Don't worry, you'll have company. I didn't particularly like the movie either; but my theory (disclaimer: I am a person without children) is that my lukewarm response is primarily rooted in the fact that I am not the target audience. Unlike LOTR, this movie is clearly for kids--who probably prefer a fast pace and big, blunt symbolism to depth of character and emotion. And while I probably won't see it again, I did walk out thinking that it would be a great DVD to buy my younger cousins. Maybe Disney is just sticking to the crowd they know (I kind of respect them for not making the film more "adult").

You're not alone. I've read posts from Amy Loves Books off your Favorites list. She recently saw it with her daughter and basically said it lacked "soul". Many christians I know who have seen the film came away with that same feeling. Decent movie but lacked....

I'll take books over movies any day. I've yet to see a movie that turned out better than the book.

(How's that for throwing down the gauntlet?)

Oh, we are on, my friend. For starters:

The Godfather
Jaws
The Last of the Mohicans

I'm excluding books essentially written around a movie (e.g., all the "Star Wars" dreck).

There's no condemnation. ;)

It's a MOVIE, for c-pity's sake. It's okay if you don't like it. It's a MOVIE. It's not Gospel.

Geez, if salvation was so easily lost....

I took my three year old to this movie and was glad that it wasn't more adult. He loved it, and it entertained me.

I gave LWTW a reserved "OK", just for the simple fact that it was good to see the book finally brought to the big screen by a major movie company. And John is right - it's made primarily for the kids, and it seems to connect at their level.

I think the problem that the moviemakers came upon was a time constraint: do they "flesh out" the characters and make it even longer or does the movie get split up (ala LOTR)? I would have loved it if they made the journey portion (from the Beaver's house to Aslan) follow the book instead of what the movie supplied. The movie went with the pizzazz.

Supposedly "Prince Caspian" is scheduled to be filmed next, so we'll get another chance to determine how well they follow the book.

[If you're belief system includes "Once saved - always saved" then it would not make sense to question your salvation. But then again, I cannot REALLY know the answer for sure until it's too late, when I'm either in my Savior's arms or eternally cut off from God, so living to please the Lord now is a good thing.]

Okay, you got me with Jaws. The book was truly a waste and the movie was simply good fun. I differ with you on the Godfather, which I though was wonderfully written. And I confess I read Last of the Mohicans under pressure when I was in high school. It's hard to enjoy anything when you know you're going to have to write an essay on it and half your semester's grade depends on it.

I took my 5 year old to the movie. I had just read him most of the book (until he lost it). I couldn't figure out why I didn't really like the movie, but "lacking soul" kinda sums it up for me as posted above. I also could be reacting to the pre movie sermon given by the pastor whose church gave me the free tickets or the fact that I contracted the stomach flu (from said child) about 1/2 way through the movie, but was forced to stay even longer to have a badly dressed Santa hand out chachi with the church logo on it after the movie was over. Separation of Church and Movies from now on.

Oh, almost forgot to add. My 5 year old loved the movie, but later when his mother asked him what his favorite part was, he didn't hesitate to say "the hand dryer in the bathroom".

I had the same reaction. I have an 11 month old daughter so I don't know about the kid angle quite yet, but lacking depth and soul works for me.

I know you were being tongue in cheek about the whole eternal damnation thing, but I find that people who have no doubt don't have faith - they have knowledge. If you simply know something is true then it doesn't take faith to beleive in it. My two cents.

I wonder if the good Christians who so loved the movie never read the book. C.S. Lewis' books have been the cornerstone of my Christian reading (other than the Bible, of course), although I didn't read Narnia until I had kids.

The movie didn't work for me either but I think it's a problem with the story line, not the translation. I read the books as a kid and had no problem suspending my disbelief but had a lot of trouble watching the same story unfold on screen. Simple emotional truths seemed to be missing. 4 kids find out they are kings and queens and they have no reaction to this news? really? Even if they aren't old enough to have trouble with this news - the way an adult would - wouldn't you at least be excited by the prospect? I think the movie version was faithful to the book and I think the book is good, but it's inconsistent with human reality. Even JRR Tolkein said that if Lucy were to actually run into a faun - a faun true to mythical legend - he would not be inviting her back to his house for tea... I think the reason the movie doesn't resonate well with adults is that it doesn't seem possible, even in a fantasy land. Aragorn can lead troops into battle, I'm not so sure about Peter.

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, but I, too, found it lacking. I've read the books a gazillion times (is exaggerating lying--if so, I'm in real trouble) and truly love them. I was impressed with the movie, but agree that it lacked..."soul." I don't think I could be more specific at this point--I need to give it more thought.

Have not seen it...however I have not even read the book...yikes..I'll bring the marshmellows

I think people are trying to get more out of this story -- movie and book -- than it can possibly bear. I didn't even read the Narnia books until I was in my twenties anyway. I first read Lord of the Rings when I was about fourteen. I prefer LOTR, and at first was only lukewarm on the Narnia books, because they are obviously "for kids," and back then I was sensitive to that sort of thing. Now I find them charming, if more comforting than profound. But this wasn't my favorite of the Narnia stories anyway -- I much preferred Voyage of the Dawn Treader and The Magician's Nephew -- especially the episode on Charn in the latter, which actually evoked an authentic sensation of dread in me.

Yeah, Charn was kind of scary. I don't think I ever want to know the Deplorable Word....

I loved the book, which my 9-year-old and I are taking turns reading to each other. I find I remember long passages of it -- no surprise, given how many times I've read it. And I was somewhat disappointed in the movie. It was visually lovely, but somehow lacked whatever movie magic would have paralleled the book's magic. I was also annoyed by the all-too-common substitution of new dialogue, no shorter, just lamer, for some key bits of the book.

As for movies better than their books: In the Heat of the Night.

Movies better than the books: The Stunt Man.

The only C. S. Lewis work of fiction I ever really enjoyed was Til We Have Faces.

Haven't seen it yet, but will as soon as I can get the time (with my wife, who is the one driving this).

As to the great book/movie debate:

Define "better".

"More enjoayble"? Swings either way, depending on the book, movie, and definition of "enjoyable".

"Simple entertainment" - usually the movie.

"Deeply engrossing" - usually the book.

"Enjoyable action" - usually the movie.

"Character development" - almost always the book.

It depends on what you are after.

USUALLY, the book is more lasting and deeply entertaining and satisfying, but then, it should be - it takes more effort and commitment.

Movies are, generally and to over-simplify, the Cliff Notes version. Quick, easy, but without all the details. For some things, that's OK, (For some things, that's an IMPROVEMENT...) and there are times, when it's better than nothing, or simply nicer in that it's short, but the full version is usually more of what you want, if you can just find the TIME...

If you're going to Hell for not loving this movie, I shudder to think whats in store for me after the thoughts I've been having about the horrid people that put confetti in their Christmas cards and/or thank-you notes. Nothing good, let me assure you.

A sudden fear arises in me that they'll try to screw up Till We Have Faces by making a movie out of it.

I was underwhelmed (see: http://fivehundredwords.com/essays/tcon.php) but the kids at church loved it.

Silence of the Lambs.

I read this book years before they made the movie, and was very very worried that it would be made into a movie. I didn't see how it any director could convey the creepiness and sickness of the murderer, without glorifying him or somehow making him sympathetic. However I thought the movie was excellent, and Anthony Hopkins was so repellent and scary that no one could find him a victim.

And I would like to second the Godfather. I loved the books but the movies took the story to a new level.

Really people…what do you want???
This film is visually interesting, with charming & not-wholly-unbelievable characters and who display humor and flaws. Not only that, but there’s a complete lack of offensive language, and no gratuitous sex or gore!
There is a suitably terrifying villain (go Tilda!), a menacing wolf that keeps leaping out and making you jump in your seat, cute & silly badgers, and a lion with a voice like butter (go Liam!) All of this in a Hollywood-produced-Fantasy-movie. That we’ve got this far is a miracle. And you’re whining about ‘soul’? What does that even mean???
Is it pure un-adulterated CS Lewis? No. Is it the Bible? No. I guess I am blessed that I have not re-read the classic (which I love) in the last few years, and was not subjected to any sermonizing on biblical symbolism before seeing the film.
Don’t like it if you must, but save the bile for movies that truly deserve it… like The 40-year-old Virgin.

Um, Tony?

You got spammed.

It wasn't me, I promise. :(