The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

Thorpe · 12-08-2005, 08:08 PM

Saw an advanced screening last night and thought that it was really well done. I have never read the books so I would be interested in anyone's thoughts when they get a chance to see it. I just wish Brian Cox didn't leave the movie. He would have been so bad ass.

Grimble · 12-08-2005, 08:35 PM

Can't wait to see this. I loved the books when I was younger, but haven't read them in ages. I'll be going to see this tomorrow mainly because of WETA and the sweet previews. Let you know what I think later...

Zanoan · 12-09-2005, 01:35 AM

I've seen a few trailers from my latest cinema visits and my friend and I, who never read the books, but intending to, were very impressed. If the story overall itself isn't that great, we're definitely looking forward to seeing the world itself - it's really great to see all the different creatures and so on. It looked very amazing. I'm getting really hyped up.

Bellringer · 12-09-2005, 02:09 AM

Just saw it at the midnight showing and it was way better than I imagined. I just wish the fight scene was longer....was so badass. I also thought the lion was done very well. I mean but come on its Llam Nielson...can't spell it. I'd post more but its late as hell and i got to wake up in a few hours.

Teclisen · 12-09-2005, 03:39 AM

Sad times.

Spare Oom and War Drobe · 12-09-2005, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teclisen

Sad times.

thanks for the post faggot

Anyway,
I'm a big fan of the book (hence the name). They stuck to the story really well. The book is actually meant for kids and so is the movie. That means you get some mediocre child acting and restrained violence bundled in with an otherwise stellar movie. WETA did a great job with all the different characters. There were at least 2 dozen races for them to design.

My girlfriend felt some parts were confusing or nonsensical but I explained the whole Jesus connection and it clicked. I can’t think of one harsh area to criticize. 9 out of 10

Kiksar · 12-09-2005, 05:39 AM

It was pretty good. The first half was better than I expected, the second half was worse than I expected (excluding Aslan).

The whole thing was a mixed bag, from special effects to characters. Aslan was excellent, most of the miniature work was good, the animation was good throughout, and the battle had its moments, but there were quite a few awkward CG shots and the costumes were for the most part poor. That being said I think it's a bit silly to say Weta did a good job with all of the characters. The designs consisted of a handful of animals and a few fantasy characters that have been well established previously. Further, they didn't touch the CG, and the cyclops and minotaur costumes were super gay. They get due credit for the solid miniature work, but Rhythm and Hues deserves crazy props for coming out left field with most of the solid CG work (Aslan) and ILM handled the animation and some of the battle scene well. The Sony portions of the CG work were less impressive, but acceptable most of the time.

Character wise, Lucy made everybody else look bad. Peter was the worst of the bunch I thought. I don't know if it's warranted because it has some to do with his character, but I didn't think he was a very good actor.

I had mixed feelings about the direction as well. Parts were really interesting, other parts just felt off. The entire movie gave me that feeling. Some awesome stuff, some not good, but still enjoyable overall.

And just because I feel the need to mention it again, Aslan was fucking beautiful.

Kiely · 12-09-2005, 08:26 AM

Must I read the books ? ??? ? ;/

Nebuchadnezzar · 12-09-2005, 09:11 AM

They arn't exactly tough reading if you do decide to, you can get through the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in a few hours.

Spare Oom and War Drobe · 12-09-2005, 03:30 PM

Yeah the book will take 30 minutes to an hour if you want to read it, but you dont need to.
The scene at the stone table was a great example of very detailed costumes and CGI. I also think the armor was well done when you consider its not suppose to be as realistic and gritty as LotR.
Maybe I'm giving too much credit to their art direction.

Hateyou · 12-09-2005, 10:46 PM

I thought it was amazing. Good acting, excellent CGI, very entertaining. My only gripe (and I'm not even sure it would be a good thing) was that it was a bit too short. I think they could've tacked on another 10-20 minutes safely without making it too drawn out.

It just seemed like they traveled too fast, like when they leave the beaver dam then the next shot they are in front of the ice palace. There were a few other times as well, that part just stood out to me. Maybe it would be pointless to add a few extra scenes of them traveling somewhere, but it just seemed sort of awkward to me.

What I do think they should've done was further developed the deep feelings everyone had of Aslan. I remember in the book people seemed to love him very much, and it didn't seem to come across as much on film. I also remember feeling terrible during 'that scene' and it just wasn't as powerful in the movie. They shoulda thrown in another 5-10 minutes of the kids bonding with him or something, I duno.

Other than those extremely minor things, I'd say this movie was perfect.

cyano · 12-10-2005, 12:33 AM

Haven't read the books but i thought it was pretty well done.
Didn't have any expectations going in and i thought it had its good moments and cheesy moments. All in all probably worth seeing.

Zinke · 12-10-2005, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hateyou

I thought it was amazing. Good acting, excellent CGI, very entertaining. My only gripe (and I'm not even sure it would be a good thing) was that it was a bit too short. I think they could've tacked on another 10-20 minutes safely without making it too drawn out.

It just seemed like they traveled too fast, like when they leave the beaver dam then the next shot they are in front of the ice palace. There were a few other times as well, that part just stood out to me. Maybe it would be pointless to add a few extra scenes of them traveling somewhere, but it just seemed sort of awkward to me.

What I do think they should've done was further developed the deep feelings everyone had of Aslan. I remember in the book people seemed to love him very much, and it didn't seem to come across as much on film. I also remember feeling terrible during 'that scene' and it just wasn't as powerful in the movie. They shoulda thrown in another 5-10 minutes of the kids bonding with him or something, I duno.

Other than those extremely minor things, I'd say this movie was perfect.

I agree with the travel and Aslan bonding things. But, the movie was already kind of long for a kid's movie. When Edmund is suddenly at the Ice Palace, which was at the mountains waaaay off in the distance, that made me scrunch up my face and go 'wtf?'. Then, the other kids are there shortly after, and when they are traveling to the frozen river.. Obviously, travel scenes are boring, as shown in Fellowship of the Ring, but they could have done it better.

Digo · 12-10-2005, 01:29 PM

Woah woah woah, Tec.

I know you know movies, so please explain the suckiness before I waste $10 on this.

Zurren · 12-10-2005, 02:21 PM

I thought it was a great movie. Never read the books, but the movie kept me interested from start to finish - dont really think it dragged or felt slow at any point, the 2 and a half hours running time flew by much faster than Harry Potter (which seemed to drag in quite a few spots).

The acting for kids - was pretty good, seen better, seen worse - but they all did better then say, Dakota Fanning (god I hate her, she should of ended up dead in war of the worlds). Lucy was pretty good.

CGI for the most part was stellar (the giants in the war looked a bit bleh and obvious).

But, considering that the movie is PG - and is meant as a childs movie,I wasnt expecting too much of the war, but it ended up being done very well - guess you need to keep in mind it IS a childs movie afterall.

The lion looked great, but they didnt really build enough character development of him, and I didnt really feel that much attachement to him when he died - was just kinda 'oh, thats a bit shitty'.

maybe in the super-extended special edition box-set DVD (not the 1st one that gets released, the super special one that is bound to get released after just in time for some holiday shopping season I'm sure....) will beef it up a bit.

While I could of easily sat there for another half hour or so, near the end of the movie - I noticed ALOT of parents escorting their kids to the bathroom/etc, and quite a few kids who started to walk out, then something flashy would happen on the screen and they'd all run back to their seats.

12-08-2005, 08:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
Grimble Caveman Lawyer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: DC Posts: 523 -4 Internets	Can't wait to see this. I loved the books when I was younger, but haven't read them in ages. I'll be going to see this tomorrow mainly because of WETA and the sweet previews. Let you know what I think later... __________________ Free MP3 Player or $275!

12-09-2005, 01:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
Zanoan I wish I was queer, so I could get chicks Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Denmark Posts: 1,866 -4 Internets	I've seen a few trailers from my latest cinema visits and my friend and I, who never read the books, but intending to, were very impressed. If the story overall itself isn't that great, we're definitely looking forward to seeing the world itself - it's really great to see all the different creatures and so on. It looked very amazing. I'm getting really hyped up. __________________ "It is better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt" - Abraham Lincoln

12-09-2005, 02:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
Bellringer Cackwhore Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Baton Rouge, La Posts: 352 +0 Internets	Just saw it at the midnight showing and it was way better than I imagined. I just wish the fight scene was longer....was so badass. I also thought the lion was done very well. I mean but come on its Llam Nielson...can't spell it. I'd post more but its late as hell and i got to wake up in a few hours. __________________ "I hate myself sometimes, I love myself. I need this way of life, because it holds me" Taproot - I

12-09-2005, 03:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
Teclisen Fires of Heaven Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 144 +4 Internets	So, SO bad. Sad times.

12-09-2005, 05:39 AM	#7 (permalink)
Kiksar X-D Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 828 +4 Internets	It was pretty good. The first half was better than I expected, the second half was worse than I expected (excluding Aslan). The whole thing was a mixed bag, from special effects to characters. Aslan was excellent, most of the miniature work was good, the animation was good throughout, and the battle had its moments, but there were quite a few awkward CG shots and the costumes were for the most part poor. That being said I think it's a bit silly to say Weta did a good job with all of the characters. The designs consisted of a handful of animals and a few fantasy characters that have been well established previously. Further, they didn't touch the CG, and the cyclops and minotaur costumes were super gay. They get due credit for the solid miniature work, but Rhythm and Hues deserves crazy props for coming out left field with most of the solid CG work (Aslan) and ILM handled the animation and some of the battle scene well. The Sony portions of the CG work were less impressive, but acceptable most of the time. Character wise, Lucy made everybody else look bad. Peter was the worst of the bunch I thought. I don't know if it's warranted because it has some to do with his character, but I didn't think he was a very good actor. I had mixed feelings about the direction as well. Parts were really interesting, other parts just felt off. The entire movie gave me that feeling. Some awesome stuff, some not good, but still enjoyable overall. And just because I feel the need to mention it again, Aslan was fucking beautiful. __________________

12-09-2005, 08:26 AM	#8 (permalink)
Kiely He who dares, wins Rodders. Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 1,097 +2 Internets	Must I read the books ? ??? ? ;/ __________________ Ban deep thought.

12-09-2005, 09:11 AM	#9 (permalink)
Nebuchadnezzar Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 1,771 +0 Internets	They arn't exactly tough reading if you do decide to, you can get through the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in a few hours. __________________ I eat grass like an ox and shat like a fox.

12-09-2005, 10:46 PM	#11 (permalink)
Hateyou Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,934	I thought it was amazing. Good acting, excellent CGI, very entertaining. My only gripe (and I'm not even sure it would be a good thing) was that it was a bit too short. I think they could've tacked on another 10-20 minutes safely without making it too drawn out. It just seemed like they traveled too fast, like when they leave the beaver dam then the next shot they are in front of the ice palace. There were a few other times as well, that part just stood out to me. Maybe it would be pointless to add a few extra scenes of them traveling somewhere, but it just seemed sort of awkward to me. What I do think they should've done was further developed the deep feelings everyone had of Aslan. I remember in the book people seemed to love him very much, and it didn't seem to come across as much on film. I also remember feeling terrible during 'that scene' and it just wasn't as powerful in the movie. They shoulda thrown in another 5-10 minutes of the kids bonding with him or something, I duno. Other than those extremely minor things, I'd say this movie was perfect. __________________ NaikoHatezyou.

12-10-2005, 12:33 AM	#12 (permalink)
cyano Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 81 +0 Internets	Haven't read the books but i thought it was pretty well done. Didn't have any expectations going in and i thought it had its good moments and cheesy moments. All in all probably worth seeing.

12-10-2005, 01:29 PM	#14 (permalink)
Digo Ad Hoc Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: orange county Posts: 1,210 +2 Internets	Woah woah woah, Tec. I know you know movies, so please explain the suckiness before I waste $10 on this. __________________ Digo \| Casual

12-10-2005, 02:21 PM	#15 (permalink)
Zurren Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 548 -7 Internets	I thought it was a great movie. Never read the books, but the movie kept me interested from start to finish - dont really think it dragged or felt slow at any point, the 2 and a half hours running time flew by much faster than Harry Potter (which seemed to drag in quite a few spots). The acting for kids - was pretty good, seen better, seen worse - but they all did better then say, Dakota Fanning (god I hate her, she should of ended up dead in war of the worlds). Lucy was pretty good. CGI for the most part was stellar (the giants in the war looked a bit bleh and obvious). But, considering that the movie is PG - and is meant as a childs movie,I wasnt expecting too much of the war, but it ended up being done very well - guess you need to keep in mind it IS a childs movie afterall. The lion looked great, but they didnt really build enough character development of him, and I didnt really feel that much attachement to him when he died - was just kinda 'oh, thats a bit shitty'. maybe in the super-extended special edition box-set DVD (not the 1st one that gets released, the super special one that is bound to get released after just in time for some holiday shopping season I'm sure....) will beef it up a bit. While I could of easily sat there for another half hour or so, near the end of the movie - I noticed ALOT of parents escorting their kids to the bathroom/etc, and quite a few kids who started to walk out, then something flashy would happen on the screen and they'd all run back to their seats.

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