Actually, aragorn2, I can't say much more. I will add that pretty much everything that is distressing in the trailers is either a)not in the film b)not as big as it seems or c)makes pretty much complete sense when in its proper context.

Actually, aragorn2, I can't say much more. I will add that pretty much everything that is distressing in the trailers is either a)not in the film b)not as big as it seems or c)makes pretty much complete sense when in its proper context.

Any level-headed person should have known this all along. Of course, they weren't the ones recording and writing "analysis" of a two-minute trailer from a two-hour film.

Well, spartan5, some of it did seem to play a very major part in the trailers, the way that important parts of the film do. The construction of the trailers did give cause for concern, HOWEVER, it is unfounded in the actual film. And, actually, I think some certain clips of trailer are from extra footage in PC. I'm not sure about that, though. I just can't find where on earth it would be, say, a cut scene from VDT.

Yes - there is at least one scene from the trailer that I found nowhere in the film.

They were probably just scenes cut from the movie or made especially for the trailer

Not sure if this is a review or someone commenting on the trailer, but this may be the first negative review for VDT... oh well
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/11/26/movies-narnia-the-voyage-of-the-dawn-treader.html

What do you think? Is it legit? After all, the writer only mentions stuff from the trailers...

It's just a writer trying to sound hip by dissing Narnia. Don't let it bother you, considering we haven't seen much else negative from the critics. I mean, come on, the reviewer even suggests that they ought to bring back the White Witch big time. No thanks!

What do you think? Is it legit? After all, the writer only mentions stuff from the trailers...

If the reviewer was really familiar with VDT (other than the opening line), then it would be obvious that the dragon, sea creature and End of the World were all true to the book, and not rip offs.

Granted, I could have done without the glowing swords, but it seems to me that other Lost & HP are imitations of VDT, not the other way. If the reviewer can think of another way to depict a dragon, sea monster and the End of the World, and still remain consistent with the book, I would love to hear it.

I think that this reviewer simply does not like the Chronicles (Take the reviewer's opening line ). I wonder if he's read VDT, because there are no glowing swords (or forgotten spells either, as far as I remember) .

Just because there are lords in Tolkien's books doesn't mean that because there are lords in VDT, that Lewis ripped off from Tolkien.

Despite, some disagreements with the Newsweek review, it's still concerning and plays with my fear of what the film might be like. I'm not going to toss this review aside simply because the reviewer wasn't a fan of the book or that he probably couldn't do a better job. That's why he's a critic, not a filmmaker.
He made a disturbing point that closely reflects my greatest fear, which is that there's NOTHING special about the film that makes it stand out from Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and other fantasy films. The film is formulaic and lacks originality (the film, not the book).

I hate to be a downer but this review is legit and shouldn't be ignored. This review publication isn't by some unknown movie web critic. Check Rottentomatoes.com and you'll find Newsweek publications as the "Cream of the Crop" of film reviewers. That and think of the affect the negative press will have on the thousands of people that read Newsweek.

Except that when I tried to follow the provided link I got thrown off Internet altogether, and when I tried to access Newsweek by googling it, I found the URL was different from the one given. It would be last week's edition, I take it. I wouldn't take the review lightly, but Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 has also come in for criticism from reviewers, despite its much heavier promotion.

I'm more concerned at the moment that there is absolutely no mention in today's papers about VDT, excepting a brief coming soon mention, that there are no promotions anywhere that I could see, not even a 2011 calendar to buy, and that I can't buy advance tickets, even online, to next Saturday's sessions of a movie that is to be released here next Thursday.

But this isn't a legit review, or it would be on the Rotten Tomatoes site. The fact that Newsweek.com is labeled as the "Cream of the Crop", but VDT still has the label "No Reviews Yet" just proves that this definitely isn't an official review many will read, and might just be his expectations going into seeing the film.

Just trying to be a little optimistic about this one.

I'm not going to toss this review aside simply because the reviewer wasn't a fan of the book or that he probably couldn't do a better job. That's why he's a critic, not a filmmaker.
...I hate to be a downer but this review is legit and shouldn't be ignored. This review publication isn't by some unknown movie web critic.

All well and good. Criticis have a purpose. But I have been around long enough to make up my own mind. I saw the film a over couple of weeks ago and I think the review is a lot of hooey. If it is believed that Lost & HP were/are like VDT, so be it. But the film, while making obvious departures from the book (glowing swords additions to the plotline, making changes in sequence, etc.) also remained true to the book in many ways.

Again, having read and understood the books as a kid, having read them to my children and having seen the movie, I would ask the reviewer how else the dragon, book of incantations, sea creature and end of the world could be done? They are central to the story, and cannot be removed.

Perhaps the writers of fantasy borrowed these themes from CS Lewis and the only problem is that they got their material on film first. That does not necessarily make the film formulaic. It certainly does not make the story formulaic, because, as the critic acknowledged, it came first.

The critic acknowledges the primacy of VDT, then accuses it of lifting from other sources. You can't have it both ways.

You shouldn't worry about Newsweek - it is a dying magazine. 'Twas recently sold for $1 - yes, one US dollar. The WHOLE organization. Just to give you an idea for the value the marketplace put on the opinions and news in that rag.

But this isn't a legit review, or it would be on the Rotten Tomatoes site. The fact that Newsweek.com is labeled as the "Cream of the Crop", but VDT still has the label "No Reviews Yet" just proves that this definitely isn't an official review many will read, and might just be his expectations going into seeing the film.

Just trying to be a little optimistic about this one.

haha, sorry if I sounded pessimistic... didn't really want to come off as one. In regards of the review not being on RT yet, it's only because RT doesn't publicize the reviews until the opening weekend. This is done to avoid getting sued by the studio if the movie tanks in the box-office due to early negative reviews.

All well and good. Critics have a purpose. But I have been around long enough to make up my own mind. I saw the film a over couple of weeks ago and I think the review is a lot of hooey. If it is believed that Lost & HP were/are like VDT, so be it. But the film, while making obvious departures from the book (glowing swords additions to the plotline, making changes in sequence, etc.) also remained true to the book in many ways.

Perhaps the writers of fantasy borrowed these themes from CS Lewis and the only problem is that they got their material on film first. That does not necessarily make the film formulaic. It certainly does not make the story formulaic, because, as the critic acknowledged, it came first.

I can't speak for the reviewer and I definitely don't let movie critics decide whether a film is good or not for me, although they generally raise valid concerns. Yes, the book came first and was vastly different from typical save-the-world quest found in most fantasy series. However, the movie have changed the very thing that made it unique and different from other fantasy novels and turned it to a fetch quest for seven swords to save Narnia rather than an allegorical, spiritual journey of finding one's true home. Was it possible to create such a film? I believe it was, despite the possible difficulties in doing so. VODT could have been the film that proved to both Narnian fans and casual movie-goers that the franchise can be more than a typical fantasy film. However, this review from a non-Narnian fan tells us that VODT is just more of the same. Not horrible but also nothing special.