There were three scenes in this movie that I liked...
The entry into Narnia through the painting.
The fun duel between Reepicheep and Eustace. (My favorite)
The Pevensies and Eustace saying goodbye to Caspian and Aslan.
The rest of the movie.... I can't say much without breaking all of NarniaWeb's rules.
I am reposting my thoughts on my Best/ Worst moments of VDT, with some more explanation for the best scenes.
VDT Best:
1. End of the World. Yes. Beautifully done, both visually and emotionally. I know many would most definitely disagree with me, but I liked Reepicheep's entrance to Aslan's Country. He did not get in for noble deeds, he got in for a noble heart! But let's not debate about this here.
2. The Painting. Very cool way of entering into Narnia, and rather original. I think if they would have gotten into Narnia the way Lewis described it, it would have looked very cheesy and rather stupid. Some things work better in book than on screen.
3.Book of Incantations. I loved the way this was recreated. The detail to the book itself was amazing, even having some of the spells that were in the VDT book. The snow spell may have been a little random, but it was still pretty. I also liked how Aslan's voice called out Lucy's name when she was tempted.
Worst:
1. The undragoning. I do believe, unlike most haters of this scene, that this was redemption.But the timing of the scene made it really misleading. It was also too short. I think if it had been 2 or 3 minutes long, it may have looked somewhat better and made fans feel better.
2. Lone Islands. I wish that they could have taken Lewis' non-violent way out of the situation. It felt like a corny plot device; no it was a corny plot device. I'm neutral on the non-canon green mist...
3. Ramandu's Island. Why is it called Ramandu's Island if Ramandu doesn't even appear? And I would have liked to see a bit more developed between Caspian and Ramandu's daughter, since they do get married. And I wish they had showed more of the feast. Though I'll give credit for the set designers. It looked better than I myself could have ever thought.
Well, that's what I think anyway. Surprised that I didn't put down green mist as an issue?
They come through the painting in the book. That is how they enter Narnia in the book.
On the other hand, in the book the undragoning is not supposed to be redemption through Eustace's actions. Eustace didn't do anything. You can't do anything. That is the whole point. And Eustace certainly earned his undragoning in the film which is an epic fail in my opinion.
There are no clouds in the sky. There is only the open sun and the Lord watches.
They come through the painting in the book. That is how they enter Narnia in the book.
I know that's how they come to Narnia in the book. All I was saying is that the painting scene in the movie looked much better on screen. If the painting had been done like Lewis described, I thought that would have looked cheesy. That's why I thought it was one of the best scenes in the movie.
The painting transitions in and out of Narnia were very evocative of the feel of the book to me.
So to, the whole sequence on the Magician's island - although wish they had created more of a story here than what was.
Parts of Eustace as Dragon on the beach captured feel of book to me there also.
Other bits through out as well (sea serpent, pool of gold, look of Ramandu's Island and daughter turning back into a star)
All let down or subtracted from, movie wise, by lack of a fuller story/adaption in character depth, movie themes and confusing plot holes.
Needed more in depth role for Lucy/Georgia Henley in exchange for what they went with. Spirit of Caspian from book missed slightly where not in PC - high spirited & wise King but still rebellious & slightly selffish aristocratic Telmarine boy wanting to be carefree Prince.
I know that's how they come to Narnia in the book. All I was saying is that the painting scene in the movie looked much better on screen. If the painting had been done like Lewis described, I thought that would have looked cheesy. That's why I thought it was one of the best scenes in the movie.
Oh i see. I wouldn't really consider that a change. The scene feels very like the book to me even if the exact details are not the same. I see what you are saying though.
There are no clouds in the sky. There is only the open sun and the Lord watches.
Worst:
1) Aslan's Country: yes, hate me all you want, I did not like this scene. The first time I saw it, I realized, no matter how good this scene was, it would not save the film. Sad indeed. And even than, it's not that good. Yes, it's better than the rest of the film, but still, if you compare this to great scenes from LWW and PC, like the scene where Lucy meets Tumnus... it just doesn't compare to that. Yes, the goodbye to Aslan was good, but Reep didn't throw his sword away and Caspian suddenly has father issues. And the ending monolog Eustace did was terribly cheesy.
2) Dark Island: such a lame scene. It's about as anti-Lewis as it gets.
3) just one left, so many to choose from...
I guess I'll go with the coriakin scene, because it seemed like the cheesiest scene seeing the trailer, and to me, it sort of stands for all the cheesiness in the film. Some terrible dialogue, the whole 'be yourself' theme, ... although I liked the lightning and the map...
Good:
1) the scene where reep talks of AC was cool, although I didn't really like georgie's acting.
euhm, ..., wow, I have a hard time remembering other scenes that were more than just OK. I think I'll have to leave it at that... :S
Best
1. The Sea Serpent fight, well done and thrilling.
2. The whole ending. They kept Aslan's quote!! Sure it was a little shallow but special effects were incredible, the mood was perfect and the credits sequence blew me away!
3. Eustace and Caspian! Will Poulter was so perfect and hilarious, and I really enjoyed Caspian being more sure of himself and authortative. (No accent!)
Worst
1. The entire Dark Island storyline, very poorly thought out and the execution was even worse.
2. The cinematography was some of the worst I have ever seen(It was that bad)!!! And the script (Except for Eustaces!) was almost as bad.
3. The Lone Islands. I really missed the dialogue between Gumpas and Caspian, and the fighting was pretty poor too.
Best:
1)Eustace's Introduction
A nice way to translate the book's intro into the Movie
2)Entering the painting
Good transistion. Captured the spirit of the book.
3) I can't think of anything else good about the movie....
Well one last thing I like was the combination of Dragon Island and Goldwater. I suggested that this would be good idea way to speed up and shorten the story without getting rid of any islands (turned out they had plently of other ways to shorten the story as well.....) But they fit together well, as they both dealt issues of greed.
Worst:
Pretty much the entire movie, but if I have to pick three moments
1)Lone Islands fight:
This scene accomplished the complete opposite of what the book accomplished. Pointless addition to add action.
2) First showing of the green mist
Even if you ignore the fact that it made no sense story-wise or the fact that it completely strayed from the book, the animation here was just purely......... terrible <--- And that is the least harsh way to possibly say it.
3) "Extraordinary things happen to extraordinary people"
NO NO NO!!! One of the cool things about this story is that ordinary characters are experiencing extraordinary things. Another thing, Eustace was turned into a dragon as a punishment, not as a reward for being "special." Also, Reep would never say that.