Mr. Tumnus naked, or does fur count as clothing? Can Edmund's repentance and recurring guilt be properly communicated? The books start with a focus on Edmund and Lucy, but then Susan and Peter get more emphasis when they are fighting etc: should this happen? Is Susan a very poor excuse for a character? Should the filmakers do a Jackson and spice up her role, thus tampering with the text, or remain faithful to Lewis' vision and create one of the more boring on-screen characters in a film? Did the actress have trouble staying awake during her scenes? How is Peter's nobleness communicated without making the viewers completely hostile to him?
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Well it's not just discussing his private beliefs, it is discussing focal points in the story. For example, Aslan sacrificed himself for Edmund similarly to Jesus' sacrifice.
Or are you saying that we shouldn't be focused so much on whether or not the film conveyed the Christian allegory, but whether or not the film was faithful to the text? Some could argue that those aren't different, but they kinda are. If you mean the latter, I think I can see the validity of it.
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The fact that Lewis drew on his personal beliefs to provide a powerful central scene for his children's fantasy shouldn't be all that surprising. I mean, no-one is surprised or makes a big fuss that he drew on his English background in drawing the main characters. What he knew formed and coloured his story. I'm concerned that the focus on Lewis' personal beliefs misrepresents the story as Christian propaganda. I would prefer the focus to be on the story - mainly because of the affection I have for it as the populariser of children's fiction - fiction meant to entertain them and engage them and not preach to them. I don't want to seriously discuss the film's faithfulness to the text, but I'm more than willing to have some fun on the subject.
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Yet another thread that will soon degenerate into religious babble. I'll bet anyone five dollars they won't be able to help themselves.
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I would like to point out that my last post was entirely about how unnecessary it is to bring up the R-word. what, I'm writing in Swahili?
What is the animation for Aslan like? Does it augur well for the cat in Prince Caspian/the flying horse in Magician's Nephew? (jc won't agree- the flying horse will certainly be an excuse for more sweeping wide frame shots.)
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The Aslan animation wasn't bad. I can't say that it looked completely real.
I was somewhat disappointed with Liam Neeson as his voice.
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What is the animation for Aslan like? Does it augur well for the cat in Prince Caspian/the flying horse in Magician's Nephew? (jc won't agree- the flying horse will certainly be an excuse for more sweeping wide frame shots.)
I'll see your "sweeping wide frame shots" and raise you "as much as I liked the other six books and read them all at least three times in my youth, I could never, ever, ever force myself to finish Magician's Nephew as I found it extremely boring." (I think the series pretty much hit its stride in books 3-4-5. Of original published order, not the chronological ordering that some of the recent boxed sets have done that flips things around and makes MN book #1.)
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I'm also disappointed that you seem to think I actually have an objection to any other dog. Anyways, I don't. All dogs are awesome.
I never suspected for a moment that you were anti-other-people's dogs. However, by your own words, you have implied that you are not overly fond of small dogs and I suspect a fluffy dog predjudice. :-\ Sadly, Puddleglum's name in life was constantly mocked by those ignorants who had not read the Narnia Chronicles and I supposed you might by tempted to mock too. "Does he puddle?" Ha, ha. ::)
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I assume that's your Keeshond? My dog is ostensibly a Keeshond mix, though she's black and tan (but very fluffy). We don't really know what she is, as she's had at least 3 other homes and we adopted her at the age of 8 or so (at least, the vet guesses her age at 10 now). She's a sweetie, anyway.
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The Aslan animation wasn't bad. I can't say that it looked completely real.
I was somewhat disappointed with Liam Neeson as his voice.
Would have been better with Kevin Michael Richardson as Aslan.... That booming Sarevok voice...
EDIT: spelling
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I really enjoyed it, but a couple of points:
- Edmund really wasn't enough of an asshat
- Lucy was far too sickly and sweet. In fact, I can picture her saying that she's "thweet" and twirling her hair a lot.
- Tumnus was bloody creepy. Waggling eyebows and a suggestion of sardine bribery? Nopls. I know he has sinister intentions and he needs to get Lucy back to his house, but he was never that creepy in the books. Or, perhaps it's just the jaded times we live in now.
- The blue screen bit with Lucyand Susan riding on Aslan looked like crap. Reminded me of the Hobbits on Treebeard screne in TTT.
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I really enjoyed it, but a couple of points:
- Edmund...
- Lucy...
- Tumnus... Or, perhaps it's just the jaded times we live in now.
It's the jaded times you live in. Both you and Aurora are cynical to the point of... cynicism... um... TO THE EXTREME. But I, an innocent babe, liked all of 'em. I also thought Aslan's voice was good. And I want a minotaur.
I wonder what happened to all the guys that joined up with the Witch.
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Would have been better with Kevin Michael Richardson as Aslan.... That booming Sarevok woice...
Oh please no. I have had enough of his voice for a few lifetimes.
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Liam Neeson? The same one that was in Batman Begins? Hm. Should have used Sean Connery.
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b301/petitecitronique/snl_celebjeopardy_medvid.jpg)
I'll take Jap Anus relations for 600.
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Liam Neeson? The same one that was in Batman Begins?
Yes. And The Phantom Menace.
Hm. Should have used Sean Connery.
No, no, no. Let's not be reminded of Dragonheart.
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What is the animation for Aslan like? Does it augur well for the cat in Prince Caspian/the flying horse in Magician's Nephew? (jc won't agree- the flying horse will certainly be an excuse for more sweeping wide frame shots.)
I'll see your "sweeping wide frame shots" and raise you "as much as I liked the other six books and read them all at least three times in my youth, I could never, ever, ever force myself to finish Magician's Nephew as I found it extremely boring." (I think the series pretty much hit its stride in books 3-4-5. Of original published order, not the chronological ordering that some of the recent boxed sets have done that flips things around and makes MN book #1.)
What happened in Magician's Nephew, Cr0pTony? Was that the one with the rings and pools in forests?
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The Aslan animation wasn't bad. I can't say that it looked completely real.
I was somewhat disappointed with Liam Neeson as his voice.
Would have been better with Kevin Michael Richardson as Aslan.... That booming Sarevok woice...
He would have been perfect. Except he might remind me of Sarevok or Jolee.
He could remind them to gather their party before venturing forth.
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What happened in Magician's Nephew, Cr0pTony? Was that the one with the rings and pools in forests?
Yes, the rings and such. I couldn't get past feeling "I'm very sure I read this story by C.S. Lewis at least once, but it was more interesting that other time" each time I tried reading it. Just, bleah.
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I assume that's your Keeshond? My dog is ostensibly a Keeshond mix, though she's black and tan (but very fluffy). We don't really know what she is, as she's had at least 3 other homes and we adopted her at the age of 8 or so (at least, the vet guesses her age at 10 now). She's a sweetie, anyway.
Yes, the avatar is my Keeshond. We were first introduced to the breed with a Keeshond mix and he was black and tan too. He had been abandoned on the road. He was very sweet but he evidenced signs of abuse and could be nervous with men. We got Ketra (the avatar) in memory of him. I think by breed they are very sweet.
You know, I almost feel guilty that this reply is so off-topic but then I recall all EFCB threads seem to go off topic. Sometimes they are so off-topic that I can't even remember which thread a topic is in or even what the thread is about by the title. I probably should pm people more frequently. :-\
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Ah, at least nobody is likely to take offense to a side-conversation about dogs. I think.
Lila probably had a rough life before she came to us. I know she was returned to the rescue society a few times, though the reasons for such were never volunteered (probably because they didn't want to put us off her too!). She had really bad teeth, which was expensive. She's very affectionate, and some people might not have liked how she stubbornly insists that she is, in fact, a lap dog. Hard to say.
Wolf, my first dog, was a foundling, collected outside the supermarket when I was sent out to get milk. The classic "Can we keep him, Mom?" He was a shepherd/retriever and just so intelligent and calm and well-behaved, I can't imagine why anyone would abandon him, but the state of his feet indicated that he'd walked in from being dumped in the country. Their loss, because he was a great dog.
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Liam Neeson? The same one that was in Batman Begins?
Yes. And The Phantom Menace.
Hm. Should have used Sean Connery.
No, no, no. Let's not be reminded of Dragonheart.
Hahahahaaha. I don't want the real Sean Connery to voice Aslan -- just the impersonator from SNL.
Actually, I really liked Aslan in the animated version. I thought he was perfect. Aslan in South Park was pretty funny, too -- even though he had basically the same voice as the Sexual Harassment Panda.
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The only thing I remember from the Magician's Nephew was the Arabic girl, and the story she told with the line I still use to confuse my dad, "Oh my father, and oh the delight of my eyes". She seemed to be the only girl in the series who ever had a sword. And the winged horse of course. Also, I confess that the Englishness of the four children annoyed me when I read the books ( I was 13?) and I liked the Magician's Nephew because the Englishness was slightly less obvious. I also liked the explanation of how the wardrobe came to be. And that nobody died or went over the edge of the world or was in a train wreck.
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I think the Magician's Nephew was the one I got stuck on that made me not bother reading any of the others. Now that I'm told it's the suckiest, I should read the rest.
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Hmm, Ghrey. Maybe you just didn't have the attention span necessary to successfully read chapter books, with limited illustrations last year. You might need to give it a few more decades, just to make sure you have the mental maturity to properly assess them. Then get back to us.
*don't slag off my favourite book in a series and expect to get off unscathed*
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I didn't realise it was your favourite book, since I just read the first half of the first sentence--"The only thing I remember from the Magician's Nephew..." and assumed you were saying the same things other people had said.
I'm fairly certain this revelation proves something. Like maybe your last post was correct. Or so I assume. I'm not going to think about it too much.
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What happened in Magician's Nephew, Cr0pTony? Was that the one with the rings and pools in forests?
Yes, the rings and such. I couldn't get past feeling "I'm very sure I read this story by C.S. Lewis at least once, but it was more interesting that other time" each time I tried reading it. Just, bleah.
I think I liked that one, but I don't remember exactly, so should probably read it again.