This film version of the movie is my favourite. Based on the second book of the series, I think it does very well with the story-line, though it has been a while since I've stopped to read it. Either way, I enjoy this movie, and wished that I had sat down to watch it again sooner. I used to watch it over and over when I was younger, but it seems I've not touched this one for quite a few years.
One thing that occurred to me while I was watching this was how the people of Narnia had no idea what a human was at first glance, but they seemed to remember that humans existed before. And humans did exist in Narnia prior to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - they were brought there by Aslan himself at the dawn of Narnia's creation. But they all seem to have left and/or died out, and the only known human population exists down in Calormen.
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| Calormen, to the south of Narnia, separated from Narnia by Archenland. |
C.S. Lewis was very meticulous with the contents and themes of his stories.
What I love most about The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the fact that it's an allegory to Christ's crucifiction. In both the book and the film of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, before Aslan opens up a portal to Earth through the stationary tsunami (or sky, as it was described in the book), this conversation happens:
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"It isn't Narnia, you know," sobbed Lucy. "It's you. We shan't meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?"
"But you shall meet me, dear one," said Aslan.
"Are - are you there too, Sir?" said Edmund.
"I am," said Aslan. "But there I have another name. "You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there." '
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In this conversation that I decided to borrow from the fifth book of the Narnia series, it hints at the fact that Aslan is actually Jesus, and that he decided to take on the form of a lion in order to guide four children. When I say that The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is an allegory to the crucifiction is because Aslan died on the stone table (which represents the cross), taking Edmund's place like Christ took on our sins so we could be forgiven ^u^
I love ever aspect of this movie, despite the fact that it shortened the story-line a bit because it was obvious that they didn't want to make the movie as long as, say, The Lord of the Rings. And if they added all the details in the movie probably wouldn't have been suitable for kids and the rating might have not been a mere "PG" - and might have inched closer to "PG-13". Or dare I say. "R" like the third extended Hobbit movie (though it probably wouldn't have made it that far since they probably still kept the gore low key)?
I chose to review this as a Period Drama because the Pevensie children originate from World War II London. Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy were evacuated from their home in London (I always assumed it was London since it was being bombed, though I could be wrong). The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe exists as a high fantasy that exists in both the WWII era and the medieval era.
As a parting note I would like to say: even after all these years, I still like how the phoenix was summoned during the battle. And I can't wait to watch and review Prince Caspian!
The thing with humans in Narnia always confused me too - because in 'Horse and His Boy' you've got the Archenlanders as well and that's right on the doorstep. Thought the film was a good adaptation although they made Peter really annoying! Great review :)
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