Walden Media & Disney vs. the BBC

[The Black Captain]

Okay, it doesn't seem to have been done before, so I think I'll just start it up here right now. If this still exists from something waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay old from a long time ago, I think it should be reopened for all to ponder anew! ;P


SO basically, have you seen either the WM/Disney adaptions of the books, or have you seen the BBC version from the eighties? What did you think, but most importantly, how do they compare? Which one is better? Do you think that they are cinematic greats?

And please explain why you think one is better than the other, or if it's easier, why one is worse than the other.....

I am really hoping right now that all the old members on this section of the forum are still around and are reading this, I'd love to see some answers.

[Mari]

The BBC ones are charming and true to the books (I assume you are talking about the Narnia series anyway). I love how Aslan is portrayed. Nothing can beat the Mr. Tumnus from the Disney version though and definitely not the one from this version.
By the by, the hear-plays of the series, also created by the BBC were great!

The new version obviously looks better and more flowing. More spectacular. More different sets. I was bothered by the fact that the thought behind the books were so shoved under the carpet in this version. It doesn't have to be overly present, but I just miss it.

They are different and both have their good points. I hate what they did with Peter in the second film though.

[nasuada]

I agree. I didn't like how they made Peter in Prince Caspian, but I guess that's how they thought he might act. Even though in the books he tells caspian, that he's not there to take caspians place but to put him in it. something like that. But I do like the new movies a lot and the old ones are pretty good themselves.

[hectorberlioz]

Good things about the old ones:

1) An awesome and memorable theme song. The new series has a nice theme too, but the old BBC one had that Narnia feel to it...pastoral horns et al.

2) Aslan really is much better in the old ones. First, he has that growl in his speech. Secondly, he's not CGI. Better to look slightly costume-y than very computer generated, I say.

3) Puddleglum was perfect, and I don't see how they are going to better him in the new one. The Tumnus was also quite good, and the wolves also.

4) Stuck to the books, and didn't add scenes. 'Nuff said.

5) They really captured the Narnian world well with the sets and costumes: a much smaller-scale 'world' than Middle-earth, with more emphasis on plot and characters than scope of battle (and CSL often found an alternative POV to write about battles, mostly getting them over with).

Now, for the good things about the new movies.

1) Casting the Pevensies. Except for Susan, I totally agree with all the casting choices. And I'm not picking on S, I just thought she had blonder hair in the books.

2) Once again, the movies got the Narnia feel right...though they did amp up the battle scope.

3)....

[GrayMouser]

No, I think Susan was always described as black-haired- she certainly was in the Pauline Baynes illustrations- but I always pictured Lucy as a blonde.

[Midge]

I always thought that LUCY was more blonde. I've ranted about what I hated from the Disney movies. I am trying to collect the BBC movies, but they're not just sitting on store-shelves. I was lucky to find The Silver Chair at some pawn shop in Arkansas.. Pretty good shape, too!

I think one thing that I love about the new Prince Caspian was the ending. That song is perfect. It captures Lucy's feelings perfectly, about how she hates leaving Aslan and Narnia, and she's just found out that someday, she won't be coming back to him. The ending to that movie ALMOST makes everything else that's wrong with it right. Like how Susan had to kiss Caspian and all the absolute rubbish about Peter.

[GrayMouser]

I just checked out the books- Susan is described as having black hair flowing down to her heels, while Lucy is "Golden-Haired"

[Midge]

Probably hence why I thought she would be blonde. Well, and there was a cheesy cartoon movie my uncle gave me once and she was blonde in that. But I did like Georgie Henley in the Walden/Disney versions, even though she wasn't blonde. She was annoying in the commentaries.

[nasuada]

I do like the Lucy in the Disney versions a lot better, she is just how I picture her. I do think all the Pevensies are better in the newer movies, my favorite in the old one is probably Peter.
Now the White Witch in the BBC versions, was very good I thought, and I agree that it is going to be hard to beat the Puddleglum in the Silver Chair. He was great, and the Silver Chair was really good.
I think also that the hag in Prince Caspian was a lot more scary in the BBC, but the warewolf was better in the newer ones.

[Midge]

Sadly, I can't seem to get ahold of the BBC ones, except I found The Silver Chair in a secondhand store down in Arkansas. It, of course, was in VERY good condition.

[Varnafindë]

Can't you get them on Amazon.com?

[Midge]

Did they make all of the movies? I can find LWW, and there's a three-set of PC, VDT and The Silver Chair. Can't find the Magician's Nephew, The Horse and His Boy, or The Last Battle.

[Varnafindë]

No, they only made those four. LWW in six parts, then PC in two parts and VDT in four parts, and then finally SC in six parts.
They never made the other three.

[Midge]

Wow. I have the Silver Chair on one DVD. Huh.

[hectorberlioz]

Supposedly they started production on HHB in that series, but abandoned it. Probably due to short funds.

[Midge]

Okay. Netflix has provided me with the BBC version of LWW and after watching it, I must say that my hugest impression of the movies is how wrong that Lucy is! Disney did much better. I was excited to see who she was, only to find a cherub with an overbite! NOT Lucy at all! I did like Susan and I LOVED the Beavers.

I think my only real beef with the BBC movies is that so much of it feels fake, like non-committed high school acting. Because you can tell that many of the talking animals are human (esp. Maugrim) and don't really look anything like animals, it is difficult to believe the reactions the Pevensies are having to the animals.

I am glad they went high-budget with the Aslan costume, though. Is it just me or might they have hired TWO actors to be him, one for the face and one for the stern?

[Midge]

My guess is that it is going to be incredibly inaccurate in regard to the books, but I still can't help being excited that DECEMBER 10 is ON ITS WAY! Movie theater, here I come! I'm not going to wait for Voyage of the Dawn Treader to come to the cheap movie theater. We'll pay the EIGHT dollars a ticket.

[Varnafindë]

If I had the choice, I would do the same.
It comes to Norway December 26th ...

[Midge]

Oh, no! That's more than two more weeks you have to wait! How terrible for you!

Actually I'd love to see it on the 10th, but I am decorating for a Ladies' tea party at my church the next day, so I'll miss it on opening day too.

[Varnafindë]

But I watch all the trailers and TV spots and spoilers that I can get hold of