We Saw Prince Caspian

Took the boys to see Prince Caspian amidst an absolutely crazy weekend. It was really good - captivating. Here are some random thoughts about the movie:

1. the setting was beautiful - some of the scenes, especially the children sailing back into Narnia, were just breathtaking.

2. the acting was way better this time around.

3. it was really violent - a lot of battle scenes. Chase handled it, but was pretty scared at some points.

4. the brief scene with Jadis (the white witch) was one of my favorites, both because it was so visually captivating, and because it did such a great job of painting the picture of the reality of temptation - especially the temptation of success at any cost. All the characters were drawn to it - except Edmund of course who had seen the results of giving in to that kind of temptation.

5. Maybe the best acting of the whole thing was done by the man who played Trumpkin the dwarf - he was awesome.

6. I haven't checked back in my book yet -but I think there was a scene added that wasn't in the book. Peter led an ill-advised and under-prepared attack on the Telarmine castle - it seemed out of character for Peter and a little out of place in the story. I wonder if it was supposed to be a political commentary on our current situation. If so - I didn't appreciate it's insertion into this storyline.

7. Susan's character was cheapened a bit by a weird little flirtatious thing that went throughout the movie with Caspian - I don't remember the Jr. High melodrama from the book either - but I could be wrong.

8. Reepicheep the mouse was hilarious and a very endearing part of the story. I laughed out loud at several spots in the movie as I did in the books. He also plays a really funny role in Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

9. Aslan was somewhat absent - but was in the book too. His relationship with Lucy wasn't as developed in the movie - but I'm aware that not everything can make the final cut.

10. I definitely thought that there was a softening of any spiritual themes througout. Which may explain why Walden and Disney didn't do the big marketing push to Christian audiences and churches this time around.

Overall it was very good and worth the admission price. I don't want to be one of those weirdos that always says, "the book was soooo much better," but, the book was so much better...