Chronicles of Narnia -- reactions?
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 11:52 pm
I didn't go to see King Kong (I'm not a Peter Jackson fan I'm afraid). Instead I went to see THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE.
I'm impressed. It admittedy lacks the atmosphere of the Harry Potter films, but the casting was right-on, particularly in the case of Georgie Henley as Lucy (who really steals the show). Also appreciated that the kids were not only British, but *looked* British (and not like a bunch of Californians with faux English accents).
James Cosmo's cameo was also fabulous, tho I don't want to give too much away regarding his character. Suffice to say I was wondering *how* they were going to depict this character without him seeming ridiculous (especially at this time of year) but it really worked perfectly. Liam Neeson lends his noble vocals to Aslan the Lion, while Tilda Swinton is appropriately cold and menacing as the White Witch.
I do feel some elements got the short shrift tho. The film overall should have been a little longer and developed things a little more. I also felt the characters did not seem sufficinently shocked to find themselves in another world, and the older siblings too-quickly accepted the existance of another world, talking beasts, etc. Also the "White Witch" has WHITE skin in the book (not the normal flesh-tones as in the film).
Harry Gregson-Williams' score was *pleasant* but dramatically not too effective, and too subdued and unceremontious in moments of major dramatic import, like the entance into Narnia, while the battle scene just sounded like Han Zimmer.
By and large New Zealand was put to better use here than in LOTR, and kudos to DP John McAlpine for refraining from using "bleach bypass" processing or tinting the film green (as its about time filmmakers jettisoned those now-tired novelties). In all this was a film with real heart, where one cares about the characters, all of whom come-off as real three-dimensional people (even if some of them are animals).
Bring-on PRINCE CASPIAN!
Paul
I'm impressed. It admittedy lacks the atmosphere of the Harry Potter films, but the casting was right-on, particularly in the case of Georgie Henley as Lucy (who really steals the show). Also appreciated that the kids were not only British, but *looked* British (and not like a bunch of Californians with faux English accents).
James Cosmo's cameo was also fabulous, tho I don't want to give too much away regarding his character. Suffice to say I was wondering *how* they were going to depict this character without him seeming ridiculous (especially at this time of year) but it really worked perfectly. Liam Neeson lends his noble vocals to Aslan the Lion, while Tilda Swinton is appropriately cold and menacing as the White Witch.
I do feel some elements got the short shrift tho. The film overall should have been a little longer and developed things a little more. I also felt the characters did not seem sufficinently shocked to find themselves in another world, and the older siblings too-quickly accepted the existance of another world, talking beasts, etc. Also the "White Witch" has WHITE skin in the book (not the normal flesh-tones as in the film).
Harry Gregson-Williams' score was *pleasant* but dramatically not too effective, and too subdued and unceremontious in moments of major dramatic import, like the entance into Narnia, while the battle scene just sounded like Han Zimmer.
By and large New Zealand was put to better use here than in LOTR, and kudos to DP John McAlpine for refraining from using "bleach bypass" processing or tinting the film green (as its about time filmmakers jettisoned those now-tired novelties). In all this was a film with real heart, where one cares about the characters, all of whom come-off as real three-dimensional people (even if some of them are animals).
Bring-on PRINCE CASPIAN!
Paul
