Thursday night I took my family to see The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. I had heard lots about this movie, so I really wasn't expecting too much...and maybe that was good. When you are really looking forward to seeing a movie, it can rarely live up to the hype...but when you go in not expecting too much...that's usually when you come out very pleased.
I LOVED this movie...and so did my family!
The most memorable thing about the movie for me was...when you FIRST see Aslan. My son, Christian (5), has always had a "thing" for Lions. In fact, on his first birthday, he got a Lion from my sister, and has slept with that Lion every night since. Recently, we were at Books A Million (my favorite store in the UNIVERSE), and my son saw a "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" display...and of course, they were selling stuffed Lions (Aslan). We bought him one and he now sleeps with TWO Lions.
Well, he took Aslan with him to the movies...and when Aslan first appeared on the big screen...I looked down the row to see his reaction...and he had HUGE tears in his eyes. He was mesmerized the whole movie. After the movie was over, we reviewed it on the way home in the car...and my kids got the "Jesus connection" instantly. I don't know that I've ever seen a better presentation of the death of Christ than the one portrayed in the movie when Aslan lays down his life on the stone altar.
I do wish they had gotten James Earl Jones to do Aslan's voice, but that would've eternally confused kids since he has already done Mufassa! All in all...this movie was phenomenal. To me, it was perhaps the best children/family movie I've ever seen. If you haven't seen the movie...GO NOW...and if you haven't read the books (like me) - then see the movie FIRST, and then go read the books.