I've just seen THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE...

[rj_anderson]

And although I was skeptical at first, right now I am just overflowing with so. much. love.

They got it right. I hardly dared to hope it could be done, but they really did get it right. At least, all the parts I personally strongly felt they needed to get right, they did. And the bits they added in that weren't in the book, I mostly didn't mind, or even outright liked (like the fox).

The absolute best bit, though, has not been mentioned by anyone in any of the reviews I've read to date: When Aslan turns from killing the White Witch, and looks at Peter and says, "It is finished."

My eyes nearly popped out of my head. I couldn't keep it in -- I just burst out, "OH MAN THAT'S SO COOL." I'm sure half the theatre must have heard me. I mean, here I'd been afraid that they were going to downplay the Aslan-Christ parallel or somehow mess it up, and instead they went and made it even stronger, by having Aslan speak the very words of the Lord Himself. I had shivers, and tears in my eyes (not like I hadn't been crying ever since Aslan went to the Stone Table, mind you) -- it was beautiful. Perfect.

As for the rest, Tilda Swinton's White Witch was every bit as cold, ruthless, chilling and brilliant as she needed to be -- and the duel between her and Peter was, as I just finished saying to lydaclunas, WICKED COOL. Loved the way she used her wand and the sword together. As for the Pevensies, I've always had a bit of a literary crush on Peter, and I must say this movie did not discourage that at all. Susan was lovely, and I was very interested by the way they emphasized her being "logical" and more focused on practical and earthly realities, as it were, than the others -- maybe I was reading too much into the script, but they almost seemed to be hinting at her eventual loss of belief in Narnia. Which, I have said before and will say again, is a genuine tragedy and not a case of "Good riddance to bad rubbish" in the least, and I'm sure I will cry buckets if and when the movies get to that point.

Also, hee on the movie's revisionist handling of Father Christmas's infamous "battles are ugly when women fight" comment, rubbed in still further by the presence of tough-looking female centaurs in Peter's army. It's not like I was sentimentally attached to that line or anything, so I didn't mind that particular change in the least. In fact I got a bit of a chuckle out of it.

In short, I loved the movie and would gladly see it again, and when my kids are old enough not to be scared witless by some of the nastier-looking creatures, I'm sure I will. And in the meantime, there's Prince Caspian to look forward to -- at this rate, the sooner the better.

Note to self: badly need at least two Narnia icons.

Comments

[silverlightstar.livejournal.com]

I really loved how Tilda Swinton protrayed the White Witch; she did an excellent job. I LOVED that fight scene; it literally took my breath away.

I'll say this: When Aslan came out of the tent the first time, I cried. No, I'm not ashamed to admit it.

Note to self: want at least one Narnia icon.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I cried watching the trailer the first time. That was when I first began to hope that the movie might actually be good; before that, I'd been dreading some kind of Hollywood butchery.

[persephone-kore.livejournal.com]

The "It is finished" -- I haven't seen people comment on that either, I don't think. And that includes people who liked it and people who are grumpling that they don't think it was true enough to the book or emphasized Aslan's divinity enough. I've been contemplating bringing it up a few places, actually -- it bowled me over, I was completely not expecting it -- but I don't particularly feel like getting into the argument if someone complains that it should have come before he died. (Never mind that his mouth was tied shut, or that in the context of a physical battle it makes somewhat more sense where they put it.)

[fpb.livejournal.com]

What bothers me - did nobody notice this? - is that it reverses the last of Our Lord's last words on the Cross. We know that Aslan is Jesus, the Messiah, the Second Person of the Trinity. And Jesus spoke these words, not as any enemy was being killed, but as He was. There is something here that does not ring true to me, and reminds me that many of the people involved in this will not have been any kind of Christian.

[http://users.livejournal.com/shing_/]

Tilda Swinton's White Witch was fabulous. I just loved her costumes, her whole look.

I especially loved Lucy. Her first entrance into Narnia and meeting Mr Tumnus was everything I hoped for.

Peter Narnia icons. Another reason to get a paid account.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

If I get the chance to make myself a Peter Narnia icon or two, I will see what I can do for you along those lines as well. :)

[risti.livejournal.com]

I thought Peter looked like Prince William. If you squinted a bit.

But I agree with the general squeeage on Narnia.

[silverlightstar.livejournal.com]

He did a bit...I was hoping someone would comment on that.

[zoepaleologa.livejournal.com]

Go to book_icons. There are icons based on all sorts of literary sources (high and low brow) there, and I've seen a good few Narnia icons over the past few days.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Many pretties there. I still think I'll make my own in the end, but it was a good starting point to find screencaps.

[(Anonymous)]

One thing that amused me was that the children weren't told Aslan was a lion--they didn't know it until they saw him come out of the tent, and I loved their facial reactions when they caught that first glimpse. In the novel they find out at the Beavers' house, but it's different when they're looking at that tent thinking that a man will come out (or not knowing WHAT will come out). This in spite of the fact that I've always loved the line in the book: "I should feel rather nervous about meeting a lion."

Rather nervous, indeed. *chuckle*

Mary Anne

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

"I'm longing to meet him," said Peter, "even if I do feel rather frightened when it comes to the point..."

I missed that line, too. But not enough that it spoiled the movie for me.

[stmarysalice.livejournal.com]

I cried so much when I watched Narnia. It was done so well and balanced beautifully I had no problem recommending it to my Atheist friends without feeling like they'll feel they're being preached to.

[kalquessa.livejournal.com]

While I liked Swinton, I kinda missed the little bi-polar chick that played Jadis in the old Wonder Works/BBC version. I always loved her with the shouting and the raging. Heh. Also, Swinton's dresses bothered me until she changed into her battle dress, which was--like the rest of her in that whole sequence--hard core rockin'.

And right there with you in the crushing of King Peter. He was my favorite when I was a kid because he was nice to his little sister and chivalrous and all that. Gotta say the young man they found to play him was quite a cutie, too.

All the kids were great, really, and I have to say that I am developing a soft spot for Susan. I used to dislike her (again, when I was a kid) because she was the practical, grown-up one that scolded and mothered and I hated that. Now that I've developed several of those character traits myself, I have a lot more sympathy for her, and I feel a lot worse about her fate in Last Battle. Not that I have any doubt that she eventually makes it to the New Narnia. Once a queen in Narnia, and all that. It's just too bad that she has to go through so much to get there.

I await the advent of Reepicheep upon the silver screen with baited breath.

[izhilzha.livejournal.com]

All the kids were great, really, and I have to say that I am developing a soft spot for Susan. I used to dislike her (again, when I was a kid) because she was the practical, grown-up one that scolded and mothered and I hated that. Now that I've developed several of those character traits myself, I have a lot more sympathy for her,

I had a similar reaction, which really kind of startled me. :-)

I await the advent of Reepicheep upon the silver screen with baited breath.

Oh, WORD! :-D

[(Anonymous)]

"Now that I've developed several of those character traits myself, I have a lot more sympathy for her, and I feel a lot worse about her fate in Last Battle. Not that I have any doubt that she eventually makes it to the New Narnia." Read Neil Gaiman's "The Problem of Susan" and ask yourself, Does Susan want to go to New Narnia or Heaven or whatever you want to call it? The Problem of Susan has much in common with the Problem of Job--how can an omniscent, omnipotent god permit, even encourage evil? The point of Gaiman's story is that, viewed from Susan's perspective, Aslan is just as bad, just as evil as the White Witch--Aslan, not the White Witch, murdered her family and took away from her everyone she cared about. A malevolent, capricious god, is that someone really worth worshipping?

-- Allyn

[(Anonymous)]

*thwaps self in forehead* How could I have forgotten "It is finished"?? Yeah, my reaction was quite similar. Except I'm pretty certain my mouth was already hanging open at that point and I couldn't have gathered coherent words if I'd wanted to. ^_^

Okay, who else jumped and wanted badly to duck under the theater seat when the queen wonders about Aslan's promise and He very nearly jumps out of the screen snarling? Eep!!

~ISJ~

[pharnabazus.livejournal.com]

So, when can we expect some fanfic? :-)

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Never, I suspect. I can hardly bring myself to read Narnia fic at the best of times, let alone write any.

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

You know, there's a distinct downside to Prince Caspian, Voyage etc being filmed.

Do you know what it is? It's possible that I'm the only one who's thought of it. In which case, you should probably start looking into brain-cleansing procedures.

Reepicheep slash.

It's just beyond the horizon.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

*weeps fire and blood*

[heatherbird.livejournal.com]

hi, i just stumbled across your journal when I was looking through journals that had Narnia as an interest, and I really enjoy getting an intelligent take on the books and movies. Do you mind if I add you as a friend?

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Not at all! Thanks!

[miladygrey.livejournal.com]

In regards to Aslan's "It is finished"--I loved that. That was when I teared up the second time (first time during the Stone Table sacrifice, of course). I haven't mentioned it to any of my friends though, for reasons that are hard to articulate. I suppose it's like the differing feelings the Pevensies got when the Beavers first mentioned Aslan. It's going to hit different people in different ways. Atheists or those who aren't comfortable with the Christan/allegorical references might take it as outright preaching and be turned off, those who take offense with a Christ figure personified by a lion might feel that their faith is being insulted. Just my opinion, of course. Myself, I thought it was perfect.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

those who take offense with a Christ figure personified by a lion might feel that their faith is being insulted

*is curious* Have you actually met anyone who feels this way? I've met people who refuse to read Narnia because they think that all fantasy is ungodly and Satanic by definition, but not anything like that, at least not yet.

Also, loved your comments in your journal about feeling like Narnia is "home". I've always felt that way, too.

[thenome.livejournal.com]

I must admit that from almost the first moment the White Witch appeared, I kept thinking "It's Knife!"

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

LOL!

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Yes, I liked that as well. I thought the movie managed to convey quite clearly, without gore, the clash and havoc and general confusion and desperation of battle.