But I think there's almost nothing to it.
But but but! It has Marsh-Wiggles and Giants eating people! Chases and escapes! Underground worlds with eerie people! Oaths that demand to be broken!
More importantly, to me, it has:
-- Jill Pole, who is, unlike the other girls in the series, kind of a fuck-up, who changes and grows during the book.
-- A defined goal: find and rescue Prince Rilian before his father dies.
-- Actual discomfort and stress for the characters, who do not necessarily respond well.
-- A series of challenges, which are defeated in unexpected ways. Aslan does not pop in at the climactic moment to fix things.
-- Death.
I think, as a narrative, it's stronger than the first three books, although it's not as well-liked because it's less wish-fulfillment IMHO. Except for the end, which is totally wish-fulfillment: who wouldn't want a King back from the dead and a magical Lion to beat up your school bullies?
people keep talking about this movie but no one mentions the MOST IMPRTANT thing--how is Reepicheep? I loves me some gallant adorable Reepicheep.
Reepicheep is awesome. He's less funny in this one--they switched his voice actor from Eddie Izzard to Simon Pegg--but he has a wonderful relationship with Eustace, and is just lovely.
But but but! It has Marsh-Wiggles and Giants eating people! Chases and escapes! Underground worlds with eerie people! Oaths that demand to be broken!
Heh. OK, all good things. There are some redeeming qualities to it. There's a lot I don't like, though. I particularly dislike that it feels the most directly preachy of the books. Here's a set of instructions that you must follow to the letter, for no good reason except that Aslan says so and he is always right and therefore there is no better way to get things done.
Admittedly, this reaction may be illustrative of an epic battle for my soul between Liberal Christian Me and Former Evangelical Christian Me. Or just a long-standing distaste for stories influenced by St Paul's ideas. Which may be the same thing.
Reepicheep's good in this! I rather liked Simon Pegg as him. Bit more depth of character.
Here's a set of instructions that you must follow to the letter, for no good reason except that Aslan says so
Point, although the stories are pretty much full of various types of prophecy anyway, so I gave it a pass, especially since the reveals were somewhat unexpected.
Heng mai, Erika! There's a car wash in my new town called Bunkey's. I've been mighty tempted to send you a picture, but I keep forgetting to take one when I drive by.
Bunkey Morgan is kind of evil.
Spoiler-free review of
TRON: Legacy:
I was fantastically relieved at how completely it didn't suck.
I'd gotten seriously wound up by all the negative reviews I'd been hearing about. So much so I was kind of dreading it, in case it failed hard.....and then it didn't.
I mean, there are criticisms to make (female agency, already!) but nothing that seems overwhelming, and it was just a fun, spectacular movie, with some interesting ideas in the background.
I don't know if the bad reviews are from disappointed expectations or if mine were just so low it seemed better than it was. I'm going to see it again soon in IMAX 3D(I was with a friend tonight who can't handle 3D) and we'll see what I think the second time.
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