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Comparing LOTR to Narnia

posted 9 years ago by kelchic83
7 replies | jump to latest

Looking at both the books and movies, LOTR has such a loyal fan base. There are people who re-read the books many times, and movie fans who can re-watch them over and over again (myself being one of them!) Both have been thought of as masterpieces of their art form.

Then I think about the Chronicles of Narnia. The couple of movies they made in more recent times were only decently received I think. Despite the epic fantasy feel, I just wasn't moved by the books or movies as I was by LOTR or even Harry Potter. The production company even gave up steam after three movies and aren't making the entire series as far as I can tell, and no one seems to be asking for them to be made either.

What do you guys think are the key differences between LOTR and Narnia that makes one a beloved series with a huge fan base and high level of re-visiting, and the other a mediocre series with not as much affection that grows dusty on our shelves?

[–] ZakkWyldeMyLittlePony 9 years ago

Very true. CS Lewis and Tolkien were friends after all.

Iron Maiden is bigger than Jesus.

[–] PKLarkins 9 years ago

I don't think either is a mediocre series. The fans of Narnia and the fans of LOTR are both exceedingly loyal, and in many cases are the same people.

There is one important difference: The Narnia books were written for children. LOTR was written for adults.

Earth without art is just "eh."

[–] puirt-a-beul 9 years ago

For me, Middle Earth is much more rooted in the kind of mythology I relate to and feel nourished by. I have only read two of the Narnia books, and seen one of the films, but they struck me as very heavy-handed allegory, even stodgy, so they weren't to my liking at all.

Plus, and maybe for me this is crucial, Tolkien's books let us go to Middle Earth. Lewis' books let us read about someone else going to Narnia. Maybe Lewis meant us to feel we could somehow go there too, but for me it doesn't achieve that; oddly, Tolkien's stuff feels more immediate and enveloping.

You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

[–] indy_go_blue44 9 years ago

I never made it all the way through the Narnia series, I think it was "A Horse and His Boy" that quietly gave me my fill of Narnia.

As far as the movies go, I liked #1 but I hated the childishness of Caspian and his jealousy of Peter in film 2... that wasn't in the book.

BBC did a marvelous series on Narnia a couple of decades ago that (IMO) was much more well done than the recent movies. There was an animated version another decade back that was also well received.

[–] Daenerys-Stormborn 9 years ago

I love both, but Narnia will still remain as my favorite childhood movie.

тrυe coυrage ιѕ noт aвoυт ĸnowιng wнen тo тaĸe a lιғe, вυт wнen тo ѕpare one.

[–] CTS-1 9 years ago

Lewis was much more heavy-handed in his use of allegory.

Look- it's trying to think!

[–] dalbrech 9 years ago

Tolkien, despite Lewis being his closest friend,agreed with CTS-1 that the allegory in Narnia was way too heavy handed.

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