'Narnia' tries to appeal to the religious and secular

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 12/11/5 | Edward Guthmann

[SmithL]

Until Mel Gibson delivered "The Passion of the Christ" to the world, Hollywood had no use for religion in movies. "The Ten Commandments" was ancient history, "Ben Hur" a dusty page in movie history. Spirituality was anathema to box office profits.

But when Gibson's "Passion" earned $370 million in the United States and $611 million worldwide -- flabbergasting Hollywood, the secular world and the country's growing Christian demographic -- opinion changed. Today, studios are striving to capitalize on the market that "Passion" established -- and a 55-year-old tale from an Oxford theologian is the movie industry's biggest hope.

"This is the big one" for the Christian community, said Terry Mattingly, a nationally syndicated religion columnist and author of the new book "Pop Goes Religion: Faith in Pop Culture." Whereas "The Passion" replaced traditional press-marketing efforts with Gibson's direct appeals to religious groups, Mattingly said "Narnia" works both angles simultaneously.

"That's what makes this such an unusual media story, in the sense that you have a combination here of something that is both super-popular and yet highly identified as Christian."

Blending children's fantasy, Christian parable and "Star Wars"-level technology, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe," could become one of the biggest moneymaking films of all time. Co-produced by Disney and Walden Media -- a company bankrolled by Denver billionaire and San Francisco Examiner owner Philip Anschutz -- the PG-rated, $180 million spectacular is likely to draw the same fan base that sustained "The Lord of the Rings," "Harry Potter" and "Star Wars" franchises.

[SmithL]

San Francisco cannot stand anything the least bit religious.

[xcamel]

Sometimes a movie is just a movie.

[Dark Skies]

Spirituality was anathema to box office profits.

It is also important to point out the "faith" cannot be faked. A spiritual film produced by people who aren't spiritual is as likely to be a flop at the box office as a film about sailing made by landlubbers.

[Old Seadog]

I saw the movie yesterday with my wife, daughter and her three kids. We all enjoyed it very much. Since I've been told about the Christian connection, I guess I can see jt. But if I hadn't been told I don't think I would have given it a second thought. it is just a good movie.