Narnia: Tim's Review

So we saw Narnia. And of course the question is, How was it?

Excellent. It was worth the four year wait and all the anxious nitpicking of each little piece as it was released. I had worries about changes that might deviate from the book's spirit, but although there were many changes, virtually none of them changed the meaning or spirit of the story. Was it better than the book? No. No movie could be. But was it the best movie, speaking realistically, that could be made from the book? In my opinion--yes!

We arrived at the theater, in costume, a little after six o'clock. We waited in line for about forty minutes before they started seating for the movie. By that time the line reached all the way back to the door. We found out later that every single one of today's showings (nearly a dozen) were sold out. Hooray!

Of course there was the long, long wait watching advertisements and previews after we had taken our seats. But once the movie started our audience grew very quiet. There was hardly a whisper through the whole movie; only wrappers crackling and laughter at the humorous parts. My eyes only left the screen once (that was to hand out the Turkish Delight we had brought--at the appropriate moment, of course). We clapped when it finished. Not only us, but the rest of the audience too. Hooray again!

The structure of the movie was very good. The script had a few weak lines, but overall it was also very good. I think we have a new quote source in our house. A good deal of action was added or magnified. The characters of the Pevensies were much more fleshed out than in the book (which was actually a good thing). A lot of emotion and humor was added. The camera shots were good, the costumes were good, the score was good (though not, I think, particularly memorable), and the acting was very good. There were two aspects that disappointed me. First, the CG: although it was very, very good, it was not photoreal as I had hoped. However, it did not detract from the movie as a whole, and the animals talking were certainly believable. Second, Aslan's character seems to have been weakened. More on that later.


Here followeth ..:: SPOILERS ::.. Be forewarned.


The highlights of the movie? Hmm. I had thought I could select just a few, but as I think about it there were too many good parts. There were a couple that gave me shivers up my spine: Peter and Edmund drawing their swords for Narnia, Aslan's resurrection, and the of the White Witch when Aslan said "It is finished." (Astoundingly, Andrew Adamson added that line without realizing the reference. That certainly makes one think.) The children being sent away, Aslan's resurrection and the final reconciliation of Peter and Edmund were more moving parts: what I would call tear-jerkers (only for me I can't). I liked Aslan's appearance in the fireplace, which made him seem to have a hand in preventing Lucy's kidnapping. I also loved the nods to the original, such as the line about the stars falling and the blue-bottle in the windowsill. Yes, it was a fly. (Sorry, inside joke.)

The worst part of the movie, I think, was that Aslan's power and character were slightly changed. He is still the King, and the part about the Laws or Deep Magic governing even Him did not trouble me. But the things that happen--Father Christmas arriving, the Winter ending, the Witch's reign being broken, and even Aslan's appearance--were attributed more to the arrival of the Pevensies and the fulfillment of prophecy than the direct actions of the Son of the Emperor-over-the-Sea (which title is not mentioned, by the way). And Aslan's line about Narnia being his family: perfectly alright, in perspective, but leaning more towards New Age philosophy. However, Aslan still conquers death and kills the White Witch, so perhaps I should not be complaining.


Here endeth ..:: SPOILERS ::.. You may start reading again.


We enjoyed it very much. Because the excitement of the first viewing has not worn off yet, I can't trust myself to give an honest judgment of where it rests in my Top Ten Movies--but it is certainly there. We will be going to see it again at least one more time. I don't mind in the least.