Narnia - Or Shall I Say Home?

So I've seen news that Greta Gerwig is producing The Chronicles of Narnia and I was excited at first but then I read mixed reviews and her own words as to how she sees it and it sort of bummed me because it sounded nothing like the Narnia I grew up watching and fantasizing about escaping to, one day. 

C.S. Lewis's books are what these movies would be based on but what I remember is the dedication I read on its very first page. I'll admit I saw the movie before I ever read the books. The first movie in a three-film contract was 'The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe' which is the second book in the book series. The first is 'The Magician's Nephew'. I understood the movie much better after reading the first book but the movies had me in a chokehold. 

Can say, I grew up with Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter and had the privilege to come across Caspian and Eustace. Not a single weak character. The portrayal, the cinematography, the script, and Aslan! How can I forget Aslan. Aslan was the center of the books and was the one who held your hand and took you through the story chapter by chapter. He was the one you'd wait for to appear in the movies, the guiding light. He was a Lion, hence the title of the movie. 

The world on the other side of the wardrobe was discovered by Lucy, named after C.S. Lewis's goddaughter as he wrote in the dedication. To create a whole world for someone that they can live in and inspire the childhood of generations of children is not a small deed. I'm so grateful for everyone who took part in the making of those movies as well. They made it happen.

Narnia was my world. Yes Harry Potter is amazing and its the best ever fantasy world one could wish for but I would always and forever be a Narnia girl before I ever am a Potterhead. Narnia was what made me believe that you could have greater things in life if you don't let the strength in your heart die. Through Peter, I learnt my resilience and all my elder sister intuition, for he was ready to face death on the battlefield to save his little brother. From Susan, I learnt grace, to accept a life you never prepared for or never wished for with as much elegance as you would the life you planned for yourself. Edmund showed me its okay to make mistakes but not okay to pursue the path to darkness because temporary gains would never satisfy the soul and once you're through the tunnel and out in the light, you'll be much stronger and better off. 

Most importantly, from Lucy, I learnt to never stop being curious and trusting your instinct. Life's bleak if you give up on hope and magic and love. And all of it, you must find within yourself, for these are the roots of bravery, wisdom and a better world. Whichever world you use them for haha! 

In the next movie, named after the most beloved Prince of all time if I may say so, Prince Caspian. Ben Barnes, the actor who played this role recently got married and I've seen so many posts of women saying their teenage crush is finally off the charts and its funny to me because though I admired Caspian as a kid, my crush had always been Skandar (Edmund) ever since I saw the second movie. He was more realistic amongst the four Pevensie siblings but more than that, he was far too handsome to be ignored. I guess I had a type back then and it was ' annoyingly handsome rebels'. This movie, specifically Caspian's character taught me how sometimes the people we love and the elders of our family, may be wrong in their beliefs and principles and as much as we should try to convince them to change their opinions in the favor of what's morally correct, we should also have the courage to stand up to them and against them when they do not. Your soul knows what's right, trust it. Never let anyone influence your morals or make you do what your soul feels is morally incorrect. 

The third movie in the series, 'The Chronicles of Narnia - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader' - named after the fifth book - is the last time I ever saw my beloved characters Lucy & Edmund again and I think I would never see them again because in the sixth book, the story is taken forward by Eustace, their cousin who is introduced in this film. Eustace was at first a very unlikable character who you gradually learn to like when you realize that he is the way he is because he is genuine. He's practical because life is never going to become what we want it to be and he gets it. He lacks the optimism Lucy has and the belief Edmund has grown to develop. 

Narnia will always be open for those who need it, rather than those who simply seek it. And when Narnia needs someone, it'll bring them in. That's what Aslan always tells and that's also what I, as a teenager, kept wishing would happen to me. That I would one day disappear into a wardrobe and become the Queen of a land so beautiful. I cannot explain the entirety of Narnia in a blog so I would suggest you watch the three films yourself. And hey, keep an open heart and mind, become the kid you deep down are while you watch it. Be curious and you'll be in awe. 

God, I miss that world like I was just there a few minutes ago despite not having seen the movies in years now! Okay then time to rewatch!