This forum has been archived. Please visit the new forum at https://community.narniaweb.com/

What's your favorite Narnia film?

Talk about any aspect of the films.

Moderators: The Rose-Tree Dryad, daughter of the King

What's your favorite Narnia film?

Postby jewel » Jan 13, 2014 10:56 am

Thought I ask this. I've heard people pick TLWAW or VOTDT most often. How about you al?
User avatar
jewel
NarniaWeb Nut
 
Posts: 160
Joined: Apr 21, 2013
Location: knoxville
Gender: Male

Re: What's your favorite Narnia film?

Postby Impending Doom » Jan 13, 2014 4:42 pm

VDT as a favourite of the 3 films? It mustn't of been on Narniaweb! ;) If you look at the user ratings on IMDB, LWW is the highest, followed by PC, and then Voyage. And I think the majority of members on Narniaweb also have LWW as their favourite.

Each film has its strength and weaknesses but overall LWW is my favourite film (so far) both from an adaptation and film standpoint.
User avatar
Impending Doom
NarniaWeb Nut
 
Posts: 272
Joined: Oct 05, 2013
Location: Canada
Gender: Male

Re: What's your favorite Narnia film?

Postby Reepicheep775 » Jan 13, 2014 9:30 pm

Definitely LWW. I had some gripes with it, but they were relatively minor. I thought it was a really good adaptation and a beautiful film in its own right.

PC was a mixture as an adaptation, but definitely more good than bad. It probably got some things more right than LWW, but it also got some things more wrong. I thought it was a pretty good stand-alone movie too, but weaker than the first.

VDT was a cringe-worthy adaptation and just not a good film.
Image
User avatar
Reepicheep775
NarniaWeb Junkie
 
Posts: 839
Joined: Aug 20, 2007
Location: Canada
Gender: Male

Re: What's your favorite Narnia film?

Postby King_Erlian » Jan 14, 2014 2:54 am

I would rank LWW first, then VDT, and PC last. I was more annoyed by the changes to PC than by those to VDT. Though one thing I thought was brilliant in PC was the depiction of Miraz. He went from being merely a grumpy old so-and-so in the book to a real villain you loved to hate.
User avatar
King_Erlian
NarniaWeb Guru
 
Posts: 1663
Joined: Feb 03, 2012
Location: Northern England
Gender: Male

Re: What's your favorite Narnia film?

Postby Reepicheep775 » Jan 14, 2014 7:35 am

King_Erlian wrote:I would rank LWW first, then VDT, and PC last. I was more annoyed by the changes to PC than by those to VDT. Though one thing I thought was brilliant in PC was the depiction of Miraz. He went from being merely a grumpy old so-and-so in the book to a real villain you loved to hate.


Last time I read Prince Caspian, I was surprised at how little Miraz is actually in the book. I really liked how the movie fleshed out Miraz, Glozelle, and Sopespian. Making Glozelle (i.e. "Sopespian", since their characters were essentially switched in the movie) more sympathetic was probably the most interesting choice.

It's easier for me to forgive the changes in PC, because they're so much fun to discuss. You can tell a lot of thought was put into restructuring the plot while still maintaining the essence... unlike VDT, which feels like the script was put together in a few days.
Image
User avatar
Reepicheep775
NarniaWeb Junkie
 
Posts: 839
Joined: Aug 20, 2007
Location: Canada
Gender: Male

Re: What's your favorite Narnia film?

Postby jesus-aslan freak » Jan 14, 2014 12:21 pm

I honestly enjoyed all of them. Voyage of the Dawn Treader is definitely my least favorite, but I didn't hate it. I think the reason that I don't hate it, and still enjoy it when I watch it is that is good, visually. The sea serpent battle was awesome, and visually it captured the magical images that are in the book. But, honestly, everything else was pretty bad.
Prince Caspian is certainly the most well-made film. The cinematography was beautiful, the locations and sets were stunning, the CG improved upon the revolutionary work done in LWW, and it was a much more action-packed, dramatic, and intriguing film. It was also, I think, the best adaptation of the books so far. By adaptation, I don't mean sticking to every little thing in the books as possible. Adaptation's actual definition is something that "changed or modified to suit new conditions or needs". Prince Caspian does that! I of course am not a big fan of what they did with Susan and Caspian, but otherwise it was great!
Honestly, though, my favorite is LWW. Maybe its nostalgia, maybe its the fact that it got so many details from the book right, like the fly on the window seal, and the roots on the lamppost. Or maybe its the fact that though it butchered up many of the core themes of the book, and didn't have Aslan's resurrection as the climax of the film, it still gave me the same sense of magic that I get when reading the book. The fact that it captured perfectly the emotions of the characters, and the wonder of a little girl opening up a wardrobe to find herself in a magical world. Maybe its Tilda Swinton's stunning performance as the White Witch, or the fact that the four children embodied the children in the book, and James McAvoy became Mr. Tumnus, and it was the first time I heard Liam Neeson's voice as Aslan's. Somehow, the climax was thrilling, and the end fulfilling and magical. All in all, I've got to say is that "The Silver Chair" movie has got to do something really special if it can top "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe".
For Aslan!
jesus-aslan freak
NarniaWeb Regular
 
Posts: 11
Joined: Jun 16, 2012
Gender: Male

Re: What's your favorite Narnia film?

Postby jewel » Jan 14, 2014 1:14 pm

Thank you all so much for these replies. Some of your answers somewhat surprised me, but I thought LWW would pretty well be everyone's favorite. As jesus-aslan freak put it: The Silver Chair will have to be something really special to top LWW. Thank you all again. I wish I could see each of you in person. I is so cool to meat Narnia fans and like minded people. :ymhug:
User avatar
jewel
NarniaWeb Nut
 
Posts: 160
Joined: Apr 21, 2013
Location: knoxville
Gender: Male

Re: What's your favorite Narnia film?

Postby narnia fan 7 » Jan 14, 2014 5:20 pm

LWW is my favorite film so far I have some minor problems with it but overall is a good adaptation and a good film.

PC is also a good film and a good adaptation (for the most part) I think it did a better job then LWW in terms of adapting the themes from the book

VDT was a absolute disaster in my opinion both in terms of an adaptation and as a movie which was especially disappointing sense VDT is my favorite book
User avatar
narnia fan 7
NarniaWeb Guru
 
Posts: 1133
Joined: Mar 12, 2010
Location: United States
Gender: Male

Re: What's your favorite Narnia film?

Postby DamselJillPole » Jan 17, 2014 3:58 pm

LWW is my all time favorite of them. Silver Chair can easily take number 1 if it's done right. I do like the other films a lot but with LWW I never have to worry about cringing at something.
Image
Long Live King Caspian & Queen Liliandil Forever!
Jill+Tirian! Let there be Jilrian!
User avatar
DamselJillPole
NarniaWeb Fanatic
 
Posts: 4707
Joined: Jan 14, 2010
Location: A couple of Films here and there.
Gender: Female

Re: What's your favorite Narnia film?

Postby truthherald2011 » Jan 24, 2014 9:09 pm

Definitely LWW for the meaning and rich symbolism throughout. But, a recent review of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader caused me to appreciate the very Narnia-quality present throughout the film----an atmosphere I personally felt lacking in Prince Caspian (for all of its laudable attention to warfare and intensity). VDT couples adventure WITH the childlike spirit of Lewis' books---in my opinion, very well. I think it was rather underrated. Overall, every one of the films has been entertaining and true enough to the spirit of the books. I am anticipating The Silver Chair; I only wish I didn't have to wait years still for its arrival to the big-screen :(.
User avatar
truthherald2011
NarniaWeb Newbie
 
Posts: 5
Joined: Aug 09, 2013
Gender: Female

Re: What's your favorite Narnia film?

Postby Son of Tash » Jan 25, 2014 3:34 am

i would say Prince Caspian(i would give it a 9.5) then LWW and VDT coming second (9.0)
Image
In the name of Tash,My Lord and King of Darkness
User avatar
Son of Tash
NarniaWeb Regular
 
Posts: 11
Joined: Jan 18, 2014
Gender: Male

Re: What's your favorite Narnia film?

Postby Lion's Emblem » Feb 01, 2014 10:40 pm

LWW (great), PC (good), VDT (what were they thinking?). Done.
Image
Sig by Dernhelm_of_Rohan
NWsis to eves_daughter & ForeverFan
User avatar
Lion's Emblem
NarniaWeb Fanatic
 
Posts: 4667
Joined: Apr 27, 2007
Location: Narnia

Re: What's your favorite Narnia film?

Postby Thunder-Fist » Feb 03, 2014 4:59 pm

Prince Caspian is the best movie of the three, if you separate it in your mind from the books. Despite some ridiculous changes and some horrific dialogue, in my opinion it stands as the most re-watchable. To this day I don't understand why people dislike the dark tone. My biggest complaint is something I don't see a lot of people talk about. The time spent searching the island, discovering the ruins, the realization about the passage of time, all that was cut so short it really had no impact. And yes, Peter, Suspian, Epic Battle, we've all heard that before.

LWW is a closer literal adaptation of the story, but stylistically it wasn't quite right. Narnia felt unreal, or like it was created just so the Pevensies could go visit. That being said, I adored it when I first saw it.

VDT was neither a good adaptation, nor a good movie. I won't go into why I feel that way, that would be beating a (very) dead horse. Oddly, most small children I've asked like this one best. I suppose the filmmakers focused their target audience more tightly and excluded some of us ('some of us' meaning fans of the book, and fans of good movies.)

All that to say PC and LWW tied, though for very different reasons, and VDT trailing far behind.
"When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.” -C.S. Lewis
Thunder-Fist
NarniaWeb Regular
 
Posts: 23
Joined: Jan 20, 2014
Location: Anvard
Gender: Male

Re: What's your favorite Narnia film?

Postby wild rose » Feb 05, 2014 1:45 pm

I had to go back and forth between LWW and PC but in the end LWW won. The reason for that was in PC I just didn't like the way Peter was portrayed and that ruined the film for me. I still love the movie, but Peter's snobby attitude made LWW take first place in my mind's rating. I have almost no issues with LWW at all, and I am very pleased with it as a film. PC take second place, and really, if it hadn't been for Peter it would most certainly been a tie with LWW. VDT is last for me. I really can't stand just about 95% of the film. I've only watched it once since it came out on DVD and that was enough for me ;))
Image
The ends must never justify the means, the means must justify themselves--Ravi Zacharias
sig by Meltintalle
User avatar
wild rose
Moderator
The Guardian of Sundays
 
Posts: 3732
Joined: Oct 26, 2009
Location: over the hills and far away
Gender: Female

Re: What's your favorite Narnia film?

Postby aileth » Feb 05, 2014 11:23 pm

I'm still torn between LWW and PC. If LWW hadn't been good, I wouldn't have watched the other two. But the cinematography of PC is quite excellent, from the point of view of someone who really doesn't watch movies at all.

I ended up ripping the discs to my computer and doing some editing, so the versions I rewatch are shorter. PC, though, retained the most material.

As someone said about VDT, if it had been longer, with more character development, it would have been a better movie. I find that making it shorter has the same effect - removing all the parts I didn't like (most of the green mist bits, etc.)
Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away ... my days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle
Image
User avatar
aileth
Moderator
Peripatetic powder-room sub
 
Posts: 828
Joined: Jan 02, 2014
Location: Beautiful British Columbia
Gender: Female

Re: What's your favorite Narnia film?

Postby jewel » Feb 08, 2014 10:38 am

I agree with Truth herald that Dawn Treader brought back some of the Narnia feel that was in the first. :)
User avatar
jewel
NarniaWeb Nut
 
Posts: 160
Joined: Apr 21, 2013
Location: knoxville
Gender: Male

Next

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest