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MovieWeb has posted their report on the footage screened in New York and Los Angeles this week. There isn’t anything new as far as spoilers, but this report includes some interesting quotes from Director Michael Apted. Here are a couple highlights:

“Another of the big challenges was to really honor the book because the book has a spiritual quality to it that I feel is important. Hopefully it is a spiritual thing that is accessible to everyone.”
[...]
“It’s a story that has English roots but its relatable to every child on the planet because its about growing up, finding yourself, coming to terms with yourself and knowing what your values are, that is really the heart of this film.”

MovieWeb writes:

One of the best parts of the footage that we saw, besides the incredibly real looking dragon, was the relationship between the unlikable Eustace and Reepicheep.

Read the whole report (The Apted quotes began in the fourth paragraph down)

Elsewhere, UGO has posted “6 Realizations After Watching New Narnia: Dawn Treader Footage.” We’ll summarize them here, but be sure to read the entire report.

1. Narnia’s Gone Back to the Magic: UGO believes the first two films were passable Lord of the Rings cash-ins, but Dawn Treader has a much more magical feel.

2. Michael Apted Thinks Talking Animals Are Ridiculous and He’s Right: Apted said making a minotaur not look goofy was a challenge, but UGO says he has pulled it off.

3. The Movie May Contain Actual Performances: UGO writes, “Yes, it’s still about the kids wandering around going ‘ooh’ and ‘aah,’ but it’s done with a confidence that the previous two films were missing.”

4. Dawn Treader Scales Back the Visuals to Its Own Benefit: UGO believes VDT has a less ‘epic’ feel than Prince Caspian. “It’s about a crew setting forth on an adventure, not the entire world congregating for the biggest battle of all time.”

5. The Film Looks British-ier: The look of the film reminded UGO of BBC’s Narnia production. “British television and film has a certain grainy quality you don’t find in America and [...] I noticed the aesthetic carrying over to Dawn Treader, moreso than the original films.”

6. Sailing the High Sees Looks Fun!: “It looks like a rousing adventure with likeable leads and plenty of surprises.”

The reports from New York and Los Angeles just keeping pouring in, so keep your eyes peeled for more!

Earlier today, Narnia.com was updated to include Goldwater (but has now been removed). It included a picture that gives us our first look at a dragon, and the water that turns objects into gold:

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(Download Full Size Image)

Is that DragonEustace? Or just a dragon? Either way, this picture strongly implies what many fans already suspected: Eustace becomes a dragon and Deathwater is discovered on the same island. Last December, when asked if all the islands in the book would be in the film, Ernie Malik (publicist) replied: “We consolidated seven islands into five.”

There was also a bit that confirms one of the seven lords will be found in the water (Restimar, in the book): “There is much to catch the eye on this island but even an innocuous pool of water can be dangerous… As this lost lord tragically discovered.” (Thanks to NarniaFans for posting this)

Here is Lewis’ description of Deathwater from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, chapter 8:

They came down and round to the little opening where the stream came out of the lake, and stood looking at the deep water within the circle of cliffs. If it had been a hot day, no doubt some would have been tempted to bathe and everyone would have had a drink. [...]
The bottom of the pool was made of large greyish-blue stones and the water was perfectly clear, and on the bottom lay a life-size figure of a man, made apparently of gold.

The production designer for the film is Barry Robinson

Discuss!

The same footage screened in New York earlier this week was screened in Los Angeles today, and Cyclops from AslansCountry.com was in attendance!

I don’t think there are any major spoilers that were not in the two previous reports, but this report is much more detailed (including exact quotes) and fan-oriented.

One interesting bit clears up the controversy over Eustace referring to the Pevensies as ‘orphans’ in one of the clips. AC writes: “Michael Apted explained this, saying it was meant to convey they were separated from their parents at the time because of the war.”

And, here’s a bit from the scene just before the Pevensies and Eustace climb on board:

Ed, Lu, and Eustace are seen swimming in front of the Dawn Treader.

They try to swim away, but are almost ‘ran over’ by the ship. Three or four sailors (including Caspian) jump in to save them.

Caspian: “Susan! It’s ok, I’ve got you!” Lucy: “It’s me, Lucy!”

Congratulations Cyclops! It’s great to see Fox wanting to connect with the fan base.

Read the full report here

With The Voyage of the Dawn Treader about two and a half months away, Disney and Walden re-released The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian today on DVD and Blu-ray. It doesn’t look like they have any new cover artwork or special features, but if you haven’t purchased a copy before, now’s your chance! Visit our DVD/BD info page.
Thanks icarus for the heads up!

In a recent interview with the Examiner, Mark Johnson discussed the next film:

I know you get asked this question a lot, but I’ll ask anyway: Will there be a fourth “Narnia” movie?

Johnson: Keep in mind that the two youngest Penvensie kids, Lucy and Edmund, don’t come back, so the next movie will have Eustace. We could do “The Silver Chair” or we could do “The Magician’s Nephew.”

Which book do you think fans want to see more as the fourth “Narnia” movie: “The Silver Chair” or “The Magician’s Nephew”?

Johnson: That’s a really good question. I couldn’t tell you. We should put it to the fans [to decide]. I know we have to do “The Magician’s Nephew.” I love that book! The question is: “Do we do it now and let our Eustace grow older? Or do we do ‘The Silver Chair’ and then do ‘The Magician’s Nephew’?”

Johnson has asked the fans, so let’s answer him. What do you think? Should the next film be The Silver Chair or The Magician’s Nephew? Click here and go to the bottom-right to answer our poll and let us know in the comments below what you think.

The order of the Narnia stories has always been a debate among fans. SC was published fourth, and MN sixth. But chronologically, MN is #1 and SC #6. Read more.

Original cover art: "The Silver Chair" (1953) and "The Magician's Nephew" (1955)

Johnson and Apted in NYC (photo by Carla Hay)

A thirty minute series of clips from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was screened in New York on Monday night. The Examiner website has posted an in-depth article by Carla Hay on the event.

You can read the full article here.

The first portion of the article is spoiler free, but there are descriptions of each of the nine clips shown with extensive spoilers. Scenes with the Pevensies, Eustace, and Reepicheep are all described.

A third trailer is also mentioned. The Examiner reporter calls it “a visual feast.” She also said of the film as a whole that “looks like it fully delivers the magical excitement in that classic story.”

Here are some highlights from the scene descriptions and interviews:

• Susan is seen writing a letter to Lucy and Edmund near the beginning of the film.
• During a food shortage on the ship, Reepicheep catches Eustace stealing an orange.
• Lucy is kidnapped by the Dufflepuds and taken to the magician’s house to say the spell.
• The seven swords must be placed at Aslan’s feet in order to destroy the Dark Island.
• Lilliandil introduces herself as the daughter of Ramandu.
• DragonEustace fights the sea-serpent.
• Lucy asks Reepicheep to let her hug him before he leaves, and he reluctantly consents.

Michael Apted:

Q: What’s the real story on re-casting the voice of Reepicheep for “Dawn Treader”? At first Bill Nighy was supposed to do the voice, and then Simon Pegg got the role.
Apted: Well, I did it with Bill, first of all, but it turned out that he was perhaps a little too old for it. He was great. I loved it. I did record him, but then we looked at it very carefully, and thought, “Well, it doesn’t quite have that energy.” He has more drollness of a slightly older man. And he was very disappointed, and I was upset. But you know, Simon came in, and we auditioned a lot of people. Simon was very good. He came in and just nailed it.

Q: Can you clear up any rumors about why Eddie Izzard was not asked to reprise the role of Reepicheep?
Apted: I wanted to make some changes. I changed Caspian’s accent. And I wanted to change [the voice of Reepicheep], because I thought we’d get more humor out of it. It was just my choice, really.

Mark Johnson:

Q: What lessons did you learn from working on “Prince Caspian” that you took with you in working on “Dawn Treader”?
Johnson: it’s really the books. People almost want us to apologize that “Prince Caspian” took us away from the world of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” It’s in the books. We had to the one next because of the kids, or we would never have been able to do it. I did learn that it’s very important, this whole notion of Narnia and Narnia creatures and being back there, as opposed to being more earth-bound. We learned to embrace the magic and the wonder of Narnia, as opposed to being more concrete, I think. And this ["Dawn Treader"] book really leant that to us.

Q: I know you get asked this question a lot, but I’ll ask anyway: Will there be a fourth “Narnia” movie?
Johnson: Keep in mind that the two youngest Penvensie kids, Lucy and Edmund, don’t come back, so the next movie will have Eustace. We could do “The Silver Chair” or we could do “The Magician’s Nephew.”

Thanks to icarus for the story!

UPDATE: ComingSoon.net has posted their report, and it includes more spoilers. The biggest one by far is that Caspian needs to find the seven swords in order to prevent the White Witch from returning!

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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader will have its London premiere at the London Odeon Cinema on November 30.

Fans will be able to view a live feed of the red carpet online! Here’s the link. (Thanks to ‘A_Narnian_Ship’ and ‘coracle’)

NarniaWebbers, believe it or not, the next Narnia film releases in just over two months.

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I was in Family Christian Books today and saw something interesting. On one of the shelves near the children’s section was a smaller version of the standee that has been seen in the movie theaters. It was good sized and very noticeable. In store advertising has begun! Have you seen anything yet? Keep your eyes open for future advertising and products and let us know where you see them!

Geoffrey Burgon, who composed the score for the BBC’s television adaptations of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and The Silver Chair, has died at age 69. One of Burgon’s publishers at Chester Music, James Rushton, praised the composer’s works, calling them “unforgettable melodies” that are “standards, both within their genre and as pure music.” Burgon, who started his career as a composer in ballet, wrote several acclaimed scores including those of Brideshead Revisited, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, The Forsyte Saga, and others.

You can read the BBC News story here. Thanks I_LiVe_iN_NarNia for the alert.