Smug? Moi?

[lil_shepherd]

A long time ago, I prophesied that The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was going to be a pig to adapt to the screen, because of the episodic nature of the plot and the lack of a strong narrative

Comments

[john_booth]

It was a 'road trip' book with a bit of growing up thrown in. Go somewhere do something, grow up a bit, move on.

There have been a lot of sucessful films that have followed that format, but its a long way from the 'quest' fantasy films that have become the norm.

Which is to say that satisfying audience expectations are probably more of a problem than making a good film.

[lil_shepherd]

Dramas have to be dramatic. Road movies are only ultimately successful when the incident is liked together by a narrative that moves plot and characterisation forward.

[tattercoats]

Heh... just read your earlier post about PC and TLTWATW...

I'll beg to differ, with all respect, as I adore TVOTDT and find TSC my least favourite of the seven books. Each to their own, hey? For me, the sense of wonder and numinousness in Dawn Treader remains utterly lovely.

[lil_shepherd]

I can't actually read Lewis any longer, because the didactic purpose irritates me no end. (Particularly the 'forget reason, just have faith' message

I admire The Silver Chair primarily because it doesn't meander. Every scene is to the main purpose.

[secritcrush]

Wow, I had no idea they were still making these films.

[lil_shepherd]

Three years and a switch of studios since the last one.

[steamshovelmama]

I always liked this book but as you say, it is a bit meandering. My favourites were The Silver Chair and The Horse and His Boy - I suspect the pretty and romantic young men in danger may have added to my early adolescent affection for them. They are also, to my mind, the least didactic. I also suspect that Lewis's "faith above reason" backfired dramatically with me as I recall spending Quite A Lot of Time ruminating about this at about the age of twelve or thirteen and struggling with the concept. As I formally decided I was an atheist at about fourteen I think I rejected most of his arguments as Just Plain Dumb and recognised many of those arguments in christain apologetics and from peddlars of various forms of woo so, if anything, I think it added to and strengthened what called my "bullshit detector".

I do remember vividly the point (at about twelve) when I figured out Lewis's heavy handed Christ metaphor in TLTWATW. I remember being fairly annoyed about it...

[steamshovelmama]

That should have read "what Sagan called my "bullshit detector". Blame the traditional retail Xmas cold...

I also think I liked the fact Rillian was tied to a chair. Partly because he was rescued by a girl (OK, a girl, a marshwiggle and a boy...) but also - handsome young man tied to a chair? What's not to like? Although I doubt I could have articulated that at the time. There's some kinky subtext to TSC!

[lil_shepherd]

Now you've got my wondering about my liking for TSC too! I loved the underground land, and, of course, Puddleglum. I'm also fond of the practicality of Eustace and Jill as opposed to Lucy's mysticism.

[steamshovelmama]

"I'm also fond of the practicality of Eustace and Jill as opposed to Lucy's mysticism

[frostfox]

I never got on well with the Narnia books, possibly because Alan Garner got to me first? But if I recall, The Horse and His Boy was my favourite.

FF

[lil_shepherd]

The Silver Chair and The Horse and His Boy were my favourites. steamshovelmama has now got me wondering if having Rillian tied to a chair wasn't one of my own reasons for liking SC too.

Ah, subtext, subtext.

[steamshovelmama]

I couldn't have explained at the time but I certainly remember loving the bits where Rillian is tied up (and Caspian's desperate flight for his life in PC).

But no good folk story or fairy tale is complete without a little bondage! And these are Lewis's sources... It's very nice to see the guy tied up rather than the girl even without having nascent kink buttons activated at a young age!

I'm beginning to think I need to reread Narnia with the subtext goggles firmly in place.

[inamac]

Tied to a chair and menaced by a giant snake. And then he chops its head off.

Hmmm....