Gresham Calls Caspian/Susan Kiss ‘Nonsense’
ChristianityToday has posted an interview with Douglas Gresham (co-producer, Lewis’ stepson). You can read it here.
There is one part of the interview I would like to comment on:
CT: There were early rumors that Eustace, after he becomes a dragon, would fight with the sea serpent. That’s not in the book.
Gresham: Some folks were attracted by the idea that the dragon—Eustace—would earn his redemption by having a huge fight with the sea serpent. But I don’t think that earning one’s redemption is possible. It’s a free gift from Jesus. So that scene is not in the movie. That was a nonnegotiable point for me. [Since this interview, CT has seen the film, and would contest Gresham’s assertion that the dragon Eustace doesn’t have a “huge fight with the sea serpent.” Looked pretty huge from our seat.]
Putting this in context, and keeping past reports in mind, it seems much more likely that Gresham was not denying that DragonEustace fights a sea-serpent. Rather, he was saying that the idea of Eustace earning his redemption was removed from the film. We already know that the writers originally wanted this, but Michael Flaherty (Walden Media president) set them straight (report).
The most interesting part of the interview is when Gresham talks about the controversial kiss between Caspian and Susan at the end of Prince Caspian. He mentions an interview he did with NarniaWeb where he famously advised fans to worry more about global warming than a C/S romance. “I knew there wasn’t going to be a romance,” Gresham says, “but I wasn’t going to say so.” CT mentions the kiss, and Gresham responds: “[…] I agree that it shouldn’t have been in the movie; I think it was nonsense. But it wasn’t something I was going to dig my heels in and scream and bite the carpet about.”
Thanks to ‘Jo-Anna/johobbit.’
they could have had fast paced intercutting between caspian's adventures and the pevensies to keep them in the film more- in a kinder gentler age- 20 years ago, they wouldn't have feared a scene involving a campfire story- -re:castle scenes- he had to justify the overinflated cost of building it, and establish castle scenes to drive videogame and playset tie-in sales-
yeah, the night raid is based on comments in the book, i thought it was a great add, just the pacing was off, too drawn out-
they could be establishing her growing into her later character for Last Battle, and Ben is too hot to ignore! let's be real-
I'm kind of surprised that narniaweb does not have the 10th tv spot or the new clips of the narnia soundtrack up on their website yet.
well, what they really mean is that the books are too high principled and "old-fashioned" for today's superficial, agnostic, ADD -riddle TV brainwashed mushbrains of today…LOL
riddled
get real, what's supposed to do, sink his new movie?
I DON'T DISLIKE LISPIAN!!! I'M TIRED OF THIS CONFLICT!!! CAN'T WE JUST STOP AND LET GO?!?!?!?!??!
obviously, you are clueless about the politics and business of moviemaking…
really? because I thought it was one of the few things in that movie that actually got developed and had a storyline! I didn't like the suspian\kiss thing at all but that whole movie felt very choppy to me and that was one thing that stayed constant and got developed.
he does what he can, but once you have relinquished a property to be made, you have very little control over it, and most authors have zero say, unless you are a living superstar author (JK Rowling) or produce +fund it privately yourself- the money providers have the most say, which isn't surprising- they are the ones taking the financial risk-
I used to hate the nightraid, until about 5 days ago actually I was thinking about it and realized it's just a reimagining of the battle in the book that takes place right before the Pevensies arrive. Part of me wishes they could have done it w\o the Pevensies there but I can see why they did it the way they did. What bugs me more is how they totally cut out the part where Caspian meets the Old Narnians for the first time, and I also didn't like how they changed the meeting of Caspian and Peter\Ed\Susan\Lucy.
that's cause the moviemakers are mostly secularists, and they are disturbed to promote God. Look at the voice of Aslan, Liam Neeson, saying that Aslan isn't necessarily representing Jesus, he could well be representing Mohammed or Buddah! Get real, dude, CS Lewis wrote in actual letters he was alluding to Christ. Talk about revisionist history…
OK, where there's a kiss, there's romance, Mr. Gresham. Maybe nothing big, but if the kiss is meant, it is a romance.
It was just a kiss….good grief.
"Suspian"?
I know exactly what you mean. In today's business market, however, you'd have to produce it for a cable tv channel in miniseries form- maybe like Hallmark channel or Lifetime or EWTN or Sky Angel network. PBS or BBC probably wouldn't even tpuch it today, too "religious" …
I get the feeling NON-Neg just enjoys "riding his high horse"…
me too, alot!
Just another comment: A lot of you were saying that AA should have been fired for adding the romance in…do you guys not remember that he actually did a good job with LWW? Aside from the romance (which let's face it, that was for casual fans), the night raid (which is mentioned in the book), and Peter and Caspian butting heads (personal opinion: I thought that it was more likely they would get in a power battle. Two young teenage boys just getting along when they both want to prove themselves? That was hard for Lewis to sell to me), I thought that AA did a good job getting the themes across to the audience.
So now, let's focus on the positive (that VotDT is out soon) and let the negative take a back seat.
maybe they figured almost half the first movie revolved around him- plus he seemed pretty bland in PC, like they didnt know what to do with him now that he was reformed.
yeah, the book isn't much-
yeah, i wish there was more family bonding than infighting, but that's what today's marketplace is getting to be (reality tv, etc.)
The plot changes and the new characters in the movies were not what concerned me. The changes in character personalities were. And if someone made the movies totally like the books, they wouldn't do as well as the first two have done. There are certain things that need to be done to make a movie based off a book. And to say that you didn't like the addition of new characters is kind of ridiculous. if they didn't add in any characters in VDT, there would be… hmm… six main characters and maybe four minor characters. Not a very large cast at all. I think it would be boring to be watching those same characters all the time for almost two hours. It's not like Tavaros is going to ruin the movie.
That’s ridiculous… PC failed (if you can really say 400 MD is a failure) due to the bad script. The kiss it’s the most unimportant thing in the movie. Narnia movies are made to attract not only christian audiences but families in general, that’s why they put that little “romance” between Susan an Caspian. Actually, I think if they would’ve developed a more innocent and childish romance from the preproduction, it would’ve looked better than the forced and unnatural relationship they have in the movie.
Andrew Adamson has proved to be a good director as his projects get a decent box-office, but I can’t say the same about his screenwriter abilities.
Caspian XI you're the one saying you want this conflict to stop yet you post something that will offend others siding with the complete opposite. While I agree that the conflict should end, I'll have to side with DamselJillPole and glumPuddle on this. So basically in HHB Susan should make out with all her suitors like a feminine Dorian Gray because she's the most beautiful in the Golden Era? That's basically what you're saying.
Susan is Myth becoming Fact, like glumpuddle said a few years ago, not myth becoming my girlfriend. Admittingly the kiss would have fit better if there was a basic properly thought out plot for Susan/Caspian, but like Damsel said, there wasn't. All the Suspian scenes were thrown in a few minutes before shooting because of how the actors looked and ignored the characters reasons.
The kiss came out spontaneous, kind of like a girl walking down the street and kissing a guy just to do it because he's good looking. It's missleading and unnecessary, esspecially being done when you are abandoning something you're never going to see again.
I know this conflict doesn't seem right or seems crazy to you. Trust me I think it is as well and I want it to stop more then you do, but when something unnecessary is added like this people from both sides can't help but break conflict. You have the Caspian/RD supporters who are true fans of Narnia, I mean true fans who grew up with these stories and respect the themes as they are told and CS Lewis's different types of love and none of them consisted of romance to make these stories any good. So not to be rude, don't blame the Caspian/RD supporters for being upset. The Caspian/Susan supporters can't help but break because they thought Caspian and Susan will end up together but they see it's not going to happen because they know or heard about the Caspian/RD relationship so now some blame CS Lewis or bash the story (im saying that this is you) but most suspians I came across and my friends like Damsel on fanfic, youtube and on here Suspian fans are always the ones who break the conflicts, they bash us, torment us, hack us, etc, it gets really bad all because of an unwise decision from a director.
Support what you want to support, but don't feel like you can put down the people who grew up with these stories and likes them for what they are too.
I meant to say (Im not saying that this is you) in the fourth paragragh, sorry!
I Agree.
i dont know what the big deal is!!!!!it was just a little kiss.in my opinion andrew did a terrific job with both movies and he deserves praise for it!!!!!!even thought the kiss was uncalled for,it was just a little mistake!!!!!
A kiss doesn't necessarily make it a romance. It's a romance when two people do it at the same time with meaning. Susan kissed Caspian with no meaning because all we know is that they liked each because of their attractiveness. That's not love or romantic in the least.
I'd like to read it too!
i really dont get what the big deal is!!!!!it was just a little kiss!!!in my opinion andrew did a terrific job with both movies and he deserves big praise for it!!!!!!even though i agree the kiss was uncalled for given they didnt have enough romance to kiss,but it was just a little mistake.
ps:aslan was perfect,i dont know what you're talking about!!!!!!!
Caspian XI
I'm absolutely agree with you about two difference between book and movie.and what about the conflict..Today,when I've seeing a part about Star,I've feeling myself like a dragon..she is not bad,no she's very beautiful and of course kind and pretty.But i suppose it's treason of Caspian to Susan to choose the Star:-(
But….I like caspian and susan kiss…:-)
I know in the book Susan did have an obvious attraction to Caspian but there wasn't any kiss,but I think it was OK they added it
I know it wasn't bad.
For my two cents, Susan and Caspian were a lot younger in the books than they were in the movie. For them to have kissed in the books would have been more weird than for them to have kissed in the movie. That said, I admire Lewis because he made books that felt realistic, but also made you believe in higher ideals than what we have today. For instance, an alien Prince descended from pirates would never kiss one of the four high sovereigns of Narnia. Never! That would have been out of line. He might have been attracted to her, but, if he had any decency at all, he would have restrained himself. Similarly, if the High Queen of Narnia had initiated the relationship, Caspian, being the noble soul which he was, would have got the wrong idea about high queens. In either case, I always loose a little respect for Caspian ans Susan when I see "the kiss". So, although I can understand why the filmmakers put it there, "the kiss" doesn't give either personage involved a good reputation in my mind.
There's no indication to Susan having an obvious attraction to Caspian in the books. They were both thirteen. movie susan: 14 almost 15, movie caspian: 18. Pedofile alert! The only thing in the book was that Caspian was giving Susan her horn back and Susan tells him to keep it, without any dialogue or face details, etc. that was it.
All I'm going to say is that reading these comments made me want to rip my eyes out. I agree with Mr. Gresham – there are more important things to be worried about than a little movie kiss! Please just think about what C.S. Lewis would be saying right now – probably to stop worrying about a fictional romance and worry more about the important things in life. I am SO grateful that they even made these movies! And I am excited for the movie no matter how the director changes it. Just remember – it's not going to be the book copied onto film. It's just not! Sorry! Accept it as a different form of art and expression and I think that it will be much more enjoyable for all.
Sorry, don't believe in global warming here Gresham…
I love the comment Mr. Gresham said about redemption can't be earned. It is a free gift given to those who accept Jesus Christ as the Savior of their life.
Ya, eh? I think that the PC book was actually the downer of the whole nan=rnia sceries and loved the movie better than the book because they made it a better movie than the book, if you understand…=)
It isnt a big deal, even though it does conflict w/ the book. It was thrown in just to "please" the moviegoers now. AA did have to learn a lesson–that if you dnt follow wat ppl expect, you lose money. From the clips ive seen of VDT, FOX did a way better job. And in my opinion, its ok if ther are some errors, this world is temorary and when we go to heaven, we can hear C.S.Lewis tell the Chronicles of Narnia to us forever. ;3
They have them on narniafans.com though
Agreed >salute<
I did like this movie better than the book; more action.
Too true. >salute<
We're only human. dont let this divide us. God is a god of unity.
exactly. wen we see VDT, we'll love it. Unfortunately, we'll probably find something else to argue about.
wow…FOX realy did do a good job
Susan realy does have the saddest stories of all the pevensies: she thinks of narnia as fantasyland in childhood, grows up becuz she has2 and then shes left in London while all of her family dies. Shes the seed that fell with weeds in the parable Jesus told and got choked up by the world. C.S.Lewis couldn't b more tragic.
the kiss was dumb…but it didn't ruin the movie. The awful script (made completetly up of one-liners) did that.
The action and emotion of the night raid was the best part of the movie. Unlike most of PC, it actually had a plot and was not a bunch of one-liners.
oops! sorry must of read something with the movie.
don't read what I wrote I was wrong sorry.
Still a matter of opinion not fact
Here is what you people are all forgeting. Caspian had read about Susan and so she was like a hero to him, and she was supposed to be gorgeous. He is supposed to be 14 but the movie made him a little bit older. So he probably had a small crush on her. And Susan was starting to like boys. I'm sure any girl on here would chose Prince Caspian over the geeky boy. People are allowed to have crushes in real life so Caspian and Susan should too. Caspian got over it when she left and so did she. So it wasn't like they were staying and getting married. They just liked each other and shared a small kiss. NO BIG DEAL PEOPLE!!! Now he gets married so forget Susan she is no longer in picture. Don't get me wrong I didn't mind kiss and i think Susan is prettier then L. but the movie has moved on and so have I. I wouldn't worry about it. It did mess up the movie a little bit it's not like we can change it.
OMG Isn't this the full scene of Eustace Stealing Rations??!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iuetrhn2y0
Enough already! I loved, loved, loved Prince Caspian because (in my opinion) it improved on the book. C.S. Lewis wrote PC as a children's book and did so excellently; however, Adamson and company did an excellent job of translating it into the "reel" world with a real world ethos. At the end Aslan says that Peter and Susan had learned what they could from Narnia and the time had come for them to live out those learned lessons in the real world but the book; as Lewis wrote it, however, the book never provides us with much evidence as to what precisely those lessons were. The character arcs for the Pevensies and Caspian were well done and much needed, especially Peter's grappling with being a "king" in the real world and his subsequent drive to go it in his own strength. And what was so wrong about Susan and Caspian's kiss? The kiss and the assumed disillusionment Susan may have later experienced (who in the real world can measure up to Caspian?)fits well with all the specualtion regarding her less-than-sterling future post-PC.
High Queene Shelly Belly,
I definitely don't mind the literary discussion with passion. 🙂 My concern is with the hateful attitudes that come across on both sides often. 🙂 I think we can discuss opinions and thoughts without being nasty about it.
I hate Suspian with a passion! Glad Douglas said this. it makes my night. Caspian's too nice and sweet for Susan, I bet he would of saw that if he didn't concentrate on only her looks. People can't have true romances like that. Susan is too mean, materialistic, and boring, she tries to hard and is a fake. Lilliandil is better because she doesn't try hard, she's real and she's natural. GO LISPIAN!!!!!!!