I begin my series of reviews with one of my newly found favorite movies -- The Chronicles of Narnia.
I read the books as a young child -- I don't remember how young because, sadly, I can't remember much about the books. And for some reason I simply never bothered to pick the books back up again as an adult to re-read and see what I had been missing all these years. But now with the release of the movie, I'm introducing it to my children, and I find myself swept away to Narnia again for the first time.
The first movie, interestingly enough, is not the first book - at least chronologically; however it was the first book published by Lewis in 1950. The Magician's Nephew chronologically comes first, although it was published several years later in 1955 and was the sixth of the seven books of the series. (For more on the books, click here.)
Back to the movie...
The movie, like the book, follows the Pevensie children -- Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy -- as they discover the magical land of Narnia. All of the actors who portray the children really do a good job, although at times their performances seem forced. Georgie Henley, who portrays Lucy, did a very good job at capturing Lucy's adventurous spirit for the sake of the adapted screenplay. Really all the children did well, considering that they had to carry the film -- which I'm sure was viewed as a bit risky by even Disney.
There are some tremendous actors who voice some of the key characters -- such as Liam Neeson who plays Aslan the Lion -- and they bring a reality to the computer animated characters that truly transports you to Narnia and provides that suspension of disbelief that we all desire in the best of movies.
What perhaps is noticeable (and yet not) is the tremendous effects done by WETA Workshop out of New Zealand. These are the same folks who brought us the amazing effects in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Finally, with perhaps an unprecedented level of reality, we get to see Faun's and Minotaur's alike in all their fantastic glory!
[Spoilers below if you haven't see the movie]
But what stands out most is the message of the film (and the book): the purity of a true sacrifice. The story shows us that as human beings, we are all fallible. We all make mistakes and commit sins -- hopefully that we'd rather forget and never do again. In fact, often things go from bad to worse to worst before it ever gets better. In Narnia, poor Edmund makes a terrible error in judgment by trying to please the White Witch causing a series of events to unfold that ultimately leads to a blood sacrifice being made on his behalf by Aslan. The most poweful moment in the movie is when we witness the death of Aslan. As he approaches the White Witch and her deviant disciples, they hurl insults, mock him, curse him, beat upon him, shave his great mane, tie him up and place him upon the sacrifical Stone Table. As the White Witch plunges the knife into Aslan, she fully believes she's won Narnia forever...of course, as she finds out, a pure sacrifice of one who has no fault can break even the bonds of death. Aslan is resurrected and ready to fight and eventually the White Witch is defeated and Narnia is returned to it's people with Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy as its Kings and Queens.
Lewis' books provide a real stage for displaying the characteristics of faith, morals, values and principles. And while, by his own admission at times, the books were not intended to be overtly Christian, they certainly had many of those principles in them. But what Lewis does best, and the movie manages to show in 3 dimensions, is that love is powerful, sacrifice is honorable, and good will overcome evil because what is "good" looks out for other's interests, not it's own. Evil is inherently self-destructive, whether people admit it or not -- and Narnia reminds us of that in the adventures of the Pevensie children.
So...if you want a good movie to watch with the whole family, Narnia is a good place to start. This film is rated PG for mild intensity and mild fantasy battle scenes.
For more on this movie, visit PluggedIn Online. Until next time...may you be lifted up!
I read the books as a young child -- I don't remember how young because, sadly, I can't remember much about the books. And for some reason I simply never bothered to pick the books back up again as an adult to re-read and see what I had been missing all these years. But now with the release of the movie, I'm introducing it to my children, and I find myself swept away to Narnia again for the first time.
The first movie, interestingly enough, is not the first book - at least chronologically; however it was the first book published by Lewis in 1950. The Magician's Nephew chronologically comes first, although it was published several years later in 1955 and was the sixth of the seven books of the series. (For more on the books, click here.)
Back to the movie...
The movie, like the book, follows the Pevensie children -- Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy -- as they discover the magical land of Narnia. All of the actors who portray the children really do a good job, although at times their performances seem forced. Georgie Henley, who portrays Lucy, did a very good job at capturing Lucy's adventurous spirit for the sake of the adapted screenplay. Really all the children did well, considering that they had to carry the film -- which I'm sure was viewed as a bit risky by even Disney.
There are some tremendous actors who voice some of the key characters -- such as Liam Neeson who plays Aslan the Lion -- and they bring a reality to the computer animated characters that truly transports you to Narnia and provides that suspension of disbelief that we all desire in the best of movies.
What perhaps is noticeable (and yet not) is the tremendous effects done by WETA Workshop out of New Zealand. These are the same folks who brought us the amazing effects in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Finally, with perhaps an unprecedented level of reality, we get to see Faun's and Minotaur's alike in all their fantastic glory!
[Spoilers below if you haven't see the movie]
But what stands out most is the message of the film (and the book): the purity of a true sacrifice. The story shows us that as human beings, we are all fallible. We all make mistakes and commit sins -- hopefully that we'd rather forget and never do again. In fact, often things go from bad to worse to worst before it ever gets better. In Narnia, poor Edmund makes a terrible error in judgment by trying to please the White Witch causing a series of events to unfold that ultimately leads to a blood sacrifice being made on his behalf by Aslan. The most poweful moment in the movie is when we witness the death of Aslan. As he approaches the White Witch and her deviant disciples, they hurl insults, mock him, curse him, beat upon him, shave his great mane, tie him up and place him upon the sacrifical Stone Table. As the White Witch plunges the knife into Aslan, she fully believes she's won Narnia forever...of course, as she finds out, a pure sacrifice of one who has no fault can break even the bonds of death. Aslan is resurrected and ready to fight and eventually the White Witch is defeated and Narnia is returned to it's people with Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy as its Kings and Queens.
Lewis' books provide a real stage for displaying the characteristics of faith, morals, values and principles. And while, by his own admission at times, the books were not intended to be overtly Christian, they certainly had many of those principles in them. But what Lewis does best, and the movie manages to show in 3 dimensions, is that love is powerful, sacrifice is honorable, and good will overcome evil because what is "good" looks out for other's interests, not it's own. Evil is inherently self-destructive, whether people admit it or not -- and Narnia reminds us of that in the adventures of the Pevensie children.
So...if you want a good movie to watch with the whole family, Narnia is a good place to start. This film is rated PG for mild intensity and mild fantasy battle scenes.
For more on this movie, visit PluggedIn Online. Until next time...may you be lifted up!
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