Movie Review: Hollywood Jesus - Better the Second (and Third) Time

Chronicles of Narnia, The: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010) | Review

Better the Second (and Third) Time

Mark Sommer

"The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him." Proverbs 18:17 (NIV)

In my "first impressions" review of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, I expressed regret that I knew to much about the film before I saw the pre-screening. These past

three weeks have been one of turmoil inside myself as I debated how well I liked the movie. Talking to a couple experts on C S Lewis has helped my thinking. Will Vaus, who wrote The Hidden Story of Narnia, said in my interview with him (a few days before I saw the preview) that he tries "to enjoy each movie for what it is." His thoughts on Douglas Gresham (who he knows personally) and his role as Executive Producer were insightful.

I think a lot of people don't understand the process of movie making, and what it takes to translate a book into a film. Nor can they understand or appreciate what's involved for somebody who is managing a literary estate, and trying to make sure that these movies remain true to the original books. I think Doug Gresham is in a difficult position. I think he has taken a wise position in that he has to sign off on script bef

ore they can go ahead, and he's involved in the whole production process by being a co-producer. But there's a lot of give and take in that process. At a certain point he has to decide, "Am I going to say, 'no,' to this?" and thus not have a movie made at all. Or, "do we come up with a compromise and keep moving ahead?" He wants the movies to be true to the books, but he wants to keep moving ahead with these movies.

I have come to appreciate Gresham's role, and the positive part he plays in the films, more and more over the past few weeks. (For more on this, see Douglas Gresham on Policing Narnia with the provided links, and Yo Snyder's

interview with Gresham: Sailing Through Troubled Waters.)

I also have appreciated the insight of Inside Narnia author Devin Brown. In my interview with him this past week, he commented that "everyone has their favorite part that they wish made it in the movie." For those who are fans of the books, "our first love will always have to be" the books. So it's important to realize that it would be impossible to incorporate everything from the books into the movie. Even the Focus on the Family Radio Theatre version (whose creators were dedicated to making the series "the most faithful rendition" ever) made changes adapting the books.

So, when I went to see the movie again (both in 2-D and 3-D) this weekend, I was determined, as I had told Dr. Brown, to "to sit back and relax and enjoy what's there instead of trying to pick out what's not." What a difference. The second and third looks have me hooked—I am enthralled.

What struck me first about the movie is the attention to detail. Eustace's house was especially well done—from Eustace's room filled with dry, dusty books and jarred or pinned bugs; to Lucy's guest room with the worn-out furniture and the mirror splattered with black dots from age (also a great way to picture Lucy's thoughts about herself). The cinematography is also splendid—from the way shots are set up, to the fabulous use of lighting. And the special effects are even better than in Prince Caspian (although I'm still not crazy about 3-D).

I have heard some critics complain about the acting by the principal players. I wonder if they saw a different movie than I. Skandar Keynes (Edmund) and Ben Barnes (Caspian) were solid, and Georgie Henley has improved dramatically (pun intended; both meanings fit) as she has grown with her part. Newcomer Will Poulter makes an excellent Eustace, often stealing the scenes with his natural "straight man" comedic sense.

I found the script actually to be the best of the series. Yes, there is that irritating (and hokey) bit about the seven swords* and the "green mist," but other than that, the progression shows a great balance between tension and release; the character arcs (especially Lucy and Eustace) are well developed, and the interjected humor is much better than anything in the other two films. People were actually laughing out loud in the theaters I attended. I also enjoyed the developing friendship between Eustace and Reepicheep—something those struggling with their relationship with some obnoxious stinker that has been brought into their life should take to heart.

Most of all, the movie captures the overall spirit of C S Lewis's book. The themes of temptation, courage, and responsibility shine though, even if they do have a bit different nuance than the way Lewis wrote about them. Lewis and Narnia experts will realize that the temptations the characters face are not exactly the same in the movie as in the book. I could write a long article on this (perhaps some day I will), but take, for example, the temptation of Lucy. In the movie, Lucy is tempted to say the beautification spell because she wants to be like Susan. Her It's a Wonderful Life moment is well conceived and should hopefully hit home with many young girls struggling through adolescence. However, the message in the book is a bit different. Lucy does not want to be like Susan, but better than she. The temptation is not about not wanting to be herself, but wanting other people to view her favorably—and as more beautiful than any other woman in the world.

If Walden Media had gone the direction the book takes, the reference to Helen of Troy and "the face that launched a thousand ships" would probably have been lost to most young girls watching the film. I, for one, am glad that they "updated" this particular temptation to something that adolescents will probably be able to relate to better.

At Ramadu's Island, King Caspian tells Lilliandil (the name Douglas Gresham gave to Ramandu's daughter, who is also the Blue Star in the movie) that he hopes to see her again. At the end of the movie, Eustace asks Aslan if he will be coming back to Narnia. Aslan replies that Narnia may have need of him again. Many Narnia fans are hoping that Caspian will see Lilliandil again so that their son Prince Rilian will appear in a next movie—The Silver Chair. Whether Eustace will make it back and appear in a fourth movie depends much on how well Dawn Treader does this first week at the box office. So, please go see it! If you have already seen it and are still deciding how well you like it, give it a second chance; "sit back and relax and enjoy what's there instead of trying to pick out what's not."

It is so easy to become a Eustace, who sarcastically says as he drudges along on Dragon Island something like: "Oh, sure. Follow the imaginary Blue Star to the Island of Raman-doo-doo and place on the table of the talking lion the four steak knives of the seven lords." Eustace doesn't like the plot any more than many heart-broken fans out there. I understand. As we have taken this ride over the past year and a half since filming began (the rumors date back even longer), we have often wondered and fumed over what those filmmakers have been doing to "our book." Well, guess what? They haven't taken it away from us; we can always pick it up and read it whenever we want. So, I have decided to enjoy both the movie and the book for what they are. Both have merit, I believe. The book will always be my first love, but I have decided I can love the movie, too.

*The seven swords may not be in the book, but I think they illustrate a lesson that we can all learn. The spell could not be broken until the seven swords were laid at Aslan's Table. There is a conversation where Caspian talks about Edmund giving up his sword. He had to in order to break the spell. So Caspian gives him Peter's sword—the one Peter had entrusted to Caspian. Devin Brown tells us in Inside The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (p. 218) that Lewis once wrote that when we make first things first, God also gives us the second things. Edmund is willing to give up his sword to accomplish a first thing (overcome evil), and is given his brother's sword instead.

It is also interesting to note that many commentators see Aslan's Table as an allusion to the Eucharist (also known as the Lord's Table). Paul told the Corinthians, in his first letter to them, that because they were abusing the Lord's Table, many had "fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 11). While "sleep" for Paul was apparently a euphemism for death, Lewis takes the idea and makes it literal.

The fault of the lords who became the sleepers was similar to one of the faults of the Corinthians, who were still quarreling among themselves when Paul wrote another letter to them (2 Corinthians 10:4). We must learn to lay down our swords—to quit our petty arguments—if we are to "break the spell" of evil and participate in the fellowship of that Table.