I found this movie jam packed with spiritual aspects. Most represented the Messiah...and many of them were very subtle.
The movie was the typical good vs evil film that we see all throughout the history of American cinema. Replete with the "Christlike" character of Aslan the lion.
It was realistic in its depiction of evil represented by the white witch. Evil allures with seduction of "goodness," power, and magick. The white witch, for instance, entices Edmund with sweets and drink and beauty and kindness. But behind those cold eyes and mouth that speaks out the side, there is a glimmer of hatred and death. She is sweet to him one moment, the next she slaps the boy across the face. This to me is how evil is. Eve was tempted by the serpent with the fruit of the tree of knowledge where she was told by the serpent representing Satan: "You shall not certainly die...For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be like God, knowing good and evil." Thus, the fall of man begun by the temptation of something appearing "good."
You see this all throughout cinematic history. In the Matrix during the training simulation...Neo is enticed by the woman in the red dress. The next second a sentient agent has a gun at Neo's head. Evil is like this, we are lured by something that distracts us, then the death of sin gives a whallop to the head or heart.
I found it interesting that the children were called "sons of Adam" and "daughters of Eve."
I could have done without the Santa Claus character myself, but oh well. He did give gifts representing the weapons of our warfare as followers of Messiah found in Ephesians 6. The one of most acclaim is the sword given to the young man Peter...representing the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, given to war against evil.
I found the war scenes more credible in their depiction of the unseen spiritual war going around us at all times. More credible than any I have seen depicted in American cinematic history on this subject. There is so much more to what we see with the visible eye...in fact much more than anyone can imagine. There is a war for every soul and spirit on this planet. "For the weapons we fight with are not fleshly (with guns, knives and bombs) but mighty in Elohim for over- throwing strongholds."
And we see that when Aslan comes into the fight...all evil is vanquished. When warring in the Spirit, when I am "attacked" by the enemy...most times I will pray or say outloud, "Yahshua/Jesus help me, Satan is at the door, will you please get the door and make him flee." When warring in the Spirit, binding demons and loosing angels is always done in the name of Yahshua/Jesus.
It was also interesting to me regarding the hold that the white witch had on Edmund. Edmund fell into the temptation of the white witch yet was forgiven by Aslan. Yet the witch came for Edmund again stating by the rules of spiritual warfare (magick) Edmund "belonged" to her. Aslan yells something very interesting "I was there when it was written!"
And the children only wanted their brother back...and when the white witch relinquished her spiritual hold on Edmund...Aslan frowned even though Lucy was ecstatic. Somehow, I knew right away in the context of the movie what this meant scripturally...Aslan would have to sacrifice His life. And sure enough, in the next two scenes, Aslan goes into the forest with the two girls...then says, "Where I am going, I must go alone." And there he is sacrificed on the stone altar by the white witch.
I find it interesting that it is the two girls who are with Aslan before and after he is killed, then resurrected. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene first, before any of the apostles. Many preachers today overlook that...but I find Jesus particularly fond of women and sympathetic to our plight in patriarchal societies....He appears to women first! A woman recognized Him way before any men would even believe in His resurrection.
Then Aslan is resurrected, fights in the last battle and evil is vanquished.
The scene with the children on the throne toward the end depicts the future of those who are in Messiah. The Scriptures speak of those in Messiah as being joint heirs, co-regents, ruling and reigning with Messiah for an eternity. I believe that is what is being depicted in this story. And the Peter character I think alludes to the apostle Peter. A little Roman Catholic theology thrown in for good measure.
The scene with the children riding through through the forest on horseback with their crowns atop their heads was symbolic to me as well. Symbolic more in a heart way than a head way...so it is difficult to describe in language.
One thing I will say about the setting while the evil witch was in power. Most people think of satan and flames and fire and quenching heat. Not so in this movie...
Like Dante's Inferno where satan is frozen at the bottom of the earth (hell) chained to the ice...evil is depicted as cold. That's how I see evil...cold, heartless, and binding though freezing of one's heart. Whenever I feel evil, I feel cold, not heat.
I think flames, fire and unquenchable heat will be God's punishment for the devil and his demons because it is the opposite of satan's nature.
One day this world will thaw out and become anew...come quickly Messiah Yahshua!
About the winter. I like how the witch is associated with something that chills your heart. The mere mention of Alsan, and the children feel warmth and hope in their hearts. God fills you.
How wonderful it is that this movie was made. A whole new generation will read the book, and hopefully it will open a door to Christianity to them.
Funny thing about films that you bring up Fuscia...that perhaps folks can know the transforming love of Jesus/Yahshua through the film. It's my prayer too that this will be the result.
I've seen This man speak several times and have all his CD's. Anyway, he said something interesting once. He said that God gives signs and wonders these days in a way he didn't in the past. Yes there are still those signs and wonders of earthquakes and wars and rumours of wars and such...but in the old days, he used to give alot of signs in the heavens...like stars and meteors to catch people's attention.
And today He uses media such as film. Because for us today, if we were to see a sign in the heavens...a meteor or star shower, we would take a look at it and say, gee, that's neat and then drive to the mall and forget about it. But the impact of stories told through film affect us in ways emotional and spiritual and stay with us a long time. And yes these movies are "man made" but I do believe men like C.S. Lewis were inspired by the very truth of the good news. And how wonderful it is to be made into a movie. I wonder if C.S. Lewis ever invisioned such a thing happening?
I must say i'm impressed that they kept all the symbolism in the movie. Kudos for that. then again, you can't really make Narnia without the symbolism i don't suppose.
Love is a very powerful force, especially when its formed into a coherent beam of death.
A friend told me that C.S. Lewis was saved after studying Darwin's theory of evolution in order to debunk the Creation. It "backfired" so to speak because these studies convinced him that the world was created by a Creator...and that Jesus is the Messiah.
According to my friend, he was fairly old at the time of his belief and subsequently he began to write these stories depicting the truth of Messiah.
12-10-2005 06:36 PM
