Voyage of the Dawn Treader... sort of.

[imbecamiel]

 Went to see Voyage of the Dawn Treader tonight. I have... mixed feelings.

The things they did well tended to be spot-on awesome. The things they did not were... Wait. Whut. Srsly? Unfortunately, the "not" instances kinda outnumbered the "spot-on."

Some of it I'd expected, and been entirely prepared for (the necessity of condensing/combining some incidents). Others... It was kinda like they just didn't get the idea of a sea story, the voyage tale, and got all confused, and therefore had to try to find some way to make it flow more like the previous stories. Problem is - you can't out-Lewis Lewis. And while I wouldn't  (quite) argue that his stories are absolutely perfect and cannot be improved upon in any way... that didn't really do it.
 
So yeah. That's not to say I hated the movie, really. As a fantasy movie, it was not too bad, if occasionally disjointed, and trite at moments. But as Chronicles of Narnia? Er... what? 

The first ten minutes and last ten minutes were pretty much absolutely perfect, though. Seriously, that ending almost made me cry. And Caspian was pretty awesome. And the interaction between him and Edmund turned out much more satisfying than what the last movie did with Peter and Caspian. And I really loved Lucy. And hey, much as it was totally wrong as far as the book goes... (SPOILER ALERT) can I really get all that upset about an epic sea monster/dragon battle? Well yes, I could. But I dunno. Considering all the other things they changed... I think I'll just enjoy getting to see that. /dragon obsession

cirtholien - I'm afraid you're likely to rather hate it, overall. :/ But maybe you'll be able to enjoy it as a fantasy-that-has-nothing-whatsoever-to-do-with-a-certain-awesome-book-except-for-the-first-and-last-ten-minutes anyhow? It's like Narnia fanfiction! Heh.

At any rate, I think that's all I'll say for the moment. Both in an attempt to avoid total spoilerage, and 'cause I think Nef's gonna say more later. 

Comments

[scarvenartist.livejournal.com]

Oh, noooo, that is so disappointing. :( On the one hand, I do think Dawn Treader would certainly be the hardest of the books to adapt for the screen, so I expected there would probably be changes to get an overall cohesion between all the incidents. On the other hand...it's Narnia, and I want it the same, waaah!

What I basically go back to - ya just can't improve on Lewis. Mercifully, I can still just go back and shnoogle up with the books and be perfectly happy, never mind all egregious errors of film. ^^ (Though if they mess up The Silver Chair, I do think I might pitch a real fit. Do they not know there are Laws against tampering with Kelsi's Favorites? *glares darkly*)

I probably won't see it till after Christmas, but I'll doubtless post about it when I do. :)

[imbecamiel.livejournal.com]

Heh yeah. As I said on the phone... *general flail*

But yes. It does really help that, as book fans, no matter what they may do to them on screen, we still have the books! *clings to them* I reeally hope that they do better with The Silver Chair... Somehow it seems like an easier one to adapt to film, though, y'know? *hopeful*

Anyhow, I shall look forward to your thoughts on it, whenever you get to see it. ^.^

[silivren-tinu.livejournal.com]

I've just seen the first movie posters for a preview of Voyage of the Dawn Treader around here. I'm looking forward to seeing the movie, though I guess from your comments that I won't be too happy with it. :P Well, I guess I'll just re-read the book while I'm waiting for the movie to arrive in our theaters.

[imbecamiel.livejournal.com]

LOL, it is quite fun, and pretty, so I would say there's still plenty to enjoy there. Still, it is such a shame that it didn't live up to the previews... *sighs wistfully*

But yes, that is certainly always a comfort to remember - whatever the movies do, we still have the books to enjoy just as much as ever. :3

[nefhiriel.livejournal.com]

At any rate, I think that's all I'll say for the moment. Both in an attempt to avoid total spoilerage, and 'cause I think Nef's gonna say more later.

Oh...erm. I kinda think you put it better than I could. I was just letting out my frustration upon the keyboard last night, and its probably unintelligible. XD You know how I get when I'm hot under the collar... *rants in that most confusing of languages: Neffese*

So, yes, if you want to add more... I'll probably just post something pointing at your posts, saying: Yes--THAT. What she said. ^^

P.S. Jeeves does not approve of their changes AT. ALL. 'Tis monstrous intolerable!

[imbecamiel.livejournal.com]

<3 I may say a little more, once more people have had a chance to see it, so I'm not being all spoilery. But do feel free to post your rantiness anyway. ^.^

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

I've heard that the die-hard book fans won't like this movie--or actually, I've heard they don't like any of the movies. Me, I'm not a huge fan of the books--I've yet to read the entire series, though I'm working on it (sporadically). So coming from that perspective, I've found the films to be... okay. I just find them a bit too "LOTR Lite"; they leave me longing for some grungy, grim and gorgeous Rangers. LOL

Yes. I'm hopeless.

[imbecamiel.livejournal.com]

Heh, yeah... really, I think generally die-hard book fans aren't going to wind up really liking any movie adaptation of any book - unless they're predisposed to want to like it, and understand the necessity of changes happening in the course of the transition.

In truth, I really loved the first two movies. Prince Caspian gave me more things to quibble with than the first one... but I wasn't inclined to be picky. I wanted to like them, and I did, and sometimes even particularly enjoyed the bits that were changed or embellished.

And I was expecting more changes with this one than the last ones, if only because I knew the serial nature of the plot was going to make them combine incidents to move things along more quickly. I just... didn't really expect them to abandon the main plot, make up a new one, and then, er, not really explain some of that sufficiently. Much of it might've been helped by just making the movie a bit longer... but some of it I really have no idea how it even occurred to them to do that. XD

LOL, and I do know what you mean about "LOTR Lite." Honestly, though, I tend to enjoy Tolkien and Lewis for such different reasons, that it's hard for me to say which I like more. It's rather like... asking whether I like water or air more. I love both, and then satisfy different needs. :) (And actually, the Chronicles of Narnia, much as I love them, are not quite my favorite of Lewis' writings. I tend to enjoy his non-fiction even more than his fiction.)

/rambling

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

I tend to enjoy his non-fiction even more than his fiction.)

That is me in a nutshell. :) I've never been a fan of any books with kids as protags (funny, I was that way even when I was a kid... I wanted my heroes to be grown up!). But Lewis' theological books are terrific.

[imbecamiel.livejournal.com]

Mmm, now I've had more time to think it over and analyze my reactions, I am kinda wondering if I wouldn't like it like it better with a second viewing. The whole green mist thing really threw me for a loop, but... Hmm.

And yes, Eustace was quite perfect for the role. :D And it was terribly fun seeing Edmund and Lucy in their greater maturity, standing on their own without their siblings there... and their interaction with Caspian. And Reepicheep. He was awesome.

So yeah. There is plenty there to like. It'd probably be worth giving a second shot, now I know what to expect from it. ^.^