Reviews

I came late to this new "Doctor Who" series, missing most of the first season. The first thing I was aware of was that it was respectful of the classic series - seeing an old friend like Sarah Jane at the start of the second session for example. The second thing I noticed was the companion Rose was not just there for the Doctor to rescue, she was a strong force in her own right, so gone was the paternalistic sexism of the classic series. The third was the bittersweetness of many of the episodes that I don't remember being there in the classic series. Most of the bittersweet comes from the mixed emotions of the Doctor himself. He is a being, the last of his kind whose loneliness and not yet revealed reasons why he survived mix with his joy of the infinite variety in the universe and his fascination with the still full of potential humans. I don't know where the Doctor's journeys will take him or how his personal past will affect his future, but I'll be there along side him hoping he finds what his looking for.

This much anticipated telling of "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" is a visual feast. Everyone of the beloved characters are there: Aslan, the children, Father Christmas and of course Mr. Tummus.

The audience at the 12:01 showing were completely enraptured in the breath taking scenery and action - again New Zealand shines! Unlike previous live action versions the creatures are photo-realistic,not cartoons or "stuffed" animals. The special effects houses that worked on this including WETA and ILM out did themselves. This is the world I imagined it when I read the book.

The scene at the Stone Table is moving, you weep with the girls over Aslan and the battle scene is spectacular, you really fear for Peter and Edmund as they go one-on-one with the White Witch.

There are a few changes in the plot, as with any movie. The telling of a tale in a book is much different than telling a tale in a movie. The changes are minor and add to the story and distract little from the plot for those familiar with the story.

Highly recommended for everyone!

The RED BALLOON was introduced to me in elementary school when I was in the third grade. I have vivid memories of the mother putting the balloon out of the window and it stayed near-by, of the boys breaking the balloon and of the "rescue" of the boy by the balloons of Paris. Even after 35 years I remember it with fondness.

I work for a school district and was excited to find a VHS copy of the film at the media center. I immediately checked it out to share with my students. Watching it again after all these years was like going back in time it filled my with awe and wonder. With the added bonus of seeing these third graders respond to it the same way I did all those years ago.

I would recommend this film to elementary classroom teachers as a stepping-off to teach story-telling and to mid-school and high-school teachers teaching film. It is a wonderful classic that shows that the simplest story can have great impact when told with care and love.