Posted on 05/17/2008 3:52:14 AM PDT by paudio
HOLLYWOOD seems to have concluded that war movies don't sell. But "Prince Caspian" seems likely to prove the opposite.
"Caspian," the new Narnia film from Walden Media based on the CS Lewis classic, is expected to do quite well. The secret: It's not anti-war.
Flicks like "Stop-Loss," "Lions for Lambs," "In the Valley of Elah" and "Rendition" have bombed because they're painfully anti-war - and the heavy-handed ideology makes for artistic as well as commercial failure.
"Caspian" is a fantasy, of course - but also a war story. Indeed, it's the tale of a just war: Prince Caspian's fight to return Narnia to its natural, Aslan-given order by driving the tyrant Miraz from power and bringing back and restoring the rights of talking animals, fauns, dwarves and other magical beings.
The tale is full of military events, councils, knights. Aslan gives a great war cry to summon and inspire his troops ("The Lion Roars"). Miraz is defeated in single combat, after which "full battle" is joined.
In fact, "Caspian" is centered on the theme of Mars, god of war.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Yes, I thought the message was excellent. Also, while it was clear, they didn’t hit you over the head with it, so it didn’t come across as preachy.
There are many scenes where the boys swing their swords to their enemies, and Susan shoots her arrows. Also the dwarf looks bloody after being tortured. As I mentioned, it is a quite tense movie. As for age, I think depend on what other movies your kids watched, but I would say it’s appropriate for children age 6-7.
There are battle scenes, but they aren’t gory like Braveheart, with blood splattering around. It’s somewhat sanitized. People get wounded and killed, but it’s done in such a way that you know it happened without dwelling on it.
It’s a real war flick- this isn’t unicorns tiptoeing through the daisies, mind you- but I’d take kids as young as 3rd grade or so. My youngest is 11, she loved it.
There’s a lot of fighting and obviously a lot of people getting killed, but the movie doesn’t dwell on gruesome shots. However, a lot of the movie is about having the courage to do what you know you have to do if you want to stay true to the calling, so the violence isn’t just thrown in for the heck of it, but is part of the story. The fight scenes are very good, but if the child is very small and hasn’t read (or been read) a lot of books where this is a feature, the child might be a little unnerved.
As I said, the kids in the theater were all clapping and cheering at the end, so I guess they got it! But if you’re worried, you might want to see it first by yourself.
Ok - good to know - thanks.
Thanks for the added details - 11 year old loved it - good recommendation....
The dwarf looks bloody after being tortured????
Hope that part is brief....
Just to clarify....anti-American war movies don’t sell.
I wonder if they put out such warnings re: Pirates of the Caribbean and Harry Potter??
I don't remember any. But then, their understanding of "violence" may mean "having a moral, religious theme"
I thought the song at the end was terrible. Didn't fit in with any of the musical score. Hope they change it for the DVD release.
Next week, Indiana Jones 4.......
Got the 3 previous Indy movies on wide screen last night. The kids - and I, are working our way through them this weekend to get ready for next week.
I have the older Indy set, and have been watching them when I have time. I have heard that the John Williams score is some of his best work (CD comes out on Tuesday). Critics will tear the film apart, since they have an agenda to do so out of spite. But I'm going, and I hope it is very successful!
bttt
You sure there is no subplot where Aslan and Prince Caspian run off and become gay cowboys?
now that prince caspian is off and running, i hope they start work on my absolute favorite, “voyage of the dawn treader.”
step it up, disney!
I believe they have started the production of Voyage already.
He has a fresh scrape on his forehead and a cut on his cheek. He’s clearly wounded, but don’t imagine it as a horrifying sight.
IMO, the only part that a little kid (like a 3 year-old) might not like is the scene with the werewolf and the hag, but if you’ve seen the sacrifice scene in the first one, it’s no worse than that.
I want to see The Magician’s Nephew. That’s a cool book.
Gonna see it tomorrow. Date with the wife and daughter.
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