"Aslan is on the move!"
I cannot think of a movie that has actually given me goosebumps … until yesterday. Certainly, some movies like “The Diary of Ann Frank” or “The Passion” have given rise to powerful emotions, but not goosebumps proper.
I was able to attend a Pre-Screening of the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as hosted by the Discovery Institute. (Yes, that Discovery Institute.) It was stupendous. Honestly, it was one of the best movies I have seen.
There were slight variations from the book, but these actually had no effect on the plot or message of the movie and actually added to the story effectively. I am not so much of a fan(atic) that I won’t accept these minor changes.
The story is a powerful one. I found myself within the movie; not just watching it. The overt Christian message the C.S. Lewis expressed was striking. Unfortunately, this allegory is being downplayed. Douglas Gresham, Lewis’s stepson, is quoted as saying, “Churches in Britain and America are promoting the film as a Christian film, but it’s not . . . and the Narnia books aren’t Christian novels. On the Michael Medved talk show Gresham reportedly said that one could find Christian values in Narnia, but so too one could find Hindu values. I’m sorry Mr. Gresham, but in C.S. Lewis’s own words, “The whole Narnian story is about Christ.
It is worth pointing out that Lewis wrote much more than children’s fantasy. His “Mere Christianity” and “The Screwtape Letters,” logically lead from human understanding to the existence of God … the God of the Bible. Lewis said, “The Moral Law tells us the tune we have to play: our instincts are merely the keys.” In his autobiography, “Surprised by Joy,” C.S. Lewis does an excellent job of describing the fleeting and panging moments of Joy that he experienced. These glimpses into beauty and longing for something more in a spiritual sense are difficult to communicate, but applicable to all humankind.
Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe is the only movie in my personal history to enact a moment of Joy as C.S. Lewis described them. What should you do? Watch the movie, read the books, and check out the other literary achievements of C.S. “Jack” Lewis.
I was able to attend a Pre-Screening of the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as hosted by the Discovery Institute. (Yes, that Discovery Institute.) It was stupendous. Honestly, it was one of the best movies I have seen.
There were slight variations from the book, but these actually had no effect on the plot or message of the movie and actually added to the story effectively. I am not so much of a fan(atic) that I won’t accept these minor changes.
The story is a powerful one. I found myself within the movie; not just watching it. The overt Christian message the C.S. Lewis expressed was striking. Unfortunately, this allegory is being downplayed. Douglas Gresham, Lewis’s stepson, is quoted as saying, “Churches in Britain and America are promoting the film as a Christian film, but it’s not . . . and the Narnia books aren’t Christian novels. On the Michael Medved talk show Gresham reportedly said that one could find Christian values in Narnia, but so too one could find Hindu values. I’m sorry Mr. Gresham, but in C.S. Lewis’s own words, “The whole Narnian story is about Christ.
It is worth pointing out that Lewis wrote much more than children’s fantasy. His “Mere Christianity” and “The Screwtape Letters,” logically lead from human understanding to the existence of God … the God of the Bible. Lewis said, “The Moral Law tells us the tune we have to play: our instincts are merely the keys.” In his autobiography, “Surprised by Joy,” C.S. Lewis does an excellent job of describing the fleeting and panging moments of Joy that he experienced. These glimpses into beauty and longing for something more in a spiritual sense are difficult to communicate, but applicable to all humankind.
Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe is the only movie in my personal history to enact a moment of Joy as C.S. Lewis described them. What should you do? Watch the movie, read the books, and check out the other literary achievements of C.S. “Jack” Lewis.
posted by Matt Pitchford at 14:24
2 Comments:
It was GREAT!!!!!!!!
I haven't heard the adaptation on the tapes. I have read the books, although I don't remember them all.
The movie had some similarities to Lord of the Rings and such, but all in all was its own production. Great stuff.
-Matt
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