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mayoraaseiWatched the 9:30am session of Narnia this morning, on the basis of, "Who the hell would go to the city cinemas at 9:30am in the morning?!?!" Which turned out to be quite a good prediction, as there were many many people queueing outside once the movie finished, whilst our session was only about 1/5 full.
This year, I watched 3 movie adaptations of different books.
I must say I'm most pleased with Narnia.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory had its appeal, but mainly for the antisocial but hilarious portrayal of Willy Wonka by Johnny Depp.
Maybe it's because I'm biased, since Narnia had always been my favourite children's books.
Maybe it's because the two come from vastly different perspectives, because in Dahl's books, childhood can be a vicious experience; whereas Narnia was about wonder and dreams and faith.
And because despite the fantasy, Narnia centered on very ordinary personalities.
The movie managed a faithful and insightful interpretation of the children's characters. Lewis did not dwell much on the children's personalities, and the movie managed to fill in what the words did not detail.
When I saw the trailer (and also of bad experiences with previous movies involving child actors, such as the first Harry Potter movies), I had doubts about the children's ability to represent their characters.
It might have been the casting or the direction or the script, but whatever the reason, the children and their relationships were extremely well-portrayed.
In the book, Peter came across as the uptight formal one. It was both refreshing and comforting to see the movie interpret what the book didn't say - Peter was incredibly tense because he was burdened with all the responsibility. He was frightened, anxious and flustered, but because he is the eldest, he shouldered every responsibility that was handed to him without complaint. Every time something happened to one of his siblings he harangued himself for his inability to rise to the responsiblity.
The movie probably went further with Susan than the book ever did in showing how - overly - pragmatic she is. It was probably this attachment to the so-called "common sense" and "logic" that eventually made her lose faith in Narnia (in the 7th book). She was the one always looking for a safer way out of conflicts. Like Peter, her short temper results from wanting to keep her siblings safe...but unlike Peter, she is rarely torn between their own safety and upholding the ideals of Narnia, almost always choosing the former. She's not so much angry at Peter's inadequacy as extremely apprehensive that their safety would be compromised.
Edmund managed to convincingly become an annoying little twerp for most part of the movie, which was in some way rather pleasing (even though it's a pain to sympathise with him). He succeeded in becoming a most despicable brat, and succeeded in not being despicable at the very end, which was nice. I don't think there's much to say about Lucy since she never had too much personality to begin with...although I did feel that it didn't feel that she had the same depth of connection with Aslan.....but maybe that was supposed to come later.
Mr Tumnus was absolutely the most sweetest creature ever on screen!!!!!!!!
I was rather pleased with the White Witch as well, because after reading the Magician's Nephew (I read that book last out of all 7...), Jadis was more a power-hungry queen rather than an all-evil demoness (like the Green Witch?). I liked her regal manner and quicksilver moods, because that was what was so terrifyingly charming about her, and what had (at first) attracted Diggory to her. She could also spar quite expertly, which made her less a pampered queen and more a capable, frightening, ambitious woman like she was meant to be.
Aslan, on the other hand, was disappointing. Liam Neeson's voice is absolutely lovely (and wonderful in the role), but the CG falls short. Aslan was always described as "terrible", but he had none of the majesticness (except possibly at that moment when he roared at the Witch for questioning his promise).
The battle felt short and understated, probably to comply with the PG rating. There was no blood (I didn't see any...not even when Aslan died), but the Witch petrifying a gryffon and it subsequently smashing into smithereens was awfully cruel all the same. The Witch was also defeated rather too...suddenly... and the CG effects were confusing...
The dryads were cool, but I wouldn't want to wake up with it next to my bed either.
The dreamy background music was lovely!! Absolutely lovely!!
They also added a (rather fake looking, unfortunately) war scene at the beginning and an emotional farewell between the children and their mother. Rather than being merely redundant, it nicely reminds the audience why the elder children were extremely adverse to being involved in warfare, whereas the younger children were probably yet incapable of understanding it. It adds maturity to the elder two, because throughout the entire movie, they try in many ways to protect particularly Lucy from violence. They also try very hard generally to protect and cheer up the younger ones, and the strain adds to the tension between them.
PS: Not so fast! There's a short exchange between Lucy and the Professor in the middle of the credits! Don't be too hasty in going to the toilet~
All in all, a very sweet movie, particularly nostalgic for those who've read and loved the books ^^
I want to see nice Edmund! I want to see Prince Caspian! I want to see Eustace!! *Rolls around whining*
We had a lot of fun afterwards too, even though it consisted mostly of me talking my tongue off. Lol.
And I saw Yakitate 16, 17 and 18 in a manga library (current scans up to middle of 16), but when I suggested I wanted to read it, I was glared at rather unrelentingly ToT
*Sob* I'll go back next year........
Scanlations are so slow T_______T
This year, I watched 3 movie adaptations of different books.
I must say I'm most pleased with Narnia.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory had its appeal, but mainly for the antisocial but hilarious portrayal of Willy Wonka by Johnny Depp.
Maybe it's because I'm biased, since Narnia had always been my favourite children's books.
Maybe it's because the two come from vastly different perspectives, because in Dahl's books, childhood can be a vicious experience; whereas Narnia was about wonder and dreams and faith.
And because despite the fantasy, Narnia centered on very ordinary personalities.
The movie managed a faithful and insightful interpretation of the children's characters. Lewis did not dwell much on the children's personalities, and the movie managed to fill in what the words did not detail.
When I saw the trailer (and also of bad experiences with previous movies involving child actors, such as the first Harry Potter movies), I had doubts about the children's ability to represent their characters.
It might have been the casting or the direction or the script, but whatever the reason, the children and their relationships were extremely well-portrayed.
In the book, Peter came across as the uptight formal one. It was both refreshing and comforting to see the movie interpret what the book didn't say - Peter was incredibly tense because he was burdened with all the responsibility. He was frightened, anxious and flustered, but because he is the eldest, he shouldered every responsibility that was handed to him without complaint. Every time something happened to one of his siblings he harangued himself for his inability to rise to the responsiblity.
The movie probably went further with Susan than the book ever did in showing how - overly - pragmatic she is. It was probably this attachment to the so-called "common sense" and "logic" that eventually made her lose faith in Narnia (in the 7th book). She was the one always looking for a safer way out of conflicts. Like Peter, her short temper results from wanting to keep her siblings safe...but unlike Peter, she is rarely torn between their own safety and upholding the ideals of Narnia, almost always choosing the former. She's not so much angry at Peter's inadequacy as extremely apprehensive that their safety would be compromised.
Edmund managed to convincingly become an annoying little twerp for most part of the movie, which was in some way rather pleasing (even though it's a pain to sympathise with him). He succeeded in becoming a most despicable brat, and succeeded in not being despicable at the very end, which was nice. I don't think there's much to say about Lucy since she never had too much personality to begin with...although I did feel that it didn't feel that she had the same depth of connection with Aslan.....but maybe that was supposed to come later.
Mr Tumnus was absolutely the most sweetest creature ever on screen!!!!!!!!
I was rather pleased with the White Witch as well, because after reading the Magician's Nephew (I read that book last out of all 7...), Jadis was more a power-hungry queen rather than an all-evil demoness (like the Green Witch?). I liked her regal manner and quicksilver moods, because that was what was so terrifyingly charming about her, and what had (at first) attracted Diggory to her. She could also spar quite expertly, which made her less a pampered queen and more a capable, frightening, ambitious woman like she was meant to be.
Aslan, on the other hand, was disappointing. Liam Neeson's voice is absolutely lovely (and wonderful in the role), but the CG falls short. Aslan was always described as "terrible", but he had none of the majesticness (except possibly at that moment when he roared at the Witch for questioning his promise).
The battle felt short and understated, probably to comply with the PG rating. There was no blood (I didn't see any...not even when Aslan died), but the Witch petrifying a gryffon and it subsequently smashing into smithereens was awfully cruel all the same. The Witch was also defeated rather too...suddenly... and the CG effects were confusing...
The dryads were cool, but I wouldn't want to wake up with it next to my bed either.
The dreamy background music was lovely!! Absolutely lovely!!
They also added a (rather fake looking, unfortunately) war scene at the beginning and an emotional farewell between the children and their mother. Rather than being merely redundant, it nicely reminds the audience why the elder children were extremely adverse to being involved in warfare, whereas the younger children were probably yet incapable of understanding it. It adds maturity to the elder two, because throughout the entire movie, they try in many ways to protect particularly Lucy from violence. They also try very hard generally to protect and cheer up the younger ones, and the strain adds to the tension between them.
PS: Not so fast! There's a short exchange between Lucy and the Professor in the middle of the credits! Don't be too hasty in going to the toilet~
All in all, a very sweet movie, particularly nostalgic for those who've read and loved the books ^^
I want to see nice Edmund! I want to see Prince Caspian! I want to see Eustace!! *Rolls around whining*
We had a lot of fun afterwards too, even though it consisted mostly of me talking my tongue off. Lol.
And I saw Yakitate 16, 17 and 18 in a manga library (current scans up to middle of 16), but when I suggested I wanted to read it, I was glared at rather unrelentingly ToT
*Sob* I'll go back next year........
Scanlations are so slow T_______T
no subject
Date: 2005-12-26 10:24 am (UTC)I thought that part about it was nicely done, even if Susan and Edmund (and sometimes Lucy) were annoying. It was the impression I got from the book, so at least they did a faithful portrayal.
I wouldn't have expected Susan to be too likeable anyway (since I didn't like her in the books).
no subject
Date: 2005-12-26 11:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-27 12:53 am (UTC)Have you read the book more recently though?