Narnia...

Wow, what a movie. I went to see this on Saturday and it was a packed house. I'm glad it was.

If you have been paying attention to the hollywood news you've no doubt hear about the small controversy that has followed "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrob" book. How CS Lewis was an active Christian when he wrote the childrens book and how the story contains Christian ideas and easily can be related to biblical scenes or theology. It seems, to me at least, that the only real controversy is that people who are not Christians are taken aback by the surge of Christian voices and interest in the movie. Those who read it without knowledge of the Christian under/over tones were not angry when they read it years ago, but when someone claims to see corelation between characters and terms and scenes that cling to religious organizations or practices then it is a problem.

Having seen the cartoon movie as a child I saw no relation between the scripture and the movie. Things are very different now though. Having seen the new movie I would not be able to deny that CS Lewis was heavily influenced in his writing of the book. The story has so many links to our faith that at times I was as choked up over the movie as I was watching "The Passion".

(Warning: Spoiler to follow for those who didn't read the book or see the cartoon already.)

One scene for instance that was overflowing with not-so-hidden links to scripture is the sacrifice and resurection of the mysterious King of Narnia. To save "the son of Adam" this king must sacrifice himself to the "White witch". He is blameless in his offenses and is killed on an alter in place of the boy. "The daughters of Eve" sit by his side throughout the night and when they start to leave the earth shakes, the alter is broken in two, and the body is gone. Then the 2 daughters of Eve see in the riseing sun light that he has arisen and explain a little story about why which also is full of refferences to our faith. They then move to bring life to the fallen and victory over the White witch and her evil army.

Ok, now I understand how people can look at the same thing and see it differently, but this is not the case. Like it or not the connection and interpretation of Christian biblical foundations are far too strong in this scene alone to say it's simply what I want to see and nothing more.

We have in it (Aslan) The Lion of Juda against (The white witch) Lucifer, once the most beautiful and radiant of God angels. The Witch going against a prophecy that her death and ruin was foretold in. We also have the sons of adam and the daughters of eve as obvious references, but we have them also as stewards of the land and in need of a stronger guidance and support. We have the selfless sacrifice of the lion king for mankind and the resurection and salvation he brings. We have a similairty in the breaking of the alter to the tearing of the curtain and we have in the two daughters of Eve waiting, weaping, and being at the tomb a portrait of Mary and Mary at the tomb. This is a 10-15 minute scene in a 2 hour movie.

All in all the movie is a great story and was done in amazing fashion regardless of its "hidden" story. I would recommend it.