Despite my fears of a total trainwreck, I went to see the Narnia movie last night. I had a feeling it wouldn't translate well to film, and it certainly didn't, but I had to see for myself.
The book is heroic and magical. It depicts the triumph of good over evil with inspiring grandeur, and at the same time conveys the cozy smallness and simplicity of childhood. The film, on the other hand, is just plain goofy. (And apparently C.S. Lewis would agree.) Melodramatic, overblown. People laughed a lot in the wrong places, and I understand that, but I couldn't join in. I felt protective of it, this piece of my childhood splashed on the screen, and it made me a little sad.
And also, when a little girl in a story befriends a kindly faun, it is sweet and magical. When a little girl in a movie does this, befriending and being fairly intimate with what is basically a half-naked man-beast, it's just kind of creepy.
Posted by thevieve at December 16, 2005 10:19 AM