(no subject)

[aidenfire]

I went to see Narnia last night. And I liked it, I really did. I just, uhh,

I think I was in the wrong mood, honestly. Most fantasy epics have all kinds of things that would get you killed in a second if you tried them in real life and I'm usually like "OMG SO COOL!" (case in point: Ninja!Legolas. Almost all of Pirates of the Caribbean.) In this movie, though, I couldn't suspend my sense of reality and I kept having all these thoughts.

Like, how is it that a twelve year old can instantly be able to use a sword? I don't know the time line of CS Lewis's canon very well, but it didn't seem like there was more than a week or two between when Peter was handed the sword (although that was an incredibly sexy scene. Sword lust, wot wot?) and when he was able to, if not defeat, hold the Witch, who clearly knew what she was doing. And also, he fought her because she he killed/seriously injured (he probably wasn't sure which at the time) his brother. I know this is classic heroism, but seriously, what was he thinking? "She killed my brother, i'll go fight her too!!!1!1" ?

And, tell me if I have this wrong. For the prophecy to be fulfilled, all four of the children need to be enthroned at Caer Parival (sp, whatever), right? So why is it that they put all four of these British school kids in an army? And two of them right on the front lines? And yeah, one of those two? He's in charge. He's commanding the entire army. The twelve year old who's never ever been in battle before is in charge, and if he gets killed (remember the front lines thing?) the entire world is screwed. Now there's a good idea.

Mr. Tumnus was a total pedophile. To the point where it was creepy. The first conversation between him and Lucy was like
Tumnus: Hey, little girl. Want to come to my house? I have candy... *smirk*
Lucy:...ok! :)
Both: *walk into house*
Tumnus: *locks the door*
Tumnus: *Hypnotizes her and puts her to sleep* (cough date rape drugs)
Lucy: *wakes up*
Tumnus: *cries* I've been so bad, I shouldn't have done it, what was I doing, I shouldn't have done that!

Tell me I'm not the only person who was a little o_0 about that. Every scene they had together, I just was...a little disturbed.

Also, could sticking a sword in an ice chunk really hold all three children to it? That's 100 years worth of frozen water coming down on their heads.



I did like it! It was really well done and pretty! Just. Issues. Was I the only one who noticed these things? I know most of you were head-over-heels in love with it, so I'd like to hear what you think.

Comments

[demarazare.livejournal.com]

I had a couple of issues with it too. I'll have to reread it again. But I went with my boyfriend, Mr. combat tactics, and he freaked out when they sent a charge into the field BEFORE using their archers. And he does have a point: that's how your archers shoot your own men.

It was a pretty good movie, but I think some of it did not translate well into film, and other important bits just couldn't be conveyed because there was no narrator. I think I'll just read my kids the books when the time comes and skip the movie. :)

[aidenfire]

Like I said, I did like it. It was a good movie. I think. Hmm. If it were a fic, I'd have said it needed another beta reader, a few more people to check things over. And I also need to read the book again and see how much of my issues were canon issues that I just didn't realize at the time, because I was about 8 when I read it last.

[scoradh.livejournal.com]

It's not overtly religious, then? Coz that's what I was mainly worried about.

[aidenfire]

No more than the book is. If you saw it in the book, you'll probably see it in the movie; if you didn't there, then you won't here.

[yaycoffee.livejournal.com]

heh... if you mean that, well, the book was a direct allegory, and so was the film, you'd be right. ;-)

but you can enjoy it on a not-religious-at-all-level pretty easily, though.

[(Anonymous)]

Yeah, someone else on my flist said something along the lines of there are three basic ways of looking at the book/movie. You can see it as a direct allegory, you can see it as a fantasy epic with christian influences, or you can see it as just a really good fantasy story.

Personally, I didn't notice the christian themes at all until someone actually spelled them out for me. After that, I could see it, but--I didn't think it was the most important part of the book/movie, for me at least. For me it was more about the story, and the fantasy, and the save-the-world epic feel.

[aidenfire]

Me, of course. I opened up Netscape because IE was being retarded (I know, that's what I get for not using Firefox...) and forgot I wasn't still signed in.

[yaycoffee.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's very true. Lewis wrote the book--well, the whole series, really--as an allegory. (The Last Battle is also a GORGEOUS one) He made no bones and no aplogies about it. I love that the story can be beautiful, no matter at which angle you view it.

Personally, I think that he has written an absolutely beautiful allegory, and whether or not you BELIEVE it is moot. The story is one of Love and Sacrifice and Good over Evil, and those themes are just the makings of a FINE story, indeed.

[yaycoffee.livejournal.com]

ahahaha... apologies... i mean. oops.

[aidenfire]

The story is one of Love and Sacrifice and Good over Evil, and those themes are just the makings of a FINE story, indeed.

Indeed. It's just. Gah, I'm such a fan of epic themes, of the outnumbered Good Guys taking on the super powerful Bad Guys and winning, of love conquering hate, of a song raising someone from death. I just. MMM. It's these kind of epic fantasies that give me faith in the world.

And perhaps that's the most telling sign of the allegory.

[yaycoffee.livejournal.com]

And perhaps that's the most telling sign of the allegory

INDEED!

[yaycoffee.livejournal.com]

I was overall very pleased with it. I was VERY scared that the Disney people would water it way down. But the didn't. That's what I was mostly happy about.

Lewis really left things open as far as battle was concerned... he didn't go into great detail there, so it was embellished and made to be much grander(I had to keep reminding myself that it was a children's movie, and that answered a lot of the O_o ness of it all). I mean, there was NO BLOOD EVER... WHAT?

The whole ice thing never happened in the book, so it was all made up... it seemed really implausible, but looked cool anyway. I guess I felt like you did.

[yaycoffee.livejournal.com]

And, I loved Mr. Tumnis. Actually, I think I just like saying, "Tumnis," 'cause it's fun to say :-).

And maybe it's the book, but since I knew all about Mr. Tumnis, I always liked him. He's a fun character.

I'm sad they took away the Giant Boffleboffin (or whatever his name was). He was so cute, too!

[aidenfire]

No, it was definitely not watered down. I suppose. I don't know. I really did like it. I think that maybe I should reread the book, though, so I can see what is canon and what is random movie wtf-ness.

The battle was one of the things that I had major problems with. I couldn't just let myself go and appreciate, you know, the shiny armor and pretty swords, I had to actually analyze it and go "Err, no, if they did that, it wouldn't work at all. Um."

I liked Mr. Tumnus (is it Tumnis? I haven't seen it in print for a long, long time) quite a lot better in the book than I did in the movie. I suppose it was written in a more clean-minded innocent age than it's shown in now. Since elementary--no, before even that, preschool, probably--it's been beaten into my head to never ever ever go off with strange men, especially if they offer you food/candy of any sort, and DO NOT go into a stranger's house, and if you're anywhere with someone you don't know and they lock the door, get the FUCK out of there RIGHT THEN.

I don't know. Maybe I'm too cynical for movies. :|

[yaycoffee.livejournal.com]

hehe... you're funny. And, it's Tumnus... I can't spell... because I'm dumb. uhm.

I say--it is a Bad Idea to have your Future Kings and Queens/Prophecy fulfillers on the front lines of battle is pretty tactically stupid, as well. But, then we wouldn't have the story. And there's the allegory again... we are all called to Fight for what is right and just--no matter what. *loves Lewis*

[aidenfire]

Ummm, I feel really weird saying this but, uhh, what was funny? Err.

I suppose it probably wouldn't make a very good movie to, y'know, have the four main characters hiding in, say, a bomb shelter for the entire ending, although that would totally have made more sense.

I still have troubles with Peter commanding the army, though. Include him in the tactics meetings, sure, but don't put him in a postion with unlimited power over thousands of people's lives when he's never been in a battle before and has no idea what has to happen.

[yaycoffee.livejournal.com]

Funny--that you're too cynical for kids' movies. That was just funny to me for some reason.

Well, in the book, Peter doesn't do a thing without Aslan showing him what to do... but for some reason they had him working on his own in the film. I thought the same thing while watching him... BUT HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO COMMAND AN ARMY!

And--just when you said "it probably wouldn't make a very good movie to, y'know, have the four main characters hiding in, say, a bomb shelter for the entire ending," I thought... wow... the whole REASON they were even at the Professor's house was because they were in hiding from the Air Raids in WWII. I'd actually never thought much about that before... it's given a lot more movie time than in the book--it's just mentioned as a passing thing... they went to this house to get away from the bombs la la la...

Now I think... this must have been very intentional on Lewis's part. Even in the "real war" they were hiding, but in their "spiritual war" they were not only expected to fight, but to LEAD. And they're kids, because we are all children of God... so again, allegory.

Wow... I'll have to think a little more on the whole war thing though. Yay for new insights into things I thought I'd really already picked over.

[aidenfire]

Yay for new insights into things I thought I'd really already picked over.

That's one of my favorite things about LJ. There are about 200 people on my flist, and it's almost a guarentee that every few days, one of those people will say something that will make me stop short and go "Oh. I didn't think of that." Not in a bad way, I mean, it doesn't make me feel bad, I just didn't think of whatever they were talking about in that way. I love having my horizons broaded like that! :)

[aidenfire]

Someday, I will totally spell check everything before I post. :\

[boneskickbutt.livejournal.com]

Haha the guy in your buddy icon thingy looks like he's takin' a crap.

[aidenfire]

Thanks for that, Hana. SUCH insightful comments!

:P

[nadia-skye.livejournal.com]

rofl. i agree with hana.

[nadia-skye.livejournal.com]

(it occurrs to me that i may be making a reference to the wrong person. but...then again, maybe not!)

[(Anonymous)]

:p i'm sorry! didn't realize...

[aidenfire]

No worries, there's, uh, just kind of a reason for all the Teh Boy nonsense. :p

But, no harm done, so don't worry about it, really. :)

[felixfallsagain.livejournal.com]

Hello Penni!!! Tis me and the seeester *nodnod*. We just saw the movie last night.

Psha! I did not think he was creepy, I thought he was kind of a cute bumbling dude (Make sure she knows that you're talking about Tumnus) it was nifty.

Should I use italics for my words?.... We could do that.... I agree... lets do that..... what are you dictating?

It's all for your amusement Pennay....
Give me the keyboard..

GIVE ME THE KEYBOARD

Don't erase anything, 'cause Penni's gotta read this!

Watching the movie, I actually really liked Tumnus (however his name is spelled). My mother's impression was (basically) that he was slightly more "sinister" in the movie -- I decided that this was simply because he was more intelligent. Jessie thinks they pulled him straight from the book with little change (she liked him too, already mentioned...) and I vaguely remember him appearing slightly more childish and "bumbling" in the book -- my impressions when I was probably still in single digits or early doubles. Book!Tumnus had an IQ of 75 imo, and Movie!Tumnus had an IQ of 110 (or whatever's more towards normal).

Give that back, we have to go soon...

NO!! RETURN ME THAT KEYBOARD

Oh, I just also have to say the visual effects in the movie were my favorite part. Aslan's "ruffling fur" got a little obvious at times, but the wolves. were. TERRIFYING! it was so beautiful. rawr.

YOU'RE DONE!!

Bye Penni!

Okay, I would type more, but the seester took ages, so we have to go soon! So yeah, less than three!!!!!! Bye bye!