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Mikel
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| Celtic Radio Community > General Discussion > The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe |
| Posted by: Arien 14-Dec-2005, 08:22 PM |
| What did you think of the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe? I saw it last weekend when it came out and I was very impressed. I wanted to get the soundtrack that day but it didn't come out until Tuesday. Can't wait for the next one. |
| Posted by: Ceciliastar1 15-Dec-2005, 01:02 AM |
| I LOVED IT!!!! I've seen it three times so far, and counting. I'm waiting till after Christmas to get the soundtrack in case someone gets it for me. |
| Posted by: Raven 16-Dec-2005, 09:02 AM |
| I can't wait to see it. I have read all the boods but it has been 20 years so I am sure it will all be fresh to me Slàinte Mikel |
| Posted by: Eiric 19-Dec-2005, 08:43 AM |
| I'll see it when it comes to Sweden on Wednesday - Really can't wait!!!! Love the books!!! |
| Posted by: Rindy 20-Dec-2005, 03:06 PM |
| Hi, I just picked up the book for my christmas gift... I want to read it really bad..I am kind of confused on the different books that are out. But I did get the C. S. Lewis author and the Silver Chair.. Is this like the Narnia movie???? Slainte |
| Posted by: stoirmeil 20-Dec-2005, 04:40 PM |
| The absolutely stunning film that is just out is based quite faithfully on The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. This is the first of the books that Lewis wrote. The book called The Magician's Nephew is a kind of prequel or back-story that occurs before the events of LWW, even though he wrote it some years later. It's worth reading first, since it contains the creation myth of Narnia and sets the whole tone of both wonder and moral imperative. I actually read straight through all seven books the weekend before the film opened, so now I'm fresh in the facts. The Silver Chair is a good story (this is where you meet the marshwiggle called Puddleglum, one of Lewis' best known characters) but it has different children in it and it happens much later. I think it's the next to last in the Narnia chronology, before The Last Battle. I highly recommend the new edition of all seven books in one paperback cover (in order, with the Magician's Nephew first) for $20. It's a big chunk of a book, too big for a child to handle comfortably really, but handy when you want to reference things, and much better than paying 8 or 9 dollars for each of the small paperbacks separately. It's also in hardcover for $30, and if you really love the series and want to study on them, this is also worth having for the shelf. Most Barnes and Nobles stores have heaps of these lately. Oh, Lady Rindy, these are the best books for reading in a snowy window with marmalade toast and a pot of tea. And big fat books get you in the really civilized habit of reading with a book pillow, which leaves your hands free for the toast and tea. About the movie -- I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but I am fascinated with the way they did the witch Jadis. Her crown of icicles, for one thing -- but also the way she looks in the battle sequence. She is actually wearing the shorn mane of Aslan around her neck. You just know she isn't going to get away with a usurpation of that magnitude, it's way over the top -- either a usurpation of the divine, or on the mundane level even a usurpation of male power. This is just a really nice touch the film makers added, it's not in the book. |
| Posted by: Edana 20-Dec-2005, 07:02 PM |
| I also really loved the movie. I think it was really well done, especially considering some of the other book to movie conversion recently done (Ella Enchanted especially. That made me very irritated!). I'm really excited to see the other movies, when they come out. They are slated to do them, but there aren't any dates or anything. I think they were waiting to see how well LWW did in theaters. I highly recommend going to see it. I give it two thumbs way up! If you want any more information on the movie or the books, try going to www.narnia.com It's a site they made for LWW, but it has a lot of information on CS Lewis and his books and the movie. It's a lot of fun for children too. There are a few games and things. The site is more interesting if you have flash, though, there are more things to do. I really like this site. |
| Posted by: Siobhan Blues 21-Dec-2005, 11:11 AM |
| I still haven't seen it, but have heard nothing but good reviews from friends who have. Maybe after Christmas things will calm down here at home - we feel like we're caught up in a whirlwind! But a happy whirlwind, at least. Merry Christmas, everyone! Susan |
| Posted by: Rindy 21-Dec-2005, 11:32 AM |
| Thanks everyone! Merry Christmas- and I will be looking for The Magicians Nephew.. Stoirmeil you made me just want to crawl into a window and read if I had a window I could sit near...lol..comfy, cozy..thanks for the website Edana.. Slainte |
| Posted by: snake 25-Dec-2005, 08:04 PM |
Its a great movie, and the composer,Harry Gregson-William also did the soundtracks for my fav. video game,Metal Gear Solid !  Also,I just got a new cat, and i named it Narnia  |
| Posted by: Rindy 25-Dec-2005, 09:04 PM |
| Hi Snake.. thanks for your opinion.. Isn't Metal Gear for PSP or is it out for all of the systems? I have never played it but hear its a good one.. What a great name for a pet... I love it... Slainte |
| Posted by: snake 26-Dec-2005, 02:36 AM |
| Only one of the series is on the PSP,and that is Metal Gear Acid. and i heard the Metal Gear Acid's storyline has nothing to do with the main story.(so im not really interested on that one) The gameplay is totally different but i havent play it yet The story is the best part of the series,and you will be "watching" more den "playing" the game so it is more like a movie.The director loves watching movies so much that he called in a hollywood composer,Harry Gregson William to compose the game. By the way,my fav. part of Narnia is when ...ops,must give a spoiler warning first ! SPOILER WARNING !! teehee my fav. part of Narnia is when they meet Santa its like Santa gave them their RPG-jobs, Archer,Swordsman,Acolyte,etc and i loveee RPGs !! teehee |
| Posted by: Siobhan Blues 04-Jan-2006, 08:09 PM |
| I SAW NARNIA I SAW NARNIA I SAW NARNIA FINALLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!! To quote Darth Vader, "Immm-presive". My daughter and I spent one day last week wandering around the mall, and she actually spotted Narnia on the theater marquee & suggested we go see it. She's seen it once already and was interested in what I'd think about it. So we did, and boy howdy that is one cool movie! The pace is slower than I expected - its as it should be, I just figured the filmmakers would rush through the early part or something. Anyway, I think that faun was fabulous, he had such expression... and the beavers, awwww! The kids were well cast and ole Tilda was the perfect Witch (ever seen her in Constantine?? She's fascinating and creepy all at once) And the expression in Aslan's eyes, I shed a tear or two there... I think the movie did well in using what parts of the book were essential, and overall was quite pleased with the film. I bet C. S. is clicking his heels in heaven, watching such a huge new audience get to know his story! |
| Posted by: j Padraig moore 05-Jan-2006, 09:12 AM |
| We saw it on Christmas Eve. Since I had not read the books, it was all pretty much new to me, although I had a gist of what the plot was. I really enjoyed it, so much that I got LWW off of the shelf at home and started reading it. Since it is a short book, I finished it and am now reading Prince Caspian. |
| Posted by: stoirmeil 05-Jan-2006, 10:13 AM |
| In some ways, the film brings various characters to life better than the book represents them, owing to Lewis' somewhat precious and overly cute style of writing "for children". Tumnus the faun is much more complex and real, for example, as a character that is playing with dangerous politics, and a mature person interacting treacherously with a child, with a grand heart but real character flaws and the guilt that goes with it. The chemistry between James McAvoy (Tumnus) and the little girl that played Lucy was marvellous, which added a lot; but McAvoy really plumbed it instead of playing it as a winning but shallow caricature creature. The battle scene owes a lot to the technology the same crew at WETA worked out for Lord of the Rings, but it's superb, and it has a very different character to it than the RotK battle scenes. The book doesn't give it anything like that degree of realized combat description. I have to admit I have an emotional affinity for courageous and desperate cavalry charges (the one in RotK had me blinded with tears); this one, with the scared boy-king on his righteous, pure white unicorn, and the massive, faithful-to-the-death centaur running at his side, was also powerful and moving in a mythic way. All in all, I'd say the movie was in some respects, mostly depth and complexity of emotion, better than the book. |
| Posted by: Antwn 07-Jan-2006, 02:12 PM |
| I also liked the movie and thought they cast it pretty well. Yes, the white witch was great in that she didn't overplay it. She was cold and ruthless without overstatement or being hammy. I liked her style of swordsmanship too. I thought the kids were pretty good, but the one who played Lucy was exceptional, which is fortunate since I think her's is the most important child role in the film to cast just right. I'm not sure anything can match ROTK in battle charges. It was simply awesome, particularly the first time you see it. With all due deference to realism in film, battle scenes which are hackfests just make me grimmace, but that one seemed to have passion, heart and even humor (Gimli's "that still counts as one"). The only thing which disappointed me was the performance of the boy who played Peter. I know its a challenge to find kid actors who can pull off big dramatic roles, but his performance fell a bit flat for me. |
| Posted by: Arien 10-Jan-2006, 12:30 AM |
| I finally picked up the soundtrack last weekend. I love it. I have been trying to figure out what instrument they used for Tumnus' flute. Can anyone enlighten me? |
| Posted by: stoirmeil 10-Jan-2006, 08:12 AM |
| There's lots of "natural" oboe (double reed) types it could be. Here's a rundown of the film score tracks (it's track 5 -- "A Narnia Lullaby") -- the instrument is identified as an armenian duduk: http://www.soundtrack.net/features/article/?id=169 and here's a duduk: http://www.instrumentworld.info/info.php?id=duduk |
| Posted by: Meryat 10-Jan-2006, 04:04 PM |
| I was quite impressed with the movie. The casting was excellent. The children's interactions made more believable the younger brother's treachery and his way of teasing Lucy. The movie managed to put into images things which I had difficulty with when I read the books, especially the animals and the fighting. It was a beautiful movie. The musical score was absolutely amazing. It fit the scenes perfectly. My friends and I were discussing it afterwards and noted that while it's not music that you really walk out of the theater humming like some movies have (Star Wars comes to mind), it set the atmosphere of the various scenes beautifully. --SPOILER WARNING-- One of the things I found most impressive was how, at the beginning of the battle, all the sound dissolved into a single drum, a single heartbeat. Then the lines met, and the music reflected the sudden chaos. Of all the musical effects, I think that was my favorite, followed closely by Tumnus's flute. |
| Posted by: Arien 10-Jan-2006, 10:10 PM | ||
Thanks! I found some beginner duduks on the internet. I think I will get one. |
| Posted by: Rindy 10-Jan-2006, 11:13 PM |
| Thanks everyone for the links and the information.. I am trying to find time to read the book first.. I do want to see the movie.. Slainte |
| Posted by: stoirmeil 11-Jan-2006, 08:28 AM | ||
It really is a wonderful score. That's an effect that's been used in various ways for battle sequences before, but it's always very moving and effective. (I think part of the intention is to show that no matter what your frame of mind is in the runup to battle, noble or otherwise, the reality is a brutal contrast when the opposing forces actually connect and the ugly carnage begins.) If you remember Faramir's charge at Osgiliath from RotK, the horse sounds are almost completely muted, and there's not much besides Pippin's song as an overtrack. And then later the charge of the Rohirrim is all music and no battle cry until the instant the two forces connect, then the music cuts out abruptly and it's all chaos and battle sound. In a reversed kind of way, I think the best use of the contrast I remember is from Kurosawa's "Ran" (and there's very similar stuff in "Kagemusha", an earlier film) -- it's in the thick of the battle, and the only sound you hear, with very graphic and violent images going on, is a single trumpet playing a beautiful, tragic unaccompanied line -- you could almost imagine it to be God weeping at the earthly folly. Good luck with the duduk, Arien! I guess you're a woodwind player too? |
| Posted by: Arien 11-Jan-2006, 09:25 PM | ||
Yes.  I have played the flute for a long time now (though not as much lately as I should) and the piccolo for a while in school. I have tried tin whistles a little but I think I prefer lower pitched instruments. The battle scene in the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe reminded me of the battle scenes in Return of the King too. Not only because of the music but also because of the way it was choreographed. I thought Oreolis' two-handed sword attacks were a little too Legolas-like (especially with his horse ears that looked a lot like big elf ears). There was more than enough that I liked about the movie to make up for these little things though. |
| Posted by: AhilissaMay 07-Feb-2006, 02:48 PM |
| I loved this moive and can not wait till I can own it...My children also loved the moive. Of course I have read the books and have read them again after seeing the moive and they did a fanstaic job. just my thoughts mandy |