An Open Letter to 20th Century Fox

115 Comments

1. Dear Fox,

   I agree completely with Jonathon. I assure you that the day you greenlight The Silver Chair, Narnia fans around the world will be raising the roof in their celebrations! I beg you to let that day come soon.
   Also, if there is anything whatsoever I could help with, please let me (or any of the other NarniaFans writers) know! I would absolutely love to have a part in the production of the movie in any way, shape, or form.

   Thank you so much!

   • ditto

     • ditto

       • ditto

         • I SECOND THE MOTION!!!!

2. Hows about just making movie that don’t suck? And that don’t diverge a huge amount from the source material?

   • This is a very subjective statement.

     • It is subjective. I wouldn’t say that it completely sucked, but it was a drop in quality from the first two. I hope that if Fox continues with the series there will be an increase in film quality to return the series to the style of LWW and PC.

       • I’m with you, David.

         • I’m with Arvan and David…

         • i’m with the band.

       • I think its not a drop, as we all know, VDT is not quite same as the other book story lines right? Well… If the own book is just not like the other ones, we cant wait the movie to be like.

         We have to understand what lewis ment to say, as far as i know, narnia is not only narnia, is much more. Just stop and think about, there’s too much ways to read one only word, so what about a book?

         Silver Chair will come as totally different way from dawn treader and a bit similar to LWW, but will be like a bomb: we know that wil explode, but we are never sure how strong will it be, and it’s impact. I’m sure SC will be a revolution for the series because will back from disneys style but with fox eyes!

         From a brazilian narniafan.

         • they did make the quality of the movie drop be having so many un-needed additions (such as the green mist), and by changing the story line a little to much (ASLAN’s role was down played even though he was still a big part).

         • hmmm… aHUGEfan, I would’ve said that about Prince Caspian.

           Well, I guess we’re all entitled to our opinions! 😉

       • or maybe fix VDT A Little with an extended edition DVD. christmas time, maybe?

       • Yes…I agree with David too.

       • Spot on David. It was a drop in quality. No question. The sad thing was that the acting was very strong in certain places. It really collapsed under the weight of being a very uneven film. Changing Caspian’s established voice was really distracting, and I the addition of the young girl story line had me scratching my head and asking, “Why?!” The sea serpent was neat as first, but when it split open it just got really gross. By the end, I couldn’t imagine watching this film after the first two.

         One last point that should not be overstated is the over emphasis of marketing this film as a way of showing Christian faith. It was needlessly divisive and they completely ignored fantasy fans who are a huge reason why the books are still so popular among people of many different faiths and those with none at all.

         I think they blew it with this film, and Narnia won’t get a second chance with the filmgoing public even if it gets a second chance with Fox.

         • why characterize a property which was delibritely written with christian allusions as being devisive? why do secularists demand that christians have no right to be open about their faith, as if it is suddenly offensive within the last 20 years to even mention out loud their faith? (christmas is now “Holiday”, – C,S. Lewis was a christian “supremicist, sexist, racist”, blah , blah.) Christians have no obligation to bow to political correctness and social pressure and the thought police, nor are they obligated to edit out the meaning to their holidays, their books, their films, their speech, etc. How about cease being offended and just enjoy the film and tune out the subtext if you don’t agree with it, instead of society believing they have the right to control and pressure christianity all of a sudden. christians, beware of the encroaching social pressure to get you to subdue your rights while everyone else uses a guilt trip on you.

         • High Queene ShellyBelly,

           My point wasn’t about expressing faith being offensive, my point was about the marketing being lopsided and needlessly divisive. That has everything to do with an attack on the marketing department and nothing to do with the suppression of Christian faith. By the way, I would define a suppressed group as being a group unable to elect a member to government office in their land as a result of sharing their beliefs aloud. It would be an insult to the Christians of old to call Christians of the modern era suppressed.

           My point was merely that there are many aspects of Narnia that have nothing to do with Christian faith, like centaurs, fauns and talking beavers. The symbolism owes plenty to Greek mythology as well. That is what makes Narnia relevant as its own work of art, and why you needn’t be Christian to appreciate it. I don’t read Narnia or other works by Lewis as an expression of Christian Faith, and I don’t think the Narnia books should be treated as if they are sacred Christian scripture like the New Testament.

           As someone who adores subtext and the auteur theory as it applies to storytellers, as well as freedom in art, there are no ideas I fear the open expression of. That having been said, you freely attack “secularists” when the idea of secularism is merely the state of being separate from religion and not the state of being against it.

           To succinctly restate my above point: A “Narnia Faith” website, but no presence at Comic-Con?

         • i am totally for them PROMOTING it in the secular arena, such as comic con. But let’s be real about how watered down the subtext was to be able to promote to nonchristiatns. I think they didn’t go to comic con this time A) because they apparently gave up on america- hence the merchandsing in europe and not america B) they didn’t want to spend the mony on americans since they think narnia wasn’t as big a cultural force in the US as in great britain, etc. In other words, it was a financial and strategy call,, not a decision to blow off fantasy fans. I agree it was a foolish move. same with dropping the toys and statuettes in the US, that they had overseas. The VDT experience here in the US was totally different than overseas, where it was merchadised all over and all over the telly. the filmgoing public in other parts of the world experienced what we did with LWW. Big promo of VDT, and lots of interest was generated, unlike here where many people were completely unaware it even existed.

       • totally agree with you on THAT one:I was a little disappointed when I watched and realized they strode away from the book again

         • I think Aslan’s part in the movie was very clear and not at all downplayed..The movie was NOT downplayed in my opinion..
           @High Queene ShellyBelly:There’s a strong force against christians as all believers know and it gets powerful everyday..So I’m not surprised by this opposition against showing ‘christian faiths’ for VDT..Be proud of it becoz it shows that the power was strong..And anyway,christianity is getting suppressed and is attacked at more than anything else,So ppl will hate some things,after all believers are called to be disliked by the world,all proving-the end is near..
           Sorry,if I sound too harsh but anyone has the right to share their opinion,right?

   • It did NOT suck. It’s my favorite movie! Don’t listen to that grouch, Fox! I loved VDT.

3. excellent letter, Fox needs to hire you.

4. Very well put! You should maybe do a little spell check though on a few words. Maybe if Silver Chair gets made and the trailer comes out and is at a family movie, the words ” From the studio that brought you Alvin and the Chipmunks” because the movies seem to appeal to children because the chipmunks have such high voices and sing weird pop songs(wait until they can do that themselves with the computer). Also, I would have included not to keep bringing Tilda back for cameos because the witch is getting on everybody’s nerves( not that she’s a bad actress).

5. “Only Twilight could stand a chance at blowing The Hobbit out of the water due to the strong loyalty, devotion, and young age of it’s fan base and it will be wrapped up at that point.”

   lol I can’t think of any scenario where Twilight could be a close comparison to Lord of the Rings. I read a synopsis of the next Twilight movie’s plot and the entire movie is about the girl’s honeymoon and how she gives birth to a child who the werwolf falls madly in love with.

   • After struggling to keep my lunch in after reading your synopsis of Twilight, I’m wondering why /anyone/ would want to see that movie!
     Being a high school student myself, I can definitely say that by no means all teenagers are twilight fans. Of all the school’s population, I would estimate that perhaps 20% have read twilight, and by now at least 15% are way over it. Which leaves 5% at the most who would go and see this movie. Lord of the Rings, however, is an old favourite of many teens (not just nerds like me!), and I would predict that perhaps up to 30% of the school population would see it. The Hobbit would definitely be big competition for , and it would not at all be wise to release it at the same time.
     But I agree with you: I definitely do not think Twilight will be a huge threat. 😀

     • agreed!I’m a certified Narniac(as only my shrink can approve, though she’s totally okay with a healthy obsession)

   • In the words of Lord Vader, “Do not underestimate the power of the [Twi]Force.” No, not all people like this series, but MANY do. I don’t think that they have a bigger fan base than LOTR, but they do have a large one. Don’t forget New Moon AND Eclipse hold the records for highest opening day grosses, beating out The Dark Knight, Transformers, and Spider Man 3. A force to be reckoned with, I would say, especially at the series’ end.

     • Exactly. And with that large fan basis they have more disposable income on hand then the majority of LOTR fans.

6. my best advice to fox would be-GET A NEW EDITOR! at least one that does not have ADD! the editing was ABYSMAL! PS: please put out a VDT video game for christmas, and an extended version DVD .

   • or at least an ipod game out of the itunes store!!!!! that would be cheap enough to do- esp. WITH THE SUCCESS OF THE FILM!

7. How about a letter to Walden Media? They’re the ones producing these films, after all, and they obviously need to step up on their game. No matter how much you loved VDT (I’m even going to talk about that script!), the quality was dreadful. Forget 3D and use the money for quality editors and CGI. One reason this film is doing poorly is because it really isn’t that great. Many of us, as Narnia fanatics, loved the film (I didn’t, but many did), but normal fans of the books were mad at the script, normal fans of the films were mad at the lameness of the story and effects, and average moviegoers thought the film was cheap. And really, they’re all right. Besides us Narnia-lovers, who actually liked the movie? Teenage girls who don’t care about a lame script (because Ben and Skandar are *SO* hot!!!)? People who don’t know anything about film? The critics didn’t like the film at all. If Fox or someone else decides to continue the series, then Walden had better do it right (and throw out those horrible screenwriters!), or they’re going to lose more money.

   • I have to say, you definitely generalized quite a bit throughout this statement. I know we’re all welcome to our own opinions, but it’s dangerous to make sweeping statements about something, projecting your own feelings about something onto everyone.

     If critics didn’t like the film at all, it would be nominated for a lot of Razzies. Last I checked, it was about 50-50. As for the “lameness” of the story, again that is an opinion that, while shared with many, isn’t a majority. After nearly 500 reviews by FANS, the film is sitting at a nice 4.5/5, which is close to LWW in fan score. LWW has 4.7/5 from the reviews tallied. If you’d like to get a true look at what people thought of each aspect of the film, check out this list: https://narniafans.com/vdt_reviews/view_ratings.php

     It’s the average of all of the the reviews that people have submitted. The film was not cheap, it was $155 million, and if you read the article in Cinefex, you’ll see just how incredible the effects are in this film. There are locations and settings that you probably didn’t know were CG.

     • I agree completely with Arvan… Even though they might have spent a lot on effects… It still seemed cheap looking to my eyes

       • that may have been from the new digital cameras instead of film on reels.

         • I thought that at first, then I remembered that everything in Eustace’s house was beautiful. It was the Dragon, Reepicheep, Minotaur that looked worst, and at different times and shots (not all the time. Reep looked pretty good in some places, and not that great in others, for instance).

         • i didn’t like how overbright the daytime scenes looked, too harsh or something, like the F-stop was set wrong-

     • what was the average on PC?

     • Regarding the budget, I’m well aware of the money they had. But I’m also aware that they wasted a ton of it on a mediocre 3D conversion instead of on perfecting some of the effects. I am well aware that almost all the shots in Narnia had some sort of CG or greenscreen/bluescreen in it. Great. But I don’t need to read an article to decide the quality of the effects; I can do that by watching the film.

       Now, last time I checked, 49% on Rotten Tomatoes isn’t exactly good. That is a bad thing. It’s like 2.5 stars.

       As for the reviews by FANS, I know they’re there. I reviewed it. And I almost completely disagree with 60% of what I wrote then. But if you actually want a “true look” at what people thought of this film, you might consider asking Narnia fans who don’t frequent fansites like these. I did, and believe me, I never realized how many people hated the film, because I’d been reading the reviews on this site! After looking around a bit and considering what people are saying, I think I’ve figured it out. We’re so busy loving Narnia, so ready to fall in love with everything “Narnia”, that we don’t realize when we’re loving “a sorry excuse for a film” (not my words but my friend’s), or a DVD cover for The Voyage of the Dawn Treader with the White Witch in prominence instead of Caspian. I went back and read the source material, and you know what? Not only was the book better than the movie, the movie was awful in comparison! I think we as fans need to stop gushing over these films and read the books, stop defending the films and defend the books!

       • i was just on a film site, the audience gave it 78% good rating

         • Okay, now that’s not bad!

       • Arvan… personally, I love the films and I don’t think anyone needs to make excuses for loving the films. It is possible to love both the films and the books, and no one has the right to tell anyone that they shouldn’t love something just because you think they shouldn’t. The simple fact is that people did love the movies, and not just fans on sites like this. 49% of critics really liked it, and while that’s not exactly god, it’s not exactly bad. Last I checked, that’s just about half. That means it’s neither good, nor bad…. it’s a neutral score.

         Also, the fact that it won the “People’s Choice” award for 3D movie of the year also says a lot. Most of those people that voted don’t even go to these sites. I know that I didn’t promote that vote on here, didn’t even know it was happening. You have every right to like or dislike the movie, but look at it for what it is, not what it isn’t. If you, after re-reading the book, like the book better, that’s fine… but don’t put people down for liking the movie.

         Like it or not, there are also people that find the books very boring, and love the movies. Crazy, isn’t it? That’s because art is subjective to the viewer.

         • CALM DOWN EVERYONE…DON’T GET HEATED UP.. 😛

         • I couldn’t care less what critics say,so many of them are more interested in being clever and snobby. I’d rather hear what the actual moviegoers have to say.

8. well for me…it will really be nice if Fox will do all the 7 chronicles… i mean, come on… i really cant imagine a very good franchise just being filmed for 3 times… i really wont care anymore f they change the source material… whats important 4 me is to see all 7 books in the bigscreen… peace out! –,)

9. man i hope it does get made well SC or MN…and it is nice to have the next narnia film released in the same year as the movie they are making about C.S Lewis….hmm at the same time…thats another question…and i really wonder what fox will say in response to the letter you have written…thanxs for sharing it with us…thats really kind of you hehe….and I want to let you know u have written what we would say to fox and those suggestions are great u have wrote…HOPE THEY LISTEN TO U…thanxs again 😉

10. I agree with Jonathan’s points except for #9. The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, Surprised by Joy would only increase interest in subsequent Narnian films, as they would round out the public’s perception of Lewis’s life and works and give them even more context of the man behind the Narnian stories. I think this is a case of being able to walk and chew gum at the same time; and, besides, these films would be in a slightly different genre than the Narnian fantasies.

    Actually, I am hoping that someone gets the idea of adapting C.S. Lewis’s Space Trilogy sometime soon. There’s got to be some way of morphing the whole idea of the Malacandrian and Perelandrian stories with the modern understanding of the planets of Mars and Venus; and That Hideous Strength would be an awesome fantasy/sci-fi thriller. Might be a bit tricky to capture the green Lady on Perelandra without some nudity, but could be made fairly discreet in a non-pornographic context, with careful editing.

    I say the more Lewis films out there, the better, as the popularity of each will play off the others. The Great Divorce is scheduled for release this year??

11. Especially agree and LOL with 11….I think Will Poulter’s already starting looking at universities… 😉 and no Tilda! Tired of Tilda and tired of the Pevensies. Will P all the way!!! Have you actually sent this letter to Walden and Fox?

    • Tired of the Pevensies???!!! D=

      • dacio- that was my first thought and expression

      • The Pevensies don’t show up in Silver Chair and shouldn’t show up there, that’s what I basically meant. They shouldn’t pop up in movies where they didn’t also appear in the books, if you get my drift. I love the Pevensies…I just think they need to have some new blood continuing the franchise and making it fresh and interesting…..that’s all!

12. I just want to add, PLEASE, RESPECT THE BOOK…don’t change it!…I can accept a romance between Susan an Caspian, I can accept Tilda in the Dark Island, I can accept that Caspian arrive to the end of the world…BUT…I can’t accept a Lord Bern prisioner, I can’t accept a Green Mist, I can’t accept a easy finding 7 swords, I can’t accept that Coriakin warning travelers about Dark Island and I can’t accept a Ramandu’s Island without RAMANDU!…

    I think that if Fox respect the book, the movie would be THE BEST…I prefer that spell money in more Islands, and more details, and no in POOR 3d effects

    • i can´t be agree with you in some parts, i like the changes they made in all the movies, because if they respect every word of the books some parts will be bouring in big screem, it´s different when you read a book cuz´ you imaginate things in diferent ways than others do, but in a film you see it you can’t imaginate nothing you just want to see awesome stuff on it!!! and a really good plot!!! that’s why keep you watching.

      first bring teenagers to the films was awesome, because a lot of movies they weren’t successfull with kids specialy fantasy movies, i personaly like the romace between caspian and susan was cute and make you think that was hard leave a love in a place you don’t belong anymore…,

      with tilda i didn’t except she appears again, but fits ok cuz’ dark island supposed to do your fears reality, it doesn’t mean she is alive again, just the evil take that form bescause is an edmund’s fear, and the green mist was perfect to make dark island more interesting than the book and a reason to destroy it, a introduce to silver chair especialy a good reason of the kidnapping of rilian, and caspian going with the kids to the end of the world made it a very emotional end with aslan and not just say goodbye in the dawn treader

      i personaly wait to they change a litle things in silver chair especially that they really visit the center of the earth will have a really awesome shots,

      and i agree with no ramundo in his island and the seven swords were too easy to find then, and the 3d was ok comparing it with other movies including avatar but i saw the trailer of Pirates of the Caribbean and the trailer in 3d was really really good

      • You don’t understand me
        I never said that I’m desagree with bring teenagers…and I like to see Tilda like Edmund’s fear…and I’m agree with you when said that Caspian in the end of the world was more emotional, I LOVE IT

        I accept all that changes…but not substantial changes…Look, Every Island was changed in the movie…The Lone Island put Lord Bern as a prisioner…Magician Island don’t have Aslan… Coriakin warning the childern of the Dark Island, what’s that?! Coriakin is a sentenced Star and his map drawing with Drinian’s narration, not a Google Earth or GPS!! The Goldwater / Dragon Island was ok…I can accept the Dragon carry on the Dawn Treader to Ramandu’s Island, but…The East’s Birds?…who brings to Ramandu a stone of the Sun…RAMANDU?!Wheres is he?!…and the ONLY REAL ROMANCE between Caspian and Lilliandil was just suggested…The Dark Island…well…but Aslan destroyed it…when Lucy ask for help!!…Reepeechip does’t go to Aslan’s Country just for fun…he offer his life for the Lords!!

        I mean…you can change SOMETHING…but not all!

        • I agree with everything except for aslan’S appearances. If he appears just a few times in the film you’ll be more excited in his parts, don’t you think? =D

        • i known what you mean tavo,it just you didn’t express yourself well, now i really see your point, you right i think the substantial changes for me was the real meaning of what is a star in narnia specially in the last batle that all the star are persons that was amazin, and how hard will be being in the sky again, i really wanted to see the east birds that was i think the bigger disapponitment for me in the movie, and i didn’t like too much the seven swords was too obious and exaggeratedly easy too find them, would be better magic stones and to have then everyone will sacrifed something to get them or somethinG like that

          and for the ret was perfect for me i realy love the movie and can’t wait por SC.

        • yes, change is ok if it’s an IMPROVEMENT, like including Caspian at the end of the world. Bad if you totally change the character’s personality ( Peter in PC, from warm, loving and supportive to Caspian in the book, into a belligerent obnoxious egoist, competitive with Caspian in the movie). keep the characters chivalrous! that is the appeal of narnia!!

    • It isn’t up to Fox what goes into the film- that is the screenwriters. They are a separate entity than Fox. All these people bashing Fox over the film are in the wrong- tis not Fox’s fault.

      To add, the film was amazing.

      • I disagree with your opinion of the film, but anyway, you’re right. If you want someone to bash, bash Walden Media or more specifically the screenwriters!

      • in reality, financial backers stick their nose into the productions all the time, making demands. it’s their money, after all.

13. I agree, but about this:

    “12. No Tilda. Don’t get me wrong, I love Tilda Swinton as the White Witch, but that is only as The White Witch. Do not cast her as the Lady of the Green Kirtle. Yes, there is a small segment of Narnia fans who believe they are the same person but most fans and scholars (and even Douglas Gresham) say she is a different person. Give the roll to some one else. Please. With a cherry on top.”

    I TOTALLY AGREE. When the witch appeared in PC, that was awesome, but when I saw her in an advertisement of VDT for the first time… I said “That’s too much”. Hopefully, they’ll cast another person in SC (if they cast Tilda again, I’m going to hate the movie).

    They’ll have to cast Tilda again in MN. Think about this: If the white witch appeared in the past 5 movies (before MN), you won’t be… excited about that (the white witch appearing again) That’d be TOO MUCH. However, if she just appeared in 2 films in the past, you would be excited, don’t you think? xD

    • they’ve already said tilda’s not in SC

14. Goodness Gracious.

    Will everybody relax?

    It’s just a movie.

    And I personally enjoyed it very much and want to see this series continue.

    Thank you.

    Amen.

    • 🙂 i like that!

    • It’s just a movie based on our favorite books! Yeah, we don’t care if they change the plot and themes (VDT) or characters (PC)!

      • ha ha

    • Yeah..Everyone’s getting so worked up over mists and smokes and God knows what all..RELAX..It’s not a matter of life and death,is it? 😀 😛

15. I really enjoyed VDT. In the first round not so much, but the second time I really appreciated it as a movie. I admit at times the movie looked cheap then again it isn’t Disney magic it is Fox magic. I agree Tilda Swinton has to go, as much of a great actor she is, she has hung around more than it was needed. Actually my cousin was more disappointed that William Moseley was not in it and Ben Barnes didn’t look the way he did in PC. She never had a liking for Skandar. Overall I agree about the teen girls only obsessing over the hot actors more than the story. Hopefully we will have a greenlight for SC.

    • I agree. THey seem to like the boys more than the movie. I don’t care for boys, they never care for me anyway. I f i did like a boy, i would get over it quick. ( And i am 15 and never had a date!)

      • I sooo agree, never had a date yet too and i’m almost 18.

        • GREAT..I never understand “dating”..I know it’s the culture but why do u need to do that? Can’t you simply wait for God’s time?

          • amen

      • that’s cos boys have cooties.

        • Yes we do. Stay away.

          • LOL!

    • yeah, i idn’t like how ben looked like a totally different person. and not as hot either, and i’m not a teenager. LOL

16. I’m in my 30’s and enjoyed all 3 movies very much. Can’t wait for the fourth one to be made.

    Go Fox!

    (no more 3D, if I may ask, or at least give us a choice in the cinemas)

    • There was/is a choice, if the theater you went to didn’t have it playing in 2-D, then you went to the wrong one.

      • My theater didn’t have a choice either, and there was no other theater nearby to go to, so we didn’t go to “the wrong one”.

        • I live in a place where the nearest theater is an hour away, and if I’m not mistaken it didn’t have anything playing in 3-D. Yet still, I manged to see VDT twice in 3-D. I don’t want this is be a quarrel between just the two of us. 3-D costs more for the movie makers, but at this point that money is becoming more and more necessary to spent because of the market. As for peoples choice to see the movie in 2-D, it really is all about finding the right theater. I’m one of those people that is willing to drive a lot of hours to find the one theater that has in in 3-D. I don’t think fair for those like me who are willing to go to that extent to see a movie in 3-D, when others are going to complain that just the closest theater doesn’t have it in 2-D. If the film makers make the movie in 2-D, then that’s it, everyone that wants to see the movie has to see in in 2-D. But if the film makers make a movie in 3-D, then people have a choice if they are willing to go that extra mile or pay more money.

17. I do hope Fox reads this…..

18. “We thought we would have to go back to our normal, ordinary lives with no major franchises to look forward too (save a few super hero trilogies here and there.) Then we remembered we had at least one more big series to look forward too.”

    I hate the idea the the Narnia franchise is just a stepchild of The Lord of the Rings. But sadly, it’s true.

    Peter Jackson set out to turn JRR Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” into a movie.
    Walden/Disney/Fox set out to capitalize on LotR’s success…so they turned to Narnia as the obvious choice.

    • And boy am I glad they did! 🙂

    • wrong- lewis stepson was wanting to put it on the big screen for decades.

      • But in the end he couldn’t make that happen until Walden and specifically Disney realized they could make a buck off this series. That’s where they went wrong. At least Walden stuck with it; they want to make family-friendly films, but Disney blatantly dropped the franchise because it didn’t make enough money ($420 Million isn’t enough?!?).

        • i know….greedy buzzards!

        • I weep when I see the old disney statements saying how they planned to put out a new film every year- *sob*

19. I agree with everything except:
    “7. Have you considered following the example of Christopher Nolan on Inception and John Favreau on Iron Man 2 and just saying no to 3-D? How much did it cost to upgrade VDT into 3-D? Was the cost worth it? Now, I’ll admit I felt the 3-D in some ways enhanced the spectacle of Narnia, and I liked the 3-D in Narnia more then in Alice in Wonderland or Avatar. But that’s just me. Fact is the movie going public is going to get sick of 3-D, just like they got sick of all the movies after The Matrix that had the Matrix-style fight scenes. After a while the novelty of the effect wears off and people look for something new. It maybe wise not to do it in 3-D, unless it’s necessary to the story you are trying to tell. Otherwise, make your movie THE MUST SEE 2-D event of the Holiday season! Something to consider.”

    There is no guarantee that the audience will get tried of 3-D. I enjoy 3-D films when they are are done right and the 3-D in VDT was the best 3-D I’ve seen in any converted film. Instead of going back towards 2-D, I would prefer heading the opposite direction: instead of converting the film to 3-D, film it in 3-D. If people don’t want to watch Narnia in 3-D, then they can still see it in 2-D. That doesn’t mean that it has to be ruined for the rest of us. Many, many people are calling 3-D a fad, but I don’t think it is because I have never been into fads. I enjoy 3-D for the sake of what it is. When 3-D is don’t right there is no picture that can compare to it. Some films are rushing into 3-D like a fad, such as The Last Airbender and Clash of the Titans. And the end result of both of these films was failure because in the rush, bad products were the result. But good 3-D, like that seen in Avatar and Legends of the Guardians is both a popular movie and a remarkable picture. Advertising a movie for being a 2-D film won’t get an audience any more then an advertising a black and white film would draw a crowd. Yes, there have been a few recent black and white films that were very successful, but this was because of the quality of the film, not the picture. I believe that the expectancy of both the market and the audience is growing for more GOOD quality 3-D films, and I don’t think the expectancy will ever shrink. When and if I get to see the Silver Chair, I want to see it in 3-D.

    • The point is that 3D is expensive and they could use all that money to make a better quality film rather than on 3D technology. We know that CoN is not getting an enormous budget anytime soon, considering PC and VDT’s box office numbers, so they shouldn’t be wasting that money on a film that won’t be as good visually on a normal TV.

    • i’d be interested to see if the 3d brought in a new audience, just looking for anything in 3d. maybe it helped the box office and it was an investment that paid off.

20. I hope that they will greenlight THE SILVER CHAIR as soon as possible….the movie grosses were enough to make another Narnia movie…

21. I think The Silver Chair might return the “bad taste in the mouth” that Prince Caspian did. I love the book, and it is my favorite, but it is very dark, and doesn’t have the magic everyone loves. So either, change the story drastically to please the crowd, or keep it close, and get criticized. I think this might be one of the reasons they haven’t greenlighted SC yet.

    • i think they need to highlight the comedy to counterbalance the darkness. get a really funny puddleglum.

      • I’ve honestly not thought of it like that – but if you are right, and the SC BOOK is darker, why would it be a ‘bad taste in the mouth’ to do the movie like the book? (totally my favorite as well!)

        • PC was criticized as in strayed away from the book unwantedly..VDT strayed to be linked to SC,I think..SC is dark and I don’t think there’ll be much problem if we’re true to the book..

22. Well i guess we are talking about the next possible entry in the Narnia series, so what do people think are the iconic scenes for a SC adaptation or even movie poster iconography?

    – listing the entire novel not allowed!

    For Magician’s Nephew i would go something like:

    -the desolate world/forest between worlds & pools being a big symbolic image of MN
    -The Garden with the apple iconography & that scene
    -the iconography of the magical rings in general
    -the scene of Uncle Andrew’s study with the magical atlantean rings with the kids & Andrew going on about what a great magician he is & the trickery he pulls on the kids
    -alien Jadis & her dead world,
    – Andrew being scared out of his wits of her & then going on about what a damm fine girl she is when gone, getting carried away before she turns up again and being terrified again
    -Aslan creating Narnia, creating the talking animals, evil coming into Narnia when only hours old story embellished during Aslan creating Narnia, first son of Adam and Daughter of Eve being crowned King & Queen
    – talking animals planting Andrew & trying to work out what he is,
    -The mini story of King Frank(?)’s horse going from a carriage/taxi horse to a talking horse of Narnia with wings & developing personality(I think most Narnians would really love this in depth on screen & later would relate to H&HB when seen in a complete movie set)
    -Kids burying the rings in the garden with the tree growing really fast & then boys mother getting cured, then happy ending for boy & girl becoming firm friends -forgotten their names right now.

    Those bits that most memorable or that i would center movie out of for me as a MN adaptation off top of head.

23. Ehh… not one word about the one big problem with Dawn Treader: it feels less like Narnia, than two previous films. Why? I suppose because it was created as a blockbuster. And also because of the director. Andrew Adamson loved the books, and he made me feel like Narnia. I suppose if he directed the third film – I would’ve felt the much more, because Dawn Treader is so much richer emotionally, than Caspian book, it’s all about spiritual life as stated by C.S. Lewis.
    And such wasted potential of the book material makes me very sad, because there are few movies, that are made in christian ways, and Narnia is quite exceptional.

    One more thing, that felt different from other movies: when Pevensies became kings & queens – they changed. That thought in Lewis books goes from christian view of monarchy, where king is kind of icon of King of Heaven, God. God places king to do His will. And of course king is given some powers (it’s very rude term, and I don’t like it, but for sketching thoughts is enough).

    And later in Caspian book Lewis noted, that even feel of Narnia’s air changed you. Peter and Edmund looked not as boys anymore, but as adult men, the kings of Narnia. In Andrew’s Caspian I can see that. In Michael’s Apted – often no. Take the scene with Edmund fighting Caspian in the cave – it’s just looks ridiculous and disappointing after reading the book. Or Lucy obsession with becoming beautiful. Sad. That’s one of the reasons why third Narnia movie feels more like children movie, through director and crew tried to make the opposite.

    Also when watching Wardrobe and Caspian it felt like movie. When watching 3D Treader I was slightly disappointed. It feels like TV series.

    I’m asking you not to accuse me of being overcritical. I love Narnia movies, but they are meant to be portrayal of C.S. Lewis books, not modern secular humanism interpretations of them (I still remember strange commentary of Liam on Aslan). I know it’s very hard to show in public christian values nowdays, but why should we so easily surrender? After all the Pevensies from our beloved Narnia were sometimes scared, but almost always did the right thing (espesially when Aslan was near).

    Also, about money. I think if Narnia movies were even just close to spiritual level of C.S. Lewis books – a lot more people would’ve payed for going to watch it, than Treader grossed. Because I know, that people are not piggies, who go to the movie to eat popcorn and drink cola… and sleep even. If 20Fox thinks like that, that’s entirely their problem, not Narnia’s.
    P.S: I love the word “feel”. 😀

    • VDT appeals to every age group..It does have the narnian feel more than PC..remember VDT is not in Narnia,it is sailing through places different in everyway..Lucy’s obsession and Ed’s fight was also from the book.It’s only that it wasn’t that much prominent.I do believe they made an effort to put christian values to the front and are criticized coz of it now,but the makers of the movie are not believers and I guess that it shows why it’s not plain christian values coz the world would not like it.

      • Yes, it was in the book. But in movie they made it look childish. I saw this behavior only at the beginning of LWW, but they were only children back then. Since them much has changed. And yet movie-makers present us teenage problems of kings and queens of Narnia. It’s not the point of the book (and it wasn’t highlighted in the book). And of course it looks quite disappointing after reading books. Through I agree that fighting passions is important – movie-makers draw too much attention to that.

        You say, that makers aren’t believers – I agree. Michael Apted is definitely not, through it’s hard to say for sure. But I think Andrew Adamson was believer, through in the modern world one usually doesn’t show that in public (which is sad). I know they have a lot of pressure when doing christian images in movies, but somehow LWW and even PC were deeper in a spiritual way, than VDT. It just feels that way.

    • Yes Andrey, that was a good way to describe it- LWW and PC felt like feature film movies, VDT felt more like a choppy, shallow TV show. And I can understand how someone felt it seemed like it was produced like a kiddie movie, as compared to an all ages movie. and it is painful to watch them become shallow blockbusters devoid of the deep spirituality, compared to the books. if this was 30 years ago, they probably would have kept the deep meanings. still, id rather have something than no movies at all.

      • I can’t say for sure, but the half a loaf is better than no bread, you know. The existence of these movies (even despite all “weak spots”) is already making the world of cinema a better place (even if only little bit). 🙂

        • WELL SAID!! 😀

24. FOX, I have one thing to recommend you, mates:
    THE SERIES MUST BE FILMED IN THE WRITTEN ORDER.

    Do “The Horse and His Boy” instead of “The Silver Chair” as the next movie.
    “The Horse and His Boy” is the fourth book in the written order and do contain the Pervensies.
    “The Horse and His boy” has a nice title and tells two stories. One of Susan’s forced marriage (wich involve Edmund and Lucy) and other with Shasta’s quest.

    I know, the book says that the Pervensies are a little more older in this story. Just forget about it.

    It’s simple. Expand Susan’s role and, in the same time, you tell Shasta’s story.
    People like “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” and if the next movie has Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy it may attract those who’ve liked the first one.

    Then, you film “The Silver Chair” and “The Last Battle” and release then just like HP7 p1 & p2, because these can be seen as a kind of continuation.
    Both books tells the story of Jill Pole.

    “The Last Battle” must be advertized as the last narnia film. To create more interest in the end of the series.

    Then, you “reboot” Narnia with one more last film “The Magician’s Nephew”, the most expansive one.

    • They are filming in the Written Order.

      The written order is as follows:
      The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
      Prince Caspian
      The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
      The Silver Chair
      The Horse and His Boy
      The Magician’s Nephew
      The Last Battle

      • They are filming in the Publication order.

        • Although it as published after Silver Chair, The Horse and his Boy was written before it.

          • That’s true, but it was Lewis’ choice when to publish it, or he would have given them HHB to publish first.

    • skandar(edmund) wants a break from acting, though.

25. Wow, if I were the producer for Narnia, that would convince me!

    “I am on Aslan’s side even if there is no Aslan. I will live as a Narnian even if there is no Narnia”

    Let’s keep those words in mind, even if there is no SC.

    • RIGHT. 😀

26. If you think that the last two movies were good then you are to blinded by your infatuation with Narnia. I love the Narnia, but I can call it like it is… 1st rate stories made into 2nd rate movies.

    Time to wake up, the numbers don’t lie and they get worse with every movie.

    Get an experienced director in the genre, not someone who did a couple of animated flicks or a guy who did one good movie.

    I understand this is my opinion but I feel most of you are blinded by your infatuation. Being objective can be very freeing.

    Oh and please no more tilda!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

27. It makes me sad when people argue about whether the film was good or not. I felt like I’d rather see a peice of Narnia rather than no Narnia at all. I went in expecting there to be many plot changes due to the fact that it happens with every book to film adaptation… because in my mind that is what it is an “adaptation”. At the beginning of the film it says “Based on books by C.S. Lewis”… based… I try to keep them separate, knowing that the book is always better than the movie.
    Yet, what I love about the Narnia films, is even though they make a lot of large plot changes, I still feel like the films are in the “spirit” of the books as well as, though they change a lot of big stuff, they keep small things that only true fans of the book would recognize. And that my friends, is what makes us all love Narnia so much.

28. I also treasure the fact that with these films being made, hopefully more people will read the books who had never read them before.
    I know for me as well, as a christian, the only thing that could have ruined Dawn Treader for me would have been if the scene where Aslan tells the children that in our world he has another name, had not been in it. And it was! I was estatic! Because as a christian, I am excited about the fact that many people (who don’t know) will be walking out of the film asking “What is Aslan’s name in our world?” Hopefully, they’ll run into someone who knows the truth.

    Jesus Christ!

    • Same here..I got so excited when I heard it was on that I cried..It was a dream come true..Really I want people to think about it and I hope that someone would ask me “What is Aslan’s name in our world?” someday..Boy,wouldn’t I tell them..

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