i watched the Narnia movie today. possibly the best movie i have caught in the cinema all year ... okay, maybe not the best by my typical standards but this movie really made me reach deep within myself about my faith, which isn't something i've done a lot this year.

technically, i thought the casting was superb as well as the acting. the acting was fantastic among all the leads, but in particular the girl playing Lucy impressed me very much. at first sight i was wondering how she would handle the role since it was such a heavy role for such a young girl but as the movie progressed i was really taken with her performance. good stuff! she > dakota fanning (whom i have never watched and don't care much to watch).

but on to the personal bit. i haven't actually watched Narnia or read it since i was a child and watched the cartoon all the time with my brothers (it was my favourite). Narnia will really have a special place in our childhoods - because of Narnia we all grew up thinking Turkish Delight was probably the best thing on earth until i finally got to try it and didn't like it. there's something about this story that really brings back childhood memories, and i think we could all relate to it. anyhow, being a child, i never fully understood the significance of it. from talking to people and from growing up i eventually came to find out that the story has Christian undertones (brother is reading CS Lewis' other nonfictional works and talks about them a lot) but it was not until i rewatched the story today that i really understood the significance of the work.

i think anyone who watches this movie without understanding the real significance of the message is just wasting their time, because that's what Narnia is REALLY about - The Sacrifice and God's inevitable kingdom. they are really wasting their time. because if you strip away all the great acting and the marvelous costumes and general amazing epic fantasy feel of the movie and you don't understand and relate to the REAL message, then it is just an exciting but hollow piece of junk you're watching. i don't cry while watching movies in cinemas. i've never felt comfortable crying when i'm crowded by people (strangers or non strangers) yet i cried at this movie so very much today. when Aslan was giving his life in return for Edmund's ... that whole stretch of scene really brought out something in me that i have not realized or felt this whole year. i have gone through this whole year so pathetically. sure, i pray at night and i go to church on sunday but i really had forgotten the real meaning of what it is Christ did for us. it is really a powerful thing to REALIZE that the sinless Christ suffered humiliation and died willingly for us sinners, and i couldn't help but cry. you just cannot help but cry and feel so touched when you REALLY understand and think about the IMPACT of Christ's actions. i think we take it for granted so many times, forgetting to reflect on it from time to time. a completely unconditional love that we totally do not deserve. and yet He doesn't say that to us, He doesn't hold our sins against us. He just forgives. it made me feel so rotten at the way i've behaved sometimes and the way i am. really really really my God is Great. no words can describe it, i am trying hard but failing to express how it is that i REALLY felt.

all the same, i was rather irked by the audience. i am not going to watch popular movies at cineleisure anymore if i can help it. it has nice seats, but the audience there is largely juvenile and ignorant (i have noticed this, in comparison to lido). i'm sorry if i sound like a snob (that's not my intention), but it really ANNOYS me when the audience laughs at something that is CLEARLY not funny and does not grasp the true significance of the film. this was a great film with a great message, not some popcorn flick.

God knows me, He knows all His children well, and i think He has a good sense of humour to communicate with me through film, since He knows i watch a heck lot of film. Thank you God, i'm glad i listened to You today when You were talking.

+ posted by M @ 12:46 AM