There's so much religious subtext in The Chronicles of Narnia, that I don't think you could inject any more without making religious sentiment actually textual rather than subtextual.
People who fiercely embrace an atheistic and/or secularist worldview who don't want a "religious" Narnia ought to just stay away from the story, period, I think.
Yeah, it's the difficulty of trying to swallow the whole Narnia enterprise. That said, there are ways to cut back on the subtext. I think a lot of the groan factor will depend on how it's handled by the director. It still doesn't stop me from thinking that the film looks bright, plastic, and involves lots of talking animals.
Films should work beyond a religious subtext. At least allegorical films.
True. I think it's fairly clear that Disney is attempting to capitalize on the success of The Lord of the Rings trilogy with this one. I have mixed feelings about this - it is a children's story and Disney is usually good with stuff aimed at children.
But deep down, I wish this had been picked up by Pixar.
It should work beyond a religious subtext, but grasping the full depth of C.S. Lewis' stuff really depends on being steeped in a Christian & Western tradition, and embracing the religious aspects of his stories. I don't see any reason to shy away from them, myself. I just take them with a grain of salt.
I haven't read the Chronicles of Narnia since i was in elementary school. I really liked them at the time.
It might handled thoughtfully for a younger audience, but it should be something that holds up for all ages. My worry is that it would come across rather heavy, which that article implies. I just don't want another film which moves me to cringe.
You're right, that's a good qualitative distinction to make.
Like lokar, I also enjoyed "The Chronicles of Narnia" when I was younger, but I have a very difficult time approaching anything by C.S. Lewis now without feeling like I'm having Christianity shoved down my throat - in a big way, the point of his writing is to spread the message - he uses it to proselytize, and, perhaps, inspire. Removing (or even reducing) that aspect of the story sort of misses a big part of what the story is about. I do think it's an intriguing and honest treatment of Christian values - to a point - but it's also, necessarily, a simplification, if only because it is, at heart, a children's story.
I don't know how one could possibly be faithful to TLTW&TW by writing an understated, or even complex, Aslan, for example. The character is *supposed* to overawe, and, being purely good, as he's written, is hardly complex.
I seem to have quoted a funny paragraph from the article. I meant to say I was worried about the film being adopted by the fundamentalists. So yeah, I think the public reaction to it.
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People who fiercely embrace an atheistic and/or secularist worldview who don't want a "religious" Narnia ought to just stay away from the story, period, I think.
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Films should work beyond a religious subtext. At least allegorical films.
Reply
But deep down, I wish this had been picked up by Pixar.
It should work beyond a religious subtext, but grasping the full depth of C.S. Lewis' stuff really depends on being steeped in a Christian & Western tradition, and embracing the religious aspects of his stories. I don't see any reason to shy away from them, myself. I just take them with a grain of salt.
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
It might handled thoughtfully for a younger audience, but it should be something that holds up for all ages. My worry is that it would come across rather heavy, which that article implies. I just don't want another film which moves me to cringe.
Reply
Like lokar, I also enjoyed "The Chronicles of Narnia" when I was younger, but I have a very difficult time approaching anything by C.S. Lewis now without feeling like I'm having Christianity shoved down my throat - in a big way, the point of his writing is to spread the message - he uses it to proselytize, and, perhaps, inspire. Removing (or even reducing) that aspect of the story sort of misses a big part of what the story is about. I do think it's an intriguing and honest treatment of Christian values - to a point - but it's also, necessarily, a simplification, if only because it is, at heart, a children's story.
I don't know how one could possibly be faithful to TLTW&TW by writing an understated, or even complex, Aslan, for example. The character is *supposed* to overawe, and, being purely good, as he's written, is hardly complex.
Reply
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