The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe

While the title may have been convent's shortened to Narnia, I will maintain that it is only the first of a series of seven that may be referred to as Narnia, and as such, should be referred to by its proper name.

I loved it. All of it. Even the nitpicky details that I will tear into later on did not distract from the sheer enjoyment of this film. It is a much better job than the earlier BBC versions (I wish I could say the same of Hitchhiker's Guide, some do, but I really did not like the new one). It was an excellent adaptation of the books, staying true while adapting it enough to be film worthy. I hope the next six (if they are still forthcoming) maintain the standard.

The beginning made me very nervous that what I was about to see was a butchering of the C. S. Lewis tales I adored as a child. Granted, the events that open the movie are mentioned in the book, we just never have the opportunity to witness them through Lewis' words. I began to worry maybe Disney had taken a few too many liberties.

And Disney did take a few liberties. But when you look back at the actual books, it makes sense. Most of the first book is a stressful though uneventful trek to the Stone Table to meet Aslan. A very slow crash sequence where no one actually catches up to anyone. Reading it was intense as a child. I doubt trying to convey the same sense of earnestness and danger in the movie without raising the stakes a little more would have succeeded in the same way. Likewise, the battles are a mere paragraph or two. Something needs to be done to fill in the gaps for the screen, and the film did quite well. It never travels far from the original feeling of the books and thankfully most of the dialogue seems lifted right from the pages.

I had heard some pre-viewing discussion on the amount of Christian symbolism included. The articles and reviews I had read led me to believe perhaps Disney had upped the allegory. Not so. The story is a fantasy tale of love, treachery, sacrifice and forgiveness. Of course there will be parallels, that it how the book was written. The movie did not overdo it. As I mentioned before, I truly felt that the they maintained the original feeling of the book.

The previews also made me wary of the CGI, particularly Aslan. Perhaps they just chose a poor clip to show in the preview, because I was not disappointed. As the credits rolled by at the end I found out why: WETA. One of my classmates said she was disappointed in the computer animation. I asked if she was distracted by the spliced creatures. No. Did the CGI images pull her out of the movie. No. Was it better than say, Dobby from only a few years earlier. Yes. Well I doubt she left the conversation ready to sing praises of the animation from the rooftops, I hoped I impressed upon her how far this new media has come in a very short time.

Really, my only complaint was the Witch's costume, and only her first one. I loved the fabric: thick, cool-colored and felted (nor cheap), mimicked in her hair as well. The line was interesting, but the "imposing" silhouette made by the shoulders made her look more ridiculous than intimidating. A medieval linebacker. I will admit the dress didn't bother me as much when her shoulders were uncovered and you could see her natural form with the costume projecting around her.

The designer made up for in at the battle with the chain mail dress and mane of hair. Yes, I do think the White Witch having her hair down covering her shoulders like a golden mane was a deliberate choice. Most choices are deliberate.