02.28.07
Posted in NarniaFans.com
at 5:03 pm
by Paul Martin
I’m leaving on Friday night for Ireland (where I will be until next Thursday). I’m going to try to keep up with the news at least once per day while I’m there, but please be patient with me… I’ll be on vacation! I’m going to be blogging about the adventures in Ireland. I’m not sure if I’ll be blogging here, but I will be posting a bit at Punk Rock Catholic.
If anyone wants to be a part of NarniaFansCast (NFC), which is our (weekly) podcast, contact EveningStar in the Dancing Lawn forums.
What you need to join us
• Audacity (free)
• Microphone
• Headphones
and/or
• Headset (perhaps Logitech)
• Skype (free)
Volunteer to help out and you may become a regular on the show!
Many would agree that Ireland vacations make wonderful memories. If you do travel in Ireland make sure you plan ahead so your Ireland vacation is as successful as possible.
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02.22.07
Posted in Narnia Films, Voyage of the Dawn Treader
at 2:10 am
by Paul Martin
Will it be more than a year between Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader? It looks like it might be. Jim Hill Media is reporting that Disney is ramping up the lookout for possible franchise opportunities, and in the middle of the article, has this to say about the Narnia series:
[...] signing British actor Ben Barnes to a three picture deal so that he can then be locked in to play Prince Caspian in the next three “Narnia” films. With “Caspian” being released to theaters in May of 2008 and the film version of “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” already being penciled as Disney’s big holiday season release for 2009.
So it’s looking as though it may not be only a year between the releases of the next two films in the Narnia series, but more like the Harry Potter series with releases set about a year and a half apart. Let’s hope that the release window is officially announced soon so that any rumors can be laid to rest. However, this is a very interesting development.
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02.21.07
Posted in NarniaFans.com
at 10:33 am
by Paul Martin
digmo.co.uk has created a Widget for us. For any of you that has a Mac, you can now get NarniaFans.com news updates right on your desktop!
Download the NarniaFans.com Widget!
Note: This widget is freeware, and we take no responsibility for it’s use.
[digmo.co.uk]
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02.16.07
Posted in Walden Media
at 4:36 pm
by Paul Martin
I’ve posted a review of Walden Media’s very excellent film Bridge to Terabithia. It’s in theatres today, and I cannot say enough about it. I saw it last Saturday morning, and right after I went and bought the book and the movie companion. I was in awe of the film as it carried me away on an adventure unlike any that I’ve seen in a long time. It was, and is, a film about me, and my creative imagination. It made me want to be a kid again, and want to create new worlds and explore new places in my own imagination that I’ve not thought about in years.
For a film to access the creative part of your mind and make you excited to create your own stories, it’s a very special thing, and it doesn’t come around very often. I very highly recommend the movie for anyone. You can read more in part one of my review at WaldenFans.com. I’m going to be writing part two after I see the film again. I’ll edit this post and add a link when that part is complete.
This is one film for the DVD collection that is well worth having on your shelf, and I hope that it gets the special edition treatment that it deserves.
Also take a look at our interview with WETA’s Matt Aitken!
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02.09.07
Posted in Narnia Games
at 3:36 am
by Paul Martin
When you’re looking for the company behind the Chronicles of Narnia video games, you’ll have to look under a different banner. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was published under the Buena Vista Games moniker. For Prince Caspian and beyond (at least for the foreseeable future) you’ll be turning to Disney Interactive Studios.
Disney today announced the renaming of its video game business unit to Disney Interactive Studios at the company’s investor conference in Orlando. Disney Interactive Studios’ Senior Vice President and General Manager, Graham Hopper commented, “This change reflects our focus on creativity, the weight of Disney content in our portfolio, and the enormous value consumers see in the Disney brand.”
The business unit formerly known as Buena Vista Games will now be known as Disney Interactive Studios and will publish both Disney and non-Disney branded video games for all platforms worldwide. Video games will be published under the company’s strong consumer brands including Disney, ABC and Touchstone.
It’s the same studio, but a different name.
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02.05.07
Posted in Narnia Films, Voyage of the Dawn Treader
at 1:16 am
by Paul Martin
We’ve just received word that Andrew Adamson expects to still be working on Prince Caspian when shooting starts on The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. We expect that he’ll be heavy into post-production on that film, and will be acting as a producer on Dawn Treader. This is much like the role of Chris Columbus on the Harry Potter series of films. After directing the first two, he’s been acting as a producer, ensuring that the sequels maintain the overall look of the first films. The capable directing hands of director Alfonso Cuarón took the reigns and delivered what I feel is the best film in the series thus far: Prisoner of Azkaban. It was the first time that I felt the “magic” of the Harry Potter world as I watched it. Also, having never read a single Harry Potter novel, I didn’t know what I was missing, and while others complained, I admired. I look at all of the artistic shots, the fluid camera movements and the editing. The story is entertaining and dark, and the world seemed more real, more alive.
When it comes to other directors shooting the other Narnia films, it isn’t quite the same thing. Sure, the other Narnia books follow a lot of the same characters, but each book is almost mutually exclusive. They simply take place in the same world, on the same timeline. The one thread that connects them all is Aslan. This makes it very easy for another director to shoot a film in the Narnia series and get away with being a bit different from the style that Andrew Adamson has set in place. Each book even calls for a different style, as the stories are so varied.
The biggest question is not whether or not another director should fill Andrew Adamson’s shoes. We know that it’s going to happen now. The biggest question is: Who will it be?
I am sure that Walden Media and Disney are looking at prospects to direct Dawn Treader, and am really curious as to who they will select. Because it takes place mostly on the sea, and is being produced by Disney, would Gore Verbinski be open to shooting another film with a lot of water? Or would he be waterlogged from directing the Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy? What about Peter Jackson? Well, he’s working hard on adapting The Lovely Bones, at the moment. Perhaps director Jay Russell. He’s directed Tuck Everlasting, Ladder 49, and the a very good film called My Dog Skip (a film that I’d recommend to anyone). He’s also the director of Walden Media’s The WaterHorse. He seems to work well with young actors, and after this film would have the experience to tackle an epic that takes place mostly at sea.
Who do you think would make a good director for Voyage of the Dawn Treader?
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02.04.07
Posted in Misc.
at 12:37 am
by Paul Martin
Well, this is something that’s kept me and many others stuck in our homes for all of Saturday, February 3rd. A blizzard has hit the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, and while it’s let up for the night, it’s going to pick back up again tomorrow. Nearly 400 churches and businesses closed early or cancelled events and services. The picture to the right is in Wayland, MI. I found it on our news website’s photo gallery at woodtv.com.
Here’s another picture of the blizzard in action. This was taken at Grand Valley State University. For those that don’t know, I live in Grand Rapids, MI. It’s the second largest city in the state of Michigan. Grand Valley is near by, in a city called Allegan. I can tell you, the view out of my window was the about the same. We’re expected to get another 3″ to 11″ of snow before 7pm on the 4th.
Welcome to Narnia, ladies and gentlemen!
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02.03.07
Posted in C.S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters
at 4:33 pm
by Paul Martin
Walden Media has announced that they’re going to be creating a film version of C.S. Lewis’ book The Screwtape Letters. Now, this is a very interesting idea, as my friends and I have talked about. You see, this book could be filmed in many many different ways. Give this book to Steven Spielberg, and his film will be different from Darren Arnofsky’s film. Give it to Peter Jackson, and it’ll be different from Hayao Miyazaki’s. It seems that there is almost an infinite number of directions that a director/writer could take. It could even be a director’s series, like a mini-series of short stories, all told by different directors. Not only that, but Lewis points out that the book isn’t necessarily in chronological order, so each could start and end anywhere. It is, afterall, a collection of letters.
The only question is, who will the filmmakers be that tell us this story, and will it fulfill our own imaginations? I don’t believe that any one film based on this book could be accurate to our own vision of it. I also believe that when you read it in life also has an effect on how you interpret it. Sure the ideas are always going to be the same, but for every person, some things weigh more heavily than others. It gives great insight into ourselves, and no one film could cover everyone.
Either way, I’m definitely looking forward to the film version that we’re going to have. It should be an interesting film. Let’s hope that it can capture the spirit of the novel in a personal way.
The film is planned for a 2008 release.
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