Unlike the 18-certificate Passion film, LWW aims to attract a family audience and although the UK film certificate was unknown as we went to press, it seems likely it will be granted a PG. The film has been made by Walden Films, which has a good track record of creating family-friendly movies. The decision by Disney to partner with Walden and distribute this film was initially not welcomed by Christian culture watchers in the US who warned that Disney might want to water down the Christian symbolism. Disney have always denied this intent and the input of Douglas Gresham, the stepson of C S Lewis, who is a co-producer has helped reassure wary Christians. “I am a committed Christian and I am very happy with the script,” Gresham confirmed.
The Rt Revd Michael Langrish, the Bishop of Exeter, was reported in the Daily Telegraph saying, “a faithful adaptation could not help but be a Passion of the Christ for children.”
The Narnia tales
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (LWW) is the best-known book from a series of children’s classics called “The Chronicles of Narnia.” C.S. Lewis’ beloved literary classic adventure follows the exploits of the four Pevensie siblings – Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter. Set in World War II England, the children enter the world of Narnia through a magical wardrobe while playing a game of ‘hide-and-seek’ in the rural country home of an elderly professor. Once there, the children discover a charming, peaceful land inhabited by talking beasts, dwarfs, fauns, centaurs and giants that has become a world cursed to eternal winter by the evil White Witch, Jadis. Under the guidance of a noble and mystical ruler, the lion Aslan, the children fight to overcome the White Witch’s powerful hold over Narnia in a spectacular, climactic battle.
A Christian parable
There are numerous parallels to the gospel and instances of Christian imagery in LWW. Anyone who is planning to run a Narnia-linked programming idea in their church should read or re-read the book. At the heart of LWW is the death and resurrection of Aslan, who like Christ voluntarily steps in to take the punishment due to one of the ‘sons of Adam’. Like the disciples, the children are grief stricken by Aslan’s death and then delighted by his return, which leads to the climactic battle against the witch and her evil allies. There are many other links between the book and the Christian faith.
C.S.Lewis
The author of Narnia Chronicles was arguably the most influential Christian writer, broadcaster and theologian of the 20th century. As well as writing children’s stories he has written many Christian classics including:
Mere Christianity – this masterpiece provides an excellent opportunity for believers and non-believers alike to hear a powerful, rational case for the Christian faith.The Screwtape Letters – A humorous account of temptation, this classic satire entertains with its sly and ironic portrayal of human life from the vantage point of Screwtape, a highly placed assistant to the devil. Lewis gives us the correspondence of the devil to his nephew Wormwood, a novice demon in charge of securing the damnation of an ordinary young man. Funny yet deadly serious.
The Problem of Pain – “If God is good and all-powerful, why does he allow his creatures to suffer pain?” And what of the suffering of animals, who neither deserve pain nor can be improved by it? Lewis sets out to disentangle this knotty issue.
The release of LWW is sure to trigger media interest in the rest of C.S. Lewis’ writings. Checkout the 10 Narnia-linked Ideas section for creative ways to introduce people to CS Lewis’ writings. The book Mere Christianity has been instrumental in many people coming to faith in Christ.
Narnian opportunity
The LWW filmmakers have already begun filming the second film from the Narnia series of books, a measure of their confidence that LWW will be a commercial success. The film adaptations of Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings books (Lewis and Tolkein were friends and fellow professors at Oxford) which have achieved critical and box office acclaim, have convinced Hollywood that this sort of fantasy story pulls in the audience.
Brace yourself for an army of film spin offs in book, game, toy and DVD format. Harper Collins the publisher of the Narnia books has released a new version of this series in paperback with photographic covers based on the film, which they hope will appeal to an adult audience in the same way that the Harry Potter books had crossover appeal – helped by adult-oriented book covers.
At one level the film can be enjoyed simply as a children’s adventure – albeit with breathtaking special effects and big name stars playing the leading roles – most notably [Tilda Swinton] as the White Witch. However, this winter the evangelistic opportunity exists to help our culture engage with eternal truths.
When Aslan, the great Lion of Narnia, told the children that they would soon have to return to the reality of their own country, the children were devastated.
“It isn’t Narnia, you know,” sobbed Lucy, “It’s you. We shan’t meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?”
“But you shall meet me, dear one,” said Aslan.
“Are are you there too, Sir?” said Edmund.
“I am,” said Aslan. “But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.”
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by CS Lewis (Harper Collins)
My prayer is that we are able to help people of all ages experience the Lion of Narnia, and then learn about him by His real name, and as He really exists in our world.
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