Curse

Ard Wen · Dec 11, 2005, 09:50 PM // 21:50

I'm sorry for this rant ahead of time ( I'm not flaming). Why does everybody try to compare LOTR and Narnia? I've been a fan Of Tolkien and Lewis and love both their books for different reasons. Narnia was meant as a fairy tale not an epic war book. I love the depth of Tolkein. However, Narnia is more innocent and is not suppose to be focused on just war. In fact some of the other Narnia books do not even have battles. Magician's Nephew, Dawn Trader, and Silver Chair. Narnia is fairy tale. LOTR is a war epic.
Also many people say that it too much like other things like Star Wars or Harry Potter. However, Narnia came first therefore Star Wars and Harry Potter technically copied from C.S. Lewis.

Narnia - Death for our sins by another, Love, taking someone elses penalty for them. This is why Jesus is loved by many (even none Christians).

LOTR: Power is corruption. Self-pride is the depravity of man.

Please discuss. I am sorry, but I wanted to be heard sense many people don't understand the background and seem to bash Narnia cause its not like Tolkein.

P.S. Lewis and Tolkein were good friends. Tolkien considered Narnia as a bad piece of work, but this is because he didn't understand that Lewis had a different writing style. Also he wanted a bedtime story for children, which is not what LOTR.

Rancour · Dec 11, 2005, 09:58 PM // 21:58

Personally, I prefere the Lord of the Rings because I'm into fighting, wars and epic adventures. The Narnia books are a little too... subtle for me. But if you like the style, they're great.

But I have to ask you... Are you trying to start a discussion on WHY people depate Narnia vs. Lord of the Rings or are you simply comparing the two?
Because you start out by asking why people compare them and yet, you seem to ask us to compare them too.

It's a little confusing in my opinion.

PS: I think I need to get my memory right... The Narnia books are the ones with "The Lion, the Witch and the wardrobe", right?

plastichead · Dec 11, 2005, 10:00 PM // 22:00

i read all the Narnia books when i was 7 or 8, i liked them all then and still do today.

they have a cleaner more innocent "feel" to them than teh LOTR books.

But it seems to me you are more interested in another series of books.
A series much better than the ones you hope to discuss.

jules · Dec 11, 2005, 10:09 PM // 22:09

I loved the Narnia series and read them many times when I was growing up. To be honest I was never really into Tolkein's writing but that's personal preference. I just watched Narnia last night and it brought back many amazing memories of the book. I think they did a good job with the movie and I'm going to read through the series again when I get home this Christmas.

The OP's avatar reminds me that I'm still painfully waiting for the new Robert Jordan book to come out on paperback.....

heist23 · Dec 11, 2005, 10:27 PM // 22:27

people are trying to compare the Narnia movie to the LOTR movies because it seems that those two are the closest comparisons in the movie industry.

i haven't seen Narnia quite yet, so i'll reserve anything i have to say on this subject......

plastichead · Dec 11, 2005, 10:27 PM // 22:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by jules

The OP's avatar reminds me that I'm still painfully waiting for the new Robert Jordan book to come out on paperback.....

the Knife of Dreams?

yes it is excellent

PieXags · Dec 11, 2005, 10:41 PM // 22:41

From a guy's point of view I've come to two conclusions. There are two things that truly satisfy a man: sex, and power. Yeah sure innocence is fine and so are fairy tales, but the idea and workings of a battle is like an art form! Two or even three or more sides fighting together, using their power to knock the living shit out of the opponents with such chemistry is wonderful, and that's why I enjoyed the LOTR movies so much. I personally...really, didn't like the Narnia books. When I was younger the librarian told me to read them, and I just didn't like them. Too...not, exciting? I guess that's it.

Go figure.

Ard Wen · Dec 11, 2005, 10:41 PM // 22:41

LOL... yes another very good book series

I was don't see why all the comparsions are made when its two different styles.

I love both in a different sense. The battle scenes are great in LOTR, but I also love the innocence in Narnia.

Want three or more armies in one battle read Wheel of Time as my avatar suggests

tuperwho · Dec 11, 2005, 10:56 PM // 22:56

The comparison comes down to the fact that the trailers for Narnia make it look like it will be lots of action, CGI, and battle scenes. Therefore, the closest movie to compare it to in recent times is LOTR. I personally think it's just a poor job by the Narnia advertisers trying to make their product look like LOTR, because they know that it will sell if they convince enough people of the similarities.

Green Booger · Dec 11, 2005, 11:04 PM // 23:04

My Ratings for likefairy tale stuff.
LOTR- 7
Narnia- 6
Harry potter-9
Star wars-10

chris_nin00 · Dec 11, 2005, 11:14 PM // 23:14

I try not to compare them. They are two completely different things in the same genre.

I would have to say Star wars is the best one too.

hidden_agenda · Dec 11, 2005, 11:23 PM // 23:23

actually the two are not really comparable...

C. S. Lewis set out to write fairy tales for children. J. R. R. Tolkien set out to write fairy tales for adults (aka myth).

As the audience is different, the crafting style of the story needs to be different.

In Narnia, you'll see the focus on a simplicity of the setup -- the Lion the king of the beasts is the literal king -- noble in bearing and character. The cute animals / fairy creatures have good hearts. Children, who are still not set in the realities of the world, finds the setting more acceptable. Thus, the heart of the tale is easily approached. It is also a strongly Christian tale -- with tight allegorical mapping between the character in the tale and the Christian faith.

In contrast, LOTR was an attempt by JRR Tolkien to create an "English mythology" -- that is fairy tale for adults. So, the setting is extremely complex. When people talk of depth, that's what's meant. Tolkien, personally, is strongly against allegorical writing, so he wrote LOTR with the intention of allowing the readers to map unto the characters their own experiences, and it works well -- but this is something that adults do that children tend not to do.

A much better comparison (if one were to compare the two authors on level ground) would be to compare The Hobbit and Narnia.

Now -- the comparison of the films, of course, is yet another separate story...

Avair Strabain · Dec 11, 2005, 11:36 PM // 23:36

lotr is just a rip off of old norse myths (aeisir belief)..

Ard Wen · Dec 11, 2005, 11:37 PM // 23:37

Narnia vs. The Hobbit

Narnia wins hand down. The Hobbit was slow and put me to sleep. I nearly struggled to get through it. I went to read Narnia because I disliked the hobbit so much. However, I do find the Lord of the Rings a great read. However, as C.S. Lewis once said "He [Tolkien] would be happy just writing a journal of the journey to Rivendell. I thought he never would get to the point."

jules · Dec 12, 2005, 05:01 AM // 05:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by plastichead

the Knife of Dreams?

yes it is excellent

Yes the wait just became a whole lot more bearable... I may just splash out 10 quid on the hardback version.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hidden_agenda

It is also a strongly Christian tale -- with tight allegorical mapping between the character in the tale and the Christian faith.

Lewis' grandson was on talk radio the other day and he said that Narnia wasn't intended to be overtly Christian. Apparently Lewis was highly interested in mythology and the whole concept of death/resurrection is quite a common thread there. Now I'm not an expert in mythology so don't quote me on this.

Lampshade · Dec 12, 2005, 05:26 AM // 05:26

I saw the Narnia movie, it was pretty good. That whole PG family film stuff pissed me off though. No blood, really draws you away when the guy finishes off a minotaur and doesnt even have blood on the sword. WETA did supurb on designing the creatures though. (for anyone else that saw the movie, did you laugh your ass off when Susan shot the Dwarf)

If you have any other question about the movie just ask.

MoldyRiceFrenzy · Dec 12, 2005, 06:03 AM // 06:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ard Wen

I'm sorry for this rant ahead of time ( I'm not flaming). Why does everybody try to compare LOTR and Narnia? I've been a fan Of Tolkien and Lewis and love both their books for different reasons. Narnia was meant as a fairy tale not an epic war book. I love the depth of Tolkein. However, Narnia is more innocent and is not suppose to be focused on just war. In fact some of the other Narnia books do not even have battles. Magician's Nephew, Dawn Trader, and Silver Chair. Narnia is fairy tale. LOTR is a war epic.
Also many people say that it too much like other things like Star Wars or Harry Potter. However, Narnia came first therefore Star Wars and Harry Potter technically copied from C.S. Lewis.

Narnia - Death for our sins by another, Love, taking someone elses penalty for them. This is why Jesus is loved by many (even none Christians).

LOTR: Power is corruption. Self-pride is the depravity of man.

Please discuss. I am sorry, but I wanted to be heard sense many people don't understand the background and seem to bash Narnia cause its not like Tolkein.

P.S. Lewis and Tolkein were good friends. Tolkien considered Narnia as a bad piece of work, but this is because he didn't understand that Lewis had a different writing style. Also he wanted a bedtime story for children, which is not what LOTR.

ya they are good

all i really know besdie movie in deepness is that both have chirstian themes

Ultimate_Gaara · Dec 12, 2005, 06:53 AM // 06:53

I have not yet seen this movie you call "Narnia", however i can tell you right now lotr would beat it for me... its like the unreal tournament of all movies... However maybe some day I will see it and change my mind... but i somehow doubt it

Shimus DarkRaven · Dec 12, 2005, 10:22 AM // 10:22

You can't even reall begin to compare these books, as they are both highly different. That, like mentioned above me, is the reason I liked both. Lewis's story of fantasy through a wardrobe helped me escape my life, while LOTR's battles, superb acting, and stuff, made it a conversational piece with my friends and family.

One was for me to escape the world, and one was for me to relate to the world.
Simply put, you really can't compare the two!

--The Shim