The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

[Ioz]

I enjoyed this movie a lot. It kind of reminded me of a PG Braveheart. It was a little darker than the first one. I haven't read the book, so I'm not sure how faithful it was. A lot of movies would love to have Prince Caspian's opening weekend numbers, but I have a feeling Disney was a bit disappointed (it made 25 million less than some projected). Yesterday's box office estimates don't look that good and Iron Man is right on its tail (of course, Indiana Jones is No. 1). Hopefully, Disney will release the Dawn Treader in December like the first one. Right now, it is currently scheduled to open in May 2010 a week after Iron Man 2 comes to theaters and Shrek's 4th movie is around that time as well. It really needs to be moved from that spot. I have a feeling Disney will still film Dawn Treader, but wait and see how that one does before committing to any more Narnia movies. I hope they all get made. I'm real interested to see how they approach the Last Battle.

[Jan<3]

I enjoyed the movie a lot, Narnia has always been a favorite of mine. The first movie is one of my most favorite movies of all time, and now it having a sequel, and another one coming on the way, it gets me rather excited. However, I do have some complaints about 'Prince Caspian'. I thought it lacked the Narnia feel in certain spots, I also felt it was far from the book, where as the first one is almost dead accurate. I didn't like how Aslan had practically no screen time, and thought the death of Miraz was stupid. However, the characters were incredible and the graphics were amazing. The score was incredible like always. My favorite scene was the end when the Pevensie's went through the portal and they were talking about how Susan and Peter could never return. Than "The Call - Regina Spektor" started playing and the lyrics seemed to fit so well in with what was going on in that scene. The romance between Caspian and Susan was predictable, but wasn't in the book, so I didn't really like it. Overall, I loved the movie, but felt it could have stayed a bit more on track with the book.

[Siren]

I never read the book. I found the romance predictable too. But at least it was barely touched on. Consider the fact Caspian seems to have been raised in relative isolation. Other than servant girls, he likely had any time in close proximity with girls. And Susan, she is growing up. Noticing boys. Except the one at the beginning...which I don't get completely. How did that have anything to do with the story, other than make Susan look stuck up and judgmental? Granted the boy was no Caspian, but she was rude. It just seemed out of character.

Back to Caspain though, the romance was so lightly touched on, that it was kinda nice. I seriously doubt they were madly in love. Both seemed sad to part, but they barely had enough time to talk to each other, and certainly no time alone other than a horseback ride back into battle...hardly romantic. So in all, the romance was an okay touch, not necessary, but not really a bad thing to the story. I am sure Susan and Caspian will find love with other people eventually. Their love was more a puppy love.

[Widdi]

The movie had a 61% drop in attendance this week. It still managed to earn a distant second place, but if it's drop in audience continues the movie won't be around the top ten for much longer. Looks like any lingering hopes of Prince Caspian being a sleeper hit are vaporizing.

It has grossed just over 91 million thus far, which normally wouldn't be a disappointment, but if you compare it to the first movie, it is doing poorly.

I blame its poor performance on a bad release date more than anything. Had this movie been released at Christmas it probably would have matched, or surpassed the first film's gross.

[akhenaten]

either that or the bulk that made up the high gross attendance for the first movies realized there's not much to anticipate in the series. seriously many were disappointed with the first movie as well. and i agree winter is the best slot for narnia films.

[Disneykid]

It was definitely bad timing for this film. Even though Prince Caspian is more summery than the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, winter would allow this series to breathe more. As popular as the Narnia series is, it isn't quite the powerhouse other summer franchises are. I was never expecting PC to do as well as LWW since a) LWW is the most popular book in the series, and b) I figured that akhenaten's theory would come into play, where people disappointed in LWW wouldn't bother to see PC in theaters. I will admit that I wasn't expecting it to be this low, however. I estimated that it would make about $250 million domestically, but now it seems it'll be lucky if it can reach the 200 mark.

Disney better not cut corners with Voyage of the Dawn Treader because of this. The problem is that movie's kind of doomed either way. As of right now, it's coming a week after Iron Man 2 and the same day as Shrek Goes Fourth. If they move it to Christmas, it'll have to reckon with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One and The Hobbit: Part One, the same sort of fight that killed Treasure Planet in 2002. VotDT should be released either between June and August or perhaps November 5, giving it time to make money before Harry Potter charges in on November 19.

[Soulbrotha432]

ANOTHER Shrek movie?! I'm sorry everyone, but I LOATHE Shrek. LOL

I really, really liked Prince Caspian. I've always been a big Narnia fan, but to be honest Prince Caspian was one of the least interesting books to me. Maybe that's why I liked the movie so much... my expectations weren't too high going in.

I was disappointed with LWW, and I can't totally put my finger on it... it just didn't feel magical enough to me. I think a lot of it had to do with the score, which I felt was too modern sounding in places, and was often jarring to me when it suddenly went from a classical orchestration to synthesized stuff. I recently realised when watching the dvd that I would enjoy the movie a lot more if I had the option to turn the music off.

Caspian didn't rub me the wrong way at all, besides the fact that Caspian is a lot older than he's supposed to be (if I am remembering correctly). The great thing about Narnia is that the books leave lots of room for film adaptation. They are not near as detailed as Harry Potter,for instance, where the author paints such a clear picture in your head (which I LOVE) that the changes in the movie are incredibly obvious.

I can't wait for Dawn Treader... If they can take my least favorite book, Caspian, and make it a great movie, I bet they can make a decent book like Dawn Treader even better!

I really hope they get to Silver Chair, however, because it's one of my faves![/i]

[Ariel'sprince]

Dawn Treader will be out in 2010? in the summer again? (And when Shrek Goes Fourth will be out?).

[Ugly Pig]

They should move Dawn Treader up to Christmas 2009.

[Simba3]

They should move Dawn Treader up to Christmas 2009.

It would be nice to have an earlier release date for the film, but I doubt it will happen. The post production for these movies usually takes quite a while. I'll be looking forward to seeing this movie in the Summer of 2009, and hopefully Prince Caspian will do well enough that Disney and Walden Media decide to continue on and make movies of all the books.

[Thomas J]

Just saw Caspian and thought it was AMAZING! Edmund and Susan were godly. I'm so inspired to finish the series now, but I have a question. What is your reccommendation for reading the series? In time order (as it's released now) or in the order C.S. Lewis wrote it (the movie order)? I'd love an inside opinion on that as I'm very confused on how I should approach the series. Thanks!

[Soulbrotha432]

I read the series in time order (starting with Magician's Nephew, which I loved!) and found it a very enjoyable way to read the series!

[Disneykid]

Definitely read them in the order C.S. Lewis wrote them in, which is:

1. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
2. Prince Caspian
3. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
4. The Silver Chair
5. The Horse and His Boy
6. The Magician's Nephew
7. The Last Battle

Things unfold better that way than if you read them in chronological order. Books 1 through 4 all follow each other sequentially. Books 5 and 6 are the flashback books (5 taking place during the Pevensies' reign in Narnia at the end of the first one; 6 showing the creation of Narnia) that tie things up before heading into the finale of book 7.

As of right now, the films are following that order, too, which is another reason for reading them that way (though producer Douglas Gresham, the stepson of C.S. Lewis, has said that he'd like to switch 5 and 6. I have absolutely no problem with that since 5 has elements that influence 7. Plus, 6 is a much better book, so the sooner, the better).

[Thomas J]

Okay, thank you! I was planning on reading it in the order in which it was published, but I wasn't sure. The way you explained it (with flashback books and all) really did help out a lot, so thanks again!

I read that his nephew said he wanted them read in chronological order, not as published. But I also read that it didn't matter what order it was read in.

[mickeymousechen]

http://www.reuters.com/article/filmNews ... 0820080529

Walt Disney Co CEO Robert Iger said Wednesday that "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" is underperforming at the box office because of competition from "Iron Man" and "Indiana Jones."
Since its May 16 release, the "Narnia" sequel has earned $99.6 million in North America, according to Box Office Mojo. Its 2005 predecessor, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," had earned $122.7 million in the same period. It went on to make date $291.7 million.

Disney originally had "Caspian" set for last Christmas, but delayed it in deference to "The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep," a fantasy vying for the same audience.

The studio might also have been taking into account the feelings of Walden Media, its production partner on "Narnia" and the production company behind "Water Horse." That film, distributed by Sony, earned just $40 million domestically.

Iger, speaking at the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference in New York, said "Prince Caspian" is a better movie than the first installment but because it was released between a couple of the year's biggest hits, audiences are overlooking it.

"Prince Caspian" was released less than two weeks after "Iron Man" and just six days before "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." Both those pictures are headed into the $300 million area.

Iger lamented the "very delicate, very fragile marketplace" for movies in general, given that "there's just too much out there." As of now, the next movie in the "Narnia" series is set for release May 7, 2010.

[Barbossa]

I think the release date is hurting Caspian too, having it sandwiched between Iron Man and Indy. Should've been a Christmas release like the first one. It was an enjoyable movie though, I liked it.

[steve]

Should've been a Christmas release like the first one.

Yeah, they could have made it a Christmas tradition, like New Line did with The Lord of the Rings.

[Disneykid]

I, too, think a Christmas 2007 release would've been ideal, but Andrew Adamson had said that they pushed it back five months because the effects needed more time. Now people are saying the reason was because Walden didn't want Narnia and The Water Horse in direct competition, so I don't know what to believe. Either way, putting it smack dab in the middle of May was a bad choice. June would've been better had it not been for Wall-E coming out that very month.

Still, the film is far from tanking. As of right now, it's gotten $122 million domestically and looks like it'll finish off with about $180. While that's certainly a fall from the $292 of the first one, it's still better than The Golden Compass' embarrassing $70 million. Let's not forget, too, that the film still hasn't been released in Europe, yet, and the grosses there are sure to be huge.

Disney needs to also understand that not only is The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe hands down the most famous in the series, but that Prince Caspian is one of the least popular. Voyage of the Dawn Treader is easily the second most popular story of the Chronicles, so its gross will no doubt top Caspian's. Despite that, it still needs to be moved from its May 2010 spot because it's coming one week after Iron Man 2. In the discussion thread for Narnia, I had said that releasing Dawn Treader Christmas of 2010 might be a mistake because it'd be squished between Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One and The Hobbit: Part One. Well, it turns out I made the mistake since The Hobbit's not coming till 2011, so Disney needs to nab that Christmas 2010 spot fast. Harry Potter shouldn't give it too much trouble since the two franchises co-existed nicely back in 2005 with Goblet of Fire and LWW (and with three weeks separating them).

[Simba3]

Yeah, I have to agree that the Christmas 2008 time slot would have suited this film better. The summer is filled with too many Blockbusters for everyone to keep up. I hope the movie does well enough both here and on DVD for Disney to continue further with the series. The film so far has done very respectably, just not as well as TLtWatW did.

[mickeymousechen]

Narnia just feels like a year-end movie. Narnia is so cool, not hot.