Just watched Narnia (Possible spoilers)

[Thornir Alekeg]

Narnian Monopoly? (groan)

Park Place = the Stone Table
Boardwalk = Cair Parvail (sp?)

Instead of Jail, you get turned to stone.
Get out of Jail Free cards are "Aslan's Breath"

Income Tax space = Enjoy some Turkish Delight

 

[Truth Seeker]

I will ignore this thread...not to be spoiled. See movie this weekend.

 

[Fenris]

Allegory exists regardless of whether the author states it does.

Evil is in the eye of the beholder huh?
Well then YOU can find allegory in anything and another cannot. Does mean it exists, just exists for you and your perception of reality.

Because really Narnia is an allegory for Ahura-Mazda and Mitra whether the author stated it or not.

 

[Firebeetle]

Gandalf as Christ

Didn't think I was dotty in this, there is plenty of thinking in this direction. Some relate to the book, some to the movie:

http://www.leaderu.com/humanities/wood-classic.html

http://www.scifimoviepage.com/art_overrated_2003_1.html

http://www.frimmin.com/movies/lotr.html

http://www.ignatiusinsight.com/features2005/pkreeft_christlotr_nov05.asp

According to much of this, there is a threefold Christ in LotR.

Frodo= Christ the Redeemer
Gandalf= Christ the Prophet
Aragon= Christ the King

Interesting take on things.

 

[CrusaderX]

I just came back from the theater. I'd rate it a solid 9/10. It was absolutely amazing, though it did drag a bit in a few parts. But it could improve over multiple viewings.

The four child actors were all excellent, and the battle scenes were much more intense than I thought they would be. The lead centaur who fought with two swords was very cool, and the fight involving Peter vs. The White Witch was quite good.

The Christian imagery was clearly there, but it didn't beat you over the head with it. I was a bit disappointed that there was no "Emperor-beyond-the-sea" reference, though it has been so long since I read the book that I can't remember exactly where and when it was mentioned in the story.

I beleive that the Narnia trailers had a few scenes that weren't in the final film, so bring on the DVD! I'll be buying it for sure.

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

Regarding the whole allegory thing...

If an author is trying to get a message through in his book, he's trying to communicate with you. If you get something out of the book other than what he wanted you too, you misinterpreted it. If the message the author was trying to get to you is, "hey look, I wrote a cool story!" and you get something else out of it, like an allegory or a book of sexual innuendo and symbolism, you interpreted it wrong. It's just like any other form of communication, if you don't get the message the sender is trying to give you, either the sender failed to communicate well or you failed to interpret it well. Either way, the message is the same, even if that message is, "here is my cool story, why not read it and buy more of my books?"

The idea that everything has a purpose and symbolism is foolhardy. The idea that you know more about what an author wrote than he or she does is arrogant. The fact that a majority of the establishment may agree matters not one whit.

IMHO and all that, of course. Feel free to disagree.

 

[Wormwood]

According to much of this, there is a threefold Christ in LotR.

Bah. Everyone knows that Smeagol died for our sins.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

Regarding the whole allegory thing...

If an author is trying to get a message through in his book, he's trying to communicate with you. If you get something out of the book other than what he wanted you too, you misinterpreted it. If the message the author was trying to get to you is, "hey look, I wrote a cool story!" and you get something else out of it, like an allegory or a book of sexual innuendo and symbolism, you interpreted it wrong. It's just like any other form of communication, if you don't get the message the sender is trying to give you, either the sender failed to communicate well or you failed to interpret it well. Either way, the message is the same, even if that message is, "here is my cool story, why not read it and buy more of my books?"

The idea that everything has a purpose and symbolism is foolhardy. The idea that you know more about what an author wrote than he or she does is arrogant. The fact that a majority of the establishment may agree matters not one whit.

IMHO and all that, of course. Feel free to disagree.

why thank you, I think I will.

First of all authors may be influenced by and present ideas that they would honestly claim weren't meant to be part of their story. To give an extreme example, suppose Bob the writer has a story in which two male supporting characters live together, show up at "family" events together, etc. Folks reading the book decide the characters are gay. Bob the writer is insulted at the very idea, the characters are composites of his brother (and said brother's good friend) and a couple of fellows he knew in college. Now if, in reality, both of those examples are in fact gay, who is right? The author who envisions them as confirmed bachelors, or the readers who see a gay couple as supporting characters?

Second of all, allegory can just being a way to say that one story maps well to another. It doesn't (imho) have the same strict meaning of intentional message as say a parable or a homage does. A story could be an allegory for something that doesn't happen until after the story is written if it maps well and is evokative of the same themes.

And third of all sometimes authors really aren't honest about their creative process. I don't know why, I think some want to be super mysterious and get annoyed when the raw craft behind their beautiful art is examined. JMS for instance was known to spin a elaborate line of BS on how B5 turned out exactly as he had planned the five year arc when practical concerns threw monkey wrenches in things on several occasions. He also either gave out misinformation or changd his mind on background details.

While statements of intent may be helpful, a work of fiction stands alone, and what is taken from it is the perogative of the reader. If thats not what the author meant, too bad, thats what he created. (I think there is a Penny Arcade on this subject.

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

Your reasons are convincing, Kahuna Burger. Allow me to change my opinion to one more moderate: I'll trust the auther's view over that of someone else, especially a pompous chap who disregards the author's statements (not referring to anyone in particular here).

I still feel that if the author is trying to say something in particular, and the reader doesn't get it, it's a failure of the reader or the author, and not equally valid to the author's intent.

 

[KenM]

I just got back from seeing it. I give it a 7.5 out of 10. Pros: Really good acting. Cool to see the fantasy monsters brought to life. Decent battle/ action scenes.
Cons: it drags in places. I also thought it ended really fast after they go back through the wardrobe at the end. IIRC, in the book there is more with the professor and stuff at the end.