Narnia Star & The ARGH of Modern Movie Going
Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!
When the son of MMMMM was an English major in his undergrad work, he learned that J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were critique mates rather like my friends and me who have been critiquing since the early 90s. Except that we aren't Oxford dons and our books aren't considered classics by many who matter in the literary world, nor have they been made into movies.
I'd read Tolkien's and Lewis's books to the son of MMMMM when he was little and discovered that I prefer Tolkien's The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings to Lewis's Narnia stories. I really love what Peter Jackson did with the Lord of the Rings movies and wasn't prepared to enjoy the Chronicles of Narnia movie as nearly as much. BUT I did and due mainly to the girl who played Lucy. She was absolutely fabulous and believable. Every expression, every gesture, every word she spoke was natural and engaging. I forgot she was an actress, while I was fully aware that the three other children were playing a roll and not really Zening or being the character from inside out.
The special effects and sets were flawless. The glorious lion was Christ-like, the witch coldly hateful, and the wardrobe filled with fur coats that PETA would love to throw paint on. The movie was great and people applauded at the end.
Of course, since Narnia was considered a kid's story parents felt they could bring their toddlers and preschoolers who talked, whined, cried and asked questions through the whole thing. Thank goodness for really loud, rib-shaking surround sound. One mother had the decency to take her crying child out of the movie, while others simply shushed ineffectively or ignored the jabbering kids. But then there were adults who talked through the movie, too. No wonder NetFlicks and On Demand are becoming so popular.
And besides that--paying ten bucks to sit cheek to jowl with a bunch of noisy folks and then be subjected to twenty minutes of commercials before the film begins, NO! I'm going to have to sign up for NetFlicks one of these first days. But I have some good books I need to get through first.
Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMmmelinda
When the son of MMMMM was an English major in his undergrad work, he learned that J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were critique mates rather like my friends and me who have been critiquing since the early 90s. Except that we aren't Oxford dons and our books aren't considered classics by many who matter in the literary world, nor have they been made into movies.
I'd read Tolkien's and Lewis's books to the son of MMMMM when he was little and discovered that I prefer Tolkien's The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings to Lewis's Narnia stories. I really love what Peter Jackson did with the Lord of the Rings movies and wasn't prepared to enjoy the Chronicles of Narnia movie as nearly as much. BUT I did and due mainly to the girl who played Lucy. She was absolutely fabulous and believable. Every expression, every gesture, every word she spoke was natural and engaging. I forgot she was an actress, while I was fully aware that the three other children were playing a roll and not really Zening or being the character from inside out.
The special effects and sets were flawless. The glorious lion was Christ-like, the witch coldly hateful, and the wardrobe filled with fur coats that PETA would love to throw paint on. The movie was great and people applauded at the end.
Of course, since Narnia was considered a kid's story parents felt they could bring their toddlers and preschoolers who talked, whined, cried and asked questions through the whole thing. Thank goodness for really loud, rib-shaking surround sound. One mother had the decency to take her crying child out of the movie, while others simply shushed ineffectively or ignored the jabbering kids. But then there were adults who talked through the movie, too. No wonder NetFlicks and On Demand are becoming so popular.
And besides that--paying ten bucks to sit cheek to jowl with a bunch of noisy folks and then be subjected to twenty minutes of commercials before the film begins, NO! I'm going to have to sign up for NetFlicks one of these first days. But I have some good books I need to get through first.
Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMmmelinda
posted by MMMelinda at 8:26 AM
