They’re desperate to kill the magic lion

The Sunday Times ^ | December 11, 2005 | Minette Marrin

[paudio]

There has for several days been a tremendous fluttering in the dovecotes of the liberal intelligentsia; this twittering and squawking has been caused by the dramatic appearance of Aslan, the Christ-like lion in CS Lewis’s children’s story The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; the multi-million-dollar Disney film of the book was released here last week to huge publicity. Several prominent members of the commentariat have felt moved to express their contempt and indignation at something that will give huge pleasure to millions of children. If it were not so repressive and censorious, this would be comic. The problem for liberal intellectuals is that The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, like the whole Narnia series, is overtly Christian, for those that have ears to hear, and therefore religious propaganda and therefore a bad thing. Young minds might be perverted by this insidious stuff. The flames of this indignation have been fanned by the fact that the film has been eagerly taken up by the American Christian right.

[Smokin' Joe]

I noticed the reviewer on Pajiba even grudgingly liked it (they like slammming movies there, and the reviewer couldn't find major fault). Their ascerbic and often profane commentary has kept me from going to a few dogs, and accurately told me what to expect when I went anyway. Your mileage may vary.

[poobear]

"bump for Narnia. . ."

Definitely on my post Christmas DVD list!

[Jimmy Valentine]

"Several prominent members of the commentariat have felt moved to express their contempt and indignation at"

Jeeeezzzzeee!!! I HATE references to these people as though they were worthy of any respect or even notice. "Elites" that much abused word, applied to people who invent their intellectualism, and parade around denigrating everyone else in an effort to dominate our social structure.

I am always reminded of an aphorism attributed to Kruchev upon the failure of yet another five-year plan:

"What we REALLY need to do around here is to shoot a few more intellectuals."

[HairOfTheDog]

ping

[TigerTale]

Remains of the Day

The film about Shadowlands, starring Anthony Hopkins.

Remains of the Day was a different film, also starring Anthony Hopkins, but not about Lewis.

[kanawa]

the product costs $150 million.

180 mill according to Box Office Mojo
Lot of bucks either way

[Northern Yankee]

Goodness... to have children thinking about morality?

Can't have that.

Liberalism... a mental disease.

[Northern Yankee]

Actually, the film makers and distributors are somewhat nervous about the Christian effect over here; what sells in Christian America might not sell to post-Christian Britain....

So... what does that mean?

Are there no more Christians in Britian?

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I think Roeper thinks the White Witch is sexy...but that is another issue. ;-)

She is and she is meant to be.

Evil is suppose to be attractive.

[Peach]

That is curious, isn't it.

[LS]

Not hard at all when they are positively slobbering over "King Kong," which I find unbelievable. Another remake of a remake. Drudge has a virtual "King Kong" watch going on.

So, yes, "Narnia" will be a big underdog (under-ape?)

[A. Pole]

"Above all, I can’t help wondering why the instincts of secular liberals should be so repressive. It is odd, when one considers that a major part of post-enlightenment secularism is supposed to be enlightened tolerance."

Narnia bump

[Northern Yankee]

I was struck by that statement.

That's one heck of a thing to say about your own country.

If you are a post Christian country, what are you?

Can it be the author thinks they can surpass 2000 years of Christianity to be a what, more civilized society?

[Farmer Dean]

If you can find the original story on this I would be very interested to see it.Since our legal system is based on the ten commandments-this is just sick.

[tet68]

"Several prominent members of the commentariat..."


Now here is a term worthy of the main stream media,
and one which deserves wider useage!!!

Go to it freepers.

tet.

[manic4organic]

First, I can't believe Disney did this movie. Second, it's great! Saw it last night with my daughters, nephew and brother. Stick it, libs.

[Aquinasfan]

The MSM is having big problems reviewing this film and we know why.

I look forward to their difficulties with movies 2,3,4,5 and 6.

[labard1]

"Are there no more Christians in Britian?"

An Anglican priest in Chester described the English as "functionally agnostic" 20 years ago. He said the clerics were essentially curators of splendid museums.

It's a strong argument against a state-imposed religion.

[Northern Yankee]

An Anglican priest in Chester described the English as "functionally agnostic" 20 years ago.

Wow!

[durasell]

It's my understanding that Narnia is being marketed differently than a big budget film. No press junkets (i.e. free trips) or a huge ad budget. They've hired the same company, Motive Marketing, that did promotions for Passion.

It'll be interesting to see if the grass roots effort pays off.