by Are you getting excited about the upcoming Narnia movie? There’s a review out today that says that there are some shifts, but the majority stays true to the books:
The movie works well and is a great tool for the church to help people understand the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Very, very few people will see the slight divergences that the movie takes from the novel. Even fewer will see the very slight shifts in the perspective of the movie.
That said, it should be noted that a large portion of the readers have missed the book’s clear Christological allusions, although C.S. Lewis said in his March 1961 letter to the young girl Anne that “The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe” was his way of retelling the true story of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
“The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe” is tremendously exciting. There is a compelling sense of Providence leading the children into Narnia. There is also a prophetic element.
The production quality is much greater than the sum of its parts. The camerawork is great. The computer generated images are terrific and enchanting. The four children are very good, especially Lucy. Everyone involved deserves high praise.
Though they have deleted some scenes from the book and added others, the story has retained its theological foundation, although some of the theology has been toned down. However, these changes are subtle, with a little more emphasis on the Creation rather than the Creator.
That said, the movie is a very clear Christological allusion, or imagining, of the story of Jesus Christ. The minor changes do not take away from that meaning in the book, which lifts up the Son of God, Jesus Christ, as our deliverer from the eternal winter of sin and rebellion. After months of anticipation, those who love Narnia can rejoice that Disney and Walden have given them a wonderful movie that tells the story in an entertaining, exciting, thrilling and respectful way.
Andrew Adamson said that when he directed the movie, he started from his memory. He felt that the book was too thin, so the movie reflects his memory of the book, not the actual book. He understands the element of sacrifice and redemption, but his concern was for the empowering of the children. Clearly, his perspective helped produce the subtle shift from the book, but his love for the original source ultimately keeps the movie on target.
