"The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" is a novel written by C.S. Lewis and is part of his acclaimed Chronicles of Narnia series. The book was first published in 1950 and has since become a beloved classic in children's literature. The story revolves around four siblings - Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy - who are sent to live with a professor in the countryside during World War II. While exploring their new home, Lucy stumbles upon a mysterious wardrobe that serves as a portal to the magical world of Narnia.
3 star beginning. I actually put it down and left it for a month or so. Picked it up to finish because it was light and quick to read after that massive book about Victorian London.
Once I started again I ploughed through it, finishing with a slightly confusing but 5 star ending. Marcus is definitely my favourite (is it because I'm basically a grumpy hermit?)
this one was sad, really sad. I even thought about getting teary at one point. I wanted both a sad ending and a happy ending. I felt like what happened to the ones trapped in the mist at the end could have been shown. I felt so bad for the little boy crying, he broke my heart.
My criticisms of this series still stand (although they seem to have moved on to pizza instead of sugar. Now they're getting their cholesterol levels up as well as their blood sugar!). I still think they could do with a real, current tragedy rather than a past, prospective but avoided or implied one. There's just too many rainbows and butterflies for real life here, even for witches. It takes away from their everyday human element.
I also find the whole Realm/real world transitions confusing. Half the time I can't work out where they are. Or who they are. It's not good to be in a light series, only up to the 4th book and staring at a name thinking "who the hell is this person?". I think the author has created too many characters and forgotten who half of them are, what they look like what their powers are and then sort of discards them until they're convenient. Like since when did Aervyn look like Evan? Wouldn't someone at some point have noticed that before? And since when was Nell a mind witch? And where was Elorie for the first 3/4 of the novel, until she miraculously appears when convenient?
When she recognised who Lamia truly was after glimpsing under her mask, she immediately shrank to her knees, surrendered and begged for mercy, as she was forced to acknowledge the undeniable fact that Lamia was stronger. Using the concepts of exchange and reciprocity, Buenconsejo connects the performativity of ritual song to the formation and maintenance of sociability, personhood and subjectivity.
While exploring their new home, Lucy stumbles upon a mysterious wardrobe that serves as a portal to the magical world of Narnia. In Narnia, the children find themselves in a land perpetually trapped in the grip of a harsh winter, ruled by the White Witch. They soon discover that they are destined to fulfill an ancient prophecy and become the saviors of Narnia.
Ditchwater Sal
Ditchwater Sal is a major antagonist in the 2007 film Stardust. She was a Nomadic witch as well as an accomplished con-artist known to most information networking beings of Stormhold. She has a secretive dark past under a coven-like order of witches which Lamia also comes from and her true powers of sorcery are kept well hidden.
She kidnapped and enslaved the Princess Una to do her every bidding through an enchanted chain that could only be irrevocably broken when she (Ditchwater Sal) was well and truly dead. If not, the chain would automatically repair itself when broken. She was shown to have a habit of transforming innocent people into animals, as seen with Una (whom she transforms into a blue bird when her services were not required) and Tristan Thorn.
Ditchwater Sal was also shown to have some skill in prying information out of her targets through herb magic, as seen when she tricked Lamia into telling her about her search for Yvaine by spiking her food with Limbus Grass (a magical plant that will compel - for a time - whoever eats it to answer truthfully to any question asked).
However, despite her manipulative nature and potent dark magic, Ditchwater Sal was still a tactical realist. When she recognised who Lamia truly was after glimpsing under her mask, she immediately shrank to her knees, surrendered and begged for mercy, as she was forced to acknowledge the undeniable fact that Lamia was stronger. It is perhaps this timely deference that saved her from being instantly killed by Lamia during their first encounter, for the superior witch only placed a spell on her as a punishment of sorts: she would be unable to see, hear, touch, or smell the star that she had been told of even if it stood before her.
Unfortunately for Ditchwater Sal, Lamia was not in a merciful mood during their second encounter. Though she tried to fight back with her own magic, Lamia's magic and sheer conviction still overpowered hers. Lamia embarrassed and killed her by vanishing her head from her body.
Powers and Abilities: [ ]
Though she was seemingly the least evil and threatening of the four witches shown in the film, Ditchwater Sal was nevertheless a dangerous and temperamental witch with a proclivity for deception.
Examples of powers she displayed were:
- Knowledge of Herblore: Ditchwater Sal was shown to possess an extensive knowledge of basic drugs, poisons, herbs, and botany. She knew how to utilise the Limbus Grass to her advantage, and also possessed a large collection of magical flowers, including the protective Snowdrop.
- Transfiguration: Ditchwater Sal was pefectly capable of transforming people into animals.
- Psychokinesis: Ditchwater Sal was able to influence objects with her mind, as seen when she blast away the door to her wagon, after Princess Una locked her inside while she sleeped.
- Shielding: Ditchwater Sal was able to temporarily fend off Lamia's magic by projecting waves of her own magic to act as a deflective shield. Her magical discharges were shown to be a dark, smoky grey energy.
With the help of Aslan, the great lion and true ruler of Narnia, the children embark on a perilous journey to defeat the White Witch and bring peace and joy back to the land. Throughout the story, Lewis weaves in timeless themes of friendship, bravery, sacrifice, and the struggle of good versus evil. The characters are well-developed, and the reader becomes emotionally invested in their journey and growth. "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" not only captivates young readers with its magical and adventurous storytelling, but it also invites readers to reflect on deeper philosophical and moral questions. Lewis uses the fantastical elements of Narnia to explore themes such as faith, redemption, and the power of forgiveness. The book's enduring popularity can be attributed to its universal appeal. It has been recognized as a masterpiece of children's literature and has been adapted into various forms, including stage plays, television series, and a successful film franchise. Overall, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" is a captivating and enchanting tale that continues to captivate readers of all ages with its rich storytelling, memorable characters, and timeless themes. It remains a beloved classic in children's literature and a testament to C.S. Lewis's talent as a writer..
Reviews for "The timeless appeal of the BBC's 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"
1. John - 2 stars
I found the BBC adaptation of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" to be disappointing. The acting felt forced and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Additionally, the special effects were subpar and failed to create a believable fantasy world. The pacing of the story was also off, with certain scenes feeling rushed and others dragging on. Overall, it failed to capture the magic and wonder of the original book, and I would not recommend it.
2. Emily - 3 stars
While I appreciate the effort put into the BBC adaptation of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," I found it to be lacking in many aspects. The costumes and set designs felt dated and failed to transport me into the fantasy world created by C.S. Lewis. The performances were mediocre at best, and the chemistry between the actors was lacking. Additionally, some important plot points were rushed over, leaving me feeling confused and disconnected from the story. Overall, while it may be enjoyable for those who are already familiar with the book, I don't believe it stands on its own as a quality adaptation.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
I was highly disappointed with the BBC version of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." The acting was wooden and lacked emotion, making it difficult to become invested in the characters or the story. The special effects were underwhelming, and the fantasy elements of the book didn't translate well onto the screen. I also found the pacing to be off, with some scenes feeling rushed and others dragging on unnecessarily. Overall, I didn't feel like this adaptation did justice to C.S. Lewis' beloved story, and I would recommend seeking out other versions instead.