Hello readers, (and writers) This blog is going to be all about Chronicle of Narnia books and movies. I rarely write book blogs unless it is something I really want to talk and share about. Most books I shared would be in a quarterly blog. So, if you like a book blog; then join me as we explore the depth of the stories (and film adaptations.)
I won’t write a lengthy blog on every single book or the movies, but will give a general overview. My first time hearing about the Narnia series was when I was a young girl. Maybe around ten or eleven, I can’t remember exactly. I watched The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe with my aunt and younger brother. We watched it and at the time I knew little about it, except the movie intrigued me. As I got older, I watched the other three movies and little know that they were based on the series. I never really took the time to read the books, one by one, and get the whole story. Last year I started (yes, 23 years old me reading it for the first time) the series. The Magician’s Nephew and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and paused at book three and didn’t finish the series till this July. Apparently, I got sidetracked by other books and haven’t got a minute to get back into the series. That’s my story about how I came to know about the Chronicles of Narnia.
I feel I should give my thoughts on the series first before I get into movies. I have more thoughts (and opinions) on the adaptations than the books itself.
I love it. They are so worth reading and indulged in. The characters and the world and the stories itself are well done. I love how C. S. Lewis used folklore and mythologies and created a world through Christian’s perspective. Not only that, he created a story that would draw readers who aren’t Christian and God uses the stories to bring them to Himself in a new way. I’m not saying the series is Gospel; C. S. Lewis created an allegory to show the story of redemption and sacrifice of God’s love for us and paid our sins on the cross. Through the series, from The Magician’s Nephew to The Last Battle, shared valuable lessons and messages. If you ask me which character I like and don't like. My answer is Alsan (it is obvious) the kids, and I don't like the White Witch, the witch in The Silver Chair and the clever monkey, which isn’t. He’s actually stupid, bossy and mean. What about you? What characters do you actually like and loathe? Leave your response to the comment. The Last Battle was quite darn good. Of course, it saddened me that it ended as a finale, but I enjoyed it.
Now the movies. I already shared a bit about the first adoption Narnia movie, but it turned out it wasn’t the first. My friend Heather had shared about the Narnia series adaptations through the BBC. Before then, I’ve watched all three Disney versions (the third one made by 20 Century Fox and Disney bought the rights, apparently) and saw one adaptation by BCC. Last week I watched three other movies from the BBC on the Narnia books. After rewatching all the movies, both new and old versions, I will share my thoughts on them.
Before damping anything; I understand some movies aren’t able to use everything in the book, and have limited time to create a film. And most old films don’t have fancy technology to create effects. I understand that, yet they have done stuff to make it look like it is magic, etc. Books will always be better than the movies. Now that’s out of the way. I’ll start off with the new version since they were the first ones I’ve seen growing up.
I love the way they have adapted to the whimsical Narnia world and the nature, animals, and the great lion, Alsan. Well done. However, the stories themselves were slightly different. After reading the books, I can see they were not fully based on the story. That was a downside for me. But I still like it for the pleasure. HERE to check out the movies.
The old films (I’m talking about ones from the mid-80s and early 90s) adapted them true to the stories. They did it with justice, and I like it. The clothes and setup were pretty accurate to the books, however, I had mixed feelings about the cast and the special effects. The cast for the four kids in the first film (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) I didn’t like the casts they chose for BBC. Example Lucy, Eustace, and the witch in The Silver Chair. There were a couple of scenes in two films. I honestly think they could’ve done it better.
One example in the beginning when the four kids at the station would've been transported to Narnia in a way 2008 version movie did when the speed of the train flashes by and they enter the island. But they didn’t. Instead, they sat on the bench and their spirits came out and twirled to Narnia, and the same way at the end when they came back and acted like nothing had happened. And the third movie is when Lucy and two boys go on the ship. They pull into the painting instead water comes out of the painting and they are in the Narnia sea. (If you watch the 2010 version The Treader of the Dawn, then you understand what I’m talking about) Not only that, toward the very end when Reepicheep goes to Alsan’s country. He rowed up to the wave, which to me looks more like a waterfall than a wave.
And The Silver Chair; it wasn’t all that bad. Better. In fact, there were parts that made me laugh. The owls. I couldn’t help but chuckle when they talk to Edustance and Jill Pole (the actress did a great job playing Ms. Pole) While the film done well, there were several parts they left out like when the witch played the harp to make the characters forget the truth about Narnia and Alsan and the dwarf who served the queen find out she’s dead and led them out to the earth.
Those are my thoughts about the adaption films and the books. Overall, I highly recommend reading the whole series and then watch the movies. The series are easy to read and you won’t regret it. They are worth indulging if you like portal fantasy, talking beasts and lots of adventures!
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