Chronicles of Narnia

Post by **Ben** » January 4th, 2006, 6:33 am

I felt Narnia was shallow and commercialistic.

None of the characters were given any real depth and when one of Peter's backups went bombing towards the White Witch (whose strange costumes put me off and made her look fat) I wondered why I should care about his fate.

The music - what was THAT all about - and no memorable themes. Plus a "big battle" that was but merely a skirmish in Lord Of The Rings terms.

Best things: Aslan, who worked, and little Georgie as Lucy. Everything else screamed of "trying too hard", especially the Hugh Grant-styled Mr Tumnus, and the "over directing" of Andrew Adamson.

I don't think Narnia will make it past 3 films. People will go and see Caspian because of the Narnia name recognition, but will be disappointed, after which the third film will bomb and that will be that. Once the audience realises that the same kids won't keep coming back, they'll lose interest.

Post by **SingingDuckGirl** » January 4th, 2006, 12:46 pm

Even though I loved the film, I haven't written anything until now. I just feel sorry, Ben that you didn't like it much.

for the creatures in Peter's army, well I don't remember many of those characters getting much depth in the book anyways. And I guess, maybe it's because I'm a girl, but the battle scenes were the parts I was least excited to see, though I enjoyed them in this movie and in LOTR. But I'm more into the Edmund's-a-traitor-but-his-family-forgives-him-and-Aslan-dies-for-him and all that christian stuff, since I'm a Christian. Not too preachy, just like it was in the books, but still holds a lot of significance for those who want to appreciate it.

I liked the music too, and got the soundtrack. I'm really starting to warm up to Gregson-Williams, and I think he'll soon be one of the greats. I agree, the themes aren't as memorable as any John Williams/James Horner/whoever stuff, but I still like them and hum them and praise them.

And I disagree with the 3 films thing. Narnia does have a very strong Christian community following, which is only increasing with the first movie. In fact, I'm a tad embarassed by it, but probably if they decided to not make all of the movies a lot of really conservative Christians would get angry and violent and demand for the rest to be made, saying "You take away Christmas now you take away our Narnia!" and stuff like that, which although I want to see them all, I don't think that'd be the right way to go about it... Anyways, the same kids won't be in all the movies, but why wouldn't audiences warm up to the other characters? Eustace is my favorite kid, and Caspian is my favorite character. Jill is pretty lovable too, kind of like an alternative to Lucy. I have friends who can't wait to see The Horse and His Boy, because it was one of their favorite books. Also, if they have plans to make The Last Battle, the one with probably the most expectation, Disney would never make it without making H&HB first, since otherwise, without Avaris, a very strong and awesome character, there'd be all this untrue "Narnia is against all Muslim-type people!" stuff. The only book that might get a little weird as a movie is the Magician's Nephew, I think, because I don't know when they're going to make it and not really confuse people. "Okay, this is all waaay before the Pevensies, ok? And remember that old guy that was in the first movie we made? That's him! Really! Ok..." But I guess that is what was done with the books.

But to each his own on the movie

Maybe you'll like Caspian better (I do)

Post by **Josh** » January 4th, 2006, 6:06 pm

By the time the fourth Narnia film comes out, if the box office numbers have died down, I can see Disney possibly doing one or two things: 1) combining the remaining Narnia books for films, and 2) making the series into direct-to-video or ABC events, similar to the way ABC aired the Dinotopia miniseries. After all, even if the fourth Narnia film makes only $100 million at the box office, that would still be enough to greenlight a $30 million television miniseries for sweeps.

Post by **Dacey** » January 4th, 2006, 6:20 pm

I saw it and loved it. Haven't said anything about it until now, but I loved every minute of it. And Susan was nice-looking. She was delicious, actually. Oops, I'm not supposed to say that stuff outloud.

Post by **Phil** » January 5th, 2006, 8:16 am

Mickey wrote:I can see Disney possibly... combining the remaining Narnia books for films....

That might be difficult, since "The Chronicles of Narnia" weren't written in chronological order.

The fifth book, The Horse and His Boy, is a midquel to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (it takes place during the reign of King Peter, Queen Susan, King Edmund, and Queen Lucy). The sixth book, The Magician's Nephew, is a prequel telling the creation story.

(Note: Publishers have renumbered the books to make them "Chronicles", but Disney seems to be making the movies using the original numbering, which is the order the books were written.)

Post by **Ben** » January 5th, 2006, 12:39 pm

SingingDuckGirl wrote:I just feel sorry, Ben that you didn't like it much.

Don't be sorry! Sometimes I go into a film with big expectations and am always disappointed. Likewise when I go in with little, I come out surprised. With Narnia mach I, I was somewhere in the middle and wanted to like it.

I even got over that I thought the beginning was rushed and eased into it slowly, but in the end it didn't do it for me. Caspian is a better book, so maybe it will make a better film.

It's just passed $200 million, so it's got legs obviously, but will still end up short of an average Potter take. It may be more than three films, but I just can't see this franchise reaching seven full theatrical features, especially as costs keep getting higher and the returns lower.

Wendy's Jane wrote:Susan was nice-looking. She was delicious, actually. Oops, I'm not supposed to say that stuff outloud.

????

Post by **Josh** » January 5th, 2006, 9:04 pm

Phil wrote:
Mickey wrote:I can see Disney possibly... combining the remaining Narnia books for films....
That might be difficult, since "The Chronicles of Narnia" weren't written in chronological order.

The fifth book, The Horse and His Boy, is a midquel to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (it takes place during the reign of King Peter, Queen Susan, King Edmund, and Queen Lucy). The sixth book, The Magician's Nephew, is a prequel telling the creation story.

(Note: Publishers have renumbered the books to make them "Chronicles", but Disney seems to be making the movies using the original numbering, which is the order the books were written.)

Oh, I did not realize a lot of that. I've only read The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe. Thanks for the info, Phil!

Post by **Dacey** » January 5th, 2006, 10:55 pm

Ben, I'm not supposed to say when I think that a girl like the actress who played Susan is a sexy goddess. Because if she reads my post, she'll think I'm an immature teenager, and will never date/marry me.

Post by **Macaluso** » January 5th, 2006, 10:56 pm

Well. Sexy goddess is stretching it a bit. But she was really cute.

Post by **Dacey** » January 5th, 2006, 10:58 pm

Cute?

Understatement of the year...and it's only the fifth of January.

Post by **SingingDuckGirl** » January 5th, 2006, 11:58 pm

well, all this talk reminds me of what my friends and I had good fun about after we got out of the movie. (went with a group of girlfriends)

[Friend 1] What does it mean of me if I was strangely attracted to Mr. Tumnus?
(all of us lol)
[Friend 2] What does it mean of me if I was attracted to Peter? He's, like, 14 years old!!
(all of us lol louder)...

It was really funny at the time

I hope the franchise can stay strong for all movies! I can't wait for Eustace...or Puddleglum! Ooo! wonder who will play him!

Post by **Macaluso** » January 6th, 2006, 1:43 am

Wendy's Jane wrote:Cute?

Understatement of the year...and it's only the fifth of January.

pffft. She was cute, but not a SEXY GODDESS.

And being attracted to tumnis just SCREAMS pedophile into beastiality =P

Post by **Phil** » January 6th, 2006, 8:11 am

SingingDuckGirl wrote:I can't wait for...Puddleglum! Ooo! wonder who will play him! :D

I got the behind-the-scenes making-of book for Christmas. (Not really in-depth, but enjoyable.) It said that when CS Lewis's stepson (Doug something, I can't remember his name) met director Andrew Adamson, one of his first comments was that Andrew should play Puddleglum if they ever get to the fourth movie.

Post by **Ben** » January 6th, 2006, 8:16 am

SingingDuckGirl wrote:[Friend 1] What does it mean of me if I was strangely attracted to Mr. Tumnus? (all of us lol)

It means you all have a secret actor-who-is-a-young-Hugh Grant fixation.

Phil wrote:...if they ever get to the fourth movie.

True...

Post by **Josh** » January 6th, 2006, 10:10 pm

I finally saw Chronicles of Narnia tonight, and I think the film is wonderful. Any dislikes I have of the film are probably too minor to mention.