Thursday, December 29, 2005

My Movie Review: The Chronicles Of Narnia - The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe


Plot synopsis: Siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie are sent to live with an elderly professor during the WWII raids. While exploring his expansive old home, Lucy discovers that she can enter an old wardrobe closet that takes her to a land called Narnia. She meets a faun named Mr Tumnus and from there, the adventure begins. It’s not long before her brothers and sister become aware of this wonderful land. Not only is it inhabited by strange and fantastical creatures and people, but it’s also frozen over by a winter that never stops, a spell cast by evil, yet enchanting, witch/queen. The children join the regal lion, Aslan, to help defeat the witch, break her spell and free the residents of Narnia.

Mmm yeah mm yeah well...I really don't know what to say about this movie. I was so looking forward to seeing it, the previews looked brilliant. And I'd heard so much about it. I came out of the cinema quite disappointed. It was okay, I guess. I suppose I expected more. All the reviews I'd heard about it compared it to The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Yeah right. It might have been filmed in New Zealand, same as LOTR, but sheesh, no WAY did it compare.

Tilda Swinson as the queen stole the show, in my opinion. The kids were ok, the beavers were funny, and I did enjoy the fight scenes. The animals in it were good. But really, I couldn't find one scene that really captured my interest. I must admit though, I thought they did a great job getting Liam Neeson to voice Aslan (the lion).

Anyway, in conclusion, bring your kids to see it. Or steal someone's kids and take them. It really is a kid's movie. I'll watch it again, no doubt, and maybe I'll enjoy it more the second time round. Sometimes that happens. Maybe I'll find something more out of it. If you go and see it, post a reply with your opinions.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi. I liked the movie, and have recommended it to my friends, but feel that in the end, it really didn’t do justice to the book or to the character of Aslan. The comment about Aslan not being a tame lion is a good example of the movie’s shortcomings. It was out of context, chronologically out of order, and incomplete in a way that dramatically changed it’s meaning. If I may quote the book at length:

“Is - is he a man?” asked Lucy
“Aslan a man!” said Mr. Beaver sternly. “Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion, the Lion, the great Lion.”
“Ooh,” said Susan, “I thought he was a man. Is he - quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”
“That you will, dearie, abd make no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver; “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”
“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the king I tell you.”

That’s the kind of dialogue, and portrayal of Aslan, that the movie needed. Nevertheless, my hope is that many people who had never even heard of the Chronicles of Narnia before will purchase them and read them. If the movie accomplishes nothing else, that would be fine with me! I recommend the book much more than the movie.

Michele said...

The movie has a lot of shortcomings. And what most people fail to see is the deeper meaning behind the book.

LuNaMooN said...

I haven't read the book, well, I did in high school, but that was a loooooong time ago. Totally forgotten it. So I shall be picking it up when I can, and I know it'll be excellent.

Mr. D said...

I won't watch this or read the book not my cup of tea lol

nenni said...

I've read the book at school. I dont remember much about it, to be honest. Me and school didnt mix. That's why I dont remember much.
Someone told me that it had a very strong religious meaning behind it (that's what they felt anyway) and I dont mean to be mean in any way but a movie like that holds no interest to me. They were probably lying and I'll maybe watch it sometime in the future. Maybe when it comes out on dvd or when it's on TV. I wont go out of my way to watch it. Put it that way

Michele said...

It does have a very strong religious meaning to it. Who ever told you wasn't lying, though unless you are religious you probably won't see it. Aslan the Lion represents Christ, the Children represent the Disciples, ect. C.L. Lewis is a devote Christian. I have neither seen th movie or read the book, but my Uncle is really into it. He loved the movie and loves the book.