Review “Prince Caspian”

Haven’t seen it yet – but NO SPOILERS PLEASE

My short review is here (no spoilers). I was unexpectedly pleased. The first book’s plot suffered in the transition to screen – becoming simply an angsty one-dimensional buildup to a climactic battle scene – and I knew the second book’s plot was vulnerable to the same formula. They were smarter with Prince Caspian, however. There was a wealth of details for the older audience and fans of the books to appreciate. They did a good job, and I can’t help thinking that C.S. Lewis would have welcomed some of the creative treatment of the plot, which enhanced, rather than upended, the sentiments and character of the book.

Group Outing to see it this Wednesday. I’ll get back to you. My pastor thought it was great.

Overall, I thought it was well done. However, I was disappointed with how they depicted one of the more important scenes in the book- Aslan’s encounter with Trumpkin at the Stone Table. The dwarf is given a good roar, but you don’t see Aslan “pounce” on Trumpkin, toss him in the air and catch him in his paws. Thus, you miss the grace which is what really restores Trumpkin back to faith.

Good, but not great…

I liked it about as well as the first one.

This coming from someone who never read the book, though.

I could sense some of the theological currents, of course. Not as obvious as the first movie, but still there (eschatology, for instance – also the line about us “proving ourselves” to Aslan – how Calvinist!)

Anyway… I wasn’t wowed.

I liked it. Though there are departures from the book, they generally fit with the story. One thing that is not absent, thankfully, is the theme of waiting–everybody is waiting for Aslan’s return and we see how difficult such a wait can be.