Comments on: Movies & Music: Give us your Caspian reviews

By: opinionated teen

opinionated teen — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 19:55:12 +0000

Thank you, Cheryl D. and Jacqueline G. I guess it was rather stupid of me to be offended. Also, I think Peter’s difficulty fits. Don’t go by me, though.

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By: Cheryl D.

Cheryl D. — Sat, 31 May 2008 05:09:47 +0000

Opinionated Teen:

I didn’t say, and didn’t mean, that all modern American teens are spoiled…but that they presented Peter as a stereotypical spoiled Western teenager. (He’s English, of course, not American. But the movie was made in America and I know nothing about English teens or even the stereotypes about them, so I said “American.”) I know quite a few good solid teenagers…but the Peter of that movie was presented as though he were one of the worst of today’s teens, not in his own era (when that wouldn’t have seemed “normal” as sometimes it does today) and certainly not as a ruler of Narnia.

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By: JacquelineG

JacquelineG — Fri, 30 May 2008 22:45:37 +0000

OT: As an individual who just finished up her last year as a teenager, I can’t really defend my peers from Cheryl’s accusation (I think it’s true). You make a valid and piercing point that selfishness is a result of sin nature, something inherited by everyone.

However, the fact that most Americans are materialistic is almost painfully obvious. We, as a nation, have access to more stuff than any other country in the world. We want more, and complain no matter how much we have. I doubt you’ll find many who argue otherwise.

Additionally, teenagers have pretty much marked themselves as self-centered and spoiled. Whether or not YOU take part in the stereotype, really…look around. Watch TV for an hour or two. A generalization is just that: something that likely applies to MOST, not ALL. But it didn’t come out of nowhere…most American teenagers have earned the label.

It’s nice, though, that you choose to rebel against those low expectations. We need more teenagers like that

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By: opinionated teen

opinionated teen — Fri, 30 May 2008 18:12:09 +0000

Sorry to veer off topic.

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By: opinionated teen

opinionated teen — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:49:15 +0000

Tombob, the reason it makes me sad inside is that it’s not fair to say that I’m spoiled rotton just because I’m a teenager. Yes, I do have a selfishness problem, but that’s because I’m a sinful human and not a result of my age or nationality.

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By: TomBob

TomBob — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:08:57 +0000

end of sidenote.

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By: TomBob

TomBob — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:56:25 +0000

Opinionated Teen,

Though the stereotype may make you sad inside, I think I agree that we teens in America ARE spoiled rotten, and really have no concept of the universal anymore. It’s all about you. Er… me, I mean.

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By: opinionated teen

opinionated teen — Thu, 29 May 2008 06:43:01 +0000

Cheryl D. said:”And a boy raised in 1950s England, high king in Narnia for a decade or so, isn’t going to act like a modern spoiled American teenager.” Thanks, Cheryl D. Your stereotype makes me feel sad inside. As for the movie: I loved it! I really think they kept the spirit of the book, and I loved Reepicheep. One thing I wish they would have kept: When Trumpkin first meets Aslan and gets shaken half to death. Made me laugh out loud the first time I read it!

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By: KI

KI — Tue, 20 May 2008 03:50:27 +0000

My husband and I went to the movie this evening. We did not know the story line, having never read the book. We knew the first story. We didn’t find it difficult to follow the story and found the time flew by fairly quickly. I enjoyed much of the imagery. Perhaps because I am reading about many of the battles in the Old Testament again, I could see some of the bare bones of places from which Lewis took some ideas.

When Peter says they have waited for Aslan long enough, my mind was immediately drawn to King Saul making the sacrifice himself. I knew that would lead to trouble.

When the water scene was being played out, I could not help but thinking about the chariots of Egypt being swept away by the water of the Red Sea.

Fantasy is not our favorite kind of movie, but we did enjoy this. I am glad that there are movies being made that will spark the imagination of my grandchildren in a good direction. It is something that families can talk about together, pointing out imagery etc. I hope we have more stories and movies like it in the future.

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By: wordcooper

wordcooper — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:41:31 +0000

Even in the books, Edmund and Lucy were always my favorites. Peter and Susan were always more (dare I say it of a master) 2 dimensional. I thought Edmund was a much more kingly character in this movie. He had depth. And who isn’t in love with Lucy?

Reepicheep was spot on. I look forward to his continued story in Dawn Treader.

There is no way to convey the warmth and coziness of Lewis’ Narnia stories without framing them in a kindly old grandfather telling them to his grandchildren ( a la Peter Falk in “Princess Bride”). That is how I always picture (or hear) Lewis’ asides and description in the books.

Personally, my absolute favorite is “A Horse and His Boy” with a close runner up of “Silver Chair.”

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