she kept acting like Americans never would have heard of the books

I encountered a distressing number of Brits who think Americans are completely clueless about anything but American culture. It could be that they have met a distressing number of Americans who actually are clueless, but it gets annoying to constantly hear, "Oh, you know about that?" in a suprised voice.

Saw Narnia, and was pleased, impressed, and a little disappointed. In the middle of the movie, I'm thinking to myself, "I like my allegory a little more...allegorical." Also, yes, I know, kids' book. Still, there wasn't enough texture--not enough depth under the story to make all the pretty trimmings worth the effort. Sort of.

But! First Stuntie, or Stunt Coordinator? Sala Baker. And also, General Otmin? Shane Rangi.

So.Happy. the stunties and orcs and all are working!

I get the Maugrim thing ("My dear, you have The Grim!"), but I've also heard of the Fenris myth, and I'm not sure which wolf would be more dire.

Glad I saw it, was oh so pleased with some of the mythical beasties, and tickled to pink bitty bits that Ray Winstone was a voice actor (Beaver). And also? Want Lucy's tiara!

I read Wardrobe when I was in first grade, because there was hype for the premiere of the animated version, and my brother had a copy of the book. It took ages and ages for me to get through it, of course, but I don't remember the vocabulary being a particular issue. Even if I didn't know the word "wardrobe" going in, it's clearly a big wooden thing with doors, full of mothballed coats, so I'd have figured it out.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure Aslan is described as the Son of the Emperor-Over-The-Sea before anyone mentions that he's lion.

I believe you are correct, Strega. The Emperor is definitely mentioned in Wardrobe.

Mission Impossible 3 trailer. I have no real interest in the movie as a whole, but from the trailer I'm thinking I'd love to see all the action scenes back to back.

I recall having trouble with "chifforobe" in To Kill a Mockingbird, but "wardrobe" I figured out from context -- you know, place where you hang up coats, it's got to be a closet-object of some kind. Whereas "torch" for "flashlight," that took me a couple of reads as a child before I could convince myself that they weren't all carrying flaming sticks around with them.

but it gets annoying to constantly hear, "Oh, you know about that?" in a suprised voice.

It's a quick way to make a buck, though. In the same way, my grandfather once bet me I didn't know who had originated the phrase "armchair panther," which I had used in conversation one day. I made $10 off him by asking whether Thomas Wolfe had stolen it from somebody else. Preying on other people's perception of your ignorance is like an honest form of a con game.

Whereas "torch" for "flashlight," that took me a couple of reads as a child before I could convince myself that they weren't all carrying flaming sticks around with them.

This one still gets me on occasion.

I'm still not entirely sure what a chiffarobe is, though I remember asking my teacher about it when we were doing To Kill a Mockingbird in class. Maybe she didn't know either.

And in my experience a wardrobe is anywhere you hang clothes, not just a free-standing thingummy.

And I'm seeing it tomorrow,so yays for that.

This one still gets me on occasion.

Me too. For all that I can automatically translate bonnet intto hood, lift into elevator, and lorry into truck, somehow torch always = flamey stick in my head.

Whereas "torch" for "flashlight," that took me a couple of reads as a child before I could convince myself that they weren't all carrying flaming sticks around with them.

I was EXTREMELY disappointed.

I'm still a little disappointed, actually.