Oh my gosh!!! 2 years well worth the wait, my friends!!! Oh, it was fantastic!! Aaaahhh!!
Ok. No that the screaming is over, here is a list of the things I really liked about it, and the things I didn't. I'd suggest you only read it if you've seen the film already.
Favorite parts/good things:
~The children really looked like they were siblings. They seemed so comfortable with each other.
~I thought Tumnus was very well portrayed by James!
~The beginning of the film sets the tone great. We get to see what was really happening in London with the bombings and all. And you also get to see how Edmund really misses his dad, and how that effects his behaviour, and later, how the White Witch "gets to him".
~Lucy was so darling! She was really good at crying, and she just expressed herself really well, like any other girl her age would.
~Anna did a good job at Susan. She was really portrayed nicely as a bossy sister.
~Edmund was superb! He was so good being a teasing big brother, but then you could really see the change in him later!
~I think William chose to portray Peter as more protective, wich I liked. You could see the love he possessed for all his siblings.
~The Beavers were adorable!! I loved them!
~I think Tilda's best scene was one of her first with Edmund. Even I was thinking "Wow. She's really nice." You could see her really getting a grip on Ed, sort of playing a parental role, one could say, aluding to that she could see the empty space where he was missing his father.
~The wolves were very real and scary! Maugrim takes you by surprise twice. I nearly jumped right out of my seat!
~The frozen river scene was really cool! I've been anxious to see that one for a long time.
~The Centaurs were amazing! Just how I pictured them in the book.
Disapointments:
~I really felt like the White Witch didn't fear Aslan enough. In the book, it describes Jadis during her meeting with Aslan at his camp, as never quite looking him in the eye. She did more than that. That was a huge part of the book for me: that Jadis feared Aslan. She knew she had no power compared to him. And she also didn't show any sign of fear when Father Christmas was mentioned, or when Ed said something about Aslan, as were detailed in the book.
~Aslan didn't seem like the Aslan in the book. Since I read the book as Aslan being a Jesus figure, it was disappointing (but expected) to not see film Aslan portrayed the same. Like when the Pevensies told Aslan that Edmund had betrayed them, he seemed to act as if he were surprised. In the book, one can tell that Aslan clearly already knew, and knows what's coming. And for one agonizing moment, Aslan seemed...weak to me. Like thinking "Oh, wow. This certainly complicates things...hmmm...well, it's gonna be harder than you think." And he didn't seem wild. Aslan is a wild lion. I don't think the children seemed frightened at the sight of him. Mrs. Beaver says something like you're crazy or plain stupid if you can't approach him without your knees knocking. On the way to the Stone Table, the girls simply place their hands on him without his permission. In the book, even when Aslan asked that they did, they were hesitant at first.
~Peter seemed a bit too bossy or protective at times. I think that was what Will and Andrew were after. It wasn't a big deal, because, to a certain extent, I think Lewis created Peter like that.
~Susan begged way too many times to go home! The children are excited to be in Narnia. Even in Susan, there's a sense of wonder. It's just because she's sensible, she's asks a couple times if they can go back in the book.
~The Beaver's didn't describe Aslan as the all powerful King enough. They made more of an effort on the children saving Narnia.
~I was cringing when I heard -- was it Father Christmas? -- say that the Winter was ending because of the children. No, no, no! It's because of Aslan. Everything is because of Aslan! Aslan could save Narnia in a second...all on his own. It's he that brings spring back to Narnia.
~Father Christmas forgot the last part of his line:
Lucy: Can't I fight? I mean, I think I'm brave enough.
Father Christmas: Battles are very ugly.
Ok, it was something like that. But he forgot the last part of the sentance, "...when women fight." Ah ha! There! That's better...Lewis did have a point, there.
~Where was that deep, compassionate relationship between Aslan and the children? He seemd a bit disconnected with them, when really, Aslan loves them more than they could ever know.
~Tumnus in a prison? Didn't like that new touch...
~I wish Ed could've eaten more Turkish Delight, and asked the Witch for more, more times.
~Old Susan = very annoying!! Argh, she was crazy.
Well, that's all for now. I'll probably come up with some more after specific discussions come up.
I know I have so many "disapointments", but overall, I really liked the movie! I mean, there are tons of things about LotR we all wish we could've changed, but look at us! We're crazy over it!
