We went to see Chronicles of Narnia yesterday. We really enjoyed it. I read the book a long long (long) time ago, but I still remember most of the story. I thought the special effects were excellent. Yes, there were lots of common themes and elements with Tolkein's Lord of the Rings, but they were in the book, it wasn't like they just made it up. Besides, we really like stuff like that.
Some Christian groups are hailing Narnia as a version of the Passion of Christ. In fact, I knew folks that lost their interest in the movie because they didn't want to go to a movie about the Passion story. It really wasn't like that at all. The story works on its own.
The rest of this post might be a spoiler.
- There is a heroic Christ-like figure who sacrifices himself to save another. But Aslan sacrificed himself knowing "by the writing on the stone table" that he would be back. Jesus didn't have that guarrantee.
- Aslan's death and resurrection was a means to outsmart the White Witch, and to eventually kill her. Jesus' death and resurrection respresents a new covenant between God and Man; the forgiveness of sins and the granting of a new start for all people. Jesus wasn't trying to pull one over on anybody. He gave his life to grant the forgiveness of all of our sins.
- In the Christian story, there is but one true King, not four.
- Aslan's promise to return when needed isn't exactly the same as Jesus' promise to return at the Apocalypse,
- Edmund's betrayal was over the promise of sugary pastries. He wasn't a disciple who had sworn un-ending devotion.
Don't get me wrong, the movie still works.
- Personal sacrifice given voluntarily and self-lessly have special meaning.
- Families are powerful sources of strength when times are hard.
- Brothers and sisters forgive and believe in one another.
- Archery is cool and sexy.
- Knives, potions bows, arrows shields and swords make great gifts for kids.
- There's nothing more entertaining than child endangerment.
- Everyone in the movies knows swordplay as a matter of instinct, with no need for training or practice.
I shed a few tears during the sacrifice scene.
When the credits start to roll, don't leave the theater yet. There's a last-minute goodie that everyone in the theater but me and roomie missed because they left when the credits started.
I'm thinking of reading through them all. Did you ever see the animated version, back in the 70's? I seem to remember that it did the book justice, and the sacrifice scene even in animated form really got to me.
The last scene was not really a huge deal. Nothing like waking up with Bob Newhart and Suzanne Pleshette and realizing it was all a dream... cool none-the-less since we were the only ones to see it.
Posted by: Eric | December 15, 2005 at 11:46 AM
We all saw it Sunday and uniformly loved it.
I read it 1st when I was an adult, actually, then read it aloud with the young one. Well, 4 of the 7, anyways. We're presently sidetracked into the Erin Hunter cat warrior books.
Rats! We left right at the credits cuz the little ones had to head for the W.C. But may be we'll go see it again anyways.
Posted by: shrimplate | December 14, 2005 at 04:49 PM