Book vs. Movie Review: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

Hello!
Welcome to the first day of my Blog Costume Party! Today I will be reviewing one of my favorite books. And, this is my favorite costume I have ever had!

Also, I am posting photos from a few years ago and then we were just taking pictures and I didn't consider the possibilities so I had my face uncovered, therefor, I have had to blur these. Sorry about that!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning.

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe - by C. S. Lewis

"Some journeys take us far from home. Some adventures lead us to our destiny."
A little girl is transported into the magical world of Narnia by going through a wardrobe. At first the snow all around seems beautiful, but the girl learns that it is cursed to always be snowy. It turns out that she and her siblings are who the people of this world have been waiting for, and things turn to war.
Genre: Fantasy.

Characters: 10! I am not being biased, these characters are so amazing!

My favorites:
Everyone! But, if I have to choose the top 5, they would be:
Aslan: So powerful, so kind, so loving.
Lucy: Her faith is just amazing.
Edmund: He is probably the most relatable.
Peter: He has so much responsibility, and he handles it so well.
Susan: "The gentle", and she is!
Mr. Tumnus: Don't we all love him?

Words: 10! 'It was a full moon, and shining on all the snow, it made everything almost as bright as day -- only the shadows were rather confusing.'

Quotes: 10! "Things never happen the same way twice, dear one."

Notes: It is said that C. S. Lewis based the Professor on J. R. R. Tolkien.

Storyline: 10! There is some fighting and death, but the most important thing about the storyline is that it is an allegory, and a beautiful one at that.

Good For: Everyone everywhere. If you haven't read this book please, please, do!

Overall Score: 10!!!!!

Bonus thoughts: Did I mention that this is one of my favorite books?

(I'm sorry that there aren't as many quotes as usual, I couldn't find the sheet I wrote them all down on! The ones you read here are off of memory. Once I finally find the sheet I will update this.)


VS.


The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (2005):

Based on: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe - by C.S.Lewis
Lucy finds herself in the world of Narnia after hiding in a wardrobe. She befriends a faun named Mr. Tumnus, and everything seems like it is perfect there, but she soon discovers otherwise. The land is cursed in eternal snow, and it turns out that she and her siblings might be able to help end it.

Genre: Fantasy.
Length: approx. 145 minutes.
Costumes: 9. They are all just perfect!
My favorite: You'll see more on Jadis's later, so I won't say any of those. Well, I like this:

Script: 9.

'"I'm just trying to think logically."

"No, you're trying to be smart, as usual."'

Crew:
Directed by: Andrew Adamson
Produced by:
Mark Johnson
Phillip Steuer

Screenplay by:
Ann Peacock
Andrew Adamson
Christopher Markus
Stephen McFeely
Starring:
Georgie Henley as Lucy Pevensie.

Skandar Keynes as Edmund Pevensie.

William Mosley as Peter Pevensie.

Anna Popplewell as Susan Pevensie.

Liam Neeson as the voice of Aslan.
Tilda Swinton as The White Witch.

James McAvoy as Mr. Tumnus.

Ray Winstone as the voice of Mr. Beaver.

Dawn French as the voice of Mrs. Beaver.
Kiran Shah as Ginarrbrik.
Jim Broadbent as Professor Digory Kirke.

James Cosmo as Father Christmas.
Michael Madsen as the voice of Maugrim.
Elizabeth Hawthorne as Mrs. Macready.

Cinematography: 9, look at this!!!

Cinematography by: Donald McAlpine

Music: 10!! I love it! I even listened to part of it while writing this.

Music by: Harry Gregson-Williams
Oscars won: 1: Best Makeup.

Quotes: 10,
'"Besides, we could all use the fresh air."
"It's not like there isn't air inside."'

Notes: Oh my word. This movie has such nostalgia for me. I have nearly cried several times while watching it.

Ah! My heart! I can't even...

Storyline: 8! As I said, there is war so fighting and death, but once again, this has a very powerful allegory.
There are only a few small differences from the book: they added some things, took one or two things out, but really not that much, and it would have all fit in the book. And the actors don't look as the characters are described, but they all play the parts so perfectly that it makes up for it.

Good For: EVERYONE!

Overall Score: 9.5!!

Bonus thoughts: A favorite!

The book wins!

"Bow down for the queen of Narnia!" - Thoughts on the Jadis, the White Witch.

From the book.

Played by Tilda Swinton.

Her preferred title: Her Imperial Majesty, Jadis, Queen of Narnia, Chatelaine of Cair Paravel, Empress of the Lone Islands
Jadis is described as 7 feet tall and has skin as white as paper.
She is very greedy as she always wants more and more power. Whatever it takes, she will do it.
She is called the white witch because she cast Narnia into eternal winter. This really worked for my costume because I love snow!!

About my costume:

As I said above, this is my favorite costume I have ever had. And one of the things that is so impressive about it is that we (my mom and I) came up with it pretty much on the spot without any planning. It is kind of a combination of all of Tilda Swinton's outfits. Also, I had a cold that day so I was very pale.

What do you think? Who looks more like the White Witch?

Thank you so much for reading! Come back tomorrow to see who my sisters dress up as!

MovieCritic

Older vs. Newer Movie Review (x3): The Shop Around the Corner

Hello all you lovely people!

I am participating in Phyl of Phyllis Loves Classic Movies, Remake of the "They Remade What!?" Blogathon!!

I am really happy that she is hosting this because I bugged her a little about hosting it again since I wasn't here to do the first one!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning.

Anyway, I am doing three reviews in one post! Yes, I think that is the most I have ever done! As you can see, it is in my Older vs. Newer set up so all of these are all following the basic storyline of the first one.

Which is....

The Shop Around the Corner (1940):

Based on: Parfumerie/Illatszertár - by Miklós László
In Budapest, Hungary, there is a little shop around the corner called Matuschek and Co. A woman convinces Mr. Matuschek, the owner, to hire her, much to the dislike of the head clerk, Mr. Kralik. The two of them always argue about everything. What they don't know is that they are each others anonymous pen-pal who they are each in love with.

Genre: Romance, Comedy (?) [I'm not sure, but it makes me laugh].
Length: approx. 99 minutes
Costumes: 8, nothing too fancy. Maybe a blouse that some people don't like. (teeheehee).
My favorite: The blouse!

Script: 9.
Crew:
Directed by: Ernst Lubitsch
Produced by: Ernst Lubitsch

Written by:
Samson Raphaelson
Ben Hecht
Starring:
James Stewart as Alfred Kralik

Margaret Sullavan as Klara Novak
Frank Morgan as Mr. Matuschek

Felix Bressart as Pirovitch

Joseph Schildkraut as Ferencz Vadas
Sara Haden as Flora Kaczek
William Tracy as Pepi Katona
Charles Smith as Rudy
Inez Courtney as Ilona Novotny

Cinematography: 8, I love the scenes with snow.

Cinematography by: William H. Daniels
Music: 7.
Music by: Werner R. Heymann
Quotes: 9, "I want your honest opinion."

Storyline: 7, there is smoking, and maybe one suggestive thing.
Good For: Anyone anytime. And Jimmy Stewart fans.

Overall Score: 8!!
Bonus thoughts: Do you ever have a movie that just makes you so happy? That is what this is for me! (Sorry, I might have gone a little over the top with the pictures.)


VS.


In The Good Old Summertime (1949):

Based on: Parfumerie - by Miklós László
In Chicago, all is going well for Andy until he runs into a girl outside the post office. Apologizing, he gives her his business card and offers something on sale to make up for it. She shows up looking for a job! It is a music store and she is a beautiful singer, so she is hired, though Andy doesn't like it. They fight with each other all the time, not aware that the person they write letters to anonymously is standing in front of them!

Genre: Musical, Romance, Comedy.
Length: approx. 102 minutes.
Costumes: 7, there is one scene where we see someone in their undergarments.
My favorite: Look at that coat!

Script: 8.
Crew:

Directed by: Robert Z. Leonard
Produced by: Joe Pasternak
Written by:
Samson Raphaelson
Albert Hackett
Frances Goodrich
Ivan Tors
Starring:
Van Johnson as Andrew Larkin.

Judy Garland as Veronica Fisher.
S. Z. Sakall as Otto Oberkugen.
Clinton Sundberg as Rudy Hansen.
Spring Byington as Nellie Burke.
Buster Keaton as Hickey.

Marcia Van Dyke as Louise Parkson.

Lillian Bronson as Aunt Addie.
Liza Minnelli as little girl (uncredited).
Cinematography: 7, just kind of standard of that era, but I like this dance number!

Cinematography by: Harry Stradling Sr.
Music: 7, my favorite is "Meet Me Tonight In Dreamland".
Music by: Fred Spielman, George Evans, Betti O'Dell, George E. Stoll, Jimmy Wakely, Robert Van Eps.
Quotes: 9, "Psychologically, I'm very confused, but personally I feel just wonderful."

Notes:
1. Judy Garland is left-handed. You can really see it here because of the letter writing.
2. Though the name is In The Good Old Summertime, most of it is set in the winter.
Storyline: 9, a little kissing, but that's all.
Good For: Those who like musicals, those who are fans of the actors.
Overall Score: 7.5!!


VS.


You've Got Mail (1998):

Based on: Parfumerie - by Miklós László
"My breath catches in my chest until I hear three little words: You've got mail. I hear nothing. Not even a sound on the streets of New York. Just the beating of my own heart. I have mail. From you."
In New York City, Kathleen Kelly runs The Shop Around The Corner, her mother's book store. A man named Joe Fox decides to put up a big book store nearby, trying to steal all of Kathleen's business. They detest and criticize one other, though they don't know that they are correspondents, and they anonymously email every day.

Genre: Romance, Comedy.
Length: approx. 119 minutes.

Costumes: 7, just ordinary city clothes.

Script: 7,
"Can you spell cat?"
"F-O-X."

Crew:
Directed by: Nora Ephron
Produced by:
Nora Ephron
Lauren Shuler Donner
Written by:
Nora Ephron
Delia Ephron
Starring:
Tom Hanks as Joe Fox.

Meg Ryan as Kathleen Kelly.

Greg Kinnear as Frank Navasky.
Parker Posey as Patricia Eden.

Jean Stapleton as Birdie Conrad.

Steve Zahn as George Pappas.
Heather Burns as Christina Plutzker.

Dave Chappelle as Kevin Jackson.
Jeffrey Scaperrotta as Matthew Fox.
Hallee Hirsh as Annabel Fox.
Dabney Coleman as Nelson Fox.
John Randolph as Schuyler Fox.
Cinematography: 7.

Cinematography by: John Lindley

Music: 7.
Music by: George Fenton
Quotes: 9, "When you read a book as a child it becomes part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your life does."

Notes: 
There are references to the book Pride & Prejudice!
And, "What is with men and the movie The Godfather?"
Storyline: 6, a few bits deal with divorce, there are some suggestive things.
Good For: Anybody, fans of the actors.
Overall Score: 7!


Winner: All of them! They are all awesome.


Spoiler alert! The next bit to the end contains spoilers, so if you haven't seen any of these movies don't read!

Comparing the three:

Aside that they are set in three different places, here is a list of things to show you the similarities.
1. Obviously, they all work around people who communicate with each other anonymously.
2. The first two really have the same plot.
3. In You've Got Mail, Kathleen Kelly's store is called The Shop Around The Corner.
4. In the first two there is a character named Rudy.
5. They all involve the male character finding out first and keeping it a secret.
6. The female characters all get sick at one point and are visited by the male characters.
Side note: Also, the first time I saw the first two I watched them back-to-back and it was great to see the similarities!


James Stewart, Van Johnson, Tom Hanks:

(Sorry that none of these pictures are the best!)
I'm just going to say quickly that in all of the movies I relate to the guys the most. They are all so great.
Who is the best?
Well, James Stewart is my favorite actor of all time. But, recently I have really been enjoying Van Johnson, and this is no exception. And... Tom Hanks is so good, in fact this might be my favorite movie of his.
I'm going to say James Stewart, but the others are excellent!


Margaret Sullavan, Judy Garland, Meg Ryan:

Who is the best?
This is even harder because I can't just go with my favorite! I think this is the only movie I have seen Margaret Sullavan in, and she is wonderful. I have been watching Judy Garland movies as long as I can remember and at one time she was my favorite actress. Meg Ryan's performance here is wonderful!
Nope, can't choose.

Please tell me who your favorites are!


Thank you so much for reading! Big thank you to Phyl for hosting this! Make sure to go check out all the other entries HERE.

MovieCritic