Prince Caspian
Last night, we went to see the new Narnia movie, Prince Caspian. I’ve read these books so many times, I sort of thought I had them memorized, but I found myself wondering if something drastic had changed or not.
And something had changed…in the books, though there were battles, it seems that the Pevinses had a smaller body count. Also, there wasn’t the level of discord among them that appears in the film. That discord is important, because it flavors the entire film. There’s a feeling between Peter and Edmund, a feeling of Peter having to prove himself, over and over, and often not quite getting it right. Also, there’s that same feeling between Peter and Caspian, like they’re struggling for power. It flavors and nuances the film. It gives it one of its central dramas. And it wasn’t in the book.
I once heard a filmmaker on the radio, discussing the process of taking a book and making it into a film. It’s no easy feat, as the two mediums are quite different. He said that the thing to do was to pretty much gut the book, and work mostly for a film with the same feel to it. With Prince Caspian, it seemed to me that they did the opposite. They changed the feel of the story, and kept many scenes, so while watching it, you feel like you’re seeing something that’s just a little bit off…but then you see a scene, and you think, “oh, yes, I remember that…”, and it throws you off a bit.
So, assuming that that’s ok, that the folks making the film didn’t find the central drama in the book to be interesting enough, or translatable enough, for their movie, and needed to add some inner conflict and depth, was the movie good? Did we enjoy it? I would say that I enjoyed it, but I didn’t love it. I thought it was beautiful to watch, well filmed and well acted. But I didn’t find myself caught up in the story, and I think the changes in the feel of the story made it different enough that it was distracting, and took away from what it might have been.
Having said all of that, I’m very glad to have seen it, and I would recommend it to anyone. There has been some talk about the amount of death in the film, and I agree with that, especially with the number of deaths brought about by the Pevinces. But it’s a war film at heart, and the deaths are bloodless, to the point where Peter can run his sword through a man, and it comes out clean.
I hope they are able to keep up the films…Prince Caspian was one of my least favorite of the books, and Voyage of the Dawn Treader was one of my very favorites, being less about battles and more about adventure. So I’m looking forward to that, hopefully.
18 Comments
Py Korry
I thought it was a good film, too. But where was Father Christmas? Where was Mr. Tumnis? Oh, that’s right,1300 years had come to pass between the first film and the second.
lilalia
Glad to hear that the film is worth seeing. I’ve often wondered whether the books hold any sort of meaning now for kids and teenagers? And to film such books… must be very difficult since the narratives move, in comparison, along archaic lines of good and evil. I never realized the religious connotations to the author’s writing. I naively though the stories were just about adventure…
--Deb
I haven’t seen either of the Narnia films but I adored the books when I was little. I’m very particular about the film “interpretations” of books that I love, though, because for me, it’s all about capturing the feel of the book. I can handle plot points and characters being changed or dropped if it makes things too complicated, but I want to feel like the film makers at least READ the books. The Lord of the Rings movies, for example, were great, even if I had a few plot-point quibbles, but they felt absolutely right. The Narnia movies, though? I’ve watched the ads and just don’t feel convinced that they’re not going to make me run screaming from the theater… (grin)
Chrissy
Oh! I have been looking forward to seeing Prince Caspian! Unfortunately, the nearest movie theater to the Island is two hours away! Gah!
I agree with what Deb said, but am intrigued to see how true to the story they were. Often when it comes to great books being turned into movies, I feel very cheated and as though the films almost never do justice to the books.
Apart from Lord of the Rings, I don’t know if I can recall any movies doing justice to the original works. Can you?
J
They weren’t that true to the story either, actually. There were scenes that were kept, but were kind of out of context, it felt like. And the timeline was squidged a bit as well.
Still, I liked it. Didn’t love it, but I did like it.
Starshine
Hubs and I are going to see it soon. I have only read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, so I won’t have much to compare this film to. Good points made in this review, though. I loved the first movie. 🙂
B
I’m jealous that you’ve already seen the movie! Some feel that this is the weakest book in the series so it will be intersting to see how well it plays out in a film.
“Voyage of the Dawn Treader” is my favorite as well…I love the transformation that takes place in Eustace and Repicheep’s passion to see Aslan’s country.
Chrissy
Yes! You are so right! They weren’t totally true to the story, but it still amazed me at how well the movies were made. I’d imagine it would be a huge undertaking to recreate Tolkien’s works. That is certainly a job I would never want, for fear of messing up! (I know, how little faith have ye!)
Oh, I don’t think I ever mentioned this, but I won tickets to the advanced screening of The Fellowship of the Ring and a pair of VIP passes to a schmooze fest at Casa Loma (a “castle” in Toronto). Upon arrival at Casa Loma, guests were greeted by four of the Nazgûl/Dark Riders on their horses. The castle was decorated with a Middle Earth theme, people were in full costume, and we were served dishes from New Zealand and given tours of the costumes and props used in the films.
I won the tickets by being the super geek that I am! LOL! There was a contest requiring contestants to write why they ought to be worthy of a visit to Middle Earth. *sigh* Alas, my true inner geek reveals itself! 😉
Geeeeez! Sorry for such a lengthy comment! I just get so involved in your posts!
Hope you guys are all doing well, J 🙂 There’s a little shout out for you on my blog.
Jess
Hey Jules! I too loved those books as a child…
(PS: the book won’t be at Target ’til June 19…but it’ll be in other bookstores tomorrow. 🙂 Sorry about that! Sort of a ‘staggered release,’ so to speak…)
J
Thanks for the heads up, Jess…I was planning on getting Q-Tips along with the book tomorrow, but I guess they’ll have to wait! 😉
Jimmy
OK….we’re even…..I couldn’t get into “Prince Caspian”, and you couldn’t get into my “Redstate Update” Youtube clip!!!!!!!!LOL!!!!!
I couldn’t resist that plug…te he he!!!!
Angie
We want to see this too. We’ve read the books and are anxious to see the movie. Although, the kids weren’t so crazy about the first one – they liked the books better.
Thanks for the review!
Jimmy
Darn……..does this mean I gotta read Prince Caspian? I’ve only gotta 5th grade education!LOL!!!
You are truly a good sport!!!!!PY too!
J
No Jimmy, you’re off the hook. 😉 If you were going to read one, not that you’re asking, but I would suggest either “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”, or “The Magician’s Nephew”…and actually, I may like “The Magician’s Nephew” a tiny bit more than “The Lion, etc.” Good Stuff, and you don’t need to have read the others to enjoy it. For “Prince Caspian”, you need the background of “The Lion”, and it’s not my favorite of the books anyway. Or, you could just watch the movies! 🙂
Jimmy
Darn, I ain’t got time to read or watch movies. I’ll wait till the “Lion” comes on the regular channels. I’m cheap too!LOL!!!!!!
I saw “The Witch”…..we are talking about Hillary aren’t we?
Hmmmmm….The Magician’s Nephew?….could be Obama!!!!
At least he’s likeable!!!!!
Oh…..I know who you would call “The Witch” ( of course the “W” would be replaced with a “B”)……I can’t mention her name!!!!!!
What can I say?…..I’m sittin here drinkin’ a beer and eatin’ prunes?????? Been one of those days….my whole frikkin’ world has been constipated today!!!!!!
J
Jimmy, we may not agree politically, but I do believe you’re right about the B person (assuming it’s she who must not be named), and you always make me laugh. I hope the prunes help quickly, but not TOO quickly, if you know what I mean!
I try some of those high fiber cereals when I have that problem. They can be yummy with some blueberries in them. Good luck!
Jimmy
Oh Lawd!!!!!!!I just had a vision!!!!!
I was thinkin bout “The Magician’s Nephew”
What was it Al Sharpton, or Jesse Jackson called Obama?
“The Magic Nephew”????????
Jimmy
Oh, and I’m thinkin’ the constipation might be from hangin’ upside down on the inversion table too much? I swear I feel like I’m full up to the neck. I believe my intestines have wrapped around my brain????!!!!!