The Chronicles of Narnia; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

When I was a kid, I would rent an animated version of C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe approximately once ever two or three weeks and watch it about twenty times during the rental period. The jury is still out but I think it was the 1979 Bill Melendez (the guy who produced the Peanuts movies) version.

I found out later, when I decided since WalMart was selling the books for $4.88 a piece, I should buy them and read them, that that animated version followed the book to the letter. I could hear the voices, see the scenes, as I read along.

Recently I decided (finally) to sit down and watch the Walt Disney/Walden Media production and I have to say, I was very disappointed. The Pevensie children were poorly acted and very flat, especially Edmund, who really is the main character of the story, when you get right down to it.

I'm not saying it was horrible. It wasn't bad but for all the hype, and for being a Disney production, I expected more. Now (and this is why I hadn't seen the movie until just recently), I am not a fan of Disney movies, as a rule - I place sole blame for happy endings upon Walt Disney and his vision, across the board and sometimes a happy ending is simply not appropriate - but I lump them into the same category as Jerry Bruckheimer and Steven Speilberg ....they simply do not invest money in bad movies. Even if you don't care for the story line, you know that they are going to put out a damned fine production just because they have a reputation for doing so. But Disney's Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was not up to that standard, in my not-so-professional opinion. Which makes me a little less than extremely excited to see Prince Caspian ....although I probably will just on principle since it's an amazing book.

I guess the moral of the story here is that if you haven't seen the Disney production, rent it. Then, when you get done watching that, rent one of the previous, less extravagant versions. Preferably the previously mentioned Bill Melendez take but another good one is the made-for-television one from the BBC, directed by Marilyn Fox in 1988.