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In Reply to: "Narnia" on DVD posted by DWPC on April 7, 2006 at 11:03:25:
> While basically true to Lewis' book, the resurrection allegory seemed only grudgingly included... Those objecting to the religious theme ought to just avoid the movie.Lewis didn't write the Narnia series as an allegory for anything, he himself said it was meant to be taken quite literally. Lewis, along with Carrol and Tolkien, were authors famous for avoidng allegory. There are story elements borrowed from scripture, and a basic morality that aligns with Christian morality (and just about any other version of morality you care to mention, save, maybe, pure objectiveism.)
In the later books it becomes more evident that his is a straight "paralell universe" fantasy world, with no ties to Christianity other than a few similar storylines.
If you are offended by even the hint of a religious-based storyline, then yes, you should stay away from this movie, and maybe re-evaluate your level of tolerance for other's views.
Other than that, the movie wasn't particularly good :)
/*Music is subjective. Sound is not.*/
Follow Ups:
...certainly, the beginning of the end for intelligent, epic fantasy targeting a more sophisticated adult audience. In spite of Narnia's BIG box-office take, I saw "sharks jumping" all over the place. It doesn't bode well for the future of popular fantasy series from more contemporary authors, especially those with a secular outlook.Here are just some of my problems with Narnia:
The CGI quality was inconsistent and much of it was unnatural looking; the ogre/fairy-tale battle sequence (bloodless, for a "G" rating) just looked hokey.
The film's staging shifted from a sound-stagey back lot appearnce to glorious New Zealand (I wonder if Peter Jackson can sue Disney for stealing his favorite settings? -grin) and travalogue caliber second unit shots that didn't match up well, IMHO.
The ridiculous implication that several disfunctional and rather unlikeable kids became warriors and leaders in a very short time without any special training or special skills.
The idea that this imaginary realm was occupied with allegorical beasts of human intellect co-existing with our modern world and appear fully aware of, but not at odds with, the belief in christianity.
The "brilliant" escape over the breaking ice floe, where the wolves out-'foxed' the kids by going over the frozen falls directly above, ...just like the kids could've done and should've done (even Homer Simpson would've known better)!
Speaking of floes, the reverting of adults back to children when returning through the wardrobe had to be a harrowing experience, ...especially for girls having to go though puberty twice! ;^)
> > > "If you are offended by even the hint of a religious-based storyline, then yes, you should stay away from this movie, and maybe re-evaluate your level of tolerance for other's views." < < <
It may not seem like it from a cursory reading of my criticisms but I'm VERY tolerant of differing views, especially religious views, as long as 1) those views aren't thinly disguised propaganda, and 2) everyone's views, including contradictory viewpoints, are given equal venting in public forums without subjective bias. Those who aren't christian should have equal treatment and the same sized soapbox.
That said, I saw Narnia the weekend it openned hoping that this film would be an interesting fantasy in the vein of LoTR or Harry Potter; it was anything BUT. I'm not easily offended by religious allegory, but I am offended by films that insult my intelligence while not being the least bit entertaining. Disney didn't refund my money and it's too late for me to avoid this Disney-ized POS posing as fantasy, but maybe I can save someone else the boredom and grief by donating 2 more cents. ;^)
BTW, it isn't merely the "hint" of a religious based story, but the target marketing (Disney chose the same folks who marketed Mel Gibson's The Passion) as a "safe" fantasy film for religious drones to allow their kids to see as an alternative to the more secular and imaginative Harry Potter series.
AuPh
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If you define the word allegory as as a direct, one-for-one representation (i.e. every element in a story will have a real world equivalent/correlation), then, no, the Narnia series is not an allegory. However, take the following quotes from Lewis:"I don't say. 'Let us represent Christ as Aslan.' I say, 'Supposing there was a world like Narnia, and supposing, like ours, it needed redemption, let us imagine what sort of Incarnation and Passion and Resurrection Christ would have there.'"
"[Aslan] is an invention giving an imaginary answer to the question 'What might Christ become like if there really were a world like Narnia and He chose to be incarnate and die and rise again in that world as He actually has done in ours?' This is not allegory at all."
While the Narnia series is not, itself, necessarily, an allegory, it is hard to argue that there is no symbolism in the writings. If you read any other works by Lewis, it becomes quite clear what his life was about, and why he wrote the way that he did.
BTW, you want to read a good Lewis book? Try "The Screwtape Letters".
Cheers,
Chris
"Music is God's gift to man, the only art of Heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take to Heaven."
-Walter Savage Landor
Interesting quotes! Thanks for the information.Yep, a lot of his other work had heavy Chrisitan themes, if not an explicit topic of Christianity. However, some of his works I view as having some Christian influence, though not really falling within the realm of religious writing.
/*Music is subjective. Sound is not.*/
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