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 PrintableVersion The lion, the witch and the wardrobeA different kind of magicTHE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE I had just come out from seeing the film. There was a little lad, dressed in an M&S Narnia ‘King Peter’ suit, waiting to go in with his family. I imagine it was his birthday. As I walked by I overheard him ask, ‘Dad, is Narnia real?’ I didn’t hear the reply, but I rejoiced to think that this film will get both children and adults asking such questions. It can introduce people to a different kind of magic from that of Harry Potter. When Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York, was visiting our congregation many years ago, his wife Kathy explained to me that she had become a Christian after reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and writing to C.S. Lewis. This well-made film has the potential to provoke similar responses. The screenplay sticks very closely to the original, with only a couple of deviations which arguably enhance the excitement without disturbing the plot. The special effects are seamless and superb Ð with astonishingly believable fauns and centaurs. The casting of the four Pevensie children is really quite admirable. The White Witch is just about nasty enough, and Mr. and Mrs. Beaver provide the lighter comedy moments. Aslan is clearly seen as the redeemer. He gives his life in place of Edmund. He describes his sacrifice as that of a willing victim who had committed no treachery but who was killed in the traitor’s stead. It all looked wonderfully like penal substitution to me! Comments from family members who saw it with me were very positive. ‘I was in tears during the battle scene’, said one, ‘because it was just like being a Christian now. You feel we are losing the spiritual battle, but Christ will come to bring the victory.’ ‘When Aslan roared’, said another, ‘you could see it put heart into his followers, just as Christ encourages us.’ However, and this is no reflection on the film at all, it is the kind of thing which both cynical secularists and ‘smart’ Christians will seek to rubbish. Perhaps that is the problem with associating Christianity with a story for children. But Jesus said, ‘Unless you become as little children…’. John Benton© Evangelicals Now - February 2006 |
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