CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE (2005, USA, Andrew Adamason, screenplay with Ann Peacock / Christopher Markus / Stephen McFeely, from C.S. Lewis novel)
Do not cite the Deep Magic to me, Witch. I was there when it was written.
Brilliant to foreground the WW2 context – the original was inspired by a girl Lewis cared during the evacuation of London – but despite visual glories the magic somehow plays plastic. Screenwriter choices in this mostly very faithful adaptation (overlooking one particularly annoying, very American plot insertion, complete with cracking ice and continuity) still manage to subtly diminish the novel’s singular power; the Beavers bicker, Peter is a prig, and - the fatal flaw - a CGI Aslan is regal but not at all fearsome. Oh well, the film's still worth seeing: Lucy’s particularly wonderful, Tilda Swinton’s white queen memorably attractive/repulsive.
Word is, Guillermo del Toro was approached to direct but declined. Now, that would have been a movie! Real war, real magic, and (want to bet?) a not-so-tame lion. He’s not at all interested in the lion coming back from the dead. Pity – for us and for Mr del Toro.
PAN’S LABYRINTH
Available at Videomatica
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