I actually don't think they'll gloss over it at all...I think they really are trying to make it as loyal to the book as possible.

ZetaPhi - isn't the trailer amazing? I literally had chills on the back of my neck watching it! The music adds a lot and the scenery is breathtaking - no wonder they shot it in New Zealand!

I agree, for two reasons:

1) Lewis's step-son, Douglas Gresham (who, if I recall correctly, is an Anglican priest), controls the rights to the books and is a co-producer with creative control; and

2) The producers have to know that they have a built-in audience for the movie, and that built-in audience will not be pleased if the main point of the books is glossed-over. "The Passion of the Christ" showed that this built-in audience (I'm betting it's many of the same people) can make a movie extremely successful. By the same token, if that audience is disappointed by "glossing over" and stays away, the movie is likely to fail.

That said, I doubt they'll be overt in the drawing attention to the allegory either. But then again, Lewis wasn't very overt about it himself, until the last chapter of The Last Battle.

very good points...and i totally agree...i didn't know that lewis's family had a role in it, and that's great.

But regardless, the trailer is beautiful and more than i ever expected. This will be such an unbelievable film!

I saw a trailer when I went to See Star Wars: Episode III.

It looked so good that it gave me goosebumps. I am a huge fan of the book, so I am super excited for the movie.

I've only seen the trailer on the computer...my friends went to see Sith this weekend and said the crowd was cheering during the Narnia trailer! Awesome! I'm gonna have to go this week to see it - I bet it looks amazing on the big screen:D

Oh, it does. I saw it also during Star Wars III. I had seen it before, both on the computer and on TV. I had managed to catch the trailer for it during a network TV showing of Harry Potter 2, but the TV doesn't do it justice at all. It was absolutely breathtaking on the big screen. This movie I think will definitely be a must-see-in-the-theater. I can't wait!

Maybe it's because I'm a Jew, but I never noticed any "Christian" allegory...

Please enlighten me.

(It's not spoilers, since I've owned the books since I was 10.)

***SPOILER WARNING*** (I know kstar said it wouldn't be a spoiler, but just in case it would be for anyone else...)





There are many parallels between Aslan and God/Jesus.

To name a couple:

-Aslan creates Narnia. God created the Earth.

-When Aslan sacrifices himself in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, it is very much like how Jesus died on the cross. Jesus rose again; so does Aslan.

And in The Last Battle, at the end, the children finally go to Aslan's country (Heaven) after they have died. I think it was mentioned in one of the other books that anyone who visits Aslan's country does not return, which would make sense since you have to die in order to go to Heaven.

But where is that "Christian"?

In most religions there are people that sacrifice themselves for others, and/or promises of an afterlife.

And in almost all religoins, a "god" created the earth.

I'm not saying that CSL didn't plan it, but I want more information, I still don't see it.

kstar, here is a wiki article:

Link to the Article

Quite true that in many religions there are people that sacrifice themselves for others, and/or promises of an afterlife, as well as divine creation stories. And it may well be easier for a Christian to spot the allegories that Lewis intended. Perhaps I can provide a few more concrete examples:

In The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, it's not just that Aslan sacrifices himself for Edmund. Edmund's life is, by "law," forfeit to the Witch (evil). Aslan offers himself in Edmund's place. This is a concept at the heart of Christian teaching about the crucifixion -- the blameless one taking upon himself the punishment for the sins of others and making the necessary restitution/payment. Moreover, Aslan actually dies, but is later resurrected according to a "deeper magic." It's the crucifixion/resurrection in a nutshell.

As one other example, the judgment scene in The Last Battle is pretty much taken from the judgment described in the Gospel according to the Matthew. And if you'll recall, in the last chapter of The Last Battle, the children lament that they've never scene Aslan in their own world. He corrects them as tells them that they have, and then his appearance changes and they recognize him. Although they don't say "Look, it's Jesus," that is clearly the import.

One could also mention Aslan's frequent references to his Father Over the Sea. Here, The Father Over the Sea = God the Father, and Aslan = God the Son. (God the Holy Spirit is at times represented by Aslan breathing on others -- again, an image taken directly from the Gospels -- or by the fragrance that surrounds Aslan at times.)

There's lots more there, and there are whole books on the subject.

Thank you moe.ron and MysticCat.

I can see it now, but is is bad that I just would rather enjoy them as good fantasy stories with messages of good behavior? (i.e. be nice, just, don't lie... et cetera)

No, that's not bad at all. Obviously being Jewish, the Christian aspects of it aren't going to mean much to you. And I know that when I was a kid, I didn't make the connection. It was only when I re-read the books a few months ago that I really saw it. The books are obviously still very enjoyable without thinking of Aslan as God/Jesus.

so is it true that the audience applaused during the narnia trailer before star wars? all my friends keep telling me this is happening and i think it's so cool! the last time that happened, was i guess when the star wars trailer premiered...

I loved this book as a child and I can't wait to see the movie. I felt like a big kid when I saw the trailer in the theater. :)