Caspians friend
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I liked them both, each for different reasons....
I loved the "expanded" scenes of the movie, the battle in particular. It made the movie exciting, with good interpretations of the characters (for the most part), and well done “filler” in areas where Lewis was intentionally brief in his descriptions.
But what movie added in dramatic scenes it lost in terms of great dialog, and that, in turn, caused issues; issues like the lack of relationship between the girls and Aslan.
I understand the need for a movie to develop characters and relationships in a way that is different from a book. But if dialog from a book needs to be cut because it won’t work in a movie, then something that will work in a movie should take its place. That way relationships develop as they need to in order for the story to work at its best.
In the movie Susan and Lucy witnessed the death of an impressive, noble talking lion. In the book, he had already become much more than that to them. In the book, they witnessed (up to the moment they turned their faces away) the murder of a very good, very noble, very pure "person", not just an impressive lion whom they were just starting to know.
In the book, by the time they started their trip with Aslan to the Stone Table, he had become their source of guidance, strength and assurance. And they had become to him good friends and a support in his time of great need. In the movie, that depth of relationship was not there, partially because the dialog during the Stone Table trip was a fraction of that in the book.
The movie also skipped over an important aspect of the girls' relationship with Aslan in what they did after Aslan came back from the dead--or rather, what they didn't do--play a game of "tag.”
In the book, the Stone Table game of tag displayed so many very cool things: the joy of Aslan’s return, the playfulness of a King, the closeness of their relationship, and the subtle message that The King is in control. No worries, here--but soon we will get down to business....
And consider where they were during their game! Playing, yes playing, at the very place where death and all its ugliness had just the night before reigned in triumph (a very short lived triumph at that!). They were laughing and frolicking at the Stone Table itself. The place that just the night before (and apparently for many a year), was the very symbol of judgment, death and destruction. And they were dancing all around it. Mind you, their dance was not a conscious mocking of death, but spontaneous joy. The one thing more infuriating to an enemy than mocking it, is to completely ignore it. They were so caught up in their joy, that for just a few minutes they simply had to play. The enemy Death had fled from their hearts.
Lewis put the Stone Table game of tag in the story for a reason, and many other little personal moments as well--many of which were passed over by the movie. The result is that some of the relationships were not developed as well as they really needed to be in order for the story to work well.
The book is filled practically to overflowing with little events that help build up the relationship between Aslan and the Pevensies, and they also develop the character of each child. One seemingly small example: in the book, it was *Susan* (not Peter) who handed everyone coats once they were in Narnia. It was one small act of many where Lewis is showing us who Susan is: the adult-wannabe of the family. The theme of being a "child" vs. being an "adult" is a very important theme in the Chronicles. It's been said often that Lewis probably had in mind Jesus' command to come to Him like a child when he worked this child vs. adult theme into the Chronicles. In the movie, however, several such subtle, but vital nuances get dropped or barely touched.
On the other hand, the movie, I think, moved the story to a new audience. Again, I loved the battle, I loved their interpretation of the Witch as cold and calculating, and Oreus is my man! Brave and loyal. The river scene, the encounters with the wolves, and the Otman scenes were impressive (especially when he was defeated by Oreus). I also felt that the Stone Table scene was hideous, ugly, barbaric, even primitive and a bit scary--everything it should have been, because of what it represented.
I find that kids who are tempted to consider themselves too old for the book usually do not feel that way about the movie. I am very grateful for that.
I loved the movie, and I love the book, but each for their own reasons.
I loved the "expanded" scenes of the movie, the battle in particular. It made the movie exciting, with good interpretations of the characters (for the most part), and well done “filler” in areas where Lewis was intentionally brief in his descriptions.
But what movie added in dramatic scenes it lost in terms of great dialog, and that, in turn, caused issues; issues like the lack of relationship between the girls and Aslan.
I understand the need for a movie to develop characters and relationships in a way that is different from a book. But if dialog from a book needs to be cut because it won’t work in a movie, then something that will work in a movie should take its place. That way relationships develop as they need to in order for the story to work at its best.
In the movie Susan and Lucy witnessed the death of an impressive, noble talking lion. In the book, he had already become much more than that to them. In the book, they witnessed (up to the moment they turned their faces away) the murder of a very good, very noble, very pure "person", not just an impressive lion whom they were just starting to know.
In the book, by the time they started their trip with Aslan to the Stone Table, he had become their source of guidance, strength and assurance. And they had become to him good friends and a support in his time of great need. In the movie, that depth of relationship was not there, partially because the dialog during the Stone Table trip was a fraction of that in the book.
The movie also skipped over an important aspect of the girls' relationship with Aslan in what they did after Aslan came back from the dead--or rather, what they didn't do--play a game of "tag.”
In the book, the Stone Table game of tag displayed so many very cool things: the joy of Aslan’s return, the playfulness of a King, the closeness of their relationship, and the subtle message that The King is in control. No worries, here--but soon we will get down to business....
And consider where they were during their game! Playing, yes playing, at the very place where death and all its ugliness had just the night before reigned in triumph (a very short lived triumph at that!). They were laughing and frolicking at the Stone Table itself. The place that just the night before (and apparently for many a year), was the very symbol of judgment, death and destruction. And they were dancing all around it. Mind you, their dance was not a conscious mocking of death, but spontaneous joy. The one thing more infuriating to an enemy than mocking it, is to completely ignore it. They were so caught up in their joy, that for just a few minutes they simply had to play. The enemy Death had fled from their hearts.
Lewis put the Stone Table game of tag in the story for a reason, and many other little personal moments as well--many of which were passed over by the movie. The result is that some of the relationships were not developed as well as they really needed to be in order for the story to work well.
The book is filled practically to overflowing with little events that help build up the relationship between Aslan and the Pevensies, and they also develop the character of each child. One seemingly small example: in the book, it was *Susan* (not Peter) who handed everyone coats once they were in Narnia. It was one small act of many where Lewis is showing us who Susan is: the adult-wannabe of the family. The theme of being a "child" vs. being an "adult" is a very important theme in the Chronicles. It's been said often that Lewis probably had in mind Jesus' command to come to Him like a child when he worked this child vs. adult theme into the Chronicles. In the movie, however, several such subtle, but vital nuances get dropped or barely touched.
On the other hand, the movie, I think, moved the story to a new audience. Again, I loved the battle, I loved their interpretation of the Witch as cold and calculating, and Oreus is my man! Brave and loyal. The river scene, the encounters with the wolves, and the Otman scenes were impressive (especially when he was defeated by Oreus). I also felt that the Stone Table scene was hideous, ugly, barbaric, even primitive and a bit scary--everything it should have been, because of what it represented.
I find that kids who are tempted to consider themselves too old for the book usually do not feel that way about the movie. I am very grateful for that.
I loved the movie, and I love the book, but each for their own reasons.
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