That was the recurring thought I had yesterday after seeing Prince Caspian, the sequel to 2005’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, based on the second (or fifth, depending on which order you use) book in C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia series. As one of the four films I was anticipating this summer, I went to see the film, and came away feeling that as a technical achievement the film succeeded, but that ultimately it was hollow and bereft of story logic.
Prince Caspian is an awkward book. Lewis’ story is told in two parallel narratives that only connect two-thirds of the way into the book — the first is a riff on Hamlet as the regent Miraz usurps his nephew Caspian’s throne, and the second has the Pevensie children return to a vastly changed Narnia that bears no relation to the one they ruled as the Kings and Queens of Cair Paravel, and they find Caspian and help him to defeat his own people. There’s very little continuity between Wardrobe and Prince Caspian; the world of Caspian is called Narnia, but it may as well be a different fantasy world entirely. Other fantasy writers — Lewis’ friend J.R.R. Tolkien, for instance — chronicled tales in their worlds across the span of thousands of years, yet the worlds remain recognizably the same as the other eras. Caspian, the book, feels as though it was a standalone book onto which Lewis grafted the Pevensie children, to give it a sense of continuity.
Any film was bound to improve on Lewis’ novel. Simply streamlining the story for the screen would remove some of the awkward structure of the novel, much of which is told in flashback. And the screenwriters were quoted early on as saying that they wanted to deal headfirst with some of the issues of the Narnia books that Lewis had never dealt with — the major one being, for the Pevensie children, what it would be like to grow to adulthood in Narnia, and then return to childhood and have to live it all over again on Earth.
The resulting script, however, looks like plaster layered over a broken foundation — it looks pretty in places, but the underlying structure is going to shift, and when it does shift, it looks bad. Much of the first hour isn’t terrible, with Caspian’s flight from the Telmarine fortress and the Pevensie’s arrival and journey across Narnia. And the final battle isn’t devoid of interest, even if it’s rather derivative of the staging of Helm’s Deep in The Two Towers, right down to the march of the Ents. And I can’t really let the summoning scene pass, where Nickabrik attempts to summon the White Witch; while this does happen in the book, it doesn’t get as far as it does in the film.
I wasn’t interested in the final battle, per se, but rather in Peter’s tactics. Peter refights the last war, only the Telmarines are technologically and militarily more advanced than the White Witch was thirteen hundred years before, and his army twice pays the price for that. While there are two major battles in the film, they aren’t bloody, nor are they as intense as anything out of The Lord of the Rings. Comparisons to the armies of Mordor approaching Minas Tirith are superficial at best, but I could really have done without the deus ex machina of the Ents (or something quite like them) defeating the Telmarines. (In The Two Towers, the Ents had a legitimate beef with Saruman, while in Prince Caspian the trees are simply woken by Aslan and sent to the front.)
It’s the things in the film that don’t make sense that’s the problem. The treatment of the Pevensies return to childhood from adulthood is treated inconsistently — Peter is petulant, unbefitting a King, while it’s played as a joke in terms of Lucy, and it’s not clear that the Pevensies ever learned anything from growing into adulthood in Narnia. If Miraz had to build a bridge for his armies to cross the river, how did Peter’s army cross that same river for their attack on Miraz’s fortress? After attacking Miraz’s fortress and killing dozens, possibly hundreds, of Telmarine soldiers, why would the Narnian army be welcomed back to the fortress as liberating heroes? Susan and Caspian — where did that come from?
Ultimately, Prince Caspian is a pretty film, but not a very involving film. The production design was fantastic. Ruins felt like ruins. The Telmarine castle looked like nothing else. The Telmarine suits of armor were incredible to see, and their trebuchets were awesome in action. The film looks epic, but it’s the story that doesn’t feel epic.
I can’t say that I was disappointed in Prince Caspian, because I wasn’t really expecting anything, in spite of the fact that this was one of the four films I was most anticipating this summer. It’s a pretty film, it works on a technical filmmaking level, but as a story Prince Caspian carries all the baggage and all the faults of Lewis’ novel. If you want a visual feast, Prince Caspian is your film. If you want a solid story that engages the viewer, look elsewhere.
George W. Bushisms for May 16 and 17. May 16: "That's why I went to Congress last September and proposed fundamental -- supplemental funding, which is money for armor and body parts and ammunition and fuel." -- Erie, Pennsylvania; September 4, 2004
Body parts? Gentlemen, we can rebuild them; we have the technology....
May 17: "Reading is the basics for all learning." -- Announcing the "Reading First" initiative; Reston, Virginia; March 28, 2000
You just know that former school teacher and librarian Laura Bush grits her teeth and punches herself in the thigh every time she hears shit like this.
2->1 Socks The other day I picked up a new book at Hobby Lobby; Knitting Circles Around Socks. Instead of using the double pointed needles, you use the circular needles to make both socks at once. In addition to wielding this new technique, I'm also going to try a design picture on the side. Ultimately, if these work out, I want to make a little bitty pair for my friend's kid that turns two next month. I want to put Frogs and maybe his initials on the leg of the sockies. This is the leftover (cheap acrylic) yarn from making Barkley's sweater, so no big loss if it doesn't turn out.
LTGV Update Took last night off to go see a friend act in a local production of "Steel Magnolias." Great show.
Sat down and knocked out some more words today before having to head out and have some fun with friends. I may sit down and do some more tonight when we get home, we'll see.
Today's total and goal:
2,102 / 1,667 (126.1%)
Project total and goal:
5,666 / 30,000 (18.9%)
Current Mood: awake Current Music:Prince Caspian soundtrack
Interleague play in Major League Baseball began this weekend for this season, with all but two teams — the Cubs and the Pirates — playing against teams in the other league.
(The reason why the Cubs and Pirates are playing is that there are two more National League teams than American League teams.)
Am I the only one who thinks that giant interleague-paloozas are stupid?
Interleague play, I have no problem with. But scheduling every interleague game on the same day? Pointless.
Why not spread interleague love throughout the season? Have two or three interleague series every weekend from the first week of May to the last week of August?
Interleague play doesn’t have to be an event. It’s an event enough that the entirety of Major League Baseball doesn’t need to engage in it at the exact same time.
At least, that’s what I would do if I were major league commissioner.
Lost and BSG are trying to kill me what with bringing the awesome and then skipping a week (due to holiday for BSG I guess, and Grey's finale for Lost, but still).
I really wouldn't make it through TV next week if it wasn't for the SYTYCD premiere.
On 249 Days Left Bad President Countdown Calendar, May 16, 2008
"The new issue of Rolling Stone magazine features a cover story about President Bush called 'The Worst President in History.' President Bush said, 'That's not fair, I'm also the worst president in math, English, and geography.'" — Conan O'Brien, April 2006
This is a message from my friend Luke Chen, pastor of CBC, regarding the recent tragedies in Burma and China. There are never any easy answers for how a good God could allow these things to happen, but Luke provides some excellent and challenging insights.
Thoughts and prayers for those suffering are needed. But so is practical help. Please consider making donations and/or volunteering whenever disaster strikes
It must have been a review in either MOJO or Q. It must have been.
Because, otherwise, how would I have ever heard of Elbow?
Early 2004 I bought their second album, Cast of Thousands. And it was amazing. It was dark and moody Britpop, what Coldplay and Radiohead aspired to but could never quite achieve. “Fugitive Motel” and “Not a Job” were the most amazing songs I’d ever heard. There were sounds I couldn’t describe, and the vocals! Oh, my god, the vocals! Guy Garvey had a voice that sounded somehow ancient, yet mirthful despite the rawness and pain. And the gospel choir! There was a gospel choir! This music was transcendant.
Elbow sort of dropped off the radar for me. Their third album came and went, and I bought it and I listened to it, and I filed it, and I forgot about it.
Sadly, I forgot about Elbow.
Until just about a month ago.
I just really wanted to listen to some Elbow. Only, I couldn’t find any of their CDs. What had I done with them? Where had I packed them away? I had no idea. The only song of theirs I could find? The cover of John Lennon’s “Working Class Hero” they did for Q back in 2005, on the Lennon tribute album the magazine had put together in honor of his sixty-fifth birthday. (And yes, as taken as I am by Green Day’s cover of “Working Class Hero,” Elbow’s cover is in a completely different realm.)
Fortunately, iTunes came in handy. But rather than rebuy albums, because I knew the CDs would turn up, I bought the EPs they had for sale.
And it was then that I noticed.
Elbow had a new album coming out.
The Seldom Seen Kid.
I reacquainted myself with songs like “Fugitive Motel” and “Ribcage.” I found my old Elbow CDs.
How could I have ever forgotten about Elbow? How?
I bought The Seldom Seen Kid.
I unwrapped the cellophane. I removed the CD and held it like a totemic thing. I put it in the CD player. I hit play.
I didn’t like it.
I didn’t like it at all.
It’s the way it is with some bands. You find one of their albums, and it’s the first one you listen to, and it’s how you always imagine they’ll be. So, when you buy one of their new albums, it’s both the same because it’s the same band, but it’s different because all the songs are new and unfamiliar, and thus it’s easy not to like it.
But the second time I played The Seldom Seen Kid…
Is it possible? Is this somehow more transcendant than Cast of Thousands? Can you even quantify transcendence?
There are songs, like “One Day Like This,” that are anthemic. “Weather to Fly” is charming.
And then there’s a song, “The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver,” that may be the most perfect song I have ever heard. The lyrics, like most of Elbow’s lyrics, are inscrutably obscure. I have no idea what the song is about — Is it about the fleetingness of love? Is it about the quiet desperation of a poetic soul trapped in an unpoetic occupation, where relationships are imagined instead of incarnated? Is it about anything at all?
Whatever the song is about, the sound. It’s the sound of the song that captures your soul. “The Loneliness” goes through three distinct movements, and there’s a mundanity to the first movement that is a bit surprising. The second movement connects with an instrumental bridge, and then in the third movement, when the instrumentation builds at the 3:45 mark and reaches a crescendo, there’s a moment of pure emotional catharsis that will leave no listener unmoved.
That’s what I love about Elbow. The lyrics are impossible to parse, but the musicianship is so solid and the vocals so raw that their songs connect with the listener’s soul.
The Seldom Seen Kid is an amazing album. If you’ve never heard Elbow, if you’ve never heard of Elbow, this is a great place to start. It will grow on you, and it will never let go.
Elbow. One of my favorite bands. And how could I have ever forgotten them?
I suppose it's real now.... Saw a word-count meter on ineti's LJ this morning (Go Jim!), and it reminded me that I could probably start doing that again, myself.
My half of Vanguard 4, after last night's session:
The power stayed on at work, but the house was 81 fucking degrees when we got home. We don't have a/c. It's the Bay area. Who needs a/c, right? We had a shitty night's sleep because it didn't cool down much at all and it looks like tonight will be the same.
I let myself get snookered into taking on another area of responsibility at work, one that is more related to writing than it is to other areas of game design, but which sure isn't in my job description. However, we don't have a Creative Director, so certain areas of the "vision" end up being assigned to various Lead Designers. Luckily, I know how to delegate and guess what -- most of it gets delegated to Randy. {evil grin}
"Lifting the Gingham Veil" writing begins So, with the outline outlined, the plot plotted, the characters ah..characterized and the contract signed and the first payment received, I started work on the novella based on the Aletheia RPG, as discussed earlier on this LJ.
Working title is "Lifting the Gingham Veil" and the target word count is 30,000. Due date: on or before June 1.
George W. Bushism for May 15. "I'll be glad to talk about ranching, but I haven't seen the movie. I've heard about it. I hope you go -- you know -- I hope you go back to the ranch and the farm is what I'm about to say." -- Explaining that he hasn't yet seen Brokeback Mountain; Manhattan, Kansas; January 23, 2006
I just realized who he reminds me of sometimes:
"Ten minutes to Wapner. We're definitely locked in this box with no TV."
"It's a 1949 Buick Roadmaster. Straight 8. Fireball 8. Only 8,985 production models. Dad lets me drive slow on the driveway. But not on Monday, definitely not on Monday."
"97X, bam! The future of rock 'n' roll. 97X, bam! The future of rock 'n' roll."
etc.
250 days to go!
Current Mood: Whudhesay? Current Music:Stargate SG-1: "The Shroud" on DVD
On 250 Days Left Bad President Countdown Calendar, May 14, 2008
That's Why I'm Introducing A Bill That Will Guarantee Federally Funded Target Practice For Everyone Over 18
"For every fatal shooting, there were roughly three non-fatal shootings. And, folks, this is unacceptable in America. It's just unacceptable. And we're going to do something about it." — George W. Bush, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 14,2001
Bad President Countdown Calendar, May 15, 2008
A picture page!
First Lady Laura Bush had a bottle of water to her mouth. Her eyes are slightly bulging, her lips are puckered, her cheeks are sunken in due to her sucking on the bottle.
The caption? "It suddenly dawns on first lady what she's gotten herself into."
Current Music:Elbow -- "The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver"
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