Narnia

I read all of the Chronicles of Narnia to my children about a year ago, and I am very much looking forward to the unleashing of the Narnia movies. We’re slotted to see the movies today at 10:30. I did my share of research before committing to it. Here are some knockout reviews of Narnia:

From Plugged In Online: “Lewis once referred to his Chronicles as a “trifle.” I wonder, though, if he would still be saying that after seeing it brought to life like this and after pondering how much spiritual good his words (and now pictures) have the potential of doing in the hearts of generations he never knew.”

From National Review Online: “To put it in terms of the current war over season’s greetings, the Narnia books aren’t “happy holidays” kinds of stories, but instead verily shout “Merry Christmas!” (Father Christmas is a character in them.) Lewis’s friend J. R. R. Tolkien, also a believer, thought Lewis laid on the Christian allegory too thick. But it is also Lewis’s sensibility that irks the elite guardians of a culture that so treasures skepticism and irony. In the Narnia stories, Lewis is making the case for the opposite, for a child’s openness to what might seem impossible to the narrow “adult” mind.”

From Chuck Colson, BreakPoint: ” You do not have to be a Christian to enjoy The Chronicles of Narnia. Generations of children have loved the books whether they fully understood their religious significance or not. The movie, like the books, is for everyone. But the film, again like the book, is far richer and more meaningful if one grasps the Christian symbolism that pervades it.”

From World Magazine: “Key early moments in the film will strike a chord with the book’s many fans, as they see each memorable setting—the lamppost in the woods and Mr. Tumnus’ cozy cave home. With a few exceptions, Wardrobe’s plot is on target, avoiding the temptation to modernize Lewis’ settings or too greatly inflate the action.”

From The Washington Times: “Let the healing between the forces of theology and secularism begin. “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” recalls “The Lord of the Rings’ ” glory without ditching author C.S. Lewis’ Christian shadings. It’s grand-scale filmmaking done right, a senses-pricking wonder with more than enough heart to make us forgive its occasional excesses.”