| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"Steve Dufour" |
| Date: |
03 Nov 2005 05:32:55 AM |
| Object: |
Discovering Narnia |
The Washington Times
http://www.washingtontimes.com
Discovering Narnia
By Julia Duin
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published November 3, 2005
"The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," a $150 million film combining
religion and fantasy, is being pitched to churches as a cross between
"The Passion of the Christ" and "The Lord of the Rings."
Not only was the anticipated blockbuster shot in New Zealand, like
the Rings saga, but Aslan -- the lion who lords over the mythic world
Narnia -- is an explicit Christ symbol. The film was co-produced by
Walt Disney Studios and Walden Media, the latter a Boston-based firm
known for religion-friendly fare such as "Because of Winn-Dixie."
Voiced by actor Liam Neeson, Aslan dies for one of the characters
-- a British schoolboy -- and then is resurrected to defeat the White
Witch, ruler of Narnia.
Dennis Rice, Disney's senior vice president of publicity, hedged on
whether the film reproduces the Christian character of the book.
"We believe we have not made a religious movie," he said. "It's
just a great piece of cinema that is true to a great piece of
literature."
However, Zondervan, the evangelical imprint for publishing giant
HarperCollins, is calling the film's release one of the season's
"biggest religion stories."
"It is the product for the fall," spokeswoman Jana Muntsinger said.
"In the Christian world, they are just salivating over this. C.S. Lewis
is the evangelical gold standard."
"The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" was written by the British
author C.S. Lewis as the first published book of a series of seven
Narnia children's books that has sold almost 100 million copies over 55
years.
It premieres Dec. 7 at London's Royal Albert Hall. Prince Charles
and Camilla, the duchess of Cornwall, will preside at a glittering
reception decorated with ice sculptures and white carpet reminiscent of
Narnia's 100-year winter.
"It's my understanding that His Royal Highness loved these books as
a child and is excited to see the movie," Mr. Rice said.
Key to the film's success is a fan base of several generations of
evangelical Christians who have grown up reading the Narnia books.
Motive Entertainment, the same company that promoted "Passion," was
hired by Disney to promote "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" among
the church set.
Dozens of churches around the country are listed at
narniaresources.com as "sneak peak" sites for presentations about the
movie from co-producer Douglas Gresham, Mr. Lewis' stepson, or from
contemporary Christian musician Steven Curtis Chapman.
The site also is hawking group tickets and "customizable church
outreach tools" such as DVDs, door hangers, specialty e-vites and
posters.
Mr. Gresham spent six months on the set ensuring that the story
line stayed true to its Christian values. In his new book, "Jack's
Life," Mr. Gresham described his stepfather as "influenced by the Holy
Spirit of God."
The director, Andrew Adamson, is the son of missionaries. Walden
president Micheal Flaherty, who has staked his personal reputation on
the film's adherence to the book's Christian message, attends the
nondenominational Grace Chapel in Lexington, Mass.
"We got as faithful an adaptation as possible," said Mr. Flaherty
of the yet-to-be-rated movie. "All the key scenes and the key dialogues
are there."
The involvement of Disney -- which was boycotted from 1997 until
this year by the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) for what the
Baptists called its "anti-Christian and anti-family direction" -- has
raised some eyebrows.
"I don't think they would have done Narnia seven years ago," said
Dwayne Hastings, vice president for the SBC's Ethics and Religious
Liberty Commission. "If nothing else, Hollywood has discovered there's
a market for traditional fare.
"Disney sensed Americans are staying away from movie theaters, and
they had to do something. This is a wise business move."
Disney also has arranged for Narnia-themed exhibits at shopping
malls nationwide and commercial tie-ins with companies ranging from
McDonald's to Kodak.
Others are joining the bandwagon: publishing giant HarperCollins
has readied a massive printing of 140 Narnia-themed books, with special
editions earmarked for thousands of Christian bookstores via Zondervan.
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Discovering Narnia |
03 Nov 2005 10:57:09 PM |
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I find it interesting that the article makes no mention of WHY C.S.
Lewis wrote The Chronicles as a Christian allegory in the first place.
Does a converted atheist scare the modern media?
I also think this movie would never have been made without Lord of the
Rings and The Passion of the Christ proving there was money to be made
both in epic fantasy and overtly religious fare.
-beaumon
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| User: "David Johnston" |
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| Title: Re: Discovering Narnia |
03 Nov 2005 11:23:29 PM |
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On 3 Nov 2005 20:57:09 -0800, wrote:
I find it interesting that the article makes no mention of WHY C.S.
Lewis wrote The Chronicles as a Christian allegory in the first place.
Why? It's not terribly interesting.
Does a converted atheist scare the modern media?
I also think this movie would never have been made without Lord of the
Rings and The Passion of the Christ proving there was money to be made
both in epic fantasy and overtly religious fare.
Narnia isn't all that overt.
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| User: "helena" |
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| Title: Re: Discovering Narnia |
03 Nov 2005 02:11:38 PM |
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Well the film is clearly targeting a much larger audience -- Christians
included...It's obviously appealing to others, though. But really, if
they can hit up this one group-- why not do it. They'll end up
targeting others as well eventually...
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