The Truth About the Chronicles of Narnia
Posted by Adam Graham in : FilmsIf the White Witch had understood the meaning of sacrifice…-Aslan
Rarely do I view a movie in the theater, but I made an exception for the adaptation of CS Lewis’ “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” the first in the Chronicle of Narnia series.
As a movie, it’s one of the best produced film I’ve seen. Rarely does a film have so much going for it. During the opening credits, when the heroes (four English Children) are on a train, I could tell I was going to witness a cinematic masterpiece and Disney didn’t disappoint in Lewis’ fantasy world. The music was just perfect. The acting was great and you grew to like the characters at the story progressed
One thing I truly liked about Narnia is that it didn’t stay in the real world for half the movie like some fantasy flicks do, but got to what we wanted to see as quickly as possible.
The story is focused on the children’s trip into the fantastic World of Narnia where the White Witch has plunged Narnia into 100 years of continual Winter. The children find themselves drawn into a war against the White Witch for the future of Narnia. The folks at Disney do a fantastic job in producing Lewis’ stunning world with Cheetahs, Polar Bears, and other real and fantastic creatures in the same scene. It could have looked cheesy and unbelievable, but they made it look fantastic.
The story, written by C.S. Lewis is steeped in Christian allegory. Though the Director and Disney have downplayed that allegorical element in the press, the film is faithful to the book so it shines through. Aslan, the lion sacrifices himself for one of the Sons of Adam’s sins and then is resurrected. How much more Christian could you get?
Of course, this isn’t a Sunday School lesson by any means. As a book or a movie, Narnia isn’t and never was intended to be a film that brought you to your knees in repentance upon seeing it, but rather one that would quietly plant a seed while telling a good story.
The film borrows liberally from the style of Mel Gibson and successfully adapted some of his techniques. The battle scene at the end is a PG-version of what Gibson did in “Braveheart” and “The Patriot.” Tilda Swinton’s “White Witch” seemed reminiscent of Rosalinda Celentano’s “Satan” in the Passion.
This film appeared at a most appropriate time. The dominant theme of the story was sacrifice and at this time of the year when greed, avarice, and materialism are rampant, it is fitting. Time and time again characters move beyond their comfort zone to help others and fill a need. The Children could have fled back to the safety of home, but they chose to save a group of strangers and fulfill their destiny.
While watching the film, I couldn’t help but ponder what my own destiny is. What have I been created to do that goes beyond myself? These are the type of questions, the movie begged for me. Hopefully, they’ll be the type of questions that will come to your mind as you watch it. Narnia is one of the few movies I’ve seen that really challenged me to be a better person.
“The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” is a well-produced movie that won’t hit you over the head, but will challenge you and make you think. As such it has my full endorsement and I encourage you to see it if you haven’t.
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Comment by Thomas [Visitor]
I agree mostly with your thoughts on the Narnia movie. But there is one point that I must contest, that there is any allegory in Narnia. Aslan is not an allegory for Christ. Aslan is Christ in another world that consists of animals, so it is fitting that He would be an animal as well. That is part of the genius of Lewis’ logic. Allegory is a type or similarity to something else to show it in a new way. In Narnia there is nothing of this sort. The animals behave like everyday people in the world of a child’s imagination and so to is there a Christ figure. Aslan says to the children as they grow older that they must come to know him in their own world by another name. They have to come out of the children’s world and realize that Aslan is in the other world, Aslan is Christ. He is not a type of Christ. Edmund is not an allegory for Judas, but is each of us needing to be redeemed. This holds true for every point that is thought to be an allegory in the Chronicles of Narnia. There is no allegory in them, but the Biblical message of Christ in a different world. But I have ranted enough and your wonderful analysis of Narnia does not deserve as seemingly harsh response as this. I’m simply tired of so many Christians not realizing that allegory is not present in these great stories. It is the Christ story, the story of redemption for a fictious world.
Comment by Adam Graham [Member]
Thanks for the comment and of course you have a relevant point. Though, of course the line about him being known by another name in their own world isn’t in the movie. I guess it partially depends on how you view allegory. I would agree that Edmund is not a type of Judas, unless we all are.