Sunday, May 18, 2008

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian review

Overall, I will say I liked the movie, but I did find it a little too long. Speaking from someone who was already tired from staying up to watch Lost the night before. And then again, it was too long.

Why is it that all these filmmakers have the idea they have to impress their audience with excessive battles and blood? I recall only one battle in the book. The film, in my opinion, lacks the simplicity of the book. Thus, I feel that the movie could have been a lot better that it was.

Unlike the Harry Potter books, I was able to read most of Prince Caspian before the production was released. There are a few things that were added to capture the audience. Those extras did not capture my better opinion of the film. High King Peter and Prince Caspian never have any conflicts. They are both in agreement who shall reign over Narnia. Peter says "I have not come to take your place,you know, but to put you into it." There is no relationship between Susan and the prince, but there did exist a question of who should keep the horn. There was no White Witch, although Nikabrik, the werewolf, and the hag try to summon her by drawing a circle. They die in the process. Lucy, Susan, Peter, and Edmund also have to change their clothes before walking through the door out of Narnia. After all, they would look like "fools" (according to Susan) at the train station, with their royal wardrobe.

The movie definitely has a different sequence than the book. Lucy and the others were able to meet with Aslan before the battle had started (I guess that sense of keeping the faith, when all hope is lost, is added in the movie, which is a nice touch). Prince Caspian, and the kings and queens meet at Aslan's How when the Nikabrik is summoning the witch. Peter sends Edmund along with the giant and the centaur, to request a one-on-one battle with King Miraz. The battle starts when Glozelle stabs his own king. Prince Caspian does not have a shot at Miraz, but Peter is very "gentlemanly" as Edmund puts it not to finish him off!

The movie should have played on the old Narnian characters a bit more. Who is Trumpkin? Why do some of the animals no longer speak? I want to see more of Reepicheep!!! What about Prince Caspian's nurse? She is never mentioned in the movie, but she is healed by Aslan at the end of the book. Instead, we see more evil in the movie than good. Therefore, for me I feel that the movie misses some of the simplicity from the stories Narnia, that any true fan would appreciate.

1 Comments:

  • At 10:55 AM, Blogger Pat R said…

    the makers of Prince Caspian kept to the original story better than i would have expected... i heard they were going to make it into a silly pure-action flick, but thankfully this was not the case

     

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