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Open Forum => Off-Topic => Topic started by: Colin Michael on December 19, 2008, 07:23:47 PM

Title: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: Colin Michael on December 19, 2008, 07:23:47 PM
It's Lewis, you cannot take that much poetic license with Lewis.
However, I was impressed that Regina Spektor was in the credits.
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: lightningninja on December 19, 2008, 08:50:17 PM
It was like watching a much worse, wanna be LOTR. I hated it, even though I liked the first one.
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: Colin Michael on December 19, 2008, 10:58:56 PM
Yes, and yet the books were so good.
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: JSB23 on December 19, 2008, 11:03:42 PM
It was better than the first one in my opinion
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: TheKarazyvicePresidentRR on December 19, 2008, 11:17:23 PM
It was like watching a much worse, wanna be LOTR. I hated it, even though I liked the first one.
So it was worse than eragon?
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: JSB23 on December 19, 2008, 11:18:08 PM
It was like watching a much worse, wanna be LOTR. I hated it, even though I liked the first one.
So it was worse than eragon?

That......is impossible
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: Colin Michael on December 20, 2008, 12:08:55 AM
It was like watching a much worse, wanna be LOTR. I hated it, even though I liked the first one.
So it was worse than eragon?

That......is impossible
I thought Eragon was a pretty decent book series. The movie ruined that for me.
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: JSB23 on December 20, 2008, 12:11:35 AM
I was talking about the movie
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: lightningninja on December 20, 2008, 12:54:54 AM
I was talking about the movie
I'll give them a tie.  :o
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: Ironica on December 20, 2008, 10:05:27 AM
I really enjoyed the movie.  My only disappointment with it is that they just took the music from the first movie and put it in awkward parts.
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: The Schaef on December 20, 2008, 10:52:02 AM
Sort of like how Lucas recycles John Williams' music and kind of spreads it around the Star Wars movies like birdseed?

Of course, that's not a fair comparison, because that music is just plain awesome no matter where you put it in the movie.  So memo to Lucas, next edition of Return of the Jedi, replace both the old yub yub song and the new new-agey song with Duel of the Fates.  And replace Hayden Christensen's glowy blueness with Jake Lloyd, just to make the blasphemy complete.  /off-topic
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: YourMathTeacher on December 20, 2008, 01:04:27 PM
I liked Prince Caspian, but I agree with Colin that the movie does not compare to the book (hardly any do). Unfortunately for the Chronicles, there are two huge stumbling blocks:

1. LotR came out first, so everyone will compare the two. The fact that both were written at the same time by members of the same literary group is irrelevant to the general public. People will simply say that Narnia copied the "attack of the trees" and the "river eating the bad guys on horses" from LotR. Being the first is the most important aspect of entertainment in today's world. The second is always viewed as a copy (i.e. I did not enjoy Wyatt Earp because I had already seen Tombstone the same year).

2. Disney does not have a vested interest in the Chronicles of Narnia other than money. I believe that Peter Jackson was a fan of the LotR books and therefore immersed himself into the production. Sure he made changes, but the movies did a wonderful job of drawing in the non-Tolkein crowd. Great acting certainly helps in that regard. However, the Disney producers seem to just be trying to tap into the genre hoping to make some quick money off the Lewis following and LotR astounding success. But without the love of the books and quality acting, Lewis' vision is lost. I realize that the acting is hurt by the fact that the stars are children, but that still prevents me from being drawn into the dilemma of a child who becomes a king and then becomes a child again and now has to be saving king. I also did not feel the conflict of Prince versus King in decision-making, but rather a boy who is overprotective of his sister.

I would still pay to see any of the Narnia movies because I loved the books. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was my favorite book, so I certainly hope that is the next movie. But I agree with the general sentiment that Prince Caspian was not a movie I would watch over and over again. Once was enough. If I want to visit Narnia again myself, I will just go to the bookshelf.
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: TheMarti on December 20, 2008, 02:03:35 PM
I liked the movie as a movie... had I not read the book I would have loved it.

What upset me about it was that I enjoyed the first one, and the first one was pretty accurate to the book... and so they set a pretty high bar for themselves. When they failed, and added scenes that didnt even exist (overnight raid, anyone?), that upset me. But like I said, I liked it as a cinematic experience.

Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: YourMathTeacher on December 20, 2008, 02:11:43 PM
What upset me about it was that I enjoyed the first one, and the first one was pretty accurate to the book... and so they set a pretty high bar for themselves. When they failed, and added scenes that didnt even exist (overnight raid, anyone?), that upset me.

That's probably what Colin was alluding to in the original post, and I agree.

But like I said, I liked it as a cinematic experience.

Out of curiosity, would you pay to see it again in the movie theatre?
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: TheMarti on December 20, 2008, 03:23:07 PM
No, probably not. But I'd buy it to watch at home or on demand.

~TM
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: Lamborghini_diablo on December 21, 2008, 01:02:57 PM
Out of curiosity, would you pay to see it again in the movie theatre?

The only movies I've payed to see more than once were Cloverfield and The Dark Knight.
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: michael/michaelssword on December 21, 2008, 01:15:12 PM
swich Dark knight for Doomsday and add on House and there you go :laugh:
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: BubbleBoy on December 21, 2008, 02:02:50 PM
Lately I've been seeing movies multiple times in theaters...mainly because there have been very few good movies since summer.
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: Clarinetguy097 on December 21, 2008, 02:04:46 PM
I want to see what they'll do to The Last Battle...
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: Warrior_Monk on December 22, 2008, 09:24:22 AM
I believe Prince Caspian was realised as a book before 2 towers was, but nobody who hasn't read the books is going to look up their history. That's the only problem, otherwise it was a great movie. It really didn't follow the book, but I still really enjoyed the whole Castle Assult part.
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: The Schaef on December 22, 2008, 11:19:53 AM
The only movies I've payed to see more than once were Cloverfield and The Dark Knight.

Aladdin seven times, The Incredibles three times.  That's about it.
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: michael/michaelssword on December 22, 2008, 11:46:06 AM
The only movies I've payed to see more than once were Cloverfield and The Dark Knight.

Aladdin seven times, The Incredibles three times.  That's about it.
have kids? if not o_O
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: rpgdirector on December 22, 2008, 11:55:56 AM
I was VERY upset at the movie.  I know that movies will always be different from the books.  More action is usually needed.  What I do NOT like is when they mess with characters.

There seems to be this concept in today's film industry that we as a culture cannot understand or feel alongside highly ethical/righteous characters.  Characters who we can look up to and try to emulate in our books are downgraded in their movie incarnations so the audience can understand/grow alongside them.

They did it to Faramir in LOTR, they did it to High King Peter in the Caspian film.  Both characters were made less good in the films.  In the books, both Faramir and Peter did what was right because they knew it was right, regardless of the consequences.  In the films, they struggled and even made wrong decisions (which changed the storyline drastically).  I do not like this.  Part of the reason I enjoyed these books is because of these strong characters whom I could attempt to emulate.  Changing these characters, changes the stories, and makes them less powerful stories. 
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: BubbleBoy on December 22, 2008, 01:49:07 PM
I wasn't too excited about Prince Caspian really. It's just another movie in my mind. I think it gets way too much hype.
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: Warrior_Monk on December 22, 2008, 06:39:44 PM
I was VERY upset at the movie.  I know that movies will always be different from the books.  More action is usually needed.  What I do NOT like is when they mess with characters.

There seems to be this concept in today's film industry that we as a culture cannot understand or feel alongside highly ethical/righteous characters.  Characters who we can look up to and try to emulate in our books are downgraded in their movie incarnations so the audience can understand/grow alongside them.

They did it to Faramir in LOTR, they did it to High King Peter in the Caspian film.  Both characters were made less good in the films.  In the books, both Faramir and Peter did what was right because they knew it was right, regardless of the consequences.  In the films, they struggled and even made wrong decisions (which changed the storyline drastically).  I do not like this.  Part of the reason I enjoyed these books is because of these strong characters whom I could attempt to emulate.  Changing these characters, changes the stories, and makes them less powerful stories. 
why'd you have to bring up Faramir's fail. I forgot about that. I can never enjoy Two Towers again! UGH! I might just break my tradition of watching all 3 LotR Extended Editions around Christmas time! WHY'D YOU REMIND ME!
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: trailjava on December 24, 2008, 01:41:56 AM
Loved the movie got on Itunes for my Nano.  Cant wait for the next 1.
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: Lampy on December 28, 2008, 07:31:52 PM
It was like watching a much worse, wanna be LOTR. I hated it, even though I liked the first one.
So it was worse than eragon?


NOOOO!!!!!!! Eragon stinks! Prince Caspian is............. on the wierd level. My brother was dissapointed, but what ruined it for him was the kissing scene between Susan and Caspian.
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: franta012 on December 29, 2008, 12:07:27 PM
I haven't seen it in a while but I remember that I really enjoyed Prince Caspian.  Even if it wasn't the same as the books, I enjoyed the interpretation.  I know that the night raid was completely not in the book but I thought it was a really fun scene.
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: JSB23 on December 29, 2008, 12:27:16 PM
 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: sk on December 30, 2008, 04:43:18 AM
The big problem I had was that Caspian was the central character, and the film was shown largely from his point of view.  The first movie was completely from the kids' point of view, which was a much better way to present it.

I think the director spent too much time making a strong, realistic noir film and forgot it was a fantasy adventure.  Thankfully, the third film is going to be directed by someone else (he directed Amazing Grace and one of the 007 films), so I think there's hope.  But I think rpgdirector is right on -- the kids need to be stronger.  Since Edmund is the oldest in the next film, his superior acting skills (compared to Peter's) will hopefully help.
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: JSB23 on December 30, 2008, 12:23:25 PM
Well in the book the story was told from both perspectives
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: sk on December 30, 2008, 03:23:30 PM
I wouldn't mind scenes without the children to be from his perspective, but even once they arrive, the story is still focused largely on Caspian.
Title: Re: Just watched Prince Caspian.
Post by: Colin Michael on January 23, 2009, 02:27:25 PM
And Lewis does love to change main characters each book. I love the ending of the last battle. More Lewis neo-platonism please!
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