Weta does Narnia?
Dec. 31st, 2003 05:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jducoeurSo according to this story being forwarded by SCAToday, Weta Workshop (Peter Jackson's company) is tackling Narnia.
On the one hand, I'm very intrigued. I adore the Narnia books, and the prospect of someone doing the whole series is very appealing to me. But they say that they're planning five movies, which worries me a little, in that it probably means that they're leaving out The Magician's Nephew (my personal favorite). And I have to wonder how they're going to handle the religious subtext. I mean, you can't ignore the fact that this story is largely-undisguised Christian allegory. If they try to whitewash that, it'll gut the story. If they don't, they risk getting slammed by both the left and right.
Still and all, I wish them the best. It's good to see classic fantasy getting some respect, and Narnia deserves it...
On the one hand, I'm very intrigued. I adore the Narnia books, and the prospect of someone doing the whole series is very appealing to me. But they say that they're planning five movies, which worries me a little, in that it probably means that they're leaving out The Magician's Nephew (my personal favorite). And I have to wonder how they're going to handle the religious subtext. I mean, you can't ignore the fact that this story is largely-undisguised Christian allegory. If they try to whitewash that, it'll gut the story. If they don't, they risk getting slammed by both the left and right.
Still and all, I wish them the best. It's good to see classic fantasy getting some respect, and Narnia deserves it...
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Allegory
Date: 2003-12-31 04:44 pm (UTC)Well, *adults* can't ignore it. I had read the Narnia books twice or more through, before someone told me (when I was around 14) they were Christian allegory. And I was raised very Episcopalian.
Personally, I'm willing to give WETA a chance, provided they're using Pauline Baynes (sp) illustrations as a starting point!
The LoTR movies haven't been too bad, after all. But if they're a superlative 10, the books are still a 15 on that scale, imho.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-01 07:06 am (UTC)I read the series multiple times while growing up, and never had anyone point it out as Christian allegory till I was in college. Maybe I was just obtuse...but maybe the series can be made without people feeling that they're being bludgeoned with religous symbolism.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-01 09:16 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-01 12:44 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-01 12:40 pm (UTC)Narnia has always been a most acceptible way of presenting Christianity, to the left. The right, well, I expect the right will tear itself apart arguing whether or not it's god or the devil behind Narnia/WETA. That should be fun to watch.
As to what they're dropping, well, if I were a movie maker, I might punt _Prince Caspian_ actually. _A Horse and His Boy_ strikes me as good movie material, even though it is somewhat incongruous in the series.
Oh well. Doesn't matter. As far as I'm concerned, the announcement is that WETA is making _The Voyage of the Dawn Treader_, and, oh yeah, some other books. ;)
i
(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-02 07:44 am (UTC)Can I be Tumnus?