Narnia--Review and pics

[Feralpeg]

I just watched a clip on the local news about the Narnia exhibit at MGM. They showed people taking pictures.

 

[~Czarina~]

My 10 ds hid his face as a couple of places and our friends ds at 4 wasn't stressed at all. It really depends on the child as to whether the film will bother them. I agree. Watch it first or wait 'til it is out on DVD and then the child can leave the room if need be.

 

[cinder1]

How scary is the movie compared to the latest Harry Potter, which is PG13? Even my 5 yr old wasn't scared in HP, but DH has read every HP to our 10, 8 and 5 yr olds and he has read the 1st 3 Narnia books to them too.

As for the Christian theme, I heard an interview on NPR a couple of weeks ago with CS Lewis' stepson. Lewis left the rights to his books to his 2 stepsons. According to the stepson, Lewis did not purposely put a Christian theme in the book. He was just trying to write stories he thought kids would enjoy and the stepson said the Christian themes have been read into the stories by literature professors ever since. By the way, the stepsons' mom was Jewish. I don't recall if he said that she converted, but the other stepson did not. The interviewed stepson did convert to Christianity and was in no way anti-Christian.

When I was in literature classes in high school and college, I always wondered how much of the stuff the profs saw in the stories was really intended by the authors. Listening to Lewis' stepson was quite interesting. I can't wait to see the movie. If all goes well this week with the Christmas shopping I have left, then we will get to see it this weekend. I want to see it before we are at WDW in Jan.

 

[qtwns]

We saw the movie last night and loved it! DSs 9, 6 & 6 were enthralled--DS9 just finished reading it in school.
As for a 3 yr. old...go see it yourself first. There are a couple of surprises to make you jump and the Witch's army is scary looking and creepy. The battle scene stopped just short of becoming too intense--Narnia version of Braveheart!

My DS9 is getting the Chronicles set for Christmas, and I can't wait to read them myself! I'll probably read them to my younger boys.

 

[bytheblood]

As for the Christian theme, I heard an interview on NPR a couple of weeks ago with CS Lewis' stepson. Lewis left the rights to his books to his 2 stepsons. According to the stepson, Lewis did not purposely put a Christian theme in the book. He was just trying to write stories he thought kids would enjoy and the stepson said the Christian themes have been read into the stories by literature professors ever since. By the way, the stepsons' mom was Jewish. I don't recall if he said that she converted, but the other stepson did not. The interviewed stepson did convert to Christianity and was in no way anti-Christian.

That is inaccurate. I know that his family has said that for years, but it is not true. CS Lewis was a Christian writer led to Christ by his very good friend JRR Tolkien (Lord of the Rings) when he was a young man. Tolkien was an Evangelical Roman Catholic. (almost an oxymoron I guess) Every book written by Lewis revolves around Christianty. Also, anybody familiar with the Bible can see the relation.

Peter, Susan, Edmond & Lucy - disciples
Aslan - Jesus
White Witch (also known as other names in the other 6 books) - Satan
Beavers, Tumnus, other lions, etc - followers of Christ
Aslan slain by White Witch for Edmond - death at cross for our sin
Alsan coming back - resurrection
Aslan's Father the Emperor over the Sea - God the Father
Turkish Delight - sin temptation

The other 6 books actually bring many Biblical teaching, stories and people to life.

Taarkens (sp) - there is a specific purpose, but for the sake of not insulting anybody's beliefs I will not place it into words, but it points to a specific religion
The Old Ape in Book 7 - False Profit/Antichrist
Polly & Digory - Disciples
The Tree of Life as well as the Tree of Knowledge are referenced in book 1
Narnia itself is a reference to Heaven before the 1000 year reign of Christ upon the earth and Aslan mentions in book 7 of a new Heaven and new earth.

The entire book The Magician's Nephew reveals creation in a fantasy form. The Last Battle is a reference to End Times and the Book of Revelation.

I promise you it is not a reach. Reading both the Bible and the 7 Narnia books will make that very obvious. Also, consequently, there is a reason for 7 books as well. It is a shame the Lewis is not here to stand up for himself.


When a co-worker of mine asked me about the books, I led her to this site: http://cslewis.drzeus.net/papers/lionwitchallegory.html

 

[Wendaeh]

<snipped>Also, anybody familiar with the Bible can see the relation.

Peter, Susan, Edmond & Lucy - disciples
Aslan - Jesus
White Witch (also known as other names in the other 6 books) - Satan
Beavers, Tumnus, other lions, etc - followers of Christ
Aslan slain by White Witch for Edmond - death at cross for our sin
Alsan coming back - resurrection
Aslan's Father the Emperor over the Sea - God the Father
Turkish Delight - sin temptation

I promise you it is not a reach. Reading both the Bible and the 7 Narnia books will make that very obvious.

We saw the preview of the movie on 12/3 (it was fantastic -- and the MGM set is very cool -- they even have a place for family photos outside with "snow" coming down). I agree it is not a stretch at all.

Not only does Aslan willingly sacrifice himself for Edmund, but the whole scene of walking to the altar while being ridiculed, tortured, and shaved is reminiscent of Christ. Two "women" (daughters of Eve) take care of his body. The rock altar that he is laying on breaks (rock moved from tomb) and his body is missing. The future of Narnia rests squarely on Peter (surely not a coincidence) -- the Rock on which the church was built......

Wendy

 

[cinder1]

All I can tell you is what the stepson (himself a minister!!) said about the books. In fact, he said that he wished, as a Christian minister, that he could have approved of touting the movie more as a Christian tale (than they have), but he did not feel it was appropriate since CS Lewis did not see it that way. That's not to say that the Christian, Bible elements aren't there, but that, according to his stepson, in a very long, highly intelligent interview, (stated unequivocally), that his stepfather did not write the books as Christian books, but rather as stories that he thought kids would enjoy. It did not seem as though the stepson was lying, but I guess that is possible, although I do not see why the family would lie about that.

 

[Goofymovietack]

All I can tell you is what the stepson (himself a minister!!) said about the books. In fact, he said that he wished, as a Christian minister, that he could have approved of touting the movie more as a Christian tale (than they have), but he did not feel it was appropriate since CS Lewis did not see it that way. That's not to say that the Christian, Bible elements aren't there, but that, according to his stepson, in a very long, highly intelligent interview, (stated unequivocally), that his stepfather did not write the books as Christian books, but rather as stories that he thought kids would enjoy. It did not seem as though the stepson was lying, but I guess that is possible, although I do not see why the family would lie about that.

That may be the case, but regardless of that they have become viewed as Christian books....I have loved them since I was a kid, but as I grew older the christian themes became much more apparent....I touch on that in my review at my film website. I think that is why the books have been so successful they can be viewed in completely different ways at differnent points in one's life. That is somthing most entertainment can't do, and that is impressive.

 

[zagafi]

This may help clear up some confusion about Lewis' intent.

Allegory vs Supposal

C.S. Lewis makes clear that he didn't write the Narnian Chronicles as a biblical allegory. But you may be asking: How can this be true given the obvious symbolism used throughout the series? In order to understand Lewis's side of the story, you need to understand the difference between allegory and something he called supposal.

 

[greg126]

I was not that impressed with the exhibit and wouldn't make a special trip to MGM just to see it. I'm going to see the movie anyway - so didn't need to see the exerpts to convince me to go, and as time goes by more and more folks will have seen the movie and don't need to see them either. The segments on making of the movie shown while waiting to enter would be interesting but for the fact I'd seen them from the website. I would have liked pictures of the wardrobe and the lamppost but when we went through it was announced no pictures/filming allowed. It was ok, as long as I was there anyway, just glad I didn't invest a lot of time......

 

[catsrule]

cool, thanks for the pics.

 

[jenjersnap]

I was not that impressed with the exhibit and wouldn't make a special trip to MGM just to see it. I'm going to see the movie anyway - so didn't need to see the exerpts to convince me to go, and as time goes by more and more folks will have seen the movie and don't need to see them either. The segments on making of the movie shown while waiting to enter would be interesting but for the fact I'd seen them from the website. I would have liked pictures of the wardrobe and the lamppost but when we went through it was announced no pictures/filming allowed. It was ok, as long as I was there anyway, just glad I didn't invest a lot of time......

This was exactly my reaction. I love the Narnia books, will see the movie, and was looking forward to this exhibit but it was disappointing. Basically, it was a movie trailer. Many fewer props than I expected. I am glad we didn't wait long for it and I certainly wouldn't trek to MGM specifically to see it. My other issue is that it should just be a walk-through with the trailer on a loop ... if you want to see the whole thing, just wait for it. The "suspense" of waiting in line and cramming us in together was silly, IMO.

On Saturday 12/10 at 10 am they were saying no pictures or video allowed.