I definitely agree Aslan's Country should have been more developed in the film. It would have piqued the audiences' interests throughout the main quest and the big reveal of World's End would have been more satisfying.

See, I always got the impression, from reading the book, that the longing for Aslan's country was specifically a part of Reepicheep's character arc. Edmund and Lucy are intrigued by the idea that you could actually sail to Aslan's country, but it isn't a drive for them the way it is for Reepicheep.

As for the rest of the crew, I'm going to use the exact same quote you used:

"That is my main intention, but Reepicheep here has an even higher hope."

In other words, he clearly defines the the longing for Aslan's country as Reep's longing, not anyone else's. It isn't until Aslan's country comes within their grasp that Caspian is overcome with the desire to see it.

Basically, I thought they did a good job of establishing Reepicheep's desire for Aslan's country. I think it was more effective, on film, to portray it as an intimate conversation between him and Lucy.

You sure ask hard questions, gP, but it's good and interesting to think over things like this and try to figure out answers (if there's any at all).

Back when the three clips were released, in the third clip, Lucy asked, "Aslan's Country... I would what it's like." Eustace replied "I can't quite even imagine it, really." So, as far as we know, the cut out parts of the film (like this one) may have had more emphasis on the anticipation for Aslan's Country.

But they didn't use those scenes in the end (if they had any, who knows), so to be honest, there is very little anticipation for it. Besides the scene with Reep and Lucy, and somewhat later on at the end, we don't get to experience those feelings of wonder and excitement like in the book. Reepicheep in the book dreamed so much about it, and yet in the film, it's like he thinks about it, but it's rare and less important when he does. Even Reep's look on how he'd get into Aslan's Country had changed immensely, from "I will do anything to get into Aslan's Country." to "If I'm noble enough, I think I'll be lucky enough to go there."

Even the main reason to go there was dampened. In the book, even before they learned about going to AC to break the curse on the three sleepers, they intended to go to Aslan's Country, because it was Reepicheep's dream, and it inspired them to see it as well. Instead, in the movie, they just go there pretty much because "Well, we've gone this far."

None of the characters beside Reepicheep and Lucy briefly ever really show interest or longing to Aslan's Country. The GM and 7S plot was so strong that it pushed out any reason for the characters to feel anything for AC. Eustace was lucky enough to be near it in the undragoning, but it didn't seem to build any tension for him later on.

So, here's another place I want to say, "Oh, yes! They completely did it like in the book! Even with the kinks, those were marvelous scenes!" But I only see a disappointment of a forgotten theme of the book: longing. Whether or not the GM and 7S plot was there, they needed to focus on the build-up of Aslan's Country; because they didn't, we didn't get to have those feelings of wonder and excitement, which ruined the revelation of Aslan'ts Country and the purpose of VDT.

EDIT: Anhun, because it was Reep's longing, it grew on everyone else, and it instantly became their longing too. Caspian wanted to see the end of the world so badly that when he was told he couldn't, he bashed his crew for it until Aslan talked to him. I can't remember this, but didn't Edmund or Lucy ask Aslan if they would get to see Aslan't Country as well (I may be wrong, sorry!). And when they all tasted the water, they were very excited. I think one reason they were so excited for Aslan's Country was because they all liked Reepicheep, and longed to see him make it to Aslan's Country. I don't have too much evidence on this, but someone else would also point out it's in book just as much as Reep's longing is.

Don't forget the scene of Edmund and Caspian's conversation during the campfire on Goldwater island:

Caspian: "When I was a boy, I imagined sailing to the end of the world, finding my father there."
Edmund: "Maybe you will."

Reepicheep's longing for Aslan's Country was definitely there. Not as much as I thought there would be, but it was the right amount. It was placed near the beginning of the movie, right after Caspian introduces his mission of the voyage (finding the seven lords). That was well done.

And, if it helps, I'll mention the shot that served as a reminder of Reepicheep's longing for Aslan's Country: the shot of Reep on the dragon prow in the storm

It's a real shame that Reep's desperate desire was so downplayed in the movie. I don't have a whole lot to say about this anymore other than it was a big waste of beautiful cinematic potential. I mean what did we get in its place? Nothing anywhere near as compelling.

NarniaWebber Rilian did a little experiment that I think is very telling. He picked about a dozen reviews at random, looked at the part of each review where the story was summarized, and kept track of how many reviewers mentioned the lords, the swords, and Aslan's country. He said all of them mentioned the swords, a few mentioned the lords, and none mentioned Aslan's country. Hardly surprising. It's not an important part of the story. The emotional essence of the book has been reduced to a thin subplot (at most) in the movie.

See, I always got the impression, from reading the book, that the longing for Aslan's country was specifically a part of Reepicheep's character arc. Edmund and Lucy are intrigued by the idea that you could actually sail to Aslan's country, but it isn't a drive for them the way it is for Reepicheep.

I definitely agree that Reepicheep longs for Aslan's country much more than the others. But, for me at least, the anticipation of possibly reaching Aslan's country at the end of the journey is what drives the story, emotionally. Yes, I also get caught up in the mystery of the seven lords...but in the back of my mind, there is a sense of anticipation for the ending that comes from hoping they'll reach Aslan's country and wondering what it might be like.

"That is my main intention, but Reepicheep here has an even higher hope."

My point is simply this: In the book, Lewis puts the lords and Aslan's country on the same level by establishing both in the same scene. In the movie, Aslan's country feels like an after-thought. A secret desire Reep has.

The emotional essence of the book has been reduced to a thin subplot (at most) in the movie.

You and I strongly disagree on the emotional essence of the book. When I read the book, I don't feel an overriding anticipation for Aslan's Country, nor do I get "caught up in the mystery of the seven lords." For me, the whole point of the book is the struggle to find balance that various characters must face on the different islands. The emotional impact of the book is in the journey itself, not the destination or the goal. The quest for the seven lords is merely there to provide context. The longing for Aslan's country is just one character story among several.

Anhun, we may disagree on the importance of Aslan's country in the book, but it seems we agree that it was not central in the movie.

The longing for Aslan's country is just one character story among several.

I strongly disagree that it's "just" another character story. It is the central character story. It is by far the most developed arc in the book. It is established in chapter 2, developed throughout the story, and then given a final resolution at the end. But if you would like to compare the development of the other arcs to Reep's arc and show how they are more or less developed the same, or are the same in terms of prominence and importance in the book, I'd be willing to listen.

The climax of the book is Reep's departure. I think Lewis chose this for the climax because it completes both goals/hopes for the voyage. It awakens the final three lords, and it completes Reep's journey. There is a wonderful elegance to that. Lewis resolves both plots with one emotional climactic event. That's solid story-telling.

In the movie, going to Aslan's country at all is an after-thought. Edmund even says "well...we've come this far." This is a far cry from the book, where they had to go to Aslan's country to complete the two central plots.

This was one of the saddest parts of the whole movie. Aslan's Country was so under developed. If this was the only problem with the movie I still would have disliked it. I was more excited about seeing Aslan's Country then I was about half the other island and then in the movie they took away the excitement.

I wish they had talked a lot more about Aslan's Country; which to me represents heaven. When they're at Ramandu's Island, in the movie, they didn't even talk about Aslan's Country. The audience didn't even see Ramandu! Whereas in the book after the seven lords had been accounted they all were fascinated by Aslan's Country. Even Caspian desired to go there. It was all revolved around the "green mist." I think the filmmakers missed the most important part of the book.

I strongly disagree that it's "just" another character story. It is the central character story. It is by far the most developed arc in the book. It is established in chapter 2, developed throughout the story, and then given a final resolution at the end. But if you would like to compare the development of the other arcs to Reep's arc and show how they are more or less developed the same, or are the same in terms of prominence and importance in the book, I'd be willing to listen.

First of all, I'm glad you said that last bit. You have a tendency to talk as though your interpretation of the book is the only possible interpretation. Maybe that's just my impression.

As for the character arcs of VDT, there is no central arc. That is one thing that gives the book such an interesting and varied tone. There are four major character arcs: Eustace, Lucy, Caspian and Reepicheep. It would be difficult to rank them in order of importance.

Lucy struggles with the desire to be popular at other people's expense and she experiences a crisis of virtue on Magician's Island. On the one hand, her arc has special importance because she is one of the focal characters. Much of the book is told from her perspective in third person limited. Also, she has three chapters that spotlight her struggle. On the other hand, her arc is less important because there is absolutely no build up or follow up. If you deleted the part of the book that takes place on Magician's Island, the reader would have no idea that Lucy had internal struggles of any kind.

Reepicheep's arc is given almost the opposite treatment. He is not a focal character and there is no section of the book that really spotlights his journey. The introduction of his longing for Aslan's country is one part of a larger "orientation package" if you will. And his passage to Aslan's country is part of the farewell scene for all of the characters, including Lucy and Edmund's final farewell to Narnia. At the same time, his tendency to define himself through grandiose acts of bravery, with no sense of compassion or forgiveness, is a theme that threads through most of the book.

I would say Caspian's arc, involving his struggle to define himself as a leader, is a bit better developed that Reepicheep or Lucy's. Like Lucy, he has a section of the book (the Lone Islands sequence) that focuses on his particular struggle. But, like Reepicheep, his journey is a theme that is present in most of the book.

If I was forced to pick one character as the central character of VDT, it would be Eustace. His problems are introduced in the very first paragraph of the book, and his transformation is referenced in the last. He is one of the focal characters, he has a section of the book devoted to his struggle with pride and self-absorption, and there is build-up and follow up throughout the book.

^ We seem to agree that the hope of finding Aslan's country is not a central part of the film.

The main point of this thread is that the VDT story is about two things that come together at the end: 1) The search for the lords, and 2) The hope of finding Aslan's country. The movie watered down the first, and totally missed the second.

CS Lewis said, "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." That is the emotional essence of VDT.

As for the character arcs of VDT, there is no central arc. [...] It would be difficult to rank them in order of importance.

Reepicheep's arc is developed in chapter two alongside the missing seven lords, developed, and then given a powerful resolution at the end. Huge point: The climax is his arc is simultaneously the climax of the entire book. It would be very difficult to rank his arc behind anyone elses.

The central arc is the longing for one's true home, for something beyond the world, and ultimately the joy of finding it.

Throughout the book, the crew is sailing into the unknown (in a magical world). They might find absolutely anything (good or bad)...or perhaps nothing. On one hand that's a little scary, but on the other hand it's incredibly exciting. The possibility of finding whole new places! (Uncle Andrew shares this excitement in MN). The possibility of finding something...more. Perhaps something literally beyond the world (see above CSL quote).

This is reflected throughout the story, including the scene where Lucy goes up to read the magician's book. It's scary because she might find absolutely anything. We're off the map in a magical world, so as far as we know there are no rules. Anything could happen. This ends up changing into the wonder of what she does find. A kind of magic totally unknown in Narnia.
Lucy's "arc" is a few pages long. It's a little episode that happens while reading The Magician's Book. That's all. I really don't think "arc" is even the right word.

Much the same with Caspian. The reason his heartbreak at the end is powerful is that the possibility of finding the world's end is a huge part of what drives the story....and Caspian is stopped just short of it. Imagine his heartbreak! He came all that way just be turned back at the doorstep. This heartbreak makes his arrival at Aslan's country in SC that much more powerful.

Bookending the story with Eustace shows the transformation of someone who discovered there is indeed something beyond the world. This world is not all that there is. At the beginning, Eustace is caught up in his own little world (seen through his own little filter where he is a wonderful person), and Aslan has to break him out of that. In SC, when Jill asks Eustace why he is so different, he replies "Supposing I told you I'd been in a place where animals can talk and where there are - er - enchantments and dragons - and well, all the sorts of things you have in fairy-tale."

Point: The emotional essence of VDT is the hope/anticipation of finding something beyond the world (with Aslan's country beyond the ultimate hope of course). Finding something...more. The scenes with Lucy, Caspian, Eustace, and especially Reepicheep are all a part of this central emotional through-line.

Out of curiosity: When was the last time you read VDT all the way through?

I agree with you, glumPuddle
The way I saw it, Aslan's Country seemed not only "not central" in the movie, but it was almost sticking out. It looked as though the orignial scriptwriters attempted to rewrite the book into a "dramatic " mystery about finding the seven swords and took out any reference to Aslan's Country, but then at the last minute realized they had to stick something about it into there, so they cut and slapped some random quotes by Reepicheep in somewhere. Many people may disagree with me on this, but that was the impression I received when I watched the movie.
It seemed there was generally too much emphasis on stereo type "epic-ness", things we "knew" would make an "epic" movie, (big serpant battle scene, searching for lost swords) and not enough on the "not-so-showy" but vitally important things, like the longing for Aslan's Country. It was there, but not nearly as strong as it should have been. Of course, this is my opinion.

Finally watched the movie. Between Reep's little song and the aftermath of defeating Smokey J, I don't recall hearing or seeing a single reference to Aslan's Country. I think those that are insisting it was still somehow a driving force are reading things into the film based upon their knowledge of the book. Seeing Reep standing on the prow *once* doesn't tell the audience that he's just dying to see Aslan's Country, especially when his only mention of it is a brief conversation with Lucy.

And the way in which Aslan's Country is finally reached was irritating. Edmund's "Well, we've come this far." was almost enough for me to switch the DVD off and watch something else. It's flippant and trivializes it. It's like, well there's this tourist trap that happens to be right next to us, guess we can stop there for a second to take photos.

And don't even get me started on Caspian only caring if his father was in Aslan's Country and whether Aslan could tell him that his father was proud of him. For the book series receiving so much flack for supposed sexism, I found the fact that Caspian apparently considers his mother's eternal fate and opinion to be irrelevant to be far more sexist than anything in the books.