We went and caught a viewing of CHRONICLES OF NARNIA today. For kids, I think it was a pretty good movie. I think back to when I was a little kid and how CLASH OF THE TITANS was the coolest shit on the planet, so NARNIA is probably a great kids flick I'd imagine.However, for the dork 30yr old that I am Today, I found the movie to be quite boring. The costuming and creature work by WETA Workshop was cool, as always. And the acting by the kids was good, too. My only complaint, really, is the slow paced storytelling, which lacks any kind of climatic arcs; it just jumps onto a certain excitement level and stays the course.
The Winter Witch (Tilda Swinton) was, for the most part, the weakest element of the movie. I usually enjoy that actress, but she felt out of place here and slightly confused at what her character was. A large part I think was due to her weak costuming. While the costuming everywhere else was wonderful, hers was simple and downright silly at times. Her costume at the final battle, however, kicked ass (pictured below).
Pretty sweet imagery! Reminds me of Frazetta's Warrior With Polar Bears painting. Wonder which came first? I guess CS Lewis, huh? 
Anyway, back to the movie critique. . . Midway through the film I found myself closing my eyes and wishing the flick would just end so I could leave. Not that it was BAD, but I was personally bored out of my skull. I wish I could vocalize better about this, but can't seem to find the words. Sorry.The final battle is when I finally sat up in my chair and got back into the movie. While it still lacked that certain something the rest of the movie suffered from, it was still probably the best part of the flick. Throughout the movie, there's tons of visual candy to geek on, and this has oodles; Centaurs, minotaurs, and griffins, oh my!!
I should also praise the fx done throughout. Particular kudos to R&H for their animal work, which they've become masters at. The Lion was quite well done. Good job guys!
In the end, the movie felt flat and too simple in its storytelling. I haven't read the book(s), so I don't know where the faults lie; the book, or the movie. But as a movie in itself, I think it failed to achieve the grand ADVENTURE it sought after - sure, the characters and settings for an adventure were there, but the epic adventure itself never truly took off. The movie is filled with numerous missed-opportunities, which could have easily made the movie awesome. Oh well.
Ok, reading over this, I think this review is sounding more harsh than it is. I think its a good matinee flick to catch on the big screen. And, perhaps, upon my next viewing, it will grow on me more. Terra and my parents seemed to like it more than I. *shrug*
So, in the end, as a KIDS FLICK I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
As a JIM CRITIQUE FLICK, I give it 2-3/4 Lil Jimmys out of 5 *
(* 2.5 being middle of the road)
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4 comments:
I agree that the movie lacked that "epic adventure" feeling. What it lacked more is the connection with Aslan. The children LOVED him. The viewers should have loved him as well, but we feel almost no sorrow at his death. Totally undeveloped.
However slow the movie might have moved, it remainded fairly true to the book and therefore deserves kudos. Too often movies fall victim to the ADD American society and cram as much as possible into two hours. (Thereby furthering the problem perhaps?) LOTR had to go 3+ hours in an attempt to cover the basics of the book, this movie should have been longer to have pacing more reflective of the book. HOWEVER, that being said, the pacing would have been better simply if we felt closer to Aslan - making his death quite climactic.
I suggest you slow down and read for a change. You may enjoy the "slow" pace and find yourself better able to appreciate and enjoy life.
:) Just kidding, man.
I agree with Jason...almost to the word. I've read the books and they really did the story justice visually. I was moved a few times, but I'm a sap. I felt the same lack of connection with Aslan that Jason did. They would have to add another 30 minutes of footage to make it work.
That said, I agree with you that R&H did an amazing job with Aslan. I was blown away. Best digital animal from reality I've seen on screen. The guys at R&H gave up their lives for over a year to accomplish it. They also did all of the end battle sequence. Those gryphons with bolders were amazing! Kudos to those guys!
Anyway, I liked the movie...read the book...bla bla bla.
Peace out!
Yeah Aslan looked good,
but man some of the compositing in the first half of the movie... looks like they were standing in front of the Cardboard welcome to narnia sky on the iceshelf. eek!
Tidy bowl water anyone?
And story...
HO HO HO.. here's some weapons...
ohh shit I haven't used my Christmas gift yet.. shoot the wacky/mean troll/dwarf (audience busts out laughing)
But I actually agree the pacing was bad.
Final battle was only a couple of pages in the book? wasn't it? but was at least 1/3 of the movie, but was definitely the best part.
Just need Harold and Kumar in there on one of those cheetahs.
I'll pass on reading this one. The story seemed kinda lame and trite. Plus I got tired of the Christian stuff - Aslan, he is risen! Besides, I'm in the middle of reading Star Wars books! hahaha, ok, I'm not helping myself here.
I agree, though, that the Aslan death scene had zero emotional impact.
Harold & Kumar on cheetahs - funny.
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