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Tilda Swinton in "The Chronicles of Narnia"
courtesy of Disney Home Entertainment
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"The Lion Roars"
C S Lewis' "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" has been made into a fantastical movie full of talking animals and super warriors. As it arrives on DVD it has become the type of movie that is legendary and one for which many sequels are planned. When it was first thought to bring it to the screen it was a risky project because of the religious symbolism in the story, but then Mel Gibson made "The Passion of the Christ" and suddenly religion was big box office again.
Basically "The Lion....." is the story of four children living in London during World War II. Their father is serving in the war so their mother sends them off to live in the countryside. They stay in a huge manor inhabited by a retired man and his housekeeper.
One day Lucy (Georgia Henley) discovers a wardrobe in an otherwise empty room. Inside the wardrobe she finds a door that takes her into another world. Later her sister Susan (Anna Popplewell) and her two brothers, Peter (William Moseley) and Edmund (Skandar Keynes) go into this world too.
There they find a world torn between the forces of good and evil. The evil is represented by the White Witch (Tilda Swinton) and the good by Aslan the lion (voiced by Liam Neeson). This is where the religious symbolism comes most into play.
The movie is full of adventure and charm, more so on the DVD than in the movie where its warmth was lost on the vastness of the big screen. The actors are much more personal in this edition and the story more confined.
This movie was such a hit that the sequel, "Prince Caspian," is already in the planning stages. But for now just sit back and enjoy "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."
Rapper Fifty Cent stars in a movie directed by Jim Sheridan and loosely based on his life. It is titled "Get Rich Or Die Tryin" and it is out on DVD. This film tells the story of Marcus (Fifty Cent) who is involved with drugs and on a downward path until an incident happens that changes his life. Then he finds his music may be the force that saves him.
The movie is brutal, profane and all other things but it is also strangely inspirational. Fifty Cent does a good job of projecting the image of a man in anguish about his life. Joy Bryant is also good as the woman in his life.
The description of the movie might turn you off but take a chance. It is a better film than it sounds. It has a strong story, some good music, and a solid performance by Fifty Cent.
A lot of stories are universal, and themes about people in America could also be presented about people in other countries. For example take a film titled "The Story of Qiu Ju." This film takes place in contemporary Asia and tells the story of one woman's fight against injustice. It could just as easily have been a story about an American housewife who had the same struggle.
The movie stars the beautiful and talented Gong Li and is directed by Zhang Yimou. These two are stars in their respected fields and make movie magic when they combine their talents. So don't miss "The Story of Qiu Ju."
All of us know the TV series "Little House On the Prairie" that starred Melissa Gilbert and Michael Landon, Jr. But Disney also had a six hour mini-series based on the books. And that show is now available on DVD. It is just as stirring and heart-warming as was the original TV series and focuses on the plots straight from Laura Ingalls Wilder's books.
In this mini-series, filmed in Canada, Cameron Bancroft plays the Landon role and Kyle Chavarria takes the part played by Gilbert. All of the actors are fine and the scenery is beautiful. Get this one and watch it with your kids.
What if you had houseguests who were rude, crude and boisterous? And what if they knew secrets from your past you wanted to stay buried? And what if your religion said you had to be open and hospitable to any guests who showed up on your steps during a certain religious celebration?
These are the questions raised in the film "Ushpizin," a movie about an ultra Orthodox community in Israel. It stars real life couple, Shuli Rand and Mechal Bat Sheva Rand, as a Jewish couple in this predicament. Seeing how they handle it makes up the plot in this comedy/drama.
This is a very unique film that not only entertains, it also informs. You get both for the price of one. So laugh a little, learn a little, enjoy a little with "Ushpizin."
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©2006 Jackie K. Cooper |
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