C.S. Lewis Goes to Kiwi-Land!

[Corinth]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20031219/ap_on_en_mo/film_chronicles_of_narnia_1

See that URL above? That link goes to an article at Yahoo describing how the first Narnia book's being adapted into a movie again--the first time in a generation or so--and that's it's getting shot in New Zealand. I wish the entire project good luck, 'cause they've got a high standard to meet now.

 

[EricNoah]

A very high standard -- both in terms of what LotR achieved and what Narnia fans expect. Narnia is going to require the same mix of high-tech wizardry, excellent casting and acting, and a script that digs out the depth of the story and remains true to the essential themes of the work. A tall, tall order.

Imagine if the first one does well. That's six more Narnia films that could be made. Can you imagine sitting in a theater 10-12 years from now and witnessing the Last Battle? Or maybe in 5 years watching Reepicheep sailing his little boat over the "edge" of the world? Or in 9-10 years witnessing the destruction of the Silver Chair? That kind of gets me goofy.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Five movies... I'm guessing Horse and his Boy will be axed, since it doesn't really... matter, y'know? And Magician's Nephew will either be bypassed entirely, or compressed into a couple of flashbacks or expository narration in one of the other films.

I know some of my old workmates are quite excited - it should mean some guaranteed work for the next seven years or so...

-Hyp.

 

[tmaaas]

A very high standard -- both in terms of what LotR achieved and what Narnia fans expect. Narnia is going to require the same mix of high-tech wizardry, excellent casting and acting, and a script that digs out the depth of the story and remains true to the essential themes of the work. A tall, tall order.

Yes, and this has me concerned. One of the reasons I believe LotR was such a great achievement in film was that Peter Jackson, for all his changes, still strove to hold true to the essence of Tolkien's world and works.

Will they do the same for Narnia, with its more overt Christian allegory?

I'm not worried about them being too strong on the religious elements (don't think there's any chance of this), but I think if they totally gut the heart of Lewis' work, they may end up with good movies, but will lose any chance of making great ones.

I think Narnia will be harder than LotR to get right. A tall, tall order, indeed.

 

[theburningman]

Actually, what I think is going to be the toughest aspect of the stories to translate well to the screen will be the children. Anyone ever seen the BBC version of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe? The little girl who played Lucy has to be one of the most irritating child actors ever. I shudder to think of how easily these movies could be ruined if they don't get the right young actors.

 

[EricNoah]

I shudder to think of how easily these movies could be ruined if they don't get the right young actors.

True dat. They're going to need not one but four little Haley Joel Osments for this puppy. The most challenging role, of course, will be that of Edmund as he goes through the most significant change.

 

[Nightfall]

I saw that. I didn't much care for it EVEN though I thought the production was EXTREMELY well done.

 

[EricNoah]

I have to add that I do want to see Magician's Nephew on the screen at some point. There is some awesome stuff in there that would make a great movie -- the wood between the worlds, the dead world where Jadis is awakened, the birth of Narnia. That's a movie waiting to happen.

 

[Hypersmurf]

True dat. They're going to need not one but four little Haley Joel Osments for this puppy.

Are the ages ever stated (or able to be deduced) from the text?

I guess I've always pictured Peter and Susan at around the 14-15 mark... where it's probably not quite so difficult to find adequate-good actors.

But if Peter's pegged as the eldest at more like 11, then yeah, all four will be tough...

-Hyp.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I have to add that I do want to see Magician's Nephew on the screen at some point. There is some awesome stuff in there that would make a great movie -- the wood between the worlds, the dead world where Jadis is awakened, the birth of Narnia. That's a movie waiting to happen.

I agree... but I also think that if I were doing the series, it's the second one I'd ignore (Horse and his Boy, naturally, being the first).

You have to start with Lion. Starting with Nephew, I think, wouldn't work. And then you're under time pressure to get through to the end of The Last Battle before your Eustace and Jill actors get too old You can keep putting off Nephew because the only actress you're going to reuse is Jadis... and she's less likely to become unuseable for the character in 5-7 years than Eustace.

I think if Nephew gets done as a full-length film in its own right, it will be after they've finished up Battle.

-Hyp.