Narnia bag of shite

[upsidedownwalrus]

Hmmm I wouldn't pick apart a fantasy film based on that line of thinking. Even LotR doesn't hold up if you're going to start talking about a believable functioning world.

True. For instance, Middle Earth is actually pretty small in area - I would estimate about the size of western europe, as most. What covers the rest of it? It can't all be ocean...

 

[Pingu]

True. For instance, Middle Earth is actually pretty small in area - I would estimate about the size of western europe, as most. What covers the rest of it? It can't all be ocean...

read the silmarillion young man...


warning.. its a bit llike trying to read the bible...

 

[Reno]

Even the Fawn disappointed

There were no baby deer in the film as far as I remember

As someone who also disliked the film I thought the faun was one of the few things that worked fairly well. James McAvoy (from Channel 4's Shameless) gave a charming performance, but unfortunately his character goes awol for most of the story.

 

[Brainaddict]

Yep, there's more detail but the geography/ecology of Narnia always seemed via ad hoc. In the PuddleGlum book there are 50 ft giants... So how come they haven't taken over the rest of Narnia then...?

But you're kind of missing the point of this kind of fantasy. If it was explicable then it wouldn't be properly magical would it? There's no explanation in the tale of Little Red Riding Hood for why the wolf can talk. It's *magic* - that's all you need to know.

So yes, it's true that many fantasty writers construct their worlds more carefully than CS Lewis (and tolkien for that matter) but if anything it often actually undermines the fantastical feel. See Robert Jordan for a classic example of too much detail in fantasy.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

True. For instance, Middle Earth is actually pretty small in area - I would estimate about the size of western europe, as most. What covers the rest of it? It can't all be ocean...

Yep and why were none of the other countries bothered by Sauron?

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

See Robert Jordan for a classic example of too much detail in fantasy.

And Tad Williams. The Dragonbone Chair - yaaaaawwwwwnnnnn

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Yep and why were none of the other countries bothered by Sauron?

I have always wondered that too - have never been arsed to read the Silmarillion though...

 

[Brainaddict]

Yep and why were none of the other countries bothered by Sauron?

Like I say, it's a mistake to try and work everything through logically in fantasy literature. I mean, you wouldn't try and criticise Greek myths for their logical inconsistencies would you - not if you had any sense anyway. The construction of 'rational' worlds is the preserve of sci-fi I reckon.

 

[silentNate]

There was one bit during the credits where Lucy asks the professor about Narnia and he says something like they wont get back in through the wardrobe again and that they'll find another way in (which will come when they least expect it). Cue memories of Voyage of the Dawntreader for me!

Cheers for that, dunno why they chose to shoe that after the credits when kids are running/waddling to the toilet

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Like I say, it's a mistake to try and work everything through logically in fantasy literature. I mean, you wouldn't try and criticise Greek myths for their logical inconsistencies would you - not if you had any sense anyway. The construction of 'rational' worlds is the preserve of sci-fi I reckon.

Of course (i'm generally agreeing with you on this point btw!), pulling at that thread unravels worlds. It's called fantasy for a reason.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Cheers for that, dunno why they chose to shoe that after the credits when kids are running/waddling to the toilet

Me either. Me and RO would have missed it if it wasn't for me faffing around with putting my jacket on.

 

[Echo Base]

What a load of utter fucking toss.

Neither my 6 nor 8 year old were there for the Christian allegory you twat and they loved it.

I'm really bored of the whole "ooh it's just thinly veiled Christianity" shit. I didn't spot it as a kid and even if I had, so fucking what?

Pisses me off.

You arent the audience the studio is aiming for. They are going for the Passion of Christ audience. Yes you went to see it, and so will plenty of others, but the audience the studio is gunning for is the bunch that made PotC the 5th highest grossing film of all time - US Christian Evangelicals.

Name calling - big AND clever, kids!

 

[Brainaddict]

You arent the audience the studio is aiming for. They are going for the Passion of Christ audience. Yes you went to see it, and so will plenty of others, but the audience the studio is gunning for is the bunch that made PotC the 5th highest grossing film of all time - US Christian Evangelicals.

Name calling - big AND clever, kids!

well I'm sure they knew they did have an audience among evangelical christians, but it was fairly clear all along that the narnia series was made to ride on the success of LOTR, not The Passion of the Christ.

 

[kained&able]

apart from realising that mr tumness is quite clearly a kiddie fiddler i fucking loved that film.
I loved narnia when i was a kid and was glad to see that the film didn't disserpoint.

 

[Herbert Read]

The return of the geri

With respect, yours is not an opinion that I would take much notice of.

ohh diddums did you get upset because i thnk your politics are shite...get lost and dont read my fucking posts...

and

get back under your IWCA rock loser......

 

[Echo Base]

well I'm sure they knew they did have an audience among evangelical christians, but it was fairly clear all along that the narnia series was made to ride on the success of LOTR, not The Passion of the Christ.

Well, sorta. But the BO for PotC surprised alot of people in the industry, and turned the industry on to a potential massive new audience. A pal of mine works for Disney UK (he gets me into some early distributor screenings and such) and gives me little titbits about how these big studios think these days!

 

[WasGeri]

ohh diddums did you get upset because i thnk your politics are shite...get lost and dont read my fucking posts...

Clearly you can't tell the difference between someone being upset, and someone who doesn't give a toss for your opinion.

Twat.

 

[Shandril19]

I went and saw it Friday night. Really enjoyed it.

Thought it moved a bit slow, but to be fair, there's really not a whole lot of book to work with...

I personally thought Aslan and Mr Tumnus looked good, but was dissappointed in the beavers, but I think the smaller the animal, the harder it is to make them talking not look cartoon-y.

 

[oi2002]

Won't be going speaking animals are retarded and that pompous lion hasn't a snowball in hells chance against Tilda Swinton.

 

[mentalchik]

Took my son to see it last night, thought it was ok, he liked it, mostly average !

 

[jannerboyuk]

I quite liked it - good start but didn't really evoke any sense of wonder but then again i am an old git. Battle scenes so so, Tilda Swinton turned me to the darkside and the metaphor stuff was pretty crap. Songs of Praise desperately tried to jump on the bandwagon but i can't see this film providing the god botherers with may recruits even amongst the young 'uns.

 

[krtek a houby]

Ach, so what if it has a bit of allegory in it? Didn't The Matrix too?

I'm looking fwd to it all the same. A bit of entertainment at the end of the day. If people choose to read something into it and join the local Christian society or dress up as lions, surely no harm?

 

[krtek a houby]

Just wait until the Pullman books make it to the big screen and see the outrage then!

Or will they cause angst? New Line are going to remove all the God-references. Bit like LotR without mention of the ring...

Anyway, Narnia - it's hardly going to cause a righteous crusade, is it?

 

[William of Walworth]

Haven't seen the film. Here's why I'm disinclined

I read all the book as a kid, some of them several times, but I only picked up pretty late that they all had fairly clear Christian themes underlying.

OK so those may not be absolutely obvious or in your face (and even less in a kid's face) in either the books or the film, but I tend to agree with Echo Beach.

If a core part of their target market is evangelical Xtians in the US, then that's enough to put me off even if a large proportion of the audience in the US and particularly here are outside that demographic.

I only want films that are actively anathema to those born again Xtians ...

By the way, this film is getting more positive approval across the board from newspaper reviewers than it is here on this thread, where there seem to be much more balanced and constructively critical reactions even from people who generally liked it. Perhaps some of the reviewers have been showered with freebies and goodies from Disney ....

 

[dark angel vikx]

i have not seen the film but imo nothing can beat the books or the BBC verison that i have on video and have had for a hell of a long time....i have had the books since i was like 4......i do enjoy the whole narnia thing....but i am unceatrain in i want to see the film....i really do like the books and the BBC version.....Narnia has different chapters to it.....an wonder if they are going to make them all.....Never picked up on any christain themes tbh.....none of the god stuff interestes me...i just like the way it lets your mind run away with its self

 

[Shandril19]

If a core part of their target market is evangelical Xtians in the US, then that's enough to put me off even if a large proportion of the audience in the US and particularly here are outside that demographic.

I've seen absolutely nothing in the marketing of the film here to suggest that their target was evangelixal Xtians.

 

[jæd]

If a core part of their target market is evangelical Xtians in the US, then that's enough to put me off even if a large proportion of the audience in the US and particularly here are outside that demographic.

Though thats pretty much the market for every Hollywood film.

I wonder how how they would screen the bible if they had to keep it to a 12a..? Mary and Joseph an unplanned, umarried birth...? Arabs/Iraqis in the Holy Land...? The terrorists (aka "disciples") planting memes within the authorites themselves...? The agonising death of the cross...?

 

[thestraightman]

Perhaps some of the reviewers have been showered with freebies and goodies from Disney ....

It's got to happen, you think about the dollar weight of Disney next to the influential Empire magazine.

 

[thestraightman]

I also think Liam Neeson was a shite Lion, they wanted Mr Zed out of police acadamy

 

[Random One]

i thought the film was ok, entertaining all the way through but not fantastic and definitely not as good as the book. I rekon it will really work with the kids but not necessarily with the older crowd. I think the film could have benefitted from a naration though might have made it feel more like the book. still worth watching though i rekon

I really think they should have got the guy who plays the voice of Mufasa in Lion King to have been the voice of aslan though