Douglas Adams, Narnia, and Trailers

A few interesting movie tidbits: Joel Greengrass writes "Final post-production has been completed on the long awaited documentary, 'Life, the Universe, and Douglas Adams.' Narrated by Neil Gaiman, the film is a tribute documentary about the life, loves, and passions, of the greatest sci fi comedy writer ever, Douglas Adams. The film will be available for sale on August 4 at douglasadams.com." Reader The_Shadows writes "Sci-fi Storm and Scfi.com's Scifi-wire are reporting that Walden Media exercised options for feature-length, big screen versions of the Chronicles of Narnia, by C. S. Lewis. They have also found an Emmy award winning writer (Ann Peacock) to adapt the most famous book, 'The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.'" And finally, there's an interesting piece about the process of turning a two-hour movie into a two-minute trailer.

Comments

Narnia Movie

[DaytonCIM]

A movie version of Narnia? Outstanding! I remember devouring the collection several times as a kid.

Admittedly, I'm a little hesitant about how a filmmaker could bring CS Lewis' vision to the big screen, but I'll still fork over my $8.50 to see it.

If the Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe does well, maybe some conglomerate studio can hire Tim Burton to film CS Lewis' other great book: The Screwtape Letters.

Narnia

[I_am_Rambi]

Every movie that comes out does not follow the book. LoTR followed very close to the book, but wasn't quite on target all the time. I have enjoyed reading the Narnia series, but am alittle weary of the movies. C.S. Lewis is a great author, and I would hate to see his books turned into not so great of movie. I just hope that the movies follow the story line very close for me to even think of going to watch/buy them.

Re:Narnia

[tshak]

Narnia has been banned from my local school district do to 'religious' content.

Although there was religious inspiration, there was no religious dogma. The same goes for LoTR. Both Lewis and Tolkien collaborated at times and both were known Christians. And what about Madeleine L'Engle? An incredible author with incredible books, also influenced by Christianity. Also, Atheism is just as much a world view as [Insert Religion Here]. All books are influenced by the authors worldview. The problem comes when these worldviews are taught as "The Right View" in a public school system. I don't think any of the mentioned books are selling a worldview of any sort. It's one thing to study a religious text in class, and then preach it as being the Truth. It's another to read a fictional story that is mearly influenced by the authors worldview.

Problem with publishers Rant.

[teamhasnoi]

Whoever here has read the Books of Narnia may be interested to know that the publishers in their 'infinite wisdom' :P have rearranged the series so "The Magican's Nephew" is the first book in the series. This is very annoying. Yes, I know that you can just read them in the original order, however, new readers of the series are denied CS Lewis's original vision through ignorance of the change. I fear this change will make it to the movie (plus a ton of Harry Potter-esqe BS that is incongruous with the story).

The series should stay the way it was written, not re-ordered by a focus group and committee. This is what leads to mediocre films, books, and music.

See also: Ren and Stimpy, The Simpsons, NSYNC & Britney (and their ilk), Dr. Pepper Red Fusion, New Coke, any Disney anything, Windows ME, ect.

I know repackaging "content" and the like is a fine way to make an extra buck when the bottom line needs a push and nobody wants to take a chance, but just leave it alone already!

More movies I'd like to see (done well) OT?

[teamhasnoi]

By John Christopher (Trilogy;) "The White Mountains" (1967), "The City of Gold and Lead" (1967), "The Pool of Fire" (1968). "The Lotus Caves" (1969).

The House with a Clock in Its Walls (The first book in the Lewis Barnavelt series) (1972) by John Bellairs

and Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles
The Book of Three, The Black Cauldron (got the Disney Treatment :( , The Castle of Llyr , Taran Wanderer , The High King .

Yeah, they're all 'adolescent' books, but all very good, and are worth finding. Besides, didn't everyone read 'The Hobbit' when they were 12?

Re:How to Make a Trailer:

[Golias]

Roger Ebert has often commented that trailors usually sell you the movie that the marketing people wish was made, rather than the actual film. For example, the trailers for "The Royal Tennenbaums" might lead you to believe that it's a wacky comedy in the tradition of "Meet the Parents" and "There's Something About Mary", when in fact it was a ponderous dark comedy like the director's first film, "Rushmore."

I don't mind misleading trailers nearly as much as the ones that give too much away. For example, Disney's "Iron Will", a great flick about a dogsled race. The trailer showed the goddamned end of the race! I realize it was based on a true story, but it was a story that maybe 2% of moviegoers knew, and that's being generous.

Then there are the trailers which both give away the ending, and mislead you about the kind of film it is. (spoiler warning) For example, a trailer for "Cast Away" showed Tom Hanks getting home and being alienated from the world he left behind. Not only was that giving away the ending (grrr!), but it also made it look like the last 2 or 3 reels were about a rescued castaway trying to adapt back to the world, a film that might have been interesting if done well... But, as you hopefully already know if you are reading this after the spoiler warning, that's not what the film was. The whole damn movie is about whether he will survive and be rescued or not, and the part after the rescue is a 10 minute epilogue at the end of a 2 and a half out movie.

Narnia movies

[Daimaou]

While I love movies and would go see this one, it is a little disappointing to see books like The Lord of the Rings and the Narnia series released as movies.

As a kid I remember reading the Hobbit. It was the first book I ever read outside of school assignments.

The words were hypnotic and the story almost intoxicating to me. It unleashed a power, which ignited my imagination in ways I had never known before. I couldn't put it down. Once I finished The Hobbit, I wanted, or rather needed, more. Dark corners of my mind had suddenly been flooded with wonder and excitement and I could not allow them to dim.

After The Hobbit, I read The Lord of the Rings and then the Narnia series and many other books.

The hobby of reading everything in sight is still with me today; and is not limited to fiction or fantasy. I firmly believe that I learned much more from reading books growing up than I ever did in school.

Books offered me so much it is beyond my capacity to describe the benefits. Movies, while entertaining, are not able to offer the same and it is for this reason I am disappointed. I think many children will see the movie and miss out on the thaumaturgic properties of literature.