Next time I'm going to a midnight showing during Christmas season--I'm taking the day off. XD
Well! I got to see The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe at midnight with the loverly folks from my old church. I almost DIDN'T, though....we didn't get off work until 11:55pm! XDXD I was doing my best not to panic at work, although I was sniffling and running through my section like a mad woman. I wish I had been able to get there earlier, though--I barely got to see people! I was sitting next to Hannah A, but I didn't want to talk to her during the movie because i wasn't sure if she was the type of person who liked to do that. XD (I'm talkitive in movies when I feel free to be--a warning to all ya'll. But if I'm unsure about your opinions on the subject, I stay quiet. XD)
Anyway, the movie is good. ^^ It's not Lord of the Rings "OH MY GOSH IT'S SO AWESOME I MUST GO SEE IT 20 TIMES!", but it's worth a 2nd viewing in my opinion. (Note: I'm the type of person who likes to see movies in theaters more than once, because it's how they're MEANT to be seen and you can only do so for a limited amount of time...XD) They did a good job of improving the pacing in the movie so that it was easily condensed into two hours (I think it was?), but didn't feel rushed.
Aslan is GREAT, they did an excelent job portraying him. Kudos to Qui-Gon. XD I thought the White Witch was perfect, too--cold, proud, but able to seem to sincerly care about others when it fit into her plans. Although I wish her hair was black like it was in the BBC cartoon, I really liked it being black.
The children were good actors, although I don't know if I was wowed by their performances. I thought Edmund was the best--he was able to convey the journey of the character pretty well. Lucy was good, although sometimes she felt a little too happy to me (although I guess that's the way she is in the book, too!). Susan was a little bossier than I remember her being in the book, but was mostly true to her personality. Peter....not sure about Peter. I liked him, I think. Actually, he seemed to have a bit more dimension than the Peter from the books, although it's been a while since I've read the books so it's hard for me to say.
Special effects were top-notch--but what else would you expect from Weta? particularly great were Aslan and the other talking animals...very animal like, but you didn't really question that they would be talking.
Tumnus looked younger than I thought he maybe should, but he was played by a very good actor. He made Tumnus' crying scene seem less whiny and weepy and pitiful than any other version I'd seen of him--it was more of a silent, shamed thing. I swear, I remember the BBC animated version--Tumnus was practically screaming. This Tumnus didn't do that--he just hanged his head. I thought it was more effective. (Boy, I love Tumnus. XD)
I want Lucy's crown. It's purdy. They should make them and sell them.
It was sort of weird how the battles were bloodless. Particularly since they kept in lines like Aslan instructing Peter to clean his sword. Clean it? Why would he need to clean it? Everytime he stabs someone it comes up shinier than ever! Although I understand why the battles were like that and appreciate it, it just felt weird, since besides the lack of blood and gore the battles were very LOTR-esque. XD
The professor was cool. Very nutty. XD
It was funny, since I got to the movie when the trailers were starting, I wasn't sure exaclty who all was there--I saw Hannah S (which is how I found the group, they were luckily very close to the front), but I kinda didn't even know whose toes I was stepping on to get to my seat. XD but I knew after a little while that Pastor Keith was there--he has a very unique laugh. XD Warm, infectious...and very distinctive. They should pay him to see movies, or have him tour with a comedian, or something. He makes funny scenes seem even funnier since his laugh is so infectious. xD (I hope i'm spelling that right. And using that phrase right. It's late...)
I'm sure there's more I want to write, but this entry is getting too long. I should be going to bed soon, anyway, I just wanted to get my first impressions written down before they faded away.
~Haley
"I TOLD you he was real!"--Lucy's reaction to a character from the book I was surprised they left in XD [It was taken out of the BBC animated version]
(But why didn't they mention his name? Wanted to keep it more international?)
Anyway, the movie is good. ^^ It's not Lord of the Rings "OH MY GOSH IT'S SO AWESOME I MUST GO SEE IT 20 TIMES!", but it's worth a 2nd viewing in my opinion. (Note: I'm the type of person who likes to see movies in theaters more than once, because it's how they're MEANT to be seen and you can only do so for a limited amount of time...XD) They did a good job of improving the pacing in the movie so that it was easily condensed into two hours (I think it was?), but didn't feel rushed.
Aslan is GREAT, they did an excelent job portraying him. Kudos to Qui-Gon. XD I thought the White Witch was perfect, too--cold, proud, but able to seem to sincerly care about others when it fit into her plans. Although I wish her hair was black like it was in the BBC cartoon, I really liked it being black.
The children were good actors, although I don't know if I was wowed by their performances. I thought Edmund was the best--he was able to convey the journey of the character pretty well. Lucy was good, although sometimes she felt a little too happy to me (although I guess that's the way she is in the book, too!). Susan was a little bossier than I remember her being in the book, but was mostly true to her personality. Peter....not sure about Peter. I liked him, I think. Actually, he seemed to have a bit more dimension than the Peter from the books, although it's been a while since I've read the books so it's hard for me to say.
Special effects were top-notch--but what else would you expect from Weta? particularly great were Aslan and the other talking animals...very animal like, but you didn't really question that they would be talking.
Tumnus looked younger than I thought he maybe should, but he was played by a very good actor. He made Tumnus' crying scene seem less whiny and weepy and pitiful than any other version I'd seen of him--it was more of a silent, shamed thing. I swear, I remember the BBC animated version--Tumnus was practically screaming. This Tumnus didn't do that--he just hanged his head. I thought it was more effective. (Boy, I love Tumnus. XD)
I want Lucy's crown. It's purdy. They should make them and sell them.
It was sort of weird how the battles were bloodless. Particularly since they kept in lines like Aslan instructing Peter to clean his sword. Clean it? Why would he need to clean it? Everytime he stabs someone it comes up shinier than ever! Although I understand why the battles were like that and appreciate it, it just felt weird, since besides the lack of blood and gore the battles were very LOTR-esque. XD
The professor was cool. Very nutty. XD
It was funny, since I got to the movie when the trailers were starting, I wasn't sure exaclty who all was there--I saw Hannah S (which is how I found the group, they were luckily very close to the front), but I kinda didn't even know whose toes I was stepping on to get to my seat. XD but I knew after a little while that Pastor Keith was there--he has a very unique laugh. XD Warm, infectious...and very distinctive. They should pay him to see movies, or have him tour with a comedian, or something. He makes funny scenes seem even funnier since his laugh is so infectious. xD (I hope i'm spelling that right. And using that phrase right. It's late...)
I'm sure there's more I want to write, but this entry is getting too long. I should be going to bed soon, anyway, I just wanted to get my first impressions written down before they faded away.
~Haley
"I TOLD you he was real!"--Lucy's reaction to a character from the book I was surprised they left in XD [It was taken out of the BBC animated version]
(But why didn't they mention his name? Wanted to keep it more international?)