Chronicles of Narnia: Wardrobe - 4-Disc Extended Edition DVD

[Jake Lipson]

Having - gasp - never seen this film, I am going to blind buy this today so that I get it before it goes out of print. I read and loved the books several years ago and was all excited for the theatrical release but didn't make it because I wanted to read the books again first. Which I still haven't found time to do...but go figure.

As a longtime book fan, I know I'm going to want that C.S. Lewis doccumentary, so I've got to get the set soon. I understand the point of taking things out of print - it makes a lot of economic sense, driving up demand and whatnot - but I really resent this. It's like they're putting a gun to my head with the seven-week availability thing, and if it's that limited...I don't know. *shrug.*

It does kind of suck that the theatrical version isn't being offered via seamless branching, but since the differences seem to be neglectable, I dobut it will matter if I only see the new one. I'd like the theatrical cut too, of course, but since the extensions don't hinder it either, the suppliments will determine my purchase..

I do question, though, wheather the extended version will EVER resurface; seeing as it is basically a marketing ploy to sell more DVDs, and the discontinuation only affects the extended cut, they might not bother to re-release it -- and certianly not in this exact package, which is what they're taking OOP (rather than the movie itself, because if it were that they would yank the 1-disc and 2-disc versions as well.) I mean seriously, though, if the theatrical cut remains available then who is going to care if they do reissue the extended version again later? I can see the marketing now: "Here's your chance to see seven more minutes of the movie for the first time in X years!" And since everyone knows that those seven minutes aren't much, as flimsy of a marketing tool as it is for THIS release, it will be even more flimsy later.

What do you all think?

[Disneykid]

First off let me get this off my chest...

YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT, YET?!?!?
It's, in my opinion, the best live-action film to ever come from the studio. Since you and I have alarmingly similar tastes in films, I'm positive you'll love this. As a longtime Narnia fan like yourself, I have to go out and say that the film is actually an improvement over the book. The characters are all given more depth and there's a greater sense of danger and urgency in the film, expanding on things Lewis only hinted at.

Now that that's out of the way, whether or not we'll ever see the extended edition resurface is a good question. I'm sure we will because despite only eight more minutes of footage, Disney did take the time to color time the new footage to match with the rest, and they also worked on many CG effects from scratch. I can't see them going through that hassle for a seven-week long DVD release. I believe what'll happen is this will be the only time we see this available on standard definition, with the next home video appearance being on Blu-Ray. I think to tide people over between both releases, Disney will probably air the extended cut on TV several times. Since they have shown extended versions of the Harry Potter films without ever showing the theatrical ones, I think the same will hold true for Narnia. The single disc and 2-disc Collector's Editions will probably be the only way to experience the theatrical cut again, at least until Blu-Ray (which I guarantee will see a huge gap between the theatrical and extended releases for that format).

The minimal amount of new footage isn't surprising since Andrew Adamson had always said that he only cut one full scene out and that everything else on the cutting room floor was made up of scene extensions. Lots of Narnia fans have been crying foul over the lack of that one substantial scene in this release (the post-coronation celebration that can briefly be seen in the trailer), but the common consensus seems to be that they're saving it as a flashback for the sequel, which sounds very logical to me.

[TheSequelOfDisney]

Lots of Narnia fans have been crying foul over the lack of that one substantial scene in this release (the post-coronation celebration that can briefly be seen in the trailer), but the common consensus seems to be that they're saving it as a flashback for the sequel, which sounds very logical to me.

A flashback seems very logical to me. But one thinking logically isn't always good*. I'm still contemplating wether or not to get this. I really really want it, but I don't have the money. I will have money this coming Thursday (baby-sitting), but then I don't know if I will have the time to get it. The extended cut looks very well done, from the pictures I have seen, and would be a nice inclusion to my Disney DVD collection. However, I still wish that Disney hadn't completely re-used the second Disc from the Collector's Edition, then again, it would be beneficial if someone didn't buy it, or just bought the one disc edition. What do you think I should do?


*If you didn't get that, "logically" is a part in the film, that I think is funny!

[aggietubagod]

If you've bought any of the prior editions, there is a 10$ mail-in rebate in the package. And you can always sell the prior edition on Ebay or to Gamestop and recoup some of the difference.

To be completely honest, I would just keep the 2 disc and rent the extended edition to watch the special features. The new scenes are in no way worth the money.

[Jake Lipson]

Disney will probably air the extended cut on TV several times. Since they have shown extended versions of the Harry Potter films without ever showing the theatrical ones, I think the same will hold true for Narnia.

Interesting theroy, and it's a very valid point. I wonder how many people will be able to notice the difference on TV -- maybe if they can, it could drive up demand for the return of the EE. Disney could always re-release it in some form spring 2008 to push Prince Caspian; will Blu-ray really be dominant then, I wonder? No doubt the Blu-ray release would be similtaneous, but they might give it another standard-def release to appease those who haven't upgraded yet. I seriously doubt it would be with all these bells and whistles, at least.

but the common consensus seems to be that they're saving it as a flashback for the sequel, which sounds very logical to me.

That does make sense, except I'm not sure what good it would do in a sequel. Granted, it's been several years since I read Prince Caspian, but this scene seems to me to have much more baring on Wardrobe than on Caspian. Other than just padding out the runtime, what story purpose would it serve in that film? (Of course, given that the LWW EE supposedly does nothing more than pad out the runtime, that's still a distinct possibility, but you get my point.)

Anyway, yeah, I expect that I will love the movie too. I am re-reading the book now and should watch the movie either today or tomorrow when I finish with that. I will be sure to come back here and post my thoughts, as late as they are, when I'm done watching it.

[Disneykid]

Well...(spoilers, highlight to read below):

When the children arrive back at Narnia, they find themselves at the ruins of Cair Paravel. As they go exploring, memories start to flood back to them. This would be the perfect time to show some of the coronation after-party that was deleted. Perhaps including the entire scene would be a bit much, but they could still include at least 20 seconds' worth or something. It'd also make for a neat effect to see the children flashing back to an unfamiliar moment from movie one where they're clearly younger rather than a flashback shot specifically for movie two.

[Jake Lipson]

All right, I finally saw this yesterday, so, a year late such as my thoughts are, I must say I thought it was terrific. Re-reading the book a few days ago I was really surprised that it seemed much tamer than I remembered it as a kid, and I think the filmmakers managed to beef it up very well. They chose the right things to highlight, and I too applaud the newfound sense of danger in the movie. And adding the kids' continued reluctanc, ESPECIALLY the shadow of WWII in our world, was a really terrific idea. I hate to say that the book is flawed, and that's the wrong word for it anyway, but I think the film has realized the full potential of this story in a way that Lewis did not. And yet it did all of that without betraying the intergity of the original book, as everything played out pretty much perfectly.

The only complaint I can find to muster is that they never explained the significance of hunting the white stag for wishes, so when that sequence does appear, it feels kind of random. (Obviously I knew what it was from the book, but trying to take the movie on its own, and for people who don't know the book, it might...feel odd, particularly when the kids are so friendly and respectful of animals, for them to be hunting something, as it would be assumed they're hunting for meat unless otherwise specified.) But that's a minor complaint, and the compliments I can give it are much bigger and more important, such as this one: Seeing Narnia has restored my faith in quality fantasy adaptations after the abomination that is the Eragon movie, which completely tore down everything that is special about the book. So -- bravo to them. Can't wait for Prince Caspian, and THAT one I am going to see in theaters for sure.

[TheSequelOfDisney]

Can anyone give me an update of when this title is going back into the vault? Thanks!

[Disneykid]

January 31st, though you should still be able to find copies in stores for a while after that.

[TheSequelOfDisney]

January 31st, though you should still be able to find copies in stores for a while after that.

Thanks for the info. I was just wandering because I didn't know if it would still be avaliable after my birthday (Feb. 5th), and hopefully it will.

[DisneyQuack]

Picked this up last night, although it didn't come with a booklet, I already wrote Disney and they wrote back for my address, so it seems their doing a good job with replacing them.