You know, I've read similar thoughts by Tolkien, which frankly seem to me suggest a profound misunderstanding of the magic of filmmaking - not surprising for someone of his and Lewis' generation. Great and magical films have utilized ghastly, often laughable effects (I'm thinking right now of the original King Kong, but we might also talk about the original Star Wars and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and studios with millions of dollars to pour into photorealistic effects have succeeded in bleeding dry the most magical source material (the new Star Wars films, the Matrix sequels).
Also, I wonder whether Lewis and Tolkien would have felt the same if they knew what could be done with special effects today. Their objections strike me, in both cases, as being practical and aesthetic, not fundamental.
This is actually why I'm looking forward to seeing the film with far less trepidation that I had for the LotR films.
They may be bad, they may butcher the book, the director may turn out to be a hack, I may feel guilty about supporting more Hollywood tripe...but I will finally be able to see a rival to that BBC animatronic Aslan.
The real problem with the LWW film is that moment in the script where Aslan looks deeply into Lucy's eyes, and, in a voice cracking with emotion, tells her "You can do anything if you will only believe in yourself, follow your heart and trust your dreams".
Considering Lewis was friends with Tolkien, who viewed Walter Disney as having absolutely corrupted the beauty of fairy-tale with horrifically cutesy images, I would think that Lewis would mean "vulgar" as in "completely lacking in sophistication and subtlety."
You know, I've read similar thoughts by Tolkien, which frankly seem to me suggest a profound misunderstanding of the magic of filmmaking - not surprising for someone of his and Lewis' generation. Great and magical films have utilized ghastly, often laughable effects (I'm thinking right now of the original King Kong, but we might also talk about the original Star Wars and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and studios with millions of dollars to pour into photorealistic effects have succeeded in bleeding dry the most magical source material (the new Star Wars films, the Matrix sequels).
ReplyDeleteAlso, I wonder whether Lewis and Tolkien would have felt the same if they knew what could be done with special effects today. Their objections strike me, in both cases, as being practical and aesthetic, not fundamental.
RE: Pantomime Aslan.
ReplyDeleteWHITE WITCH: "I am victorious, for Aslan, the great Lion, is dead"
AUDIENCE "Oh no he isn't! rh
This is actually why I'm looking forward to seeing the film with far less trepidation that I had for the LotR films.
ReplyDeleteThey may be bad, they may butcher the book, the director may turn out to be a hack, I may feel guilty about supporting more Hollywood tripe...but I will finally be able to see a rival to that BBC animatronic Aslan.
The real problem with the LWW film is that moment in the script where Aslan looks deeply into Lucy's eyes, and, in a voice cracking with emotion, tells her "You can do anything if you will only believe in yourself, follow your heart and trust your dreams".
ReplyDeleteI hate it when that happens.
Mike--
ReplyDeleteIs that seriously in the script?
I really hope that's satire, but with Hollywood it's hard to know what is and isn't.
[Is that seriously in the script?]
ReplyDeleteWe can only hope not.
But I'm not putting my mortgage on it.
Considering Lewis was friends with Tolkien, who viewed Walter Disney as having absolutely corrupted the beauty of fairy-tale with horrifically cutesy images, I would think that Lewis would mean "vulgar" as in "completely lacking in sophistication and subtlety."
ReplyDeleteOn another note, what would Lewis have seen in 50's and early 60's disney to make him think of it as vulgar?
ReplyDeleteTwo words: cherub's arse.
Hang on.
ReplyDeleteLewis says that he'd be fine with an animated Aslan, just not a live-action one.
Isn't an animated Aslan exactly what we're getting in this new film?
The BBC one was more like a live-action one, but as I understand it this one will be almost entirely animated.