Just Saw "Narnia"...it Sucked

n/a | 12-27-05 | Bob J

[kromike]

I tend to agree. "Narnia" was ambitious, but it felt too much like "LoTR-lite". It may not be fair to "Narnia" to compare it to "LoTR", but the fantasy overtones are still there. I just couldn't shake the suspicion that the success of LoTR solely inspired production of this movie.

With the exception of the Ice Queen, most of the characters were too wooden or linear for my tastes. The pace of the film felt uneven and CGI money-shots on the battlefield felt too much like, "been-there, done-that."

The passion and the sweeping epic feel of the book just didn't translate well to the screen. It may have looked good in draft, but the final product just didn't engage me that much.

But ultimately...to me, did the movie "suck"? No. Clearly, it was meant for children, so that's its primary saving grace. Besides, it may be underwhelming and uneven, but I've seen far worse movies that truly do deserve such a label.

[luckystarmom]

Do you like fantasy stories? It's definitely a kid's movie, but it's a good kid's movie.

They maybe should have toned down the violence because I do think the movie is aimed at younger kids 8-10. However, I enjoyed the movie. I enjoyed the books more as a kid, and then as an adult reading them to my son.

[big'ol_freeper]

Ping

[irishjuggler]

Isn't The Magician's Nephew really more like a "prequel" to Lion, Witch, Wardrobe?

You are correct. CSL wrote LW&W first. He wrote TMN sixth, but it was a prequel.

[Bob J]

Actually, after reading some of the reviews and threads on FR I was surprised at it's lack of obvious religious inferences. They are very subtle in in the subtext (Lion gives life for others, resurrects and leads fight against evil). The only direct references are in "son of Adam, daughter of Eve".

[Loud Mime]

Agreed, it's a kid's movie.

Hollywood bores me now. T2 was a great movie. From there...ummm.....what was good?

[Terriergal]

I didn't find it quite as good as it should have been. It does seem to be a 'let's hurry up and capitalize on the success of LOTR' job, rather than a job done by a group that really loved the book and story. THere were a lot of things left out. I enjoyed it but only because hey, I enjoy a lot of stuff that may be sappy and predictable, as long as it has an honorable message.

[bkepley]

--I saw "Kingdom of Heaven" (the Orlando Bloom crusades movie) and I wish that I could get back those wasted 2 hours of my life. That movie was one giant vaccuum cleaner.

You actually watched the whole thing? Whew boy!..that's pretty funny..

[Bob J]

No I didn't but plan to.

[luckystarmom]

I think Voyage of the Dawn Treader is my favorite. My least favorite was The Boy and his Horse.

[sopwith]

I heard brokeback mountain sucked too.

[Mr. Blonde]

I thought it was easily the best work that Michael Bay has done. But I think him being the director kind of diminished the audience. You just can't see him and indie queen Scarlett Johanssen working together. But they both did good work for The Island, with Bay holding back on his worse instincts.

[Blzbba]

"Isn't The Magician's Nephew really more like a "prequel" to Lion, Witch, Wardrobe? While, technically, it occurs before LWW, it always seemed to me that you needed to read LWW first, and then have some gaps filled in with TMN."


Having JUST finished TMN last nite (after already having read "Chronicles" some 25+ years ago), your assessment is 100% correct, IMO.

[Gil4]

I've read the books but have yet to see the movie. Yours is the second negative review I have heard (of 2), and it sounds like in many ways the story just doesn't come across well on the big screen. (Another criticism I've heard was the relationship between the kids and Aslan isn't really clear, and when Lucy is hugging him and crying near the end it is sort of unexpected. ("She hardly talked to the lion; why is she all upset now?"))
I'll still probably go see it when it finally makes it to the base theater. I'll probably even enjoy it now that my expectations are sufficiently reduced.

[kemathen7]

Am I the only one around that thought the LOTR was too-hyped? I was completely unimpressed, but due in large part to all the constant hype. All movies were OK, but unworthy of all the praise.

I'm preparing my flame suit.

[Lazamataz]

You just spoiled the plot for me.

I never knew that Linus would recite bible verses right at the end of the special, until you told me.

[sandbar]

>>>I understand they are kids books, so is Harry Potter. If the movie was really wanted to target the small kids they should have omitted much of the battle scenes...far to violent for the little ones. They didn't so I assumed they wanted to target an older audience.>>>

Yes, it was a kid's version of Braveheart.

My four year old daughter didn't mind so much though. She was caught up in the fighting.

[Bob J]

"Christ and his disciples were all people of little consequence and no special leadership qualities..."

Christ was the son of God and performed miracles.

[nuconvert]

A friend saw it and didn't like it either. She thought the writing was bad and she didn't care about the characters and most disturbing were the animals' sounds made during the fighting. She said it really did sound like wounded animals and she wouldn't bring a young child to see it.

[DTogo]

Oh well, I thoroughly enjoy the movie Starship Troopers, but have never read the book. Some FReepers have said the movie sucked compared to the book.