Directing a "Prince" of a Film
by
Suzanne Hadley
on May 7, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Someday my prince will come ... and that day is May 16.
That is the release date of Prince Caspian, the second Chronicles of Narnia film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media.
Mark Moring of Christianity Today interviewed Andrew Adamson, the film's director. Adamson directed 2005's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and the first two Shrek films. A few other interesting facts about Adamson: He was the son of Christian missionaries to Papua New Guinea; he duked it out with Lewis' stepson Doug Gresham over the role of women in the first Narnia film; and he's intent on being faithful to one of the best-loved children's books of all time.
Doug Gresham, who has been intimately involved with the production of both films, believes Prince Caspian is a better film than The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, even though it's a more difficult story to tell. Adamson explains:
The story of Lion/Witch was already very cinematic with sort of a five-act structure. In Prince Caspian a lot of the story is told in retrospect, with Trumpkin telling the kids what happened when they were gone. So I restructured it to make it more linear. It's a challenge, but sometimes the limitations you face actually create more interesting solutions. And that's what I think makes this movie feel like a bigger movie, a more complex and interesting movie.
Despite his evangelical upbringing, Adamson feels a greater duty to his art than Lewis' Christian fan base:
I feel my responsibility to C. S. Lewis's fans is just being true to the books, and letting people take from it what they will. What you take from it depends on your belief, and how much interpretation you place upon it. I think by staying true to the book, I'm staying true to what any fan gets from the book.
For those of you who, like me, are excited to see Prince Caspian come to the big screen, you may want to check out this excerpt of the excellent Radio Theatre audio drama of the work produced by Focus on the Family.
1. Steven had the following to say on May 7 at 12:03 PM:
Focus on the Family did an extremely well job on the audio drama's. You should should check out all of them to be sure if you are a fan of the series.
2. (Canadian) Andrew R. had the following to say on May 7 at 1:40 PM:
I don't know... for some reason, I have this lingering feeling that Prince Caspian will just be a CGI mess. So many movies these days are.
3. MaryBeth had the following to say on May 7 at 2:54 PM:
I am so excited about my favorite childhood books coming out on film. I also think the Audio Dramas are worth getting - everyone will enjoy them. The books come to life in the audio version!
4. Dan H. had the following to say on May 7 at 4:04 PM:
I'm so excited! Just another week and a bit.
I really hope that the reorganizing of the order Andrew mentioned doesn't lead to many departures from the book. In LW&W there were a couple of scenes (crossing the ice river specifically) that, while cool to watch, were larger departures from the book that I might have liked. All it all though, I felt Andrew did a fantastic job with the first movie and I was so pleased when I found out he was doing the next one as well.
5. Jo had the following to say on May 7 at 5:16 PM:
I can't wait to see this film. And I know the guy who voiced Shasta in the FOTF audio drama of The Horse and His Boy, yet have never heard it. Would be interesting to, methinks.