Buttercup Camera 229 Posted September 1, 2014 I'm in love with the sereis, but only... with the movies, cast and soundtrack. When I was on "Narnia wave" last year or perhaps two years ago, I wanted to see so much how the series would end, so I bought the whole collection. I read the Magician's Nephew and totally disliked it... The writing was so childish that it'd even hurt my brain... But I read it. I got it to the end, then I re-watched the third movies and skipped to 'The Silver Chair' and stopped in the middle of it. I couldn't handle it. It seemed more of a comedy then anything serious. I also tried to read 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardobre' and couldn't handle how pathethic it was turning. I did my reaearch only to find out that sad and dark thing that it is called an 'ending'.... It's not even explicit 'till the end. There's no 'Train Scene' that I'm aware of it until Aslan says so. I used to love the movies as kid. I could see the first movies 5 times in a row and never get tired of it. I never got the "jesus" references 'till I discovered it online. And I'm part of the Church... well, was... I mean, why are these books so FAMOUS and well-spoken in english? The books I read were translated, yes, but doesn't it follow the same idea? The cheesy dialogue and all of it kinda make Aslan look like an asshole and all of the character seem clueless about their current situation. The battles don't even last longer then a page and are ridiculous. Perhaps this is different on the english version? Since 'The Shilver Chair' is in development, I really hope that once they finish with that, that they start working on 'The Last Battle'. The cast is growing too fast for their roles. I don't see a need of doing the one with the boy and a horse. I'm actually interested in the Prequel, though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zola 3,038 Posted September 1, 2014 Once again, they're children's books. And they're chock full of christian symbolism, so if you aren't familiar with the underlyig themes and parallels and stuff then you miss most of what is going on. I think they're fantastic, but that's just me. 4 Dave, Movies798, Neptune Vasilias and 1 other reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elijah Gravenhorst 480 Posted September 1, 2014 They're for children... What language did you read them in? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buttercup Camera 229 Posted September 1, 2014 (edited) They're for children... What language did you read them in? Portuguese... I'll never forget that disgusting dialogue... "Are you lion?" "Yes." "Do you eat children?" "Yes, plenty of them." Once again, they're children's books. And they're chock full of christian symbolism, so if you aren't familiar with the underlyig themes and parallels and stuff then you miss most of what is going on.I think they're fantastic, but that's just me. I've read far mroe decent children books that we meant for children below 5. I'm glad that the movies didn't take the whole "jesus" thing serious as the books but to honest, I didn't see any reference on the Magician's Nephew. Edited September 1, 2014 by Marcomax Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zola 3,038 Posted September 1, 2014 (edited) Portuguese... I'll never forget that disgusting dialogue... "Are you lion?" "Yes." "Do you eat children?" "Yes, plenty of them." Maybe it translates differently with language barriers and all, but the dialogue isn't really supposed to be taken so literally. I've read far mroe decent children books that we meant for children below 5. I'm glad that the movies didn't take the whole "jesus" thing serious as the books but to honest, I didn't see any reference on the Magician's Nephew. It definitely has a different style than modern childrens books. High fantasy tends to do that. As for symbolism in The Magician's Nephew, there's the creation of the world by Aslan, a boy and a girl being the first humans in Narnia after it's creation, a forbidden fruit, Jadis / Satan, the whole overlying theme of following rules, etc. Edited September 1, 2014 by Zola Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buttercup Camera 229 Posted September 1, 2014 Maybe it translates differently with language barriers and all, but the dialogue isn't really supposed to be taken so literally. It definitely has a different style than modern childrens books. High fantasy tends to do that. As for symbolism in The Magician's Nephew, there's the creation of the world by Aslan, a boy and a girl being the first humans in Narnia after it's creation, a forbidden fruit, Jadis / Satan, the whole overlying theme of following rules, etc. .... that really kills it off. It's kinda of unoriginal. Maybe it translates differently with language barriers and all, but the dialogue isn't really supposed to be taken so literally. It definitely has a different style than modern childrens books. High fantasy tends to do that. As for symbolism in The Magician's Nephew, there's the creation of the world by Aslan, a boy and a girl being the first humans in Narnia after it's creation, a forbidden fruit, Jadis / Satan, the whole overlying theme of following rules, etc. It's not disgusting... it's more of cheesy, annoying... it doesn't quite fits... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zola 3,038 Posted September 1, 2014 (edited) .... that really kills it off. It's kinda of unoriginal. It wasn't supposed to be original. The whole point is that the books are an allegory for children. Edited September 1, 2014 by Zola Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buttercup Camera 229 Posted September 1, 2014 It wasn't supposed to be original. The whole point is that the books are an allegory for children. I'd hoped that the newer versions would fix them... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zola 3,038 Posted September 1, 2014 I'd hoped that the newer versions would fix them... You don't have to read them if you dislike them so much. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buttercup Camera 229 Posted September 1, 2014 You don't have to read them if you dislike them so much. But I'm in love with the movies and wanna know where it goes... the story... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dave 5,715 Posted September 1, 2014 I read the Magician's Nephew and totally disliked it... The writing was so childish that it'd even hurt my brain... But I read it. I got it to the end, then I re-watched the third movies and skipped to 'The Silver Chair' and stopped in the middle of it. I couldn't handle it. It seemed more of a comedy then anything serious. I also tried to read 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardobre' and couldn't handle how pathethic it was turning. It's a book with an intended pre-teen audience. In fact, that's probably the reason it's so famous: it's one of the first good, long series of books that most kids are introduced to and will read from beginning to end. Also, the language and tendency towards whimsy is very common in a lot of English fantasy literature of the time. The writing isn't heavy, because A) a younger audience probably wouldn't be able to get through it as easily, and B) it doesn't really need to be within the context of the story. It's light-hearted adventure, not Leviathan. I never got the "jesus" references 'till I discovered it online. I thought Aslan dying through ritual humiliation and then coming back to life was kind of obvious. It's also worth noting that C.S. Lewis was a very religious man, and the series has a bevy of religious allusions in it that are actually kind of fun to point out and think about. 3 Tigerruss, littleTSUBAME and Zola reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buttercup Camera 229 Posted September 1, 2014 It's a book with an intended pre-teen audience. In fact, that's probably the reason it's so famous: it's one of the first good, long series of books that most kids are introduced to and will read from beginning to end. Also, the language and tendency towards whimsy is very common in a lot of English fantasy literature of the time. The writing isn't heavy, because A) a younger audience probably wouldn't be able to get through it as easily, and B) it doesn't really need to be within the context of the story. It's light-hearted adventure, not Leviathan. I thought Aslan dying through ritual humiliation and then coming back to life was kind of obvious. It's also worth noting that C.S. Lewis was a very religious man, and the series has a bevy of religious allusions in it that are actually kind of fun to point out and think about. I was never fond of religious, even as a kid. I'd rather believe in Narnia. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tigerruss 576 Posted September 1, 2014 I was never fond of religious, even as a kid. I'd rather believe in Narnia. And that's kind of the point of Narnia. To bring in those who may not like religion. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sora96 17,256 Posted September 2, 2014 They're? I never noticed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
littleTSUBAME 483 Posted September 2, 2014 But I'm in love with the movies and wanna know where it goes... the story...But that's a part of the story. I'd say it's not the books that are bad 'cause they're religious, it's the movies' fault because they don't point out such obvious theme of the series. Of course you can ignore the religious undertones, but they are even more highlighted at the ending (just saying, I didn't like it.)That being said, they are children's books that are over fifty years old - of course they're pretty unoriginal at this point.Maybe Narnia is one of those series that people tend to think fondly of because they read it when they were kids even though they're not that special. I quess that's the case with me too, since I doubt I'd like them anymore if I read them now. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
