LWW vs PC

waterhogboy

waterhogboy

Tweedledum
Knight of the Noble Order
I couldn't see a thread like this, but then I was missing for a month so forgive me if this has already been discussed.

I was interested toknow whether people preferred LWW or PC in terms of their adaption as Disney films (ie. not the general storyline). For example, altough I prefer LWW as a book, I prefer PC as a film.

Feel free to discuss any aspect - I want to know why people liked/disliked the film more...
 
Oh, thanks, WHB. Lovely idea for a thread.

OK, between the two films, I much preferred LWW, because it stayed more true to the book, and also probably because I had been loving Aslan/LWW all my life, and it was so emotional and exhilarating to see the story coming alive on the screen!

I suppose I was disappointed in PC as a Narnia film for the same reason: I've cherished these books for 30 years, and then the one which is supposed to be a film adaptation of PC is actually just a Narnia movie with PC characters in it. This was a huge disappointment.

If I had never read PC, I might have enjoyed the film much more, because it was really very exciting and fast-paced and all that. In fact, the second time I saw it, and was able to divorce myself from my love for the book, I did enjoy the film lots more than the first time.

Now, when it comes to book vs. movie, I fear I would always have to choose the books, on both counts. If I were going to be left on a desert island for the rest of my life with only the LWW book or an LWW DVD to watch, I would choose the book, hands down. I am glad to have the movie, I was thrilled to see how they made it into a movie, but the book will always be more filled with hope and imagination for me.

Same for PC, only double. I would much prefer the book.
 
You see, although there were many things I disliked about the PC film, I much preferred it to LWW. Although the story may have been less faithful, I think the important themes remained intact from the book, which is more than can be said for LWW.
 
There just IS NO EXCUSE AT ALL for the way they RUINED "Prince Caspian." If they wanted the tension of internal discord on the side of good, they ALREADY HAD IT available right in front of them in the book--in everything that ensued from the self-pitying, self-deceiving resentments of Nikabrik. They could have played that up in several possible ways; instead, they actually _reduced_ Nikabrik's role, to leave more time for the rival-jocks nonsense between Peter and Caspian that they were shoehorning in where it didn't belong. And no, the themes DIDN'T remain intact from the book--unless I somehow missed where Mr. Lewis wrote that Peter was a jerk who in the end had to admit he was abjectly INFERIOR to Caspian.
 
I have to agree with Inkspot. I loved PC, but as far as the adaptation goes LWW won by a long shot.

My mom even told me that the movie was made for general audiences, not for Narnia fans. My brother doesn't like the Narnia books and only kind of likes LWW, but he absolutely loved PC; while I was and am obsessed with LWW and all the books, but don't like PC nearly as much.
 
WHB said:
although there were many things I disliked about the PC film, I much preferred it to LWW. Although the story may have been less faithful, I think the important themes remained intact from the book, which is more than can be said for LWW.
Click to expand...
Go no -- really? What themes from LWW book did you not see in LWW film?

I thought PC film was more or less nothing like PC book ...
 
inkspot said:
Oh, thanks, WHB. Lovely idea for a thread.

OK, between the two films, I much preferred LWW, because it stayed more true to the book, and also probably because I had been loving Aslan/LWW all my life, and it was so emotional and exhilarating to see the story coming alive on the screen!

I suppose I was disappointed in PC as a Narnia film for the same reason: I've cherished these books for 30 years, and then the one which is supposed to be a film adaptation of PC is actually just a Narnia movie with PC characters in it. This was a huge disappointment.

If I had never read PC, I might have enjoyed the film much more, because it was really very exciting and fast-paced and all that. In fact, the second time I saw it, and was able to divorce myself from my love for the book, I did enjoy the film lots more than the first time.

Now, when it comes to book vs. movie, I fear I would always have to choose the books, on both counts. If I were going to be left on a desert island for the rest of my life with only the LWW book or an LWW DVD to watch, I would choose the book, hands down. I am glad to have the movie, I was thrilled to see how they made it into a movie, but the book will always be more filled with hope and imagination for me.

Same for PC, only double. I would much prefer the book.
Click to expand...


I totally agree with you!! (eventhough I'm only 12 and I haven't seen PC twice
 
It's a tough choice for me although I must say that I prefer LWW,because it's more faithful to the book,and has this really magical feeling upon it that I love so much :) But I really enjoyed Prince Caspian,I think they could have done some things better but it's still a terrific movie and definately worth watching more times than one ;)
 
Wunderkind said:
but it's still a terrific movie and definately worth watching more times than one ;)
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, I've seen it 4 times already. But when I watch LWW I can remember the book as it unfolds on screen. When I watch PC I'm reminded of all the things I don't get to see and must watch instead.
 
inkspot said:
Go no -- really? What themes from LWW book did you not see in LWW film?

I thought PC film was more or less nothing like PC book ...
Click to expand...

Before I go on, I'll get this straight :)D), PC is my least favourite book and that's probably part of the reason I'm less upset by changes made. I'm sure I'll be much more upset when it comes to HHB or MN!!

The thing that upset me most in LWW, and I personally think was disgusting, was the line Mr Beaver says along the lines of 'Aslan needs you, he's kitted you out an army and he's waiting at the Stone Table'. So first point, destroy all importance of Aslan - he needs the kids to do anything important in Narnia.

Secondly, by getting the message of Aslan's death to the two boys before the battle means they go into it in full knowledge of Aslan being dead. Therefore they feel they can do it on their own. I know Aslan comes back and saves the day, but it adds this whole arrogance of Peter that isn't resolved in the film. Unlike in PC were it is!!!

Thirdly, they messed up the whole 'you can only find Narnia when you're not looking for it.'

Now, I agree that the general storyline was far closer in LWW, but by destroying some key themes, for me, it's actually further from what Lewis wrote than the PC film.
 
No, Peter very clearly was NOT arrogant about his abilities in the LWW movie when he was called on to lead the army. Edmund had to give him a pep talk: "Aslan believed you could, and so do I."
 
Spare Oomian said:
Oh yeah, I've seen it 4 times already. But when I watch LWW I can remember the book as it unfolds on screen. When I watch PC I'm reminded of all the things I don't get to see and must watch instead.
Click to expand...
I agree -- although when I saw PC the second time, I was prepared for that, and it didn't bother me as much -- I enjoyed PC as a good adventure film in a sort of Narnian setting.
waterhogboy said:
The thing that upset me most in LWW, and I personally think was disgusting, was the line Mr Beaver says along the lines of 'Aslan needs you, he's kitted you out an army and he's waiting at the Stone Table'. So first point, destroy all importance of Aslan - he needs the kids to do anything important in Narnia.
Click to expand...
I agree, this is the thing that annoyed me most in LWW. I think Adamson did not give Aslan his due in either film. Aslan should have been much more front and center in LWW film, to my mind, but: even so, the themes of LWW were clear in the film; not so much, to me, in PC.
waterhogboy said:
Secondly, by getting the message of Aslan's death to the two boys before the battle means they go into it in full knowledge of Aslan being dead. Therefore they feel they can do it on their own.
Click to expand...
In the book, Aslan had told Peter there was no assurance that He would be with Peter on the battle field -- Peter (or Ed, i forget) says, "But you'll be there" when Aslan is telling him what to do, and Aslan says something like, "I cannot promise you that." Clearly Aslan had told Peter he had to carry on the fight, even if Aslan himself were not there. They felt they couldn't do it on their own, but they did as Aslan commanded them anyway.
waterhogboy said:
it adds this whole arrogance of Peter that isn't resolved in the film. Unlike in PC were it is!!!
Click to expand...
No, Peter's arrogance is never resolved in PC. We see him talking with Aslan but do not hear what Aslan says -- Peter is never restored in the film as he is in the book when he confesses to leading his party the wrong way.
waterhogboy said:
Now, I agree that the general storyline was far closer in LWW, but by destroying some key themes, for me, it's actually further from what Lewis wrote than the PC film.
Click to expand...
The themes of PC are not clear at all in the film. The only one which is clear is to wait for God to act, and the only one who actually does this is Lucy ....
 
It's a really tough choice for me, but I think I would have to choose PC, because there is so much more action in it. In the first one, Edmund was sort of a damsel in distress, and also in the first one Susan did almost nothing but complain and argue the whole time. Both of these were completely eliminated in the second film: I really liked how Susan fought alongside her brothers, and how Edmund really stepped up and became more king like.

But I also really love LWW; Peter was such a great leader, and I liked seeing more of Aslan.

As for the books, I have not read any of them. And to be totally honest, all the posts i have seen on here have actually discouraged me from reading the books. I don't want to read the books and have them ruin my movie going experience. There are a ton of good books out there that aren't being made into movies, and I have a ton of books on my reading list already. ><
 
Very good points Caspiansgirl. I tend to agree with you in the fact that PC has more action. I like Edmund and Susan's character(s) better as well. Character developement(Edmund was awesome!), more action, ect...Ect... :).

Although, I'll have to admit, I didn't care for the PC book as much as the other books...
 
As far as the films go I would say that I prefer LWW by a narrow margin. It did stick to the book closer than the PC movie did and it had a feeling of "wonder and discovery" to it.

PC was different. It didn't seem to have the "magic" that LWW had. The action sequences were great, and I really enjoyed watching the battles. The lack of screen time for Aslan along with the 'arrogant peter' kind of turned me off. Don't get me wrong- I still loved the movie and it was still very enjoyable.
 
Caspiansgirl said:
As for the books, I have not read any of them. And to be totally honest, all the posts i have seen on here have actually discouraged me from reading the books. I don't want to read the books and have them ruin my movie going experience. There are a ton of good books out there that aren't being made into movies, and I have a ton of books on my reading list already. ><
Click to expand...


Caspian's Girl,

Please do not let the comments from people here on the board discourage you from reading the books. Many of us here have read the books and really enjoy the movies. I think each person should read the books for themselves, that way they will be able to form their own opinion on how the movie was adapted. The books are really wonderful to read and I would encourage anyone who enjoyed the movies to read the books. :)
 
It was because of the LWW movie that I became a fan of the series and read the books. I can't say that if I watched PC first that it would have encouraged me to get the books.

LWW was just a better made movie than PC. It had a better script and better directing. And yes, it followed the book's themes and storyline much better. I agree waterhog that some of the changes in LWW were stupid at best. They began with the destruction of Peter's character by making him and Susan not want to talk with the Professor about Lucy as well as making him and his siblings run away and hide rather than fess up to breaking the window on accident.

However, I must disagree with you when you said that "they messed up the whole 'you can only find Narnia when you're not looking for it.'" In TSC, Eustace tells Jill that all they have to do is ask Aslan to come into Narnia. They begin to do so before being chased by the bullies. As Aslan explained it to Jill, "You would not have called to me unless I had been calling to you." The same thing could be said of Lucy the second time she found her way to Narnia. She would not have thought of trying to go if Aslan hadn't been calling her to come.

Ultimately, I think they had more fun with LWW and had more of an expectation to succeed with PC and in the process, changed things that they wouldn't have changed had they not had to live up to such lofty goals.

MrBob
 
That's okay, God can make use of even some horribly distorted things. I was actually influenced _toward_ belief in Jesus by listening to the original "Jesus Christ, Superstar," because I was too ignorant as a boy to realize that its "Jesus" bore ABSOLUTELY NO resemblance to the real Jesus apart from getting crucified. The Caspian movie bears about as much resemblance to Mr. Lewis' book as "Jesus Christ, Superstar" bears to the Gospels; but if it got you interested in the actual Narnian stories, then some good came of it.
 
But now, going back and watching LWW, I love it! I really like the religious conotations to it! It reminds me of The Lord of the Rings (which is my first love)! But I am also a sucker for action/fantasy movies...so I think that's why I loved PC so much more than LWW!
 
Back
Top