Chronicles of a Narnia Geek #159 - Update at Last! Walden Has Lost Purchasing Rights?

[bwyfan19]

Well this is bittersweet news. I am right there with you @GPuddle . It's unfortunate that this attempt at creating a cinematic adaptation of the Narnia books has come to a close. For me, the only movie that was a good adaptation was Wardrobe. Caspian was a misfire, and I didn't even go and see Dawn Treader because of your review. As for who I would like to see pick up these films. I think dreamworks would be great because they have made some great faith based films previously.

[ReViewMeMedia]

Jesus may come back before these movies get finished, and the way that they treated VOTDT, it would get worse.

[EcuadorJM]

In my opinion, the best adaptation from the books was the Focus on the Family Radio Theatre series. I wish those making the movies had looked to their example.

[sweetheart2109]

Well guys I don't want you to get your hopes up but there is no guarantee that film studio will even do it

[NetBoySteve]

I don't care for the movies. The books have a whimsy and innocence that the movies can't and won't because the whimsy belongs to a time past and the story lines don't translate well to a Hollywood style adventure. 

[swordebrithil12]

All I want for them to change with the crew is get rid of Apted and bring back Adamson.

[shockedbyjoy]

I'm glad that you're planning on making more non-movie videos. I would miss this channel.

[aLaMode298]

Some book discussions would be nice. :-)

[TheLefayFragment]

That's as good a summary as we'll ever get. I agree, wholeheartedly. Please do start over with the book series, and I'd also appreciate if you could recommend some companion books/DVDs, whatever for Narnia. Biographies, interviews, analytical writing... art books, anything. I feel almost exactly like you do. I'd rather wait for something significantly better, than to go through another Dawn Treader experience. Thanks again, glumpuddle. You've made the Walden years a lot more fun for many of us.

[Darth551]

Here's an idea! When The Hobbit movies are done, give New Line Cinema the rights for all seven books. Remake the LWW, PC, & VDT. Then continue with the rest of the series. Have Peter Jackson direct all seven, Make two at a time. They can shoot LWW & PC the same time and release a year apart. Same thing for VDT & SC. Then make HHB on its own. Then finally shoot MN & LB at the same time and release a year apart. And also have Howard Shore do the score for all seven. Just an idea :)

[RedeemedByGodsLove]

@Darth551

Agreed =)

[mikael84]

@Darth551 Good idea. But that's exactly something what we Narnia fans have been suffering since the first movie. They are too tied up in "LOTR-influence". Narnia should be its own thing, have its own atmosphere and impact.

[Merina2222]

When I've gained enough experience/money/time in the film industry, I'm remaking the whole series myself. Every single one. They're going to be as much like the books as possible, and take into account ALL of your suggestions/points/criticisms. So hold out till then, ok? Fingers crossed ^^

[GPuddle]

@Merina2222: One of the main lessons learned from movies like VDT and Spider-Man 3 is that when you try to please everyone, you usually please no one.

[Merina2222]

@GPuddle Got it ;) thanks, both of you!

[Merina2222]

@GPuddle Well, I guess I've got a hard job then :P

[Jakegothicsnake]

@Merina2222 Really? Ok, for starters, don't make the dryads be made out of flowers, don't make the naiads look like liquid mermaids, include flying horses in Aslan's army against the White Witch, Include Bacchus, SIlenus, and the Maenads in Prince Caspian, include Ramandu in VDT, and don't make the Sea Serpent the main villain.

[RedeemedByGodsLove]

You should do some reviews on the BBC Narnia movie series ha =)

But anyways..Great update!! FINALLY a piece of information, even if it's small haha.

I always love hearing your thoughts on Narnia and the production of the Narnia videos.

[300warrior300]

if they sold the rights to another company, wouldn't they have to change Walden's actors and the designs?

[aniretak92]

Please, God, let Walden not do another film. Let a different studio do it, and do it RIGHT. And then redo these three too.

Seconding mikael84, and thirding BigDC100 on both comments.

[sweetheart2109]

@aniretak92 Problem is would a studio even pick it up. The problem that Narnia is having is they have less profitable with the last two films

[GregoriusTheBrown]

I think the real question is whether we want the future Magician's Nephew film to have ANY ties to established continuity.

[GPuddle]

@GregoriusTheBrown: It wouldn't surprise me if they tried to be vague about that.

[GregoriusTheBrown]

@GPuddle

Right now, I'm thinking we need a good few years to put some distance between us and VoTDT before we have a nice Nolan-esque reboot. And I'd be happy to see them start over from LWW, if for no other reason than to establish the complete "otherness" of the new franchise.

[jaredofmo]

I wish Andrew Adamson had stayed on for Dawn Treader so he could have seen the Pevensies' stories through.

[adamieie]

You should see Rise of the Planet of the Apes. It was enjoyable.

[skysamfreeman]

I agree with BigDC100. You should talk about the BBC adaptations in the mean-time. I'm very interested as to what you think of them.

[mikael84]

Narnia should and can be its own thing. There's no need to copy LOTR or any other fantasy movie, when we are speaking about fantasy movies. Narnia could offer so much more with movies, before it has offered during these days. I think they should keep their voice quiet these few years (well, whoever gets the rights) after the Hobbit (in two parts) comes out, and after the Hobbit boom ir over, moviemakers should start to think what they really want Narnia to offer. Something original, you know.

[GeonTheDayDreamer]

Ever thought that maybe they should make a mini series out of each book on HBO, STARZ, or BBC again? Because some people complain that the 2nd Narnia movie was too long and the 3rd was to rushed. It's just an idea.

[BigDC100]

Maybe you can talk about the BBC adaptations of LWW, PC, VDT, and SC.

[GPuddIe]

@BigDC100 I don't like them, they aren't quality productions. The acting is terrible and the costumes are laughable, among other things. That being said, I did like the BBC VDT better than the Walden VDT because in the BBC version the story actually made sense.

[BigDC100]

@GPuddIe

Understandable. I don't love the BBC versions but I do somewhat enjoy watching them. And at least, like you said, the BBC VDT was faithful to the book while the Walden VDT...well we've already discussed it.

[hagrid0731]

@GPuddIe Please keep in mind that the BBC verison was produced in the 1980's. Obviously, you are spoiled by the big budget production and advanced special effects of today. Only people who grew up in the pre-CGI era will appreciate these low quality production. Young people your age wil never learn how to appreciate them. You should base your judgement on when the production was made and NOT on current standards.

[GPuddle]

@hagrid0731: The problems with BBC have more to do with acting, pacing, and writing.

But I don't think something should be judged based on when it was made. It is what it is, period.

I personally grow weary of how over-used CGI is. The effects in the original King Kong (1933), 2001 A Space Odyssey (1968), the original Star Wars (1977), and Blade Runner (1982) still work because further the story. Nowadays, often, the effects ARE the story.

[BigDC100]

To honest, I'd like to have the Narnia series restart again in the future with a movie adaptation of "The Magician's Nephew".