Final Cut in Movies: Narnia-The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

The Final Cut in Movies is an internet radio talk show that puts science fiction and fantasy center stage. The show airs on AdAstraRadio.com from 2:00am to 3:00am and 2:00pm to 3:00om. If you can't be next to your computer at those times, download the show here!

On this week’s show, I'll be discussing The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the characteristics of evil, the importance of second chances, and other science fiction & fantasy news.

Segment A: Narnia

Storyline discussion

Positives

• Well-developed characters (Peter, Lucy, Susan, Professor Diggory)
• The way they portrayed details from the book
• Great Scenery
• Liam Neeson’s voice.

Segment B: The Final Cut News

Box Office Report:

• 3, $11.23 million: The Forbidden Kingdom.
• #5, $4.525 million: Nim's Island.
• #8, $2.41 million: Horton Hears a Who.
• Who wants to bet that Iron Man will be number 1 next week?

News:

• Return to Witch Mountain announces new cast members. Tom Everett Scott, Chris Marquette, Billy Brown and Cheech Marin have joined the production as well as the original child stars from the 70's version, Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann.
• Lego Launches Raiders of the Lost Brick animated cartoon.
• Speed Racer will release a 20 minute "mockumentary" about the fictional Racer family--available at Target stores prior to the movie's opening. The mockumentary will be lengthened for the DVD.
• Jonah Hill (Superbad, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) is in negotiations for DreamWorks' and Paramount's Transformers 2. He will co-star opposite Shia Pet's Sam Witwicky as the "plucky comic relief." (And Galaxy Quest fans out there?
• The Mummy:Tomb of the Dragon Emperor has website updates! Catch their official website at themummy.com, and check out their production blog.
• David Silverman (The Simpsons Movie) has signed with Disney to direct The Pet, a live-action science-fiction comedy about an everyday guy who becomes the pet of a group of aliens.
• Cloverfield is #1 in both DVD sales and rentals this week.
• Director Guillermo del Toro has said that he asked Sir Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis to reprise their roles in The Hobbit, and he indicates they're in. McKellen has confirmed. (For those of you in Abercrombie Land, McKellen played Gandalf and Serkis played Gollum/Smeagol.
• G.I. Joe fans! Click here to check out the interview with Lorenzo di Bonaventura, the producer of G.I. Joe, here.
• Check out news daily on www.finalcutinmovies.com.

Segment C: Theme of 2^nd Chances

First, The Negatives

• Didn’t like Maugrim’s voice
• Changed the line: “Battles are ugly affairs when women fight in them,â€? to “Battles are ugly affairs.â€?
• “Send the dwarves in first and hold the Giants in reserveâ€?—not best war strategy

2^nd Chances

• Mr. Tumnus—stopped and did the right thing.
• Edmund—once rescued, joined the good side highly motivated.
• No matter how far you’ve gone, it’s never too late to turn back and fix it. Make it right.

Segment D: Characteristics of Evil

• Evil divides
• Evil kills or hurts the innocent—purposefully.
• Evil misunderstands/underestimates good & mercy.
• Evil makes it “Always Winter, never Christmasâ€?
• Evil uses force/fear to keep people in line.
• Evil takes advantage of people’s weaknesses.
• Evil doesn’t give 2^nd chances
• Reason and negotiations don’t work on evil. (i.e. Hitler)

So how does evil trick us?

• Offers something in return for loyalty
• Often appears beautiful
• Uses fear tactics

Evil must be fought! Will you stand when you must?

Segment E: Wrap & Box office Predictions

Upcoming Movies: Iron Man, Action, Drama, Fantasy.

Box office Predictions

1. Iron Man
2. Made of Honor
3. The Forbidden Kingdom
4. Baby Mama
5. 21
6. Forgetting Sarah Marshal
7. Prom Night
8. 88 Minutes
9. Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (I suspect whoever really wanted to see this already saw it.)
10. Son of Rambow
11. Nim's Island
12. Horton Hears a Who

Remember you can view all upcoming science fiction & fantasy movies at www.finalcutinmovies.com on the Upcoming Movies page.

M. B. Weston is the host of The Final Cut in Movies, an internet radio talk show about science fiction and fantasy films on Ad Astra Radio, which can also be heard as a podcast at M. B. Weston's Podcast site. She is also the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit her website, www.mbweston.com, and her personal blog, www.mbwestonblog.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.