Movie: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
C.S. Lewis, the author of the Chronicles of Narnia, never wanted his books turned into movies. Who can blame him? Was the cinematic technology really present any time other than now to bring his world to life? (I don’t know the answer to that, but the rhetorical question sounded cool, and asking questions sure is easier than answering them). Anyhow. Having read the Chronicles of Narnia twice, once as a rather young lad, the descriptive word “beloved” certainly rings true to my ears. Let me back up a few paces and describe to you how I ended up seeing the movie The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
I bought advance online tickets (a first for me … and what a horrible experience, too) to a sold-out show of King Kong at the largest screen in Minnesota, the Marcus UltraScreen. Yes, in my quest for Friday entertainment, I was determined to see the biggest movie of the year on the biggest screen, taking the biggest hit to my wallet possible. I succeeded on the last point. You see, Mykala and I made it to the movie, were admitted, and walked into the theater … but couldn’t find a seat. Except for a nice pair … in the front row, on the faaaar left of the theater. Now, watching a movie from the front row is one thing (I saw Castaway and just remember it as being very very wide), but watching a movie at some bizarre angle on a screen three times the height of a normal movie screen is like going to an Imax theater and laying upside down in the aisle. Or something. Bad analogy. So, I stormed out of the theater, ready to erupt like Mount Vesuvius on Pompeii back in the day when the pyroclastic flows used to beat the heck out of towns and townspeoples. Mykala, willing to endure to the risk of being covered in ash and soot, suggested we see a gasp different movie.
So we ended up here, at the Chronicles, and … by golly it wasn’t a let-down at all. I paused mid-way through the movie, wondering why there wasn’t a giant gorilla scaling a building, but immediately returned to the wonderfully crafted Narnian story. The effects were seamless (the talking beavers were hilarious and stunning realistic in the way their entire mouths moved when the spoke) and so earned the name “special effects”. My favorite part was the arrival of Santa Claus: perfect timing with the season we are in now and a great plot twist from the novel I had completely forgotten about. I would watch this movie again … it’s good for a small Friday night gathering, but may fall flat when screened to a larger group.
Also, I saw a Saturday Night Live parody of the Beastie Boys in which they rap about going to see “the ChroniWHATcles of Narnia” and even though it’s stuck in my head … it’s still funny.
Comments
Mykala
I have watched that Chronic-WHAT?-cles of Narnia skit on TiVo four times since Saturday night. It has been quite a hit with our family. We shall watch it the next time you are over here.
My favorite parts of the skit:
"Google Maps is the best. True dat. Double True!"
"Mr. Pibb+Red Vines= Crazy Delicious."