Lead Me Astray, To Dreamer's Hideaway...

Fans of CS Lewis were generally very pleased with the first Narnia movie, the Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe, which opened in 2005. Now the second movie opens in theaters, & Narnia readers wonder whether this movie will live up to their expectations.

Well, I was lucky enough to watch Mellow Touch’s advanced screening of Prince Caspian, a week before the premiere date here in the Philippines . Being a Lewis fan, & moreover Prince Caspian being my current favorite book in the Chronicles of Narnia, let me tell you that… my opinion… *drumroll* of the movie… is….

Purists beware, Narnia seems to have succumbed to the film industry trend of changing the original story of a book to please a wider audience with the movie. That’s right. We have flashy CGI tricks, added action sequences that deviate considerably from the plot of the book, forced conflicts for drama, & forced love interests for intrigue.

*Warning: VERY SPOILERIFIC FROM THIS POINT ONWARDS*

There were several plot changes that the filmmakers put clearly to attract the older, more action-oriented audiences – the biggest of which was the night raid on Miraz’s castle. In the movie, the Narnians attack Miraz’s in the dead of night, as commanded by Peter. (Yes, this is very out of character for the High King, I’ll get to that later on.) I suppose that this sequence was put in to replace the lengthy siege at Aslan’s How in the book. While the action sequence certainly got my heart pounding, & showed off the special effects, creature design, & the swordmanship & archery skills of the actors, it was very un-Narnian.

And it really must have been something else in the Narnian air for this movie, because a lot of the characters seem to have lost themselves! Going back to LWW, I was very very pleased with Peter, which made him one of the best things in the first movie to me. In PC, however, he became one of the worst. It’s nothing against William Moseley’s acting, but more on the stark change of character of the High King of Narnia. From the beginning of the movie, readers will already notice a change when we find Peter in a scuffle in his first scene. It’s an even bigger step out of character when we find out that he started the fight. PC portrays Peter as a frustrated boy who unwillingly lost his authority position in Narnia & wants it back. He is rash, aggressive, & ill-tempered throughout the movie. For lack of better words, he’s quite a jerk.

Now, this new power-hungry Peter of course meets Caspian. While in the book Caspian’s youth prevents him from questioning the High King, the movie scratches that & puts Ben Barnes & William Moseley shooting dagger looks at each other instead. Caspian & the High King… Rivals??? If that didn’t get you shaking your head, what about a love interest for Caspian, in the form of Queen Susan the Gentle? (*cringe!*) It was never necessary in the books for romance between characters to develop, but movie-going audiences are different. So my fellow Lewis fans, we might have guessed that they would take that angle, esp with the two attractive actors playing the roles. However, whenever those hints of romance between Su & Caspian came up, I shook my head, cringed, covered my eyes, & writhed in my seat.

That’s not to say everything in the movie disappointed me. Peter Dinklage’s sarcastic & moody tone made Trumpkin even more lovable, despite being less cheerful than the book implies. And Reepicheep is not a disappointment at all, he’s everything you’ll ever want to see in a valiant & heroic knight of a mouse! The visual effects & fight scenes are spectacular. They do deliver & get your adrenaline going, particularly the main battle at the end. (That alone will be enough to get me to see the movie again, hehe.) They didn’t abandon the books entirely either. There is a small moment straight from the Horse & His Boy & a mention of the lands outside of Narnia, setting up the stage for Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

*SPOILERS END HERE*

However, I’m sad to say that while watching PC, I didn’t feel the awe that I felt while watching LWW. The spirit of the book is barely seen, & oftentimes, it did not feel like CS Lewis anymore. There’s no doubt that it will get Narnia outsiders into the books, & there’s no doubt that it isn’t a movie to miss. But for those who’ve read the book before watching the movie, you know the true magic isn’t on screen, but in the words of CS Lewis himself.

I just came from watching Jumper with Tobie & Urim, & while the movie is still very fresh in my head, I figured I better write a review. :P

Jumper is a sci-fi action movie based on the Steven Gould novel of the same name, where genetic mutations grant certain people with Hiro Nakamura & Kurt Wagner's power - teleportation. It seems that the studios were relying on that premise to draw in an audience. While reaching the top of the US box office (over $30m) proved that it did, Jumper is nothing more than a big-screen travel brochure (excellent location shots), with flashy CGI tricks & man candy. (Sorry, Steven Gould.)

The ironic thing about this movie entitled Jumper was that it never actually went anywhere. Questions are left unanswered & the *coughsupposedcough* climax of the movie really lacked the power to grasp its audience.

The best part of the movie, for me, was Jamie Bell. :D While Hayden Christensen is the lead for this film, it was really Jamie Bell that stole the show. (Even I was looking forward to seeing Hayden, but ended up falling for Jamie. Hehehe! ^__^ He took ballet... Lalala... :D) Jamie Bell makes this otherwise bland movie just a bit more worth watching. ;)

On the other end of the spectrum, Hayden doesn't show the acting skills to carry the movie... Maybe next time, folks. (Don't worry Hayden, you're still hot when fighting with a lightsaber to me. :D) Other performances are either swallowed by the names of the leads or severely underused.

My advice for those with plans to watch this movie? Enter the theater with the lowest expectations, & you might not feel totally disappointed. ;) That's what I did, so I came prepared. Hehe. :P

However, I was not prepared to see Samuel L. Jackson's snowy white hair...

Yes. Having the twisted little mind that I do, I watched Cannibal Holocaust.

Directed by Ruggero Deodato, this sick, horrible, revolting movie is about a professor who travels to the jungles of South America to investigate the disappearance of a film team making a documentary on cannibal tribes. The footage that he finds contains some of the most disgusting, obscene images on screen to date.

(Including the VERY VERY VERY BAD Turtle Scene. 0_____0 *cry*)

Brutal, obscene, disgusting, how many other words can I throw at it? What about... honest & straightforward? Yes, as one reviewer put it "to call this movie depraved and sick would only give it half the credit it deserves..." Underneath all the blood, entrails, & twitching limbs, there is a social message. It's a blatant & very frank mirror to what society has evolved to. Can you define "civilization" if those we call "civilized" are as savage as the most primitive tribe?

And effects? VERY GOOD. To the point that it's too realistic.

For those who dare:
- VERY GRAPHIC IMAGES (nudity, rape, violence, animal cruelty... oh yes, and cannibalism)
- So graphic, that the director went to jail for 10 days until he could prove he did not murder the cast. (I guess this was a compliment to the make-up team.)
- Yes, this was thought to be a snuff film.
- Even when he did prove the cast was alive, he still got into trouble & was fined for animal cruelty & obscenity.
- Banned in a LOT of countries.
- The turtle scene. :| Of all the scenes in the movie, that was the one where I had to turn my head away. Seriously.
- Still want to watch? Okay, good luck! :P

I don't know whether I'm recommending this film or not. :)) For twisted little minds like mine, for those who do not flinch at the sight of blood & gore, & for those who'd be willing to appreciate that it actually is a good movie - if you're missing one of these criteria, I don't recommend it. I do recommend this for people who are dieting. :P Guaranteed you'll lose your appetite! :)) I didn't even want to eat fried chicken for lunch today! :))

This movie really isn't for the faint of heart or... erm... stomach. I'd really love to see someone that can watch this movie without so much as flinching. I wouldn't be surprised if they used the viewing of this film for punishment. DO NOT show this movie to children. Neither is it a movie that should be seen as a late-night scarefest with beer & pizza. (NO, definitely do NOT watch while eating PIZZA. :| Or pasta. Or anything for that matter.)

It's actually a movie that merits the viewer's full attention & seriousness.

When I read the Golden Compass, the first words I read were:

"The Golden Compass forms the first part of a story in three volumes. The first volume is set in a universe like ours, but different in many ways..."

This was probably the most intriguing part of Pullman's trilogy, & I'm happy to say that the filmmakers did capture that! :) From the halls of Jordan College, to the Gyptian families out at sea, to the icy lairs of the Panserbjorn at Svalbard, my imagination was pretty much sated. ^_^

*from this point on, MILD SPOILERS abound*

As a matter of fact... Not counting the simplifying of several parts (which they'd obviously have to do), the faster pace (that too), & the side-stepping of the explanation of Dust & the other - *ahem* - religious conflicts, I was quite pleased that they got the atmosphere that I felt when I read the book!

Here are the best parts of the movie (in my opinion):

- Producers should be very proud of themselves for finding Dakota Blue Richards. I love this girl as Lyra! She embodied the ferocity & fire that made Lyra stand out from any other child hero that I've read about. Not to mention, this girl can hold her own while sharing the screen with veterans like Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Eva Green, & Sam Elliot. AND she's purty! ^__^

- Lee Scoresby was my favorite charcter in the entire trilogy, & my heart gave a little leap when I finally saw him & Hester on screen. ^_____^ (Okay so while reading the books, it was Josh Holloway who was cuddling the bunny in my head. :P) So he's no Josh, but Sam Elliot does justice to Mr. Scoresby, & gets that Southern flavor just right. :D

- From the moment I saw the promo pics, there was no doubt in my head, I was VERY pleased with Serafina Pekkala & her clan of witches. :D (There was also a personal little grand-jete-of-joy for me... but that's another story. :P)

- Ian Mckellen & Christopher Lee again!! ^___^ Gandalf & Saruman, White Wizard reunion! :P Christopher Lee's role in this movie was brief, but I just like seeing LotR cast members in the same movie again. :P Ian Mckellen - there is no denying the power in this man's voice. :D (Uhm, still, there were a lot of parts that made the hobbit in me shout "Gandalf! :D" Hehehe!)

- A job well done to the CG, conceptualization, & costume teams! :D Seeing the London in Lyra's world (with everyone walking around with daemons), the panserbjorn, the flying witches (oh-so-gorgeous costumes, I want one pretty pls), & the battle in Svalbard made my eyes sparkle! :D

- Others: the headquarters of the Oblation Board at Svalbard (very Hanso-like!); Jim Carter as John Faa, the leader of the Gyptians; Freddie Highmore as the voice of Pantalaimon

When there's a good, there's a bad...

- The intensity of being severed from one's daemon wasn't felt in the movie. Neither was the seriousness of holding someone else's daemon.

- Why was the name of Iorek's rival changed? "Ragnar Sturlusson"? =/ "Iofur Raknison" would have been okay... Or was it too close to sounding like "Iorek Byrnison"?

- Iorek's armor didn't look as attractive as his rival's. It reminded me of a turtle shell sometimes. :)) (Well, his rival's reminded me of a styrakosaurus! :P) Pity that it wasn't as good a fit as Saphira's dragon armor in Eragon.

- ENDING. :| (Mara & I looked at each other here with big question marks above our heads.) Oh well... I guess they couldn't have ended it as in the book, anyway. So maybe this is actually a positive thing, hehe.

- Unfortunately, I'd advice those who have not read the books to watch this movie with someone who has. No doubt, a lot of questions will be asked. :P The film doesn't really explain a lot, & some will probably feel like the whole movie was spinning the plot around in circles, & didn't have much of a point.

***********


While I'm not exactly the biggest Pullman fan (but hey, I'm neither against him, his books just didn't capture my heart the way Middle-Earth, Narnia, or even Hogwarts, did) I did enjoy myself watching this movie. To those debating whether or not to watch this film, I say just put aside the controversy, sit back, & see the film! It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it can promise to take you to that universe so familiar yet so different. :)

Brilliant performers, excellent music, talented artists - all to celebrate QC's 68th anniversary. But I only had eyes for the children of Quezon City Performing Arts!

These kids had such PASSION & JOY for dance, that you can throw perfect technique right out the window. Technique can only get you so far, you need that X factor - that thing that just makes people want to watch you dance. Each & every one of those kids had it! They all had that innate musicality that is essential for being a good dancer, they absolutely charmed the audience, their energy never went down, they made the stage come alive - these kids are pure MAGIC!! ^____^

I cannot praise my uncle enough - he is an expert at eliciting that magic in these kids. He gave these street children a better future through dance, his choreography can bring one to tears & put the biggest smile on your face... (I love you, Tito Tony! :D)

To all reading this, pls do see one of the QCFA group's shows! It'll put a smile on your face, & make you wanna DANCE! :D