(from October 4, 2020 and some additional notes from today)
I was supposed to watch this in 2007 when it came out but my mom changed her mind at the theatre because she said ‘it’ll be all about war’ and we watched Kung Fu Panda instead.
Growing up, when I finally saw this, I didn’t like it. Maybe because Caspian was older than in the books, and (I suspect this to be the greater reason) I didn’t like the romance between him and Susan because I was jealous. I admit, Caspian played by Ben Barnes was really handsome HAHA but maybe it was because of his character flaws and my jealousy that I didn’t wholly like him.
Today my brother and I just finished watching it (first time for him) and I was watching it fully with a more mature comprehension for the first time. We are watching the Narnia movies as we finish reading each book (I read aloud to him), and we were able to recall events in the book as they happened (or were adapted) on the screen.
Main thoughts: it ended with an overpowering sense of longing. Of course, it’s really sad because the Pevensie children left Narnia and the two oldest ones will not return ever, and they were sad about it. The Regina Spektor song, of course, reminds me of my own Narnia: Nepal, which I left four years ago. I haven’t returned since and I always long to go back. (The movie played on the TV around 2013 and 2014, and we had a guest from Hong Kong staying with us. She told me to listen to ‘The Call’ by Regina Spektor because it was a really good song. I then fell in love with it like how I fell in love with Narnia, and now I associate it with the forests of Gokarna and Godawari near Kathmandu.)
It also reminds me of Lewis’ own experience with longing, as I’ve been listening to an audiobook of his autobiography, Surprised By Joy, and here’s a quote from what he said about it: “The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing… to find the place where all the beauty came from.” He says it more eloquently in other places, but you can also check out this video that talks about “the secret thread”:
On the Caspian-Susan love story: it’s funny what Lucy and Edmund said about them because me as someone who’s older understands it now.
(The quotes in question:
- [watching Susan kiss Caspian goodbye]
- Lucy Pevensie: I’m sure when I’m older, I’ll understand.
- Edmund Pevensie: I’m older and I don’t think I *want* to understand…)
Who wouldn’t do what Susan did HAHAHAHA I was like, ‘Caspian is lucky because Susan rejected a Calormen prince who waged war just to marry her… [people who’ve read The Horse and His Boy will know].’ And that sorry chap, the geeky boy 🤣 it’s so cute haha.
I sorta feel bad that I already had a bias against Susan growing up because I knew her fate in the following Narnia books. I tried to understand her as an older, practical older sister, as I am one as well. She is like Sara in the Daredevils of Sassoon – her own motivations are completely understandable as someone who has responsibility and watches over younger ones with good reason. But Lewis’ theme of having faith is more important sometimes – it requires wisdom to obey; complete trust in a higher power who knows and will do what is best for his beloved followers.
I also cried again during the failed castle attack. It always gets me – that minotaur being shot down… the people being trapped inside…
The new thing this time was imagining what it was like to be in High King Peter’s shoes as he looked back on his people before crossing the bridge. If I were him, I would feel like an immense failure as a king, as a leader, and the first chance I have at being alone, I would weep. It would feel painful to watch my people behind me, immense guilt as I stand in safety, having escaped, while they helplessly look at me from inside the gate, and still show their nobleness and loyalty to me by telling me to run and save myself. I cannot help them anymore. What can I do? I’ve failed as a leader. My people are being butchered behind me while I cannot help them.
It just shows Peter’s bad character when he quarrels with Caspian and blames him for their failure. But ah, well, they’re human.