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TV and film adaptations of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, 1967, 1979, 1988, 2005.
The 1988 edition on tape was goddamn foundational for me but I'm also a little afraid to watch it because I remember thinking it was crappily filmed in 1994 when I first saw it.
I've watched a bit of the 1979 animated edition and it is...absolute ass. Maybe I need to watch all of it before judging, but I'm ok with my call.
Watching BBC Narnia "The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe" for the first time
This post covers Episode 1-3. 4-6 can be found right here; https://www.tumblr.com/crierthrice/807200104870281216/watching-bbc-narnia-the-lion-the-witch-the?source=share
Unlike the 1979 cartoon, I have NEVER seen BBC Narnia - the only familiarity I have with it lies, I think, with the short clips that Dominic Noble used when talking about it in his LWW video.
So, yeah. I'm more or less going in blind, but I'm looking forward to it! If anyone who grew up with this version is worried that I'm gonna bash it or something, please don't be! I'm just here to have fun, I don't dwell too much on things I dislike, and hopefully it'll be entertaining to see the perspective of someone watching this adaptation for the first time.
Found the whole thing free on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Fft9DLIp7E
Now, with all that being said...
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I wanna compare the map to the one in the book when I have the time - for now, I really like this opening.
Lucy, I presume? And guessing green ribbons is Susan.
It's a fitting opening for the same reasons that the 2005 is - establishes the war and the reason the kids have to move out to the countryside, to an audience who wouldn't immediately pick up on that subtext.
Aww Susan <3
Edmund, be careful what you wish for.
The exposition doesn't really bother me, I think it's somewhat warranted - and the kids still get to show off their personalities during it. Peter and Susan's sense of responsibility, Edmund's bratiness and lack of understanding for the gravity of the war, Lucy's sensitivity and so on.
Far as I can remember, the book just starts some time after they've moved in with the professor, but here we also get an introduction to a pretty haughty Mrs. Macready.
I can't tell if she's doing a Scottish accent or not.
Hmm... the addition of servants makes the whole house feel less cold and isolated.
I do remember seeing somewhere that the professor was a bit more... outgoing in the BBC version? Still eccentric, but the way he comes out and greets the children himself and then acts like a "general" is very different from the recluse who only really took an interest in the children after Lucy discovered Narnia. Actually, even appearance wise, he doesn't look like the part of a learned professor like in the 2005 version or, hell, even the 1979 cartoon.
Aw, Lucy's little smile when giving her name.
Edmund, still being a little shit - although I do agree with him, spooky houses are great.
How about a beaver, Lucy?
"I wonder if there are stags." SUSAN NO
So Lucy doesn't find the closet during a game of hide and seek but is instead instinctively drawn to it...
The freaking fog/snow effect, I love it.
AHHH I LOVE THE BUSHY WHITE LEGS. Also way more sensible clothing for a winter landscape. Plus Tumnus is so adorably nervous.
Okay, who is Tumnus' actor, because he is very quickly winning me over. Both him and Lucy's actress, they play their characters so endearingly.
I just noticed his tail is hanging around his arm.
OH??
Why do I always fall in love with the look of the dryads in every version of Narnia?
WINGED HORSE - FLEDGELING, FLEDGE, FLEDGEFLEDGEFLEDGEFLEDGEFLE-
Wait... the pegasus wasn't like... painted or anything, was it? The way the colors flimmer kinda makes it look like it was and if so, I fucking love that. Someone let me know if I'm wrong or not.
Aww, Tumnus, no don't be sad, don't break my heart T-T
I wonder if that stern tone Lucy uses was something she imitated from her parents or from Peter and Susan.
Again, Tumnus' breakdown comes with no intervention from Aslan, which I really like. I'm pretty sure that's also accurate to the book, it's been a while since I read the first one though.
Tumnus, of course she doesn't know who the White Witch is, she already didn't know about Narnia or Cair Paravel.
The dawning realization on Lucy... I hate how scared she becomes, the poor thing.
Huh... I really need to reread LWW, I feel.
Jesus Christ, these two are so sweet.
Peter really does behave like one of those kids who really try to speak and act like a grown-up, so much that it just makes them seem like even more of a child. Does that make sense? I think it also has something to do with the fact that all four seem much closer in age, than the other versions.
I do empathize with Lucy, Peter was pissing me off a little - even though I'm sure he was just genuinely trying to compliment her "joke", it comes off as condescending.
UGGGHH the kids aren't allowed to act like kids.
Oh the garden is so pretty and sunny.
Jeez that's grim - they just have a map to remind themselves of what's happening out there?
Relatable Susan.
What did he say? "Pacts"? Like a peace pact?
Hello, White Witch! You... look rather close to Pauline Byrnes' illustrations, actually. Much as I love Swinton as Jadis of course, I do have a real soft spot for black hair against white/winter-themed clothing.
Oh she's hammy. I love her. "GASP! A BOY?"
T-POSE QUEEN
Her facial expressions are somewhat unnerving - in a good way. It makes her seem like a vampire almost, what with her paleness and red lips.
The old special effects are very charming.
STOP. TEMPTING FATE.
I mean, you probably shouldn't have come back, but I'll give you a pass Lucy, given that you are a child and probably feel lonely after the argument with your siblings.
"Two, three, four- FOUR." I LOVE the DELIVERY on that!
Edmund is so unfazed lol.
WHY IS THE WHITE WITCH THE BEST CHARACTER AGAIN. FIRST 1979 AND NOW THIS.
Pfftt, Edmund sounds so offended. "Fine, I'll bring my siblings if you wanna see them so bad, jeez! What's so special about them anyway? What can they do that I can't? We're all equally traumatized by the war, WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT THEIR TRAUMA RESPONSES?"
I see the effects of the sugar rations are kicking in.
Fucking CACKLING at Edmund's sigh. "Oh God, do I have to listen to her trauma dump right no- prince? Did you say prince?"
Wait I was fucking right about my Edmund rant. Well, kinda, it's mostly about him feeling stifled by Peter and Susan stepping into the parent role they are not at all equipped for, and taking it out on Lucy, which in turn widens the rift between him and Peter. But other than that, you know.
"NEXT TIME! NEEEEXT TIIIIIMEEEEE!" WHO IS HER ACTRESS.
Edmund mistaking her joy at seeing him for her gloating at him. STOP IT.
Edmund internally: shitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshi-
Just because she was nice to you and fed your ego doesn't mean she has your best interests at heart, Edmund. Stop it. STOP IT.
Heh, nice reminder that he'd try to remember their names.
Digory: Yeah, just be grateful you only have to deal with a magic wardrobe. My asshole of an uncle would've tricked one of you into going in and then manipulated the other into following you with no remorse or concern for your wellbeing. Bastard man.
The music is really nice too.
Mrs. Macready: tsk. Evacuees. From London. How typical. Who would imagine these traumatized, homesick, troubled children would be so needy, honestly.
Like, the hell is up with you?
Although, now I do actually buy this as the reason for them to flee into the wardrobe. Mrs. Macready's tours didn't really feel like much of a legitimate concern in the books. I wonder if they also added that scene to make it more understandable to the target audience. Huh. Maybe I'm the one who misunderstood while reading LWW.
Lucy's little look of joy! And Peter sounding like he's just thinking "oh, you've gotta be kidding me."
Is prick considered a swear word? I forget.
I just had a thought, how are they gonna make the wolves and beavers work? Are they gonna be puppets/animatronics, or are the gonna go with suits like (I'm fairly sure) they did with Aslan?
...
What.
Writing as the credits are rolling now - I keep thinking about how the Walden movies, much more than the other adaptations or the books, are so focused on the action and the battles, which I'm pretty sure is a result of them trying to follow in LOTR's footsteps. The more I think about it, the more it just feels... off. Mind you, I still really like the Walden movies, but it is a thought I had.
Hm. Susan actually agreeing with Lucy.
Oh, and we get the convo between Peter and Edmund once again- BEAVER.
Oh. Oh my god.
Welp, my previous question was answered.
Wait I completely forgot the book actually dedicated time to them catching fish. That scene in the miniseries actually did make me chuckle.
And it's nice to get that moment of comfort after discovering that Tumnus was taken.
It's weird how quickly I've gotten used to these people wearing beaver costumes.
Beaver: If she knew there were four of you, your lives wouldn't be worth a shake of my whiskers. Lucy: Lucy: Where's Edmund? PANIK
OH FUCK, THE VIOLIN SLAPS, YEEES
Beaver seems weirdly... resentful, compared to other adaptations. Like, obviously Edmund betrayed them and that's pretty catastrophic, but still. Maybe it is more so on behalf of Peter, Susan and Lucy.
UM, EDMUND. EDMUND? I guess it's nice to see some internal conflict from him, to make him more sympathetic, but um... EDMUND???
OHHH THE SHOT OF THE HOUSE IN DARKNESS FROM AFAR IS ACTUALLY PRETTY COOL TO LOOK AT, SHUT UP OTHER EDMUND.
Noooo, poor puppers!
Hmmm... seems that Edmund is more introspective and self-conscious now that his siblings aren't around to remind him of his insecurities.
I can already tell she's gonna ham it up.
Only Edmund shows up Jadis: >:0 His siblings are with the beavers Jadis: >:D Aslan is on his way Jadis: :0 Jadis: >>>:0
BUT WILL WE ACTUALLY SEE SANTA THIS TIME?
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Just looked up the actors, JEFFREY PERRY AND BARBARA KELLERMAN, YOU HAVE MY HEART.
I liked it a lot so far! I feel like the thing I look forward to seeing most in any adaptation is how they handle Aslan's death, so... yeah. Looking forward to that. I guess.
the actor who played prince rilian in the bbc silver chair really brought his all to this silly little tv production. like, he really did not need to do All That.
rewatching cinderella's castle
and all i can see when kim comes out as the goddess
is the white witch from the bbc narnia series from the late 80's
it's so jadis coded, so well done
guess who I met at work today
a pen-drawing of the White Witch from Narnia, based off the version in the BBC miniseries played by Barbara Kellerman. Framed by giant whorls of frost and one of her wolf-minions.
When he shakes his mane/We shall have Spring again...
(BBC LWW miniseries)
