@abluerose it may not be the original recording, just a good modern imitation. 

I was wondering if other people here bought the guide to the first Walden film. The full title of the book  is The Official Illustrated Movie Companion: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by Perry Moore. It was published in 2005, the same year that the movie was released.  The book has many pictures taken during production of the film and some interviews with the cast. There is also an interview with Douglas Gresham, who talks talks about his stepfather, C.S. Lewis.  If you really like the Walden films I recommend getting it.  I bought my copy about twenty years ago from a Christian bookstore, and the book is still available online.

Here is the page from Amazon, although I am sure it is also still available on other websites:

https://www.amazon.com/Chronicles-Narnia-Wardrobe-Illustrated-Companion/dp/0060827874/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2N19O5D5LLN4Z&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.CpE7FnccEWZixjGXhiwXEPVnqsyFpm9mK6MHFCcrJesC4I-t-sFw0oxh4wIL7UMj4WW9sRAUGO3BwYyAV0TBSS19oHzHAmt3QXdeqB9MZQfWwDzRWkCKslfUZmYaHk5iNFku3wxUa_ljAZtYulvDzIRk-W5579FnTQvPeRyYvkq9njfVIjwTYDYyxYjaa4RRi3DGgATfxsA6ryJOWtQV6A.h0T1R6tTx8-13aKZkhqMWBE-P78XsmGtNAxXRkA6od4&dib_tag=se&keywords=Narnia+movie+companion&qid=1742213206&sprefix=narnia+movie+companion%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-1

I also recommend this book by E. J. Kirk, which was published at about the same time. It has much information about C.S. Lewis and photographs from the movie:

https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Wardrobe-Official-Guide-Narnia/dp/0060765534

I was wondering if other people here bought the guide to the first Walden film. The full title of the book is The Official Illustrated Movie Companion: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by Perry Moore. It was published in 2005, the same year that the movie was released. The book has many pictures taken during production of the film and some interviews with the cast. There is also an interview with Douglas Gresham, who talks talks about his stepfather, C.S. Lewis. If you really like the Walden films I recommend getting it. I bought my copy about twenty years ago from a Christian bookstore, and the book is still available online

I have a copy of this that I got second hand from a library a few years ago now. It's a nice piece of movie memorabilia 

@narnian78 I bought both of those and others.  They are good for looking back on those wonderful times.

Posted by: @narnian78

I was wondering if other people here bought the guide to the first Walden film. The full title of the book  is The Official Illustrated Movie Companion: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by Perry Moore. It was published in 2005, the same year that the movie was released.  The book has many pictures taken during production of the film and some interviews with the cast. There is also an interview with Douglas Gresham, who talks talks about his stepfather, C.S. Lewis.  If you really like the Walden films I recommend getting it.  I bought my copy about twenty years ago from a Christian bookstore, and the book is still available online.

I have a copy of this also, which I bought around the time of LWW coming out, and I also would highly recommend.  I also love getting it out from time to time and reminiscing on those lovely times, and showing my kids.

I was wondering if others here own the Blu-rays of the Walden films. They are really good to have for the twentieth anniversary.  I bought them about ten years ago because they were cheaper than when the DVD’s were first released.  I also have the first film on a full screen DVD. I think it is a good thing to have your favorite films on physical media because streaming may not always be permanent. If you already own the Walden films it is best to play them again and reminisce at the twentieth anniversary, which will be in December.  Or if you cannot wait until the end of the year you could play them whenever you have the time. 🙂

I have the Official Illustrated Movie Companion book, too. It's a nice book and perhaps due another read through soon. 🙂 I also used to have the book released with Prince Caspian about the designs of each film. Kind of regret getting rid... but the former book is nicer.

Don't think I've seen the other book mentioned before.

20 years is crazy to think. One of my favorite moments is when Lucy first steps through the wardrobe and into Narnia. The music, the snow falling, the look of wonder on her face... ❤️

It perfectly captures that magical feeling of discovering another world. It still gives me chills!

^ And wasn't it said at the time in behind-the-scenes/interviews or so that Georgie was seeing that scene for the first time, which made the look of wonder all the more natural? 🙂

I joined NarniaWeb in October 2004 – what a fun experience back then! I loved the journey from seeing the initial concept art to seeing the final product on December 9, 2005. I was 16 and working at the local movie theater, so I got to see the film numerous times. I'd have a 30-minute break during each shift, and I loved getting to pop into the theater and watch snippets of the film during its entire run in cinemas. I really love the first 30-ish minutes: evacuating London, the train ride, hide-and-seek, Lucy first entering the wardrobe and meeting Mr. Tumnus... That half hour right there feels perfect to me. I spent so much of my childhood trying to find a way to Narnia, so I feel like the moments featuring the Pevensies exploring the house and finding Narnia through the wardrobe really resonates with me.

I will never forget the time I was watching Disney Channel on New Year's Eve 2004, and they showed a complete, epic-scale behind-the-scenes look at The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. My excitement shot through the roof. I remember being a freshmen in high school and lucky enough to have friends who were already fans of Narnia. We talked about it so much after Christmas break. It was good times. Can't believe it's turning 20 this year.  

I really shouldn’t be surprised that it’s been 20 years, I know most of my life has passed since then, but my word.

I can’t particularly remember anything in the lead up to it, though I likely saw teasers on Disney Channel without really taking it in. My memory of being introduced to Narnia whatsoever was literally being taken to the movie, I don’t think my parents explained what it even was that we were going to see. I don’t really remember my thoughts during the movie, other than the general sense of being wowed by how magical it was. It’s mostly the visuals of certain moments that I remember looking up at on the giant drive-in screen. In particular my brain really kept hold of the memory of seeing Edmund and Mr. Beaver in armor up on the clifftops; when I think of my first memories of Narnia, that’s what I immediately see. I can’t decide if it stuck out to me because it was part of the battle and I was so drawn in by that whole sequence or if the mind of a 5-year-old child simply glommed onto the visual of a beaver in chainmail lol, but either way, it was always striking to me and even now when I watch the movie and it reaches that scene, I flash back to the first time.

I genuinely have NO idea how many times I’ve watched it since then. All throughout my childhood it was on constant repeat, as was the commentary with Andrew and the kids, to the point that my sister and I still frequently quote it and sometimes sit back and realize that none of them probably remember saying any of those things lol. All of the behind the scenes features were also repeatedly rewatched and sparked a lifelong love of making-of information in both of us. When I even think of the general concept of ‘behind the scenes’, I see these kids in my head, out in the green fields in New Zealand. This movie and everything that came with it have had one of the biggest lasting impacts on me of any piece of media in my entire life. The whole experience, from the movie itself to the commentary to the features and the sheer level of prevalence that all of it had on my whole childhood, was just magical. There are few things in this world that hold the kind of magic that this did and still does for me, and I couldn’t be more grateful to it for introducing me to Narnia as a whole.

Anyone else planning on a rewatch for Easter?

Does anyone here watch the BBC series and the Walden films in succession?  I often watch both of them that way so I can compare the successes and shortcomings of each adaptation. It is fun to compare both of them and enjoy them for what they have to offer.  And any time of the year is a good time to watch them.  I think both of them have a kind of magic which can be enjoyed for repeated viewings. 🙂

@narnian78 Sometimes I like to watch different adaptations of the same story if the mood takes me. (Or watch and listen to them if audio adaptations are included.) I don't really watch them all right after another on the same day though. It's more like I'll watch one on Monday, another on Tuesday, etc. I find it fun to analyze their similarities and differences. I don't think I've ever felt like doing that with Narnia adaptations though. 

The last couple of posts make me think I may rewatch both BBC and Walden's LWW over the easter weekend (probably on Good Friday) if the family can endure and/or enjoy rewatching them with me... who knows, may even watch the animated one too.  So yes @narnian78 I love to rewatch them fairly regularly not necessarily "in succession" or even every year... but at least every couple of years.  Although I have rewatched the Walden LWW several times, I think even now the number of times I've rewatched the BBC production still majorly outnumbers the Walden version.