Author Topic: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?  (Read 6272 times)

Offline Andyr

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #25 on: December 13, 2005, 12:41:47 PM »
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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Offline Evaine Dian

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #26 on: December 13, 2005, 12:42:12 PM »
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).
"Show me how you do that trick! The one that makes me scream", she said,
"the one that makes me laugh!" she said and threw her arms around my neck.
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Offline Aurora

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #27 on: December 13, 2005, 12:44:40 PM »
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).
Well, there was this doggy. He was a very clever doggy. He said things like...like... "I would feel infinitely more comfortable in your presence if you would agree to treat gravity as a law, rather than one of a number of suggested options."

Offline fcm

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #28 on: December 13, 2005, 12:53:09 PM »
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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Offline Evaine Dian

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #29 on: December 13, 2005, 12:53:42 PM »
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.
"Show me how you do that trick! The one that makes me scream", she said,
"the one that makes me laugh!" she said and threw her arms around my neck.
"Show me how you do it and I promise you, I promise that
I'll run away with you, I'll run away with you..."

Offline fcm

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #30 on: December 13, 2005, 12:57:11 PM »
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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Offline Joe

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #31 on: December 13, 2005, 01:52:18 PM »
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.

Offline Aurora

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #32 on: December 13, 2005, 04:20:53 PM »
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.
Well, there was this doggy. He was a very clever doggy. He said things like...like... "I would feel infinitely more comfortable in your presence if you would agree to treat gravity as a law, rather than one of a number of suggested options."

Offline Eral

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #33 on: December 13, 2005, 05:50:14 PM »
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.
« Last Edit: December 13, 2005, 07:48:49 PM by Eral »
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Offline Joe

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #34 on: December 13, 2005, 05:59:09 PM »
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.

Offline Eral

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #35 on: December 13, 2005, 07:45:46 PM »
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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Offline Joe

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #36 on: December 13, 2005, 08:41:46 PM »
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.

Offline Eral

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #37 on: December 14, 2005, 12:26:57 AM »
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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Offline Ghreyfain

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #38 on: December 14, 2005, 01:08:12 AM »
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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Offline Eral

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #39 on: December 14, 2005, 03:33:10 AM »
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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Offline Joe

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #40 on: December 14, 2005, 07:06:50 AM »
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.

Offline jcompton

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #41 on: December 14, 2005, 10:15:00 AM »
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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Offline Regullus

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #42 on: December 14, 2005, 10:25:04 AM »
  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. ::)

 

 



 

 

Offline Bex

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #43 on: December 14, 2005, 11:22:20 AM »
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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Offline Marauder

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #44 on: December 14, 2005, 01:37:22 PM »
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
« Last Edit: December 15, 2005, 09:47:12 AM by Marauder »
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Offline Sarah

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #45 on: December 14, 2005, 01:44:56 PM »
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.

Offline Ghreyfain

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #46 on: December 14, 2005, 03:19:18 PM »
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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Offline Joe

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #47 on: December 14, 2005, 04:26:39 PM »


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.

Offline fcm

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #48 on: December 14, 2005, 04:56:30 PM »
Liam Neeson? The same one that was in Batman Begins? Hm. Should have used Sean Connery.

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Offline Joe

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Re: So, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, eh?
« Reply #49 on: December 14, 2005, 05:26:20 PM »
Liam Neeson? The same one that was in Batman Begins?

Yes. And The Phantom Menace.

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Hm. Should have used Sean Connery.

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