The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

[Disneykid]

its kind of Disney's fault for releasing it at this time, when they could have used the spot Walden Media used for The Water Horse

Caspian was supposed to be released this past Christmas, but the film got post-poned six months because the battle required extra attention. If they had stuck to the original release date, the effects in Prince Caspian would've been even weaker than The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe's.

I, personally, am not worried about Prince Caspian's gross. I was never expecting it to make as much as Wardrobe. Considering Saturday and Sunday grosses should be a bit higher, its opening weekend will be about the same as LWW (which did 66 million). I think PC would have to make Speed Racer-type of numbers in order to secure the death of this series. I'm positive it's going to finish off with at least 230 million domestically, and if Disney finds that too low, then they need to use their budgets more wisely on future installments. That should be no problem because the only big battles left in the series are in The Horse and His Boy and The Last Battle. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and The Silver Chair feature action sequences that deal more with nature and plot devices than with epic army combat. The Magician's Nephew has no real action, and much of its suspense will be character-driven. So with that in mind, Disney can lower the budget on future installments to 150 million instead of the 180-200 spent on each of the first two.

Disney's already said that they're looking for a director for The Silver Chair and actually have a few names in mind. Considering Disney wants to do one Narnia movie a year starting with Dawn Treader (each with a different crew, I assume), that means productions will overlap. So, if we don't hear anything regarding Silver Chair while Dawn Treader is in production (which starts this October), then we'll have reason to worry.

[PeterPanfan]

I've only read The Magician's Nephew and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, so don't laugh at me for asking this.

Is Prince Caspian in any of the other books?

[rs_milo_whatever]

he's in The Voyage of The Dawn Treader and The Silver Chair

[roswellian]

I know this is really early but I hope they do a 4 disc edition dvd of this too. They will look great next to each other on my shelf.

[rs_milo_whatever]

well, Prince Caspian made number one movie in America.

It made less money than the first one, which is rare for a sequel, but at least it made enough to make Disney stick to a third installment

[Ugly Pig]

It made less money than the first one, which is rare for a sequel,

Is it? I thought sequels typically makes less then the first installment in a series?

[Disneykid]

Is it? I thought sequels typically makes less then the first installment in a series?

Normally that's been the case, but for the past few years, we've been seeing sequels outgross their originals quite often. Some off the top of my head are The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Spider-Man 2, X2: X-Men United, The Matrix Reloaded, and Shrek 2.

Hopefully Disney won't find this discouraging. None of the Harry Potter sequels have made as much as the original, yet WB still keeps trucking along and is more than satisfied with the box office grosses. We also have to take into account that worldwide box office counts for something, and Narnia's even more popular in the UK than it is over here. I'm sure the worldwide gross will more than cover the production, advertising, and merchandising costs.

[Ugly Pig]

Oh, there's no doubt it will turn a profit. The question is; how profitable is profitable enough for Disney?

[Isidour]

I hope that they would not only look for the profits but also for quality

I just saw it last night and I could see that the first installment is way better, the music sucks and the only thing I see as good on this was the credits!

[Flanger-Hanger]

Everyone who is worrying about Caspian's weekend gross should remember that today is Victoria Day here in Canada and the theater I went to was full and I'm guessing it's the same across the country.

As for the Movie, I thought it was fun. Certainly something I look forward to getting on DVD.

[TheSequelOfDisney]

According to BoxOfficeMojo.com:

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2497&p=.htm

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian captured a sizable estimated $56.6 million on approximately 8,400 screens at 3,929 theaters to top the weekend, but the reportedly $200 million sequel heralded a theatrical lull for the franchise based on C.S. Lewis' series of religious fantasy novels.

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I personally liked it a lot and I might even go see it again (which rarely ever happens in my family).

[Jules]

A lot of you are bashing the film, but it seems it has so far received mostly positive critical reviews. Check out Rotten Tomatoes.

[jediliz]

It got #1 this past weekend, but now has to compete with Indiana Boring this coming weekend.

[PeterPanfan]

It got #1 this past weekend, but now has to compete with Indiana Boring this coming weekend.

Are you calling Indiana Jones boring?!?!

Woooooooooooooooooooowwwwwww.......

[Isidour]

It got #1 this past weekend, but now has to compete with Indiana Boring this coming weekend.

Are you calling Indiana Jones boring?!?!

Woooooooooooooooooooowwwwwww.......

What, didn't you heard about the Cannes affair?

It seems that all the joy and expectation before the movie was played...well...let's say it in the Harry Potter slang "Blimey, it seem that Dementors were on the loose"

[DarthPrime]

It got #1 this past weekend, but now has to compete with Indiana Boring this coming weekend.

Are you calling Indiana Jones boring?!?!

Woooooooooooooooooooowwwwwww.......

Indiana will be #1 whether its a good film or not. Its the most exciting film for me this summer, but I'm prepared for disappointment. The spoilers I've read have worried me.

As far as Prince Caspian I'll probably wait until the DVD. I've heard mixed things about it so far.

[jediliz]

Harrison Ford is 65 years old. The last movie ended perfectly - with them riding off into the sunset together. Plus, John Rhys Davies character Sallah is not in this movie. And, the spoiler which is not for sure is very disappointing to me.

I'd rather not see Harrison Ford trying to be 40 again.


I'll probably see Prince Caspian at least two more times.

[gardener14]

I've never read any of the Chronicles of Narnia books, but I enjoyed the first film very much, and I was eagerly awaiting the second.

I just saw Prince Caspian tonight, and I liked it, but I didn't love it. I missed the sense of exploration and wonder I felt from the first film. I wished there had been more time spent in London developing the children's characters and less time spent on the seemingly endless battle scenes. I wish there had been more time spent in the daylight showcasing the beautiful scenery of the first film and less time spent filming at dusk or in dark caves and fortresses. I enjoyed the sequel, but it felt, as most sequels do, like it was trying to live up to the original without actually capturing the spirit.

I was wanting to feel the charm, but I had to stretch to find it between all the fighting and darkness. The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe reminded me of Alice In Wonderland while Prince Caspian reminded me of Return to Oz. I will buy the dvd and watch it again, and perhaps I'll appreciate it more with repeat viewings. I'm still looking forward to the third installment, however.

Edit: After I wrote this entry, I went in search of some reviews both positive and negative. I found a video review and discussion by Richard Roeper and Michael Phillips that is nearly a perfect reflection of my feelings about Prince Caspian. It can be viewed here:
http://bventertainment.go.com/tv/buenav ... ubsec=5752

[kbehm29]

For those of you who didn't like the movie....what movie were you watching? And, have you read the book? It's really not fair to compare it to The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe. They are two very completely different stories and Disney/Walden did a LOT with the material they had.

This movie took a book that, for me, was at times slow and a minor struggle to get through (I liked Magician's Nephew and TLTW&TW a LOT better), and made it into a masterpiece on screen. The score was for the most part very similar to, if not exactly the same as, the first movie - but was used very appropriately at the right times. There were definitely magical parts, but this movie is much darker and more grown up. If you haven't seen the first movie or read the books it will be hard to relate and really engage in this movie. It has gotten great reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, and in my local paper. I was thrilled with the movie - it was everything I had expected. Fortunately for me, one of my kids couldn't go with us last night so I will be taking her this weekend - I get to see it again!

[Siren]

I just got home from seeing it.

First, my complaints:
Peter was being a total d***. Last we saw of him, he was a High King. A great ruler. A fair minded man. A loving brother. Apparently being kicked out of Narnia and living back in England made him sour. In the end, he became a man...again. But it was a little repetitive. The last movie was him growing from boy to man, this was kinda that again. Though the movie didn't focus on him as much as the last one did. And judging from his attitude from the beginning, it was a good thing. Caspian was a bit of a dolt too, but his reason, being raised on lies, at least gave him an excuse.
Not really a complaint, but just an observation. Aslan...where's Aslan...we need Aslan...believe in Aslan...Aslan finally arrives, does a few roars, attacks one soldier, and then gets a huge part in the ticker tape parade like he was the biggest hero there. Caspian, Peter, Edmund, and Susan, among the Narnians deserved to be well ahead of Aslan in the parade.

Random thoughts:
Other than those two points, I really did enjoy this movie. Aslan looked so gorgeous. And the other creatures looked so real. Seeing many of the former enemies fighting together was awesome. I felt bad for that Minotaur. And the female centaur The young male centaur was adorable! Loved the part where the one next to him raised his arms higher. Nice to see the White Witch make a cameo. Ben Barnes is a fantastic actor as well. And Lucy got some well needed attention. The battle scenes were worth the extra wait. Loved the underground tactic at Aslan's How. And the music was gorgeous. I bought the soundtrack last week. I felt bad for Lord Sopespian's horse. The horse didn't deserve to same punishment as him. Yes, I think of stuff like that when I see a movie. It seems in that time span that the children were gone, Trumpkin was right, Narnia did get more savage. The creatures from the first movie looked so clean, well dressed/groomed, more muscular. It was a great thing that the artistic department had many of the creatures look so different from the last movie. Their hair was often matted, some in dreds. Their weapons and armor were not so crisp and clean. Even their own bodies, marked with scars and not as well built.