‘’‘’The Chronicles of Narnia’’ Knocks ‘’Harry Potter’’ Out Of #1 Box Office Spot!’’
By Arlene R. Weiss © Copyright December 11, 2005
As we predicted right here on December 7, the dazzling film adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s classic children’s book, ‘’The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe’’, did what seemed the impossible.
The daunting task of a film, ANY film, knocking ‘’Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire’’ out of the #1 spot at the box office, after ‘’Narnia’’ premiered Friday, December 9, in theaters nationwide.
After ‘’Harry Potter’’ reigned for some three weeks at number one, ‘’Narnia’’ took in a domestic weekend gross of some $67 million, taking over the box office throne, proving that ‘’Narnia’’ possesses very strong magic, indeed.
So much magic that ‘’Narnia’’ accomplished yet another amazing feat, claiming the title as the film with the 2nd biggest opening ever, in the month of December, nipping at the heels of number one, December box office draw opener, ‘’Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King’’ which was released in December of 2003.
While some critics have taken issue with the film’s (and author Lewis’s) blatant Christian overtones and allegory (with the hero/martyr Aslan the Lion being an allegory of the sacrifices and death of Christ), reviewers still seem pretty much unanimous in their praise of the film’s visual splendor and epic magnificence of the story itself, along with Director Andrew Adamson’s victorious translation of Lewis’s beloved fable to the silver screen.
Moreover, actress Tilda Swinton, until now relatively unknown to mainstream film audiences, though she has turned in some stellar performances in art house and Indie flicks such as ‘’Adapatation’’ and ‘’The Deep End’’, is receiving high kudos from fans and press alike, with her show stealing portrayal of the evil ice queen, White Witch, Jadis.
Swinton, who has said in interviews that she had Director Adamson blast music on the film’s production set by the antichrist rocker himself, Marilyn Manson, to get herself fully into her character, is gathering raves with her take on a most non stereotypical witch.
Not your typical cauldron stirring Medusa cursed with an ugly green, boil marked complexion, dressed head to toe in black, Jadis is instead, a mesmerizing beauty, with long blonde dreaded locks spilling over her, dressed in the purity of white, a seemingly regal presence to behold. A contradiction in terms that beguiles and even tempts one of the four British children running from her dark powers, to actually want to grasp her very wicked ways.
Shades of Anakin Skywalker’s own temptation by Senator Palpatine in another fantasy film blockbuster this year, ‘’Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge Of The Sith.’’ Whoops, that’s right! C.S. Lewis penned this years before ‘’Star Wars’’ Creator George Lucas was even born (or at least still in diapers!)
One can see, that ‘’Narnia’’ is a timeless cautionary tale for the ages, and significantly, an ageless story of the battle of good versus, and triumphing over, evil. And George Lucas himself also admitted to both ‘’Star Wars’’ trilogies also being influenced by Christian allegory, amongst other things. Could ‘’Narnia’’ have been one of them?
Anyways, all we can say is that Swinton’s masterful performance should firmly place her on the map as a major talent to be reckoned with and ‘’Narnia’’ is draped with some of the most stunning cinematography, sets, and costumes in film land this year.
Could an Academy Award bid be down the road? Swinton and ‘’The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe’’ get our vote!
Source:
http://www.zap2it.com/movies/news/story/0,1259,---27427,00.html
Muse News And Micro Muse December 11, 2005
By Arlene R. Weiss © Copyright December 11, 2005
No comments:
Post a Comment