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ruAfter having finally reread the book, and having some of my girl-type friends to go see it with, I finally got around to seeing Narnia. I actually rather enjoyed it.
I think overall, the movie was very good. I seem to have a thing for watching movie adaptations lately. In terms of faithfulness to the book, this one was actually one of the better ones, and I think for good reason. The story itself is not that long, and it moves quick, so it really isn't that hard to just include all the details and not screw with it. Of course being a movie, the director types that do these types of movies seem to be incapable of making a movie based off of a book without screwing with it. But all things considered, I think this version had a very low screwing-up content. I guess I'll do this bullet-style again to address the things I want to address.
I want frolicking!: There was actually only one thing that I really wish they had not left out, and that was the scene where Lucy and Susan are frolicking with Aslan. I guess the director was concerned about it slowing down the pace of the film, or that Lucy and Susan shouldn't be loafing around when Peter and Edmund are at war, but I feel that it was a part that should have been left in. It's a brief moment of respite amongst all the warring, and it's a relief after what happened previous, namely...
Aslan's sacrifice: I admit, my reaction to Aslan's sacrifice may have been dulled by the fact that I had read the book recently, but I really didn't feel the same watching the scene as I did reading it. While reading the book, it really had me misting up and seething with anger and desperately wishing Aslan would fight back. The movie version? Not so much so. And I felt that the performance of Susan and Lucy after the Witch and company had left could have been better. They were kind of flat. I guess in general, that whole sequence from sacrifice to riding to the queen's house could have been done better.
The music: Overall, I really liked the music used in the movie. It set the right mood at the right times, and was appropriately fantastical and whatnot. In particular, I really liked the song used during the train ride to Professor Kirke's home. It sounded mournful and sad, and worked with the moods of the children.
Yay for transition: This is probably a little detail, but it's still something I liked. The way the change from hanging out in the wardrobe to entering Narnia was handled was really well done, going from coats to branches. I think it was extremely accurate to how it was described in the book.
Mmm, tasty snow!: Another thing that was little but was something that I really liked was when the dwarf was handed back the goblet that the Witch had created for Edmund, and he threw it against a tree, wherein it turned back into snow. In the book, the food and drink that the Witch created was enchanted such that it never filled up the drinker/eater, but they always wanted more. I think the visual image of the elaborate goblet dissolving into snow is probably the best way they could have visually described what the creations of the Witch's magic liquid were really like.
Edmund: I've heard some people say that Edmund was over the top, but actually I think the actor did a good job with the character. Edmund is a boy chafing against his older brother, is probably a little neglected amongst his siblings, and these instances would put him in a situation where a little flattery and promise of shining on his own might be enough to seduce him into inadvertently helping the witch. So I think in that respect, he was well played. On a slightly different note, if there was one thing I would have liked added into the movie, it would be some sort of backstory on Edmund. In the book, there is some hinting that something happened while he was at school that caused him to be so bitter. I would have liked a theory on what that might have been.
Father Christmas: I was very nervous that Father Christmas was going to be the 'classic' red-suit-looking version. I was really glad to see that that didn't happen. I think it would have looked completely out of place with the rest of Narnia. In this case, brown-coat version is ten times better than red-coat.
The other children: In the book, there were times where Lucy, Susan, and Peter seemed to run together, personality-wise. In the movie, I think they managed to have a little bit more personality between the three of them. It was nice to see them each having their own voice.
Mr. Tumnus: Call me crazy, but unf. He was a sweet little fawn, and I found his stuttering and nervousness to be so cute. And he looked pretty.
The Tigers: Just a statement of my own, but I found it vaugely amusing that the tigers were on the Witch's side. I guess they're pissed off that they're always secondary to lions, right down to "Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!". XD
Overall: As far as movie adaptations of books go, I think this one was done really well. Yes, the battles had shadows of LOTR, and it(and possible sequels/prequels) may be Disney's attempt at getting into the trend of putting fantasy books into movie form, but it was a well done version. It was fun seeing all the different creatures, and the story is definitely a fun one. And I think you can follow the story whether or not you've read the book, so it appeals to both people who have and haven't read the book.
I think overall, the movie was very good. I seem to have a thing for watching movie adaptations lately. In terms of faithfulness to the book, this one was actually one of the better ones, and I think for good reason. The story itself is not that long, and it moves quick, so it really isn't that hard to just include all the details and not screw with it. Of course being a movie, the director types that do these types of movies seem to be incapable of making a movie based off of a book without screwing with it. But all things considered, I think this version had a very low screwing-up content. I guess I'll do this bullet-style again to address the things I want to address.
I want frolicking!: There was actually only one thing that I really wish they had not left out, and that was the scene where Lucy and Susan are frolicking with Aslan. I guess the director was concerned about it slowing down the pace of the film, or that Lucy and Susan shouldn't be loafing around when Peter and Edmund are at war, but I feel that it was a part that should have been left in. It's a brief moment of respite amongst all the warring, and it's a relief after what happened previous, namely...
Aslan's sacrifice: I admit, my reaction to Aslan's sacrifice may have been dulled by the fact that I had read the book recently, but I really didn't feel the same watching the scene as I did reading it. While reading the book, it really had me misting up and seething with anger and desperately wishing Aslan would fight back. The movie version? Not so much so. And I felt that the performance of Susan and Lucy after the Witch and company had left could have been better. They were kind of flat. I guess in general, that whole sequence from sacrifice to riding to the queen's house could have been done better.
The music: Overall, I really liked the music used in the movie. It set the right mood at the right times, and was appropriately fantastical and whatnot. In particular, I really liked the song used during the train ride to Professor Kirke's home. It sounded mournful and sad, and worked with the moods of the children.
Yay for transition: This is probably a little detail, but it's still something I liked. The way the change from hanging out in the wardrobe to entering Narnia was handled was really well done, going from coats to branches. I think it was extremely accurate to how it was described in the book.
Mmm, tasty snow!: Another thing that was little but was something that I really liked was when the dwarf was handed back the goblet that the Witch had created for Edmund, and he threw it against a tree, wherein it turned back into snow. In the book, the food and drink that the Witch created was enchanted such that it never filled up the drinker/eater, but they always wanted more. I think the visual image of the elaborate goblet dissolving into snow is probably the best way they could have visually described what the creations of the Witch's magic liquid were really like.
Edmund: I've heard some people say that Edmund was over the top, but actually I think the actor did a good job with the character. Edmund is a boy chafing against his older brother, is probably a little neglected amongst his siblings, and these instances would put him in a situation where a little flattery and promise of shining on his own might be enough to seduce him into inadvertently helping the witch. So I think in that respect, he was well played. On a slightly different note, if there was one thing I would have liked added into the movie, it would be some sort of backstory on Edmund. In the book, there is some hinting that something happened while he was at school that caused him to be so bitter. I would have liked a theory on what that might have been.
Father Christmas: I was very nervous that Father Christmas was going to be the 'classic' red-suit-looking version. I was really glad to see that that didn't happen. I think it would have looked completely out of place with the rest of Narnia. In this case, brown-coat version is ten times better than red-coat.
The other children: In the book, there were times where Lucy, Susan, and Peter seemed to run together, personality-wise. In the movie, I think they managed to have a little bit more personality between the three of them. It was nice to see them each having their own voice.
Mr. Tumnus: Call me crazy, but unf. He was a sweet little fawn, and I found his stuttering and nervousness to be so cute. And he looked pretty.
The Tigers: Just a statement of my own, but I found it vaugely amusing that the tigers were on the Witch's side. I guess they're pissed off that they're always secondary to lions, right down to "Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!". XD
Overall: As far as movie adaptations of books go, I think this one was done really well. Yes, the battles had shadows of LOTR, and it(and possible sequels/prequels) may be Disney's attempt at getting into the trend of putting fantasy books into movie form, but it was a well done version. It was fun seeing all the different creatures, and the story is definitely a fun one. And I think you can follow the story whether or not you've read the book, so it appeals to both people who have and haven't read the book.
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Date: 2005-12-22 04:26 am (UTC)Complete. Agreement.
♥