The second installment of C.S. Lewis’ beloved “Chronicles of Narnia” will be released this week to the silver screen, where once again moviegoers will be exposed to truths about the Christian faith.
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In this image released by Disney, actors William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes, Ben Barne(Photo: AP/Disney, Murray Close)
“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,” opening in theaters May 16, is the follow-up to the 2005 box-office hit “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.”
In “Prince Caspian,” the Pevensie children – Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy – are magically and mysteriously transported from England back to Narnia to help Caspian regain his throne from his power-hungry uncle, Lord Miraz.
But when the youths return to Narnia, they find that the land and people have greatly changed. While the siblings have only aged a year, 1,300 years have passed in the magical land. The Pevensie’s find that only a small number of Narnians still believe in the story of Aslan – who has not been seen in centuries – the Stone Table, and a time when animals talked.
“We enter a world of skepticism that is very much like our own,” commented Mark Earley, president and CEO of Prison Fellowship Ministry, in a column this week. “Let’s just say that the best-selling books of Miraz’s kingdom could easily have been titled ‘The Aslan Delusion and Aslan is Not Great.’”
The conflict changes this time from a direct good versus evil fight – where Aslan is pitted against the White Witch in the first Narnia story – to a war between followers of the opposing powers. But on a personal level, the characters struggle individually with their faith in the stories about Aslan, including Prince Caspian himself who has never seen the lion.
“Here is something with which Christians today can certainly relate,” Earley observed. “It is one thing to be among the first witnesses who exult in the risen Christ. It is quite another to act out of faith when the stories of His witnesses are so many centuries removed from our world.”
A review by The Associated Press describes “Prince Caspian” as “simultaneously darker and funnier, more substantive and more engaging, more violent and more technically accomplished” than its predecessor.
Although there were some changes to adapt the book’s storyline to the big screen, movie director Andrew Adamson, who made the first Narnia film as well as the wildly successful “Shrek” movies, said he was trying to stay true to the book when he made the film, according to an interview with Christianity Today magazine.
“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,” is the second installment in a seven book series.
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Here is a different take on the CS Lewis writings. Food for thought & serious prayer.
http://tinyurl.com/3pkb49
SamFox
dgnymn, I've simply read early reviews that weren't complimentary. Did you see the "unfortunately" part of my post? In other words, I'm disappointed that the reviews are not all good. I was really looking forward to the film.
Hey, Wiccan Texan...do you believe every review you read????
This movie and the book not only reflect the "modern spiritual battle", but the spiritual battle that starts in Genesis and end in the Book of Revelation. Unfortunately, Diana626 is correct in that too many Christians would rather watch a movie than read God's Word. {I do disagree with the generalization. Generalizations rarely get anything accomplished and rarely get the point across.}
My husband and I were able to go to a special screening of Prince Caspian. And it was wonderful. Although I do agree with all of you who say we need to be more involved in the book that is Life and is God breathed, I am grateful Disney and Walden Media is bringing to life a series of books that may be a way to show children and others to Christ who would otherwise might have never picked up CS lewis's writings. I am all for God using this as a vessel. I would much rather see the writtings of CS lewis on the screen than that of Harry potter and the Golden compass which is to enchant children into satan's clutches and nothing but evil.
Unfortunately, I've heard early reviews that this movie is pretty flat and dull.
Hey, Diana626...have you ever read ANY of C.S. Lewis stories? Huh... Or are you just another Pharisee who scoffs at anything which might assist the younger in their faith?
Get a clue, gal. Pick up the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. You'll be pleasantly surprised. And what do you know of C.S.(jack) lewis? Do tell.
All of life is not contained in the Bible. Remember that John said that even all the scrolls in the world couldn't contain the works of Christ. Also, Solomon passed by a field and took a lesson from it. Life is big and contains many such lessons for us. God has promised to be there with us and interpret and guide us through them.
That said, I hope that Disney does a better job on this installment than the last, which I found very disappointing, especially considering the scale of the production. Lewis' wonderful writings demand far better treatment than that, and the Gospel surely could use better representation in the arts at this point in time.
If you are saying that comparing Christ to a lion is blasphemous, then you are calling the Bible blasphemous because in Revelations 5:5, it does just that:
"5Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."
I understand your anger at this sinful world, and it is right to have righteous indignation, but honestly, how many people are you bringing to Christ when you say such things? Go and tell people about Jesus, unapologetically and unashamed! Go and reflect God's love, because that is the mark by which we are known as Christians.
Diana, it might be more appropriate to be less generalizing with your words. I enjoy movies like this, however I also am very knowledgable of Scripture.
As far as this movie allegorizing an animal to represent Christ in this movie, I am not sure what is by necessity blasphemous about it?
I realize any analagous item taken too far will cause problems, however even in Scripture a bronze snake is used to represent Christ. (John 3:14 "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up")
So while I appreciate your enthusiasm for scripture, it might be appropriate to think about this from a more gracious viewpoint.
No wonder professing Christians are lacking knowledge of what God has said. They'd rather watch a movie made by sinful men than read what God has already revealed (we won't even go into using an animal to denote Christ in a book or movie... what blasphemy). American Christians are wondering why their children fall away when they get older... build their foundations on subsitutes for the Word of God and it rots away.