Prince Caspian *Spoilers*

[amyinodyssey]

I was crying my way through several scenes. I haven't read the book but I did listen to the Focus on the Family Radio Theatre version and I think I liked that better. That is one thing about me: I like it when I can listen or read a book about something because I can use my imagination to create those scenes, people and places but when it comes to movies it is nice having some visual reference for things that my imagination can't fill in. But now that I've actually seen the movie I wish that I had my imagination reference instead of the reference that the movie gave me. Does that make sense?

I was rather disappointed at the first scene with Aslan because the first time we see him is in a dream and then he doesn't appear again until later in the movie. I had hoped that he would be a more steady character in the movie and have more than 30 minutes of screen time.

Don't read this next part unless you want the sad rantings of a single female
The other thing that got me real mad was the relationship between Prince Caspian and Susan. I could tell that there was something there but I was hoping that it wouldn't be culminated by just one kiss at the end. What is the point of kissing Prince Caspian if you are never going to see him again? I know that Prince Caspian does get married so I guess it doesn't really matter. That is the other thing that I hate how old is Susan and how old is Prince Caspian? I checked the stats on Ben Barnes and Anna Popplewell and they aren't that far apart in age but does it count in regards to Prince Caspian and Susan? I guess that is another thing that I hate about the movies: (1) of course you have to have some kind of romance to have any movie at all even though it isn't in the original book (2) slam the singles down and make them think that the only way to true happiness is by having a significant other. Pardon me if this sounds like the rantings of a single female who doesn't have a boyfriend. You can ignore that part. Perhaps I should post that part in the "for girls only" discussion.
You can start here again if you wanted to skip the previous paragraph

I guess overall it wasn't bad. I told one of my co-workers what I thought about it and I said that I probably wouldn't watch it again until it came out on DVD. Unless some guy wants to take me to see it again. But if that happens I know that I'm going to be bringing a package of kleenex because I must have leaked 1/3 cup of tears at this movie. And just so you know I gave this movie a 7 because I was in anticipation of seeing it for a while and factoring in all the disappointments.

[Trent DeWhite]

Thanks for sharing that, Amy! I'm glad you were able to enjoy most of the film in spite of all the disappointments.

I actually made it a point to listen to the entire Radio Theatre version of Prince Caspian before going to see the film. While I certainly enjoyed the production, it did not have me at the edge of my seat. It follows the book almost exactly, and that is likely one of the reasons why I found myself bored midway through the radio drama.

Something viewers need to take into consideration when watching Prince Caspian is the fact that good movie adaptations always require storyline modifications. Nearly a third of the book is told in flashback and there is never really a sense of urgency for action. Obviously, there were a couple major changes that deviated from the book, but for the most part they enhanced the themes that were in the original story.

I'm pretty sure I said this earlier... if you went into this movie hoping for an exact representation of the book, then you would indubitably come out of the theatre disappointed. I think the key for me was going into the movie without any expectations. Perhaps one of the reasons for people's disappointment is the fact that they went into the theatre with a certain "image" of what the film should look like. When it didn't meet their expectations, they left feeling dissatisfied. Yes, I was a bit upset with the whole romance thing at the end, but I didn't think it deviated from the heart of the story. Nor was it a major distraction throughout the film.

If you guys want to see the rest of the Chronicles of Narnia made into films, I highly recommend you support Prince Caspian with your wallet. Otherwise, we might see the end of the Narnia series after Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

[LizzieG]

I completely agree with Trent - the key is to watch it without expectations.

I haven't read the book, but I've heard the FOTF radio theatre version, and I knew that it would be a harder book to translate into movie-form that The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. Because of this, I expected, and even hoped for, some changes.

Overall, I was quite impressed. Sure, some of the changes caused a little furrowing-of-the-brow, but there weren't any horrible distortions; I understood why they made (most of) the changes they did.

More specifically, I think the acting was stronger this time around, and Edmund and Lucy remain my favorite of the four. I loved Lucy's unwavering faith in Aslan! The special effects also seemed stronger this time around. Reepicheep and Trumpkin were portrayed excellently. It's great to see this wonderful series being turned into such high-quality movies! I'm hoping this one continues to do well, and that Voyage does too. I would love to see all 7 books made into movies.

[jelly]

I agree with what Trent said. (I like agreeing with Trent!)
Prince Caspian, the book was my least favorite of the series; mainly because i didn't like the way it played out. The setting seemed all wrong, and a lot of it was boring.
That's why i liked the way the movie seemed to fix that.
*still doesn't get why people are so frusterated with the suson/caspian romance*

My favorite: Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
BRING IT ON, DISNY!!

[jasonjannajerryjohn]

Now, let me clarify, I am a GINORMAS Chronicles of Narnia fan. Huge! More than any other book series I know. Infact, I have an encyclopedia/history/evaluation/C. S. Lewis biography for the series plus all seven of the books. I am a Narnia fan. Now that we have established that, I would like to say that if anyone has a right to be upset about this movie, it would be me. However, I am not, quote, "not," upset about this movie. I loved this movie. It was one of the greatest movies I have seen. And, why, may I ask you am I not so upset? Well, because I do not care about whether a movie matches up to a book or not. Why do we care? Why? When I go to see a movie, I really don't care if it matches a book. To bring up something someone else said earlier in this post (I don't remeber who), "Was anyone this upset when Lord of the Rings wasn't based on the books?" But, seriously, why? When you go to see a movie, you must watch it with no expectations! And, for goodness sakes, ENJOY THE MOVIE! That's why you went, so you might as well. What is with all of this controversy about whether it is based on the books or not? Just sit back, and enjoy it.

btw, Edmund is the best character in the Chronicles! Go Edmund!

[Ruthie]

N

btw, Edmund is the best character in the Chronicles! Go Edmund!

Edmund!

lol

[jelly]

Now, let me clarify, I am a GINORMAS Chronicles of Narnia fan. Huge! More than any other book series I know. Infact, I have an encyclopedia/history/evaluation/C. S. Lewis biography for the series plus all seven of the books. I am a Narnia fan. Now that we have established that, I would like to say that if anyone has a right to be upset about this movie, it would be me. However, I am not, quote, "not," upset about this movie. I loved this movie. It was one of the greatest movies I have seen. And, why, may I ask you am I not so upset? Well, because I do not care about whether a movie matches up to a book or not. Why do we care? Why? When I go to see a movie, I really don't care if it matches a book. To bring up something someone else said earlier in this post (I don't remeber who), "Was anyone this upset when Lord of the Rings wasn't based on the books?" But, seriously, why? When you go to see a movie, you must watch it with no expectations! And, for goodness sakes, ENJOY THE MOVIE! That's why you went, so you might as well. What is with all of this controversy about whether it is based on the books or not? Just sit back, and enjoy it.

btw, Edmund is the best character in the Chronicles! Go Edmund!

That's not how you spell "Ginormas"

[J-man]

I finally got to see Price Caspian last night.

So yeah, I went into this movie expecting it to be different from the book. It was. I though maybe it would bother me. It didn't. I actually ended up loving the movie. The only parts I didn't like were the attack on the castle (Edmund was cool..) and the kiss and the song at the end. Like, what in the world. At least it had that 1300 years older than you line.


Now, for what I really liked: Reepicheep. ROFL, he was so awesome! *3 mice sneak into the castle and peek around a corner to see a cat* ROFL, so funny. Plus they tied it up yet! And of course the mice in the grass.. And the Telmarine soldier: "You're.. a mouse!" "You people have no imagination." Ahaha, he was just awesome.

Trumpkin and Trufflehunter were both good too, although from what I had seen, I thought Trumpkin was going to be better than what he was.. I dunno.

I did like that it had lots of action scenes also.

Oh, one last thing. The river god was AWESOME!! I was so hoping they wouldn't mess that up and they didn't! It was so awesome!!

[Baragon]

I have yet to see it (and since I never saw the first one, I probably won't see the second one for quite a while), but considering that there's not that many clean, moral, child-friendly films out there in Hollywood now-a-days, it bothers me that people still find room to complain about this film. I've never read the books, either, but I'd really like to (soon, I hope) but even if the movie edges away from being the most accurate to the book, I'd like to think people are still rational enough to appreciate a good clean film. Even if it does have a slight romance to it (but so does AIO, no?).

But, I really don't have much room to talk considering I've never read, nor seen the films. It's just my "outside looking in" view. I tend to think that despite it's 'romance' and despite the fact that supposedly (again, I'm going from what I've heard other people say about it, not from personal experience) it isn't entirely accurate to the book, I think it would be good to support the film with your wallet - as Trent put it - because it is good film (supposedly... ) and it is a major 'Christian film' (I use that sparingly because the movie is based on a Christian book) that has the potentional to do well and to actually succeed. Unlike many Christian films, this one actually gets a lot of media attention.

Then again, isn't it made in connection with Disney? Hmm...

[Trent DeWhite]

Great points.

In response to your last comment, Disney was responsible for the promotion and distribution... it's basically a Walden Media film.

[Prince Caspian]

It follows the book almost exactly

Wow...
Sorry, but, I did not follow the book exactly. Not even close.
It still had the major themes though.
BUT, still a very good movie. Loved the gryphons. Reeps voice was "shrill" in the books, but lets not quibble.
The worst thing was the Susan/Caspian thing.
Lucy's line about Caspian calling Susan was funny.
Still, read the books!
The duel was good. Over all, a ****.

[Trent DeWhite]

It follows the book almost exactly

Wow...
Sorry, but, I did not follow the book exactly. Not even close.

Wow... read my post again.

[Prince Caspian]

Prince Caspian is probably the hardest book in the series to put successfully on film. Walden did an excellent job, bar the Susan/ Caspian fiasco.

[Trent DeWhite]

Agreed. It's just not a very cinematic book.

I actually made it a point to listen to the entire Radio Theatre version of Prince Caspian ... It follows the book almost exactly, and that is likely one of the reasons why I found myself bored midway through the radio drama.

Does that help?

[Catspaw]

I finally got to see Prince Caspian today, and I have mixed feelings. Reading what Trent said about expectations was great, because that was part of my problem. The movie wasn't brilliant, but it was my expectations that made me more critical about it. The themes that we as Christians can easily pull out are fabulous, and I'm glad that those stayed, even if there are a few other things that I would have liked to see a little differently. I'm sure that I'll buy it as soon as it's out on DVD, and my guess is that I'll enjoy it more upon repeated viewing.

[Trent DeWhite]

What things would you have liked to have seen done differently? Besides the obvious romance.

I finally got to see Prince Caspian today, and I have mixed feelings. Reading what Trent said about expectations was great, because that was part of my problem.

Your problem was the fact you waited sixteen days to see Prince Caspian!

[Catspaw]

Some of the action seemed forced or artificial to me - I really appreciate it that they don't want to make it gory or bloody, and I don't want to see anything gruesome, but some of the fight scenes seemed (to me, at least) that they would be better if they actually showed it without some of the weird camera angles that made it hard for me to follow what was actually happening. The romance wasn't my favourite because they were trying too hard - all the long, lingering glances throughout the movie were kind of lame. You know I like romance, but it seemed a bit fake. I also didn't like the way they created drama by pitting Peter (who is absolutely adorable, by the way! ) and Prince Caspian against each other a lot. But I need more time to digest the movie and I want to see it again, because I may change my mind about some stuff then.

I wanted to see it sooner, but alas, it was not meant to be.

[Trent DeWhite]

Long, lingering glances? Well, there were probably four or fives of those... but I didn't find them too distracting. Except for the one with Susan and Caspian in the courtyard. That one was a bit much.

I think what made the Peter vs. Caspian scenes plausible for me was that it brought some realism to the story. It showed that Peter had a weakness--his pride. Having been high king of Narnia for many years, Peter would have understandably had a difficult time passing on the proverbial torch to Caspian. When discussing this major change with friends, I've compared it to the controversial alteration to Faramir's character in The Two Towers.

In the book, Faramir denies himself the opportunity to take the One Ring. But this goes completely against Tolkien's pre-established idea that the Ring could not be resisted by men. In many ways, Faramir's resistant diminished the power of the Ring. Correspondingly, in Prince Caspian (the book), Peter is totally willing to hand over authority to Caspian. I find that particularly hard to believe, especially considering the fact that in the book, Peter was older than Caspian. With Caspian being depicted as a year or two older than Peter in the film, Peter rightly would have felt threatened by Caspian's presence. So while the movie deviated from the book, the former brought realism into the picture.

[Catspaw]

Well, to me the budding romance, communicated almost exclusively through those long glances, seemed oddly done in a way, but I think that it might grow on me. The fact that my brother was snickering and making disparaging comments about the romantic angle in the seat next to me probably didn't help at all. The next time I see the movie I'll watch it without him!

What you say makes sense about the realism of the competition angle, but it wasn't what I was expecting, and I can take a while to get used to new ideas. That's why I said that I need to think it over and see it again. It does fit in with the stuff at the beginning of the movie where Peter was fighting - he wants to be an adult and he enjoyed making decisions and being grown-up in Narnia, so some guy around his age telling him what to do obviosuly wouldn't be high on any normal person's list of things to do.

Trent = brilliant.

[Trent DeWhite]

Ooh, good catch! The scene with Peter fighting the bullies was especially significant... it really illustrated how challenging he found it to get adjusted back to the real world. Once he returned to Narnia, Peter felt a sense of entitlement and maybe even an obligation to prove himself. Throughout the movie, he went through his own "personal journey" whereby he gradually shedded his pride and self-centeredness. What I really liked was Peter's refusal to wait for Aslan... he thought he could do by himself because of the aforementioned pressure to prove his worth. That stood out for me because of the powerful spiritual implications. It's easy to think we can go through life without Christ, but nothing could be further from the truth. Peter had to learn that lesson the hard way.

Trent = Narnia geek.