The day before Father’s Day the girls and I went to see “Prince Caspian.” This was my gift to me, because they were leaving the next day to visit friends in Virginia. My Dad’s Day would be spent largely alone.
So we joined a church group taking in the latest adaptation of the CS Lewis Narnia tales.
What did they think? Both felt it was better than the Lion, Witch, Wardrobe saga. Both felt it took great liberties with the book — some good, others not so much. My Sue really fretted over The Kiss, the on-screen lip-lock Lewis forgot to include in his tome between King Caspian and the departing — never to return (until **SPOILER** The Last Battle) Susan Pevensie. It never happened in print, but (to hear her tell it) was pretty hot on screen.
So what was in it for dear old dad? First, I read the books as a child and young adult. I liked them a lot and still consider Lewis a personal hero. Second, I got to spend fun time with the girls. Third, it opened new avenues for discussion.
Can violence on the side of right really fix the world? How should people opposed to violence and war (aka US with our Mennonite beliefs) respond to a movie in which almost every plot point hinged on a fight? What was the problem with Miraz as a father figure? What was good about the parental metaphor of Aslan? Does Aslan represent the perfect father? If so, why wasn’t he there when they needed him most?
Lots of questions. Hopefully the kids with chime in with some of their thoughts. Still a good flick with those you love the most on (the day before) Father’s Day isn’t a bad present. I’m glad I gave it to me.
Those were some really good questions, and one’s I have struggled with myself. Especially the war and Mennonite questions. I do enjoy movies where violence is a key theme, but in reality I am against violence. At the same time I ask myself what would have happened in WWII (WWI was blown out of control) if people hadn’t fought the Axis Powers. Would we all be under German control or would God have stepped in somehow and changed things without violence.
I really don’t know if Aslan is the perfect father-figure, but I still trust him. Miraz killed for personal gain, not for the good of many people. Peter and the others fought for the good of everyone (or at least they thought they were), but does that change the whole perspective on their actions. In some ways I feel that Aslan was not there when they needed him because they would not admit that they needed him and did not trust him completely. Did he stay away to teach them how to trust? But at what cost did that instruction come? Is he justified in letting people die because Peter was acting human? Would Peter have learned the lesson if some of those people hadn’t died?
By: Krista Townsend on June 17, 2008
at 3:39 am
Hi I’m Lucy, I am Aesop’s daughter. I agree the kiss at the end was really dramatic. It did not make sense at all. They did not have any feelling for each other in the book. When she is leaving to she kisses him. Why would you do that when you know you will never see him again? When you think about it it makes no sense at all. I think that he should have come back to the real world so that he could be with Susan. If they did have that chemistry. I also think that Aslan was right not to come to help them because no one except Lucy belived him. When everyone should have from the start, and he came when they needed him most. But i think that he could have come in a little earlier so that not so much blood was spilled. The lesson that he was trying to teach them did come through though. He did say that nothing can happen twice the same, and he is completely true. So I think Aslan has a good reason as to letting them wait for him!
By: Lucy on June 17, 2008
at 3:58 am
Thanks both for your comments. I will respond to them more completely when I have a moment. but thanks for the thoughtfulness.
By: aesop on June 17, 2008
at 3:09 pm