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208.58.2.83
In Reply to: The Lion posted by jbmcb on December 27, 2005 at 14:02:15:
...are so *sensitive* about that...clark
Follow Ups:
Allegory is one thing, a religious theme or parable is something else.Personally, I didn't have as much of a problem with the resurrection scene as some folks apparently did, but I found it to be little more than a serial style plot device in the manner employed. I have a much greater problem with fantasy characters addressing the kids as "the sons of adam and daughters of eve." That kind of blatant christian assertion coming from a fantasy character which exists in an alternative world set wholely apart from our own isn't subtle allegory, it's turning a fantasy story into a christian parable.
As I've stated before and elsewhere, the only good performance in the film came from the Faun character. The CGI quality was inconsistent; the sets didn't mesh well with the richer second unit shots of New Zealand; the war was lame, bloodless and nonsensical; the waterfall ice-breaking scene which looked good visually was a VERY lame, artificial plot device (because the kids could've chosen to escape by the same route as the wolf which cut them off); the ice queen and her realm was not only unappealing, but so cruel and broadly drawn in evilness that only an idiot would've trusted her or wanted to live in her cold inhospitable realm; the forgiveness of the older brother and sisters to the younger brother's treachery was saccharine and almost as simply accomplished as their learning to become masters of the weapons they would lead with, ...and so on and so forth.
BTW, there is so little character development in this movie that it's almost impossible to develope empathy for any creature, human or CGI, regardless of whether the character survives to the third act. Faun is the only character to elicit the audience's compassion, sympathy or attachment. Even if the lion weren't CGI, it wasn't on screen long enough to develope a personality worthy of audience interest or concern.
Finally, beneath the surface of this film one is left with the rather perverse imagery of the kids having aged to adulthood and then returning through the wardrobe to their earlier prepubescent youthful selves; it is left to the viewer's imagination, but they appear to be in full recollection of the memories of their harrowing adventures, including whatever relationships they would have developed during the intervening years, but let's not go there. ;^)
In my estimation, this movie was TERRIBLE, not even worthy of comparison with the wonderfully epic LoTR or Harry Potter series, but I'm sure that some parents and thoise motivated by the overt christian references will consider Lewis's parable "safer" for their kids than either Tolkein's or Rowling's more complex fantasy. In those works good and evil aren't so cleanly drawn and bad choices have enduring repercussions. The Chronic Ills of Narnia is, after all, unchallenging froth, sort of like artificially sweetened egg-nog without the nog.
AuPh
...a little film like Brokeback is ignored by most here.clark
My wife and I will catch this when it's showing in a nearby cineplex. We try to catch a broad range of films and like some of Ang Lee's efforts (Crouching Tiger was great; the Hulk, unfortunately, was not). Our tastes even include some European film fare, avoiding grey poupon (my wife doesn't like mustard! -grin), as long as the films aren't sappy or unbearably pretenscious.Believeable dialogue, natural acting and an intelligently constructed plot are key elements to good stroytelling, at least from our perspective. Neither of us care much for the self-indulgent style of filmmaking, prefering well done period dramas, mysteries, action, comedy, SF, fantasy and Pixar's animated films. Pseudo-documentary slice of life films are with rare exception off the menu for us.
BTW, I'm of the opinion that special effects and CGI work are a useful tool when employed sparingly to enhance a story's ability to suspend disbelief. Nevertheless, while FX shots aren't required to make every action/adventure or fantasy tale plausible, there are occasions when a little excess can be beneficial to enhancing the surreal atmosphere and increasing the tension (King Kong, LoTR, Sin City, etc.).
AuPh
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