Fantasy films
Tuesday, 16 March, 2004
Just heard that Disney are going to be making the Narnia series into films and I can't stop gagging at the thought and inwardly groaning. There are some Disney films that I really love (like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Hercules) but there are others that are really appalling, lacking proper character development and sporting cheap and cheesy dialogue. Most of the recent ones fall into the latter category. The exception is Pixar which tends to produce wonderfully clever and beautiful films. Monsters, Inc has got to be my favourite. I also heard today that Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy is also being made into movies by New Line. Now, given the fuss and furor over the Harry Potter books and their “promotion” of witchcraft, I've always wondered why equal attention and outrage has not been focused on these books. Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass are just as pagan and, I would argue, even more influential and dangerous because they portray the church as power-hungry and oppressive, God as evil and selfish, and man having a duty to rebel. Rowling has never been that anti-Christian in her work but Pullman's writing flaunts spirit of liberalism that permeates our age. This year I am looking forward to the release of two fantasy films: Howl's Moving Castle (the latest Studio Ghibli release based on the book by Diana Wynne Jones) and Mirror Mask (a movie which came out of talks about a sequel to The Labyrinth, written by Neil Gaiman and directed by Dave McKean—might go straight to video). I have no idea when they're coming out, or even if they'll be any good (though the previous track record of the makers is excellent). But one must have something to look forward to now that The Lord of the Rings is over! ;PPosted in: The Arts
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I read an interesting article in the Australian Presbyterian about how hostile Philip Pullman has been to CSL’s Narnia books, in interviews and such. Although, I’ve never read Pullman - but that doesn’t make me too keen.
He is very imaginative and his writing is very good. You can’t be deceived, though, when you understand what he’s doing and why.
I saw the stage production of “Lion etc.” and it was brilliant! Maybe the film wont be too bad…
http://www.narnia.com (the official movie site) says the new Narnia movie will be live-action (like Harry Potter). Shrek’s director Andrew Adamson has signed up, and as a childhood fan of the books he says he wants to give “fans an epic theatrical experience worthy of their imaginations”. Rumour has it that Nicole Kidman has signed up in the role of the White Witch. There’s hope yet.
Mmm, the site is certainly beautifully-designed. Interesting that they picked the director of Shrek, given how much he paid them out in that film! Nicole Kidman as the white witch???
oooh Nicole Kidman would be great! That icy pale skin and fiery red hair….I think she would make a great ice queen!