I for one am a huge fan of the way they handled Peter's attitude in PC, in my opinion it made him less of a Mary Sue, which if we think about he kinda was in the books and it made him human and for me all that much more likeable. Lets face it, Will wasn't the best actor, but his best scenes were when he was angry. I think his best lines are during his fight with Caspian after the night raid. I really think this added to the story by giving Peter a whole new dimension that we haven't seen before.

As far as the Susan/Caspian romance went, I really wouldn't have minded it if they had made it important to the story. But all they did was make it silly and a non factor. It had no role in the plot whatsoever. If they had fleshed it out and actually gave it a reason for being there, I might have liked it.

The green mist was... Well... The green mist. It was the anchor that sank all of VDT. Basically, it wasn't in the book. The previous changes were okay because the movie as a whole stuck to the spirit of the original story. The green mist took C.S Lewis' work and replaced it with some script writers demented and twisted version.

I'm completely fine with changes, if they are done right or for a very good reason. Like in PC when they changed how the river god was released and things like that don't bother me because it stayed mostly true to the book.
But some changes I think were very poor decisions
The ones you mentioned to me are probably the worst in my book:
The green mist:
this was the worst.
It was a change that bothered me because not only was it not in the book, but it took away from the book's story.
The green mist became the focus of the entire story.
Not finding the Seven Lost Lords and discovering their fate!
Peter's attitude:
I didn't mind Peter's attitude, but I think it could have been handled in a better way. I would not have had him clashing with Caspian so much.
I like that he wasn't perfect and made mistakes, I just think it came across to strong and in your face.
Caspian/Susan romance:
The reason the Caspian/Susan romance bugs me, is not only because is it not in the book, but also it has been done to death in my own opinion!

I'm undecided on the issues involving Peter's attitude.

With Suspian, I think it could have been done extremely well. I think there's a lot of fascinating concepts in the premise: being the same age, yet being born hundreds of years apart; being separated to the point where they're actually in other worlds. I think it could have been beautiful if the filmmakers had made it so. I wouldn't have a problem with there being a romance that wasn't in the book. The problem was they made them get too close too fast. There wasn't enough substance.

As for the Green Mist, I really doubt there would be any way to make that work well. The whole concept of it is bad. It partially takes away responsibility for people's actions. Humans, with their sin natures, don't need green mist to tempt them in order to make bad decisions or act like fools. And if you take that element away, there's really no good reason why the mist should even be there.

~Riella

I really don't have any problems with changes or additions, as long as they're done well. For example, the idea of Peter and Caspian's clashing is fascinating, and could potentially provide a great B-plot to contrast Miraz and his advisors--Peter and Caspian eventually reconcile because of their mutual trust in Aslan, but the Telmarines trust only in themselves and it brings them to ruin. However, because Peter's fall from the Magnificent is never properly set up, it comes across as OOC in the film.

First, let me say that I am a stickler for the original. Not the original movies, I mean the books. So I think any changes that are made in the movies should, in my opinion, keep very closely in step with the spirit of the books. That said, there are some major changes I didn't like.

Peter's attitude in PC didn't make much sense to me, even as a plot device to keep him "relatable"; remember that he and the others had grown up in Narnia. They have adult experience even while they're only children in our world. So why would Peter still have that childish attitude of "it's all about me"?

Susan and Caspian being a couple would have been fine, possibly... Maybe. If he hadn't fallen in love with Lillian in the next movie (and I loved how they portrayed her), it could have been not so sickening. But instead of developing Susan and Caspian's characters by the romance, it felt like a throw away. Even if I disagreed with the romance entirely (which I did), I could have been brought to like it if it had been used to add something interesting to the story. I'm sorry to Suspians everywhere, but I have to say that I don't believe it added anything.

As for the green mist... Honestly, I think VDT could have been best adapted to the screen in a mini-series, because of how many islands and diverse characters there are. (it's my second favorite novel of the series) I think they gave themselves too much to do in one movie and felt like they needed a way to tie all the islands together. Which really misses the point of VDT, as C. S. Lewis wrote in his notes for the story -

... To be a very green and pearly story.

It's a nautical adventure - and adventure doesn't need to have an enemy to be exciting, just a quest. Which is present in the form of Caspian trying to find the seven lords. So not only was the green mist not well done; it wasn't even necessary to the story.

But I do think there were some good changes, too. I liked the castle raid in PC, because I thought it was a great action sequence and kept with the spirit of rebellion against oppression that was the theme of the original. I also liked the little additions in LWW, like the scene with the girls by the river at Aslan's Camp; it was such a sweet little taste of sisterhood and a sad foreshadowing of Susan's disbelief.

Thanks for mentioning the castle raid, Dernhelm. The plan behind it was well-thought out, and could have worked if Caspian hadn't deviated (and later, could have avoided decimation if Peter had signaled the retreat). It was a clever addition to the plot.

I didn't mind Peter's attitude in PC since I thought it was pretty realistic. We often times try to revisit good times from our past and then have to accept that things can't be like that anymore. I think Peter was trying to hold onto the Golden Age and couldn't accept that he had to step down as the leader because that's who he was before.

As for Suspian, I think it was totally unnecessary. I think that glumpuddle's Narnia Fans React to Susan Kissing Caspian video pretty much sums up my feelings on that subject.

As for the green mist.... UGH. It totally changed the focus of the story and I think it brought up non-Christian ideas that Lewis would hate. The story seemed humanistic and took the focus off of Aslan because of the mist. It was also incredibly cheesy.

There are some changes I can try appreciate, but there are some major ones that I personally put my foot down at liking.
Such are:

- Susan/Caspian Romance: I think I joined Narniaweb solely to post in that one infamous thread because I saw so many people agreed. I found it inconsistent with the book (They have ONE LINE when they talk to each other in book, and that's when Susan says that Prince Caspian can keep her pencil or something. When was sheer politeness read as attraction?), an unnecessary addition that felt like bait for more fans who didn't like that LWW had no romance, completely spontaneous and very, like I said, inconsistent with the dignified manner of the 4 Kings and Queens of Narnia and Prince Caspian, because the Pevensies were history to Caspian. I'm not a romance fan, but I liked that there was one sweet, non-gushy romance between Caspian and Ramandu's Daughter... And Su/Cas completely ripped that apart and forever would interfere with Caspian/Ramandu's Daughter in any following films. And I don't feel like it contributed to the plot at all. This is the one thing in Prince Caspian that I resolutely can never and will never bring myself to like or even bypass through to watch the rest of the film. This is the one reason I refuse to own or even watch Prince Caspian for fun. EDIT: meaning, I won't watch it on a regular basis as I often plan to for LWW. (I will watch it for detailed reviewing purposes, but I forward the scene in order not to get too upset. ) I'll stop now so I don't rabbit trail and so I don't write too long.

The Green Mist: Different that the book, tried to be a good moral teacher but ended up having weak points, was a bit too obvious, and like Lilygloves said above, it kind of took the focus off of Aslan. ... I'd better stop.

Peter attitude problem: I didn't hate it that much, but it was a bit immature and not like the book (meaning, it hindered the development of friendship and agreement between Peter, Edmund, and Caspian that the book had), and again, it was inconsistent. And when it fit in with Su/Cas. (The whole "my big brother's fighting with my beloved" thing that's a bit cliche.)

This year I'm going to write an at least 100-paged book on my evaluations of the movie. (may or may not be joking)

If you write that book, I'll read it, and quite possibly agree with you on many points

Some of the changes might have been alright if they had been handled better. Although I didn't like that Peter wasn't all noble and "We're not here to take your place, you know, but to establish you in it", it's probably realistic that he might feel sore that it was all going away. I'm sure they could have conveyed that problem without making him all that arrogant, though. He could have been sad instead of mad.

But I do think there were some good changes, too. I liked the castle raid in PC, because I thought it was a great action sequence and kept with the spirit of rebellion against oppression that was the theme of the original.

Totally forgot to mention the Castle Raid! Thanks for the reminder!

I really liked the castle raid, that was a good change in my own opinion!

Peter attitude problem: I didn't hate it that much, but it was a bit immature and not like the book (meaning, it hindered the development of friendship and agreement between Peter, Edmund, and Caspian that the book had), and again, it was inconsistent.

I really think the problem with Peter's attitude wasn't that he had one, but rather the reasons for the attitude (...there weren't any). The set-up was poorly done, with Peter's only excuse being that he's a kid again. I think that if Peter had been more concerned that Narnia had fallen, and less concerned about it falling because he wasn't there, it would've gone over better. Also, I think Peter should have been thoroughly humbled by the failure of the castle raid, maybe even to the point of Heroic BSOD*, and then later be snapped out of it by the appearance of the White Witch... well. I don't know; I just think it could've been handled better.

This year I'm going to write an at least 100-paged book on my evaluations of the movie. (may or may not be joking)

Oh? Do share if you get around to it; I've been considering rewriting the three movies myself for awhile now, and so am always interested in opinion reviews of Walden's films.

*Heroic Blue Screen of Death: An earth-shattering revelation or horrible event affects the hero or someone he cares deeply about, leaving him flummoxed or shocked to the point of mentally shutting down for a while.

The Susan - Caspian romance I would not have minded at all had Caspian not be married to Liliandil/RD in VDT... I just hate it when a character falls in love with someone in one movie, and then falls in love fore some one else in another... It drives me crazy! If it had been anyone but Caspian, I wouldn't have cared as much.

The Green Mist Bothers me because it took the attention away from the Lords. If it had been a minor villain on Dark Island or some other Island alone it wouldn't be as much of a problem. Further more some of it looks very much like unfinished CGI

Peter's Character Change I think it was ok, but needed to be toned down in level of violence, Peter's supposed to be mature by PC, he should have handled it in a mature matter, not beat up people in a train station.

Gael I had abesolutely no qualms about... all qualms related to her story line are in reference to the Green mist only, in fact I rather liked her character. I wish we could have seen more.

Susan/Lucy Character Switch in PC Lucy seemed to have taken on Susan's Role as "Gentle," which makes one wonder how they ended up with the nicknames. Susan fighting I don't mind all together, but she should show some reluctance about it. Some hesitation about killing things as was mentioned in the book. Lucy I thought was brave, but I would have like to see Susan squirm as they cut open the Bear not Lucy. And I think Lucy was a bit to feminine in VDT... only slightly though, I can deal with it

Basically it depends on how the change effects the overall plot and character development in the series (not just one movie). Not the fact that it's just a change.

I believe it all has to do with the way the changes were executed. Maybe that's not the way for everyone, but it certainly is for me. I could handle the changes that were made (for of course, a book format more likely than not will not 100% transfer to film. It just doesn't work that way), so long as they tied back to what C.S. Lewis had created.

In LWW, for example, I absoultely love the opening scene of the bombing of London. Sure, it's one line in the book, but the expansion of it in film is an interesting way to introduce the four main characters (we are thrown into the chaos with them). Another thing that I really liked was that the Pevensies were provided with Narnian clothing at Aslan's camp. True, this isn't really a change from the book nor is it straight forward stated by Lewis, but no adaptation for LWW beforehand had included this. I know, a lot of people didn't like the melting river sequence, but I actually did. It gave the sense of urgency that the Pevensies could actually get caught or run into serious danger before they had reached Aslan. As a whole, no problems for me with the changes made in LWW.

For PC, it's a toss up. I did enjoy seeing Susan have more archery time. It didn't bother me because I still saw her gentle side - all her actions were based on protecting others. With the bear, she draws the string to protect Lucy, but can't actually bring herself to shoot. Before the raid on Miraz's castle, Susan brings up the reasoning of "digging in could hold them off indefinitely" - an attempt to avoid confrontaion (I refuse to believe it as backing Caspian up because she's in love with him ). When Susan takes on the Telmarine soldiers in the woods, I saw it as her own personal redemption to protect Lucy since she was unable to earlier in the film with the bear. In comparison, I cannot stand the inclusion of the Susan/Caspian romance. This is one thing I enjoy about the books - C.S. Lewis did not bring major romance between characters (I much prefer and enjoy the family and friends bonding that he presented). I also didn't like the feuding between Peter and Caspian. It would have been alright if the deleted scene where Peter prepares for the duel was included because it gives the sense that the two kings repsect one another and are willing to listen (you don't really get that in the final cut).

For VDT, I'd have to say most, if not all the changes, were executed poorly. The Green Mist as a villian just doesn't make any sense (I wouldn't have minded the mist if it had only appeared on Dark Island), the seven swords and the abscence of searching for the seven lords (it's like they didn't even care about the people - "Hey, there's a missing lord. Oh wait! There's the sword. Okay, let's move on."), Gael has no purpose - if anything, she gets in the way (actually, I was kind of hoping she'd fall overboard at some point). What I really couldn't take about Gael's inclusion was that they were trying to repeat the four heroes of LWW. It seemed Edmund took over the Peter role (struggling with the return to the real world and losing a kingly status - seen it - and destroying all the good qualities we could enjoy from his character in PC). Lucy became Susan, with the beauty obsession and looking after smaller Gael. Eustace was like Edmund in LWW - stubborn and a troublemaker. And then you have Gael who takes over the Lucy role - small, innocent, and believing in the impossible. Ugh, annoying. Why can't the characters just keep their own personalities instead of delving into others? That's what I like about what C.S. Lewis wrote into his characters - everyone was different, but they are all enjoyable and lovable. To continue: Lucy's obsession of wanting to be Susan (why couldn't it just be like the book?), the disappearance of Ramandu (why are we going to his island if we have no idea who he is?), the list goes on and on. If the plot changes don't tie together, why bother?

In LWW, for example, I absoultely love the opening scene of the bombing of London. Sure, it's one line in the book, but the expansion of it in film is an interesting way to introduce the four main characters (we are thrown into the chaos with them).

Ooo I forgot that one! I really enjoyed that scene, it gave us a good idea of where the characters were coming from. On a related note I also like how they had Ed miss his father so much and how it fed the conflict between him and Peter. It really gave his character more detail and background and it helped the audience relate a little better.