Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Audiophilander (A) on January 20, 2006 at 00:37:41

In Reply to: Narnia/Potter Steel Cage Match posted by jbmcb on January 19, 2006 at 10:40:09:

Your comments are quite accurate as far as they go. FTR though, I don't hate christianity, just the kind of overzealous religious fanaticism that encourages the imposition of religious dogma into every facet of folk's lives. It has gotten to the point where folks who don't wear their religious values on their sleeves are ostrasized and denied equal treatment.

As far as Narnia is concerned, I dislike most contemporary Disney fare with the exception of Jerry Bruckheimer collaborative efforts; part of my reasoning is that Disney has become a pandering, scheming, opportunistic empire, less interested in good film fare as underscoring the bottom line. Walt Disney, the late visionary who once was the last word in all things Disney, is but a memory to the corporate Disney empire, but his poor remains must be spinning like barbecue on a rotisserie spic.

>>> "Anything by Disney == BAD" <<<

I'm deeply concerned about what may happen to Pixar now that it's apparently being purchased by Disney, the only saving grace being that as part of the deal Steve Jobs will own controling interest of Disney which may help rebuild the collapsing Mouse House from the ground up.

>>> "Anything sympathetic to Christianity == BAD" <<<

I admit that part of my problem with christianity is a personal bias against the imposition of religious values[sic] on secular life, and I see this reflected so much in both the political and cultural arena these days that I'm sick of it. It's not that I'm intolerant and unsympathetic to the freedom of religion or christianity in general, it's just that I don't like seeing the imposition of anyone else's religious values on myself and others. My problem with Narnia is probably the source material since I've heard that much of CS Lewis's christian symbolism has been taken out.

Nevertheless, the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve remark coming from a fantasy character established in an alternative fantasy world was the first major strike against this film for me. But setting the religious allegory aside there are so many other moan-worthy moments. For instance, there was a CGI ice floe scene that would leave Lillian Gish's remains screaming foul even from her final resting place & haunting the script-writers with questions about why the kids didn't take the same route above the floe as the more intelligent wolf that cut them off.

If that were not enough, then there's the lion/christ resurrection & the sanitized war. And what about an underdog army led by bickering children unskilled in warfare who miraculously manage to pick up combat skills overnight? Then there's that bloodless war waged against an over-the-top ice queen & her superior army, all done with "marvelously" BAD, inconsistant CGI effects and a mish-mash of both studio and second unit outdoor shots that are so poorly matched that the inconsistency draws attention to itself. *SIGH*

None of this hogwash is Hogwart worthy, naturally. In fact, it wouldn't even merit a spit shine on Harry Potter's shoes. As you can see though, my criticism of this film isn't entirely related to it's religious subtext.

>>> "Anything that bugs Pat Robertson == GOOD" <<<

Especially if it's were a government wiretap (grin), but I'd wager he wouldn't have a problem with everyone else being tapped!

>>> "OK, I might agree with the last one..." <<<

I'll toast your good health on that note.

Cheers,
AuPh