It all depends on a change of perspective from the producers. Perhaps MN will be more tolerable if the producers were less greedy.

MN is a profoundly uncinematic book. The central thread that ties everything together takes place in the hero's mind. It's very much an internal journey. If they are completely faithful to the book on a literal level, keeping the exact same action and dialogue, it will be a horrible, confused movie, and largely unfaithful to the spirit of the book as well. I don't think anyone wants that.

Now let's consider the other extreme: They could focus on "how can we turn this into a money-maker?" They'll want an easy-to-follow, action-based story, with a proper beginning, middle and climax. They'll also want to give Jadis as much screen time as humanly possible, because she's a popular character. I have a very clear idea (a treatment if you will) in my head of exactly how this concept would play out, but I won't write it here on the chance, however remote, that someone from Walden might read it and think it's fantastic. This approach would at least please some people, although I don't think it would bring in even VDT's domestic box office.

Then there's what I consider the happy medium. They find some novel way to center the story on Digory's emotional journey, rather than his ongoing struggles with the White Witch, which are only one piece of that. This would require tremendous creativity and artistic integrity, especially on the part of the writers, and, imo, the composer could help with this a lot too. It will likely please some people, but it's still a huge gamble whether or not it will bring general audiences back to the franchise.

Frankly, based on their track record (not just with Narnia), I suspect that Walden will go with door number 2.

I voted 40% because I don't think Walden will be able to do any better than that. So far, all of the Narnia movies have followed a basic formula: angsty kids and teenagers wind up in a magical land where they fight off evil in an epic battle and discover that if they're true to themselves they can be happy. MN does not fit this formula at all. And since it doesn't fit the formula, Walden will feel the need to change it.

(You should include a 0 in there since you included 100 )

In all seriousness though I find it hard to put a numerical value on it cause there's so many levels to faithfulness. I guess though if I could call LWW 90-95%, PC 80-85%, and VDT 65-75% well I'd guess MN to be roughly in the lower PC ballpark... so I'd say 73-83%. In contrast with SC either 45-55% to 85-95% depending on their approach (which right now doesn't look too good). Even MN is scaring me a little. (At least if they change HHB, I can see them getting away with being totally afraid of the nonexistent racist issue and still edging their way and getting the 90-99% with no problem.) As for LB... don't get me started... (PS I know this was MN specific, but my brain went into a bit of a post-midnight ramble, and it's kinda relevant... but sorry for any offtopicness ) Anyway I voted 80%

Of course a lot depends on what you mean by faithfulness. The film most faithful to the book might also be hard to watch for all sorts of reasons. In PC when 33% of the book was exposition, when a lengthy flashback was involved and when there is a bit that most PC - oops, PG film makers would not attempt in today's climate, then there is going to be a bit of a swap around, with changes to be made. And then there is the difference between watching an episode of a television serial, with nice breaks every now and then and watching a complete movie with no breaks. There is also how the filmmakers approach the lead characters.

MN is a profoundly uncinematic book. The central thread that ties everything together takes place in the hero's mind. It's very much an internal journey. If they are completely faithful to the book on a literal level, keeping the exact same action and dialogue, it will be a horrible, confused movie, and largely unfaithful to the spirit of the book as well. I don't think anyone wants that.

I see your point about being faithful to the book. But I don't agree that MN is a profoundly uncinematic book. Far from it. 'Just because something is in one's mind doesn't make it any the less real'. Or so said Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Magician's Nephew is far more cinematic than VDT which when I first read it, seemed like an adventurous holiday cruise, where they all have a ripping good time with good mates, ending up on the shoreline of Aslan's country. Except for Eustace who made the mistake of thinking that Susan's real life cruise to America would be preferable because of the 'mod cons'. If it wasn't for Eustace's adventures as a dragon, and the moral issues, any VDT film risks being little more than a series of holiday snaps of what stops they made, who they met and what sorts of trouble they got into.

By contrast, Magician's Nephew does have a fair share of villains, dust-ups and quests, as well as moral issues, even topically moral issues. Like the ethics of messing around with things you don't undestand. Or exploiting a world in the name of progress. Or the difference between tyranny and good government. Or between freedom and slavery. Or trying things just because they are there or if someone dares you to do something you shouldn't.

It has Jadis for villain, as well as the avuncular Andrew Ketterley who has made a life study of messing around with his fairy godmother's fairy dust. There is implied action in Charn when Jadis relates exactly how she got to be the last living person there. Jadis in London involves a fracas bad enough for a London bobby to be demolished. And once they all reach Narnia, there is the quest to get the apple, then to escape Jadis' blandishments. There are some scenes if handled right which would be a fair treat to see. Such as the Hall of statues in Charn's palace, the Wood between the Worlds, the foundation of Narnia and that garden at the top of the hill. And I can't wait to see the interaction between Uncle Andrew, Aunt Letty and Jadis, and Jadis' rampage through London.

I doubt whether a film would include Uncle Andrew being made a pet of by the newly awakened animals though it would be a real treat if they did. Especially when Uncle Andrew is christened 'Brandy'. Nor do I think Uncle Andrew's posturings when he had partaken of a stiff brandy, will feature, let alone his frequent demands and requests for strong spirit.

What is risky about Magician's Nephew is that it hasn't been tried beforehand, not even by the BBC television series. The only other comparisons are the two audio dramas with BBC (which has the brandy tippling in it) and FoTF which does not. On the whole I think that the BBC version is better than the FotF version, which also has Uncle Andrew talking to the animals, which he certainly did not do in the book.

I voterd 40% and that's me being optimistic.

'Just because something is in one's mind doesn't make it any the less real'. Or so said Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Magician's Nephew is far more cinematic than VDT which when I first read it. .
.

The fact that something is real, doesn't make it easy to interpret on screen. Basically, the more the psychological narrative is linked to action or dialog, the easier it is to adapt a story to film. If the narrative covers a lot of ground that isn't reflected in the action and dialog, it's harder to adapt faithfully. If the narrative, as separate from the action, is the only thread of coherence in the book, then the book becomes extremely tricky. I think it's very telling that your analysis of MN's merits was rambling and not very coherent (no offense). That's how the film itself is likely to be if they don't find away to tie everything together, either through a creative interpretation of the narrative, or something they invent. Having a few cool scenes isn't going to save MN any more than it saved VDT, especially in the American market.

Imho it depends entirely on who makes this film so this question is being ask a bit prematurely for me.

If it's the same group that made VDT, I won't have very high hopes. But if it's a completely new group of people, I'll be cautiously optimistic until we hear more.

But as far as my own person opinion on what changes will likely be made, I think the movie will be fairly close to the book until right after Aslan creates the world of Narnia. After that, I think we'll see some changes.

I think it's very telling that your analysis of MN's merits was rambling and not very coherent (no offense).

Should I have used bullet points merely to list items, in order to be seen to be coherent and not ramble? In any case, I doubt there would be a completely faithful adaptation of Magician's nephew because of the sort of person Uncle Andrew is.

Whilst I understand your point about matching the action with the narration, how would you summarise the plot of Magician's Nephew in 25 words or less?

I voted 60% faithful. To me, as adaptions, the Narnia films have been mixed, to near mixed. I think/hope the trend will continue with the future films, that is, if there are any more.

Whilst I understand your point about matching the action with the narration, how would you summarise the plot of Magician's Nephew in 25 words or less?

A grieving boy travels through different universes. He faces the darkness and light within himself, finding his true source of courage in the Lion Aslan.

It's not razzle dazzle, but it's MN in a nut shell.

No, bullets might have made your defense of MN visually clearer, but it would not have made it more coherent. You were reciting different loosely related elements of the book, without a concept of how a film maker would bring it all together in a way that keeps the audience emotionally invested. That is the essential problem in filming MN.

I voterd 40% and that's me being optimistic.

Ditto. 40% accuracy is actually what I usually expect from a book to movie adaptation, since they're usually so infamously inaccurate. I'll be optimistic and say 40%. My negative side wants to say 0% though.

I think MN could be a great movie. Everyone says it's the least cinematic, but to me, even when I first read it, I always felt it was the most cinematic of all 7. When I read it, I feel like I'm watching a movie, because it seems almost to be in that format, rather than typical book format.

But, judging on what Walden Media has done in the past, I doubt it'll be above 40%.

~Riella

Well, my vote was 60%. From the length of the discussions I expect that Walden will try harder.

A grieving boy travels through different universes. He faces the darkness and light within himself, finding his true source of courage in the Lion Aslan.

Not bad! My effort went as follows:

Grieving Digory's friend, Polly, is tricked into another world. While rescuing her, Digory awakens an old evil which pursues both children home and beyond.

You were reciting different loosely related elements of the book, without a concept of how a film maker would bring it all together in a way that keeps the audience emotionally invested

I wasn't trying to develop a concept of how a film maker would bring it all together. But if I was a film-maker I would remember that this particular Narnia story, unlike VDT, does indeed have a villain - or two. And I would emphasize that.

I would remember that it is Polly being spirited away by Digory's unscrupulous anti-environmental progress for progress' sake freak, Uncle Andrew, that provides the initial problem. It is Digory's curiosity that takes them both to Charn, and it is Digory's fault which awakens Jadis, who proves very difficult to get rid of. Getting rid of the amoral Jadis then provides much of the dynamics for the film, and much of the chaos. Like an unwanted introduced species she not only disrupts London but she also infects Aslan's newly created Narnia.

There is also the added difficulty that Digory's mother is dying and should not be disturbed. Yes, that gets Digory quite a bit of sympathy he wouldn't get otherwise. I feel for Digory, but really he is no better than Bart Simpson letting loose his pet frog on landing in Australia. Jadis is somewhat more sinister than Bart Simpson's koala hanging on at the back of the fleeing helicopter, with all sorts of unforseen consequences to the American environment should we let loose our infamous eucalyptus munchers on you. At least Digory apologises and tries to make amends for what he did.

I think myself that these are the factors which would drive any movie of Magician's Nephew. As an afterthought, should Polly and Digory have left the guinea pig in the Wood between the Worlds?

I voted 60%, but it really depends on who makes the film. If we get a director who really loves Narnia we may have a chance for a good adaption!