So there’s big controversy across the Internet that C.S. Lewis wrote publicly and to the BBC that he did not want a live action movie of his books, but that a cartoon might be acceptable. This was because every production he had seen had silly costumes and the creatures looked pathetic.
Yeah, I get that, and if those were his wishes then fine. Yet something has happened in the movie industry, it’s called CGI. I think now if Lewis had looked on this new technology he would be of a strong mind that they could be done, and indeed they are.
The note was written in 1963 for god’s sake, and the comments from IMDB are spot on for the time…
“anthropomorphic [humanized] animals” on film, saying that previous attempts to do so resulted in “buffoonery or nightmare.” Casting a human in the role of the lion Aslan, he said, “would be, to me, blasphemy.” Lewis did warily consider the possibility of Disney version, however, writing “Cartoons (if only Disney did not combine so much vulgarity with his genius!) would be another matter.)” Lewis wrote the note to Lance Sieveking, who produced, with his approval, the radio version of his books for the BBC.
I’m convinced that his reservations would have been blown out of the water nowadays. So why the fuss?
that certainly didn’t stop the BBC from doing the live action TV series in 1988.
Giving just one, Christians point of view I don’t see the word “Blasphemy” in this movie at all. Before I became a Christian I had read the story and did not realize the religious undertones were their. I still thought this was a great story. After I did become a Christian and realized C.S. Lewis is sort of a Christian Icon in his insights and writings I went back and read the book again. I could them see it was sort of a great surprise. So what I am trying to say is this movie is not like Passion of the Christ. That was a very limited audience. This movie has everyone as a target audience. It√¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s just sort of neat for those who get the implications the movie makes. It√¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s kind of like a modern day parable.
P.S. John I use to bag on your audio blog all the time. Then I actually listened to one and now think they are great.
I have to agree with you there Stuart, I caught the clip of the battle charge the interweb last week and thought it was a little disappointing. The news that it was not done by those lovely people at Weta Digital restores my faith – cheers for the info.
Um… Weta Digital weren’t involved with CON. They were kinda busy on Kong. It was only Weta Workshop who were involved in this.
Some other company did the digital effects. Sadly on most of the CGI creatures, it seems to show.
I’m scratching my head at Lewis’ quote about Disney combining “vulgarity” with his genius.
If anything, Disney had always been on the too-sweet storytelling side of animation. Which, of course, lead to Disney cartoons falling out of favor with the public in the “hip” 60’s.
One can only imagine what Lewis thought of Looney Tunes and especially an animator like Ralph Bakshi.
…but spot on I reckon!
Caught this in the UK papers yesterday. Sounds like PR groundwork for good reviews – along the lines of “finally a film Lewis would have been happy with” – all hail Weta Digital etc. Plus it gets the movie in to the papers/on the web for the attention of those who might not catch the reviews.
“Blasphemy” kicks up that whole Christian allegory angle that you just know the studios are relying on to sell the movie to the post “Passion” audience.
Cynical? Moi?