Nothing happens the same way twice

[vovat]

Man, I just got my car's windshield replaced, and there's already bird crap and pollen all over it. Can't I have a clean one for just a few days?

In other news, bethje and I saw Prince Caspian yesterday. The movie opens with Caspian making a daring nighttime escape from his castle, with Miraz's soldiers hot on his trail. Remember that from the book? If you do, it might be time to read it again, because it didn't happen. And that pretty much sums up my main problem with the film. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was a largely faithful adaptation, but Caspian takes a lot of liberties with the story. Now, I have to admit that it's probably the least interesting book in the series, so I guess I can't blame the filmmakers too much for wanting to spruce it up a little. But aren't there other ways to spruce up a fantasy story than throwing in one extra-textual epic battle scene after another? I guess it's still true that violence is what sells in the movie business. That and sex, and they sort of put in the PG equivalent of that by having Susan flirt with and kiss Caspian. And yet, with all of these additions, the part with Aslan and Bacchus journeying through the land righting wrongs and restoring nature wasn't there at all. I found that to be one of the most memorable parts of the book, and one of the ones that would be the most interesting to see on film, so go figure that they didn't see fit to include it. I'm hoping that their decision to make so many changes was just because Caspian was a relatively dull book, and that they'll return to a more textually faithful approach with the next film.

For all of my complaints about the story, though, I did find the film to be quite visually appealing, and I liked most of the new characters. I'm sure no one is surprised to learn that Reepicheep is the character I was most eager to see on screen, and I think his portrayal was very successful. The hag and the river-god were cool, even if they showed up at the wrong times in the story. I did find it a bit weird that the female centaurs were wearing what appeared to be tank tops, but I guess I can't think of any better way for a children's film to have shown them (well, other than just showing only male centaurs). They also seem to be using minotaurs quite heavily in these films, and while I like minotaurs (I mean, look at the icon I'm using) and don't mind their presence in Narnia (I don't think Lewis ever mentioned them, but it would seem that just about any mythological being would be appropriate in a fantasy land that already has fauns, nymphs, dwarves, centaurs, gnomes, Father Time, Bacchus, and Santa Claus), I have to wonder if they're trying to use them in place of the giants. I guess I'll get my fill of giants in The Silver Chair, though, assuming that: 1) it gets made, and 2) they don't decide to change Harfang into a city of minotaurs. {g}

And before I leave Narnia, I have to ask a question that's always bugged me about the period between Lion and Caspian. The former makes a big deal out of restoring human rulers to Narnia, yet Aslan brings the Pevensies back to England with no recorded heirs remaining behind. So who ruled Narnia in between their departure and the Telmarine conquest?

Also, happy belated birthday to annarama!

Comments

[jenhime.livejournal.com]

I want to see Prince Caspian, but I was kind of confused why they would choose that book to make a movie out of. Even Horse and His Boy (which everyone I know hates, except for me) would have been better for adaptation, I think.

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

I loved Horse and His Boy, too! It might be second to Dawn Treader in my favorite...-ness.

Yeah, I really don't remember many details of Caspian, so the good news is I probably won't be annoyed by changes. But it's probably going to be a long while before I see it!

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Horse is a favorite of mine as well. I tend to like stories that involve a journey, and Dawn Treader, Silver Chair, and Horse are the three Narnia books that best fit that mold. It does seem like a bit of an odd retcon to have such a significant human population in the Narnian world at the time of the Pevensies' reign, but I guess that's sort of hinted at towards the end of Lion.

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

On the other hand, I didn't really like Silver Chair that much! Ooo, on the Horn Book blog this week there was this discussion about the reading order of the books, and then he posted the page where the magazine now advocated for publication order, along with (this is the cool part), the reviews of each book that the magazine had run when they first came out! I think it's cool reading what people said at the time about things that are now classics. But that reviewer didn't like Horse and His Boy so much, :P.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

On the other hand, I didn't really like Silver Chair that much!

I remember finding it kind of creepy the first time I read it, so it stuck with me for that reason. Also, I like curmudgeonly characters, and Puddleglum was a good example of that type.

But that reviewer didn't like Horse and His Boy so much

I don't think his review is all that scathing, though. He just says the first four are better (with which I disagree), and that it's not a good starting point (with which I agree). I'd say reading in publication order is the best idea, but I have to admit that I didn't read the books in any particular order, and I was still able to follow them. I did read LWW first, though, and I would definitely recommend doing that, as it's obviously set up as the introduction. HHB is kind of an interesting case, as I'm sure it would make sense as a story to someone who's only read LWW, but it's obvious that Lewis incorporated some ideas from other books. So you can read it whenever if you only care about the story, but should probably save it for fifth if you're interested in Lewis' world-building.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

They did Caspian second because they're going in the original publication order. I agree that Horse is a better book and would have made a better movie, but since it was the fifth one published, we'll have to wait a little while.

[travspence.livejournal.com]

As I said in my post about the movie, I understand that the makers of the movie had to do something to inject a little life into the story. I just wish they'd made better choices. I had forgotten about the Bacchus scenes in the book and I agree they would have been more compelling than what was presented.

I also cared not at all for the guy who played Caspian. Talk about lifeless. And isn't he way older in the movie than he was in the book?

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I didn't actually remember how old Caspian was in the book, but Wikipedia says he was 13 at the time, so the actor was definitely too old. But then, the Pevensies kind of were too, considering how long the wait was in between movies.

[annarama.livejournal.com]

thanks for the bday wishes!!! :D

[vovat.livejournal.com]

You're welcome!