I think the Albatross (in the movie) was just a sign to Lucy that things would get better and that somehow Aslan was still in controll.

I was severely disappointed, both with Lucy's prayer and the albatross. Lucy barely looked fazed, hardly desperate, and the albatross had, like, not affect at all. What was the point?

true_narnia_forever Upon seeing it for a second and third time, however, it does seem rather rushed. I wanted just a *little* bit of pause before it came soaring in - more of a mark of Lucy's faith, rather than a magical answer to prayer or something.

Exactly! I've said this multiple times when asked about the film. The characters were not taken to a breaking point, which was a huge reason why the scenes lost emotional connection. THIS is supposed to be Lucy, at her breaking point, in despair, crying out to Aslan. I think this thread calls for a book quote!

Lucy leant her head on the edge of the fighting top and whispered, "Aslan, Aslan, if ever you loved us at all, send us help now." The darkness did not grow any less, but she began to feel a little, a very, very little better. "After all, nothing has really happened to us yet," she thought.
"Look!" cried Rynelf's voice hoarsely from the bows. There was a tiny speck of light ahead, and while they watched, a broad beam of light feel from it upon the ship. It did not alter the surrounding darkness, but the whole ship was lit up as if by a searchlight. Caspian blinked, stared round, saw the faces of his companions all with wild, fixed expressions. Everyone was staring in the same direction: behind everyone lay his sharply edged shadow.

Lucy looked at the bean and presently saw something in it. At first it looked like a cross, then it looked like an aeroplane, then it looked like a kite, and at last with a whirring of wings it was right overhead and was an albatross. It circled three times round the mast and then perched for an instant on the crest of the gilded dragon at the prow. It called out in a strong, sweet voice what seemed to be words though no one understood them. After that it spread its wings, rose, and began to fly slowly ahead, bearing a little to starboard. Drinian steered after it not doubting that it offered good guidance.But no one except Lucy knew that as it circled the mast it had whispered to her, "Courage, dear heart," and the voice, she felt sure, was Aslan's and with the voice a delicious smell breathed in her face.

After reading this again, I realize how big a difference this tiny part it. In the film, it is the characters, conquering the "darkness within themselves" and getting out of the dark Island. In the book, for the second time, Lewis is giving them battles that they cannot win alone. Eustace could not undragon himself, the Dawn Treader crew could not make it out of the Dark Island itself. I have to agree with Lirenel and Eustace If you don't bother to do the Albatross right, what's the point?

This was one of the few disappointments for me. If they were going to keep it that brief, and not explain or expand on it, they might as well have left it out! That way non-book fans wouldn't be confused and book fans wouldn't be disappointed.

I think the filmmakers truly missed the boat on this one. The director commented that Aslan isn't in the story much--well, he surely isn't in the film! But he IS in the book and they missed a lot of great chances to put him in. This scene needed to be drawn out more and the albatross needed to whisper to Lucy. Otherwise, what's the point? She sees a bird flying. The bird is on the screen for a fraction of a second. Big deal.

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An Albatross is a good omen. So when the Albatross appears after Lucy prays, it is a visual sign as an answer to her prayer.

(Don't you remember the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner? The crime was the fact that mariner killed the albatross. Albatross = good.)

The albatross is a good omen, we're not doubting that (yes, I've read a poem, try not to faint. ), but it was badly executed in the film.

Yeah, the Albatross was pretty much wasted in the movie. I saw it, and just said to myself "hey! it's the albatross," and then nothing. Sadly, I was too busy laughing my head off in the next scene. If you haven't seen it yet, I'm just going to say one thing: "Stay Puft Marshmallow Man."

Please explain this reference - someone said it on facebook and I don't get what it means!!

Which one, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man? Go watch Ghostbusters, and you'll know what I mean.

Okay, I saw the movie again tonight, and it was even better the second time through! Now, I paid particular attention to the albatross scene this time. This is how the scene goes, as I recall:

After Lord Rhoop throws his sword at (Dragon) Eustace, Eustace leaves and Lucy screams to Eustace for him to stay, but is not successful. Things get worse on the Dawn Treader as they're fighting the terrible beastie, while Eustace can be seen landing on the sandbank, obviously in much pain. Back on the Dawn Treader, things are really getting out of hand and Lucy whispers her line. Right after that, the camera cuts to the albatross flying in, and then cuts back to the Dawn Treader. Another cut back to the albatross, and it can be seen flying out of the island, towards the light. The fight on the Dawn Treader continues for a while, and then the undragoning happens (with some truly powerful music from David Arnold, might I add-), which ultimately helped out the crew on the Dawn Treader beat the dark island.

I know am pretty sure that the albatross was indeed Aslan, and after Lucy's prayer for help, he flew after Eustace in order to rid him of his burden. I quite like it now, actually. It's too bad that it wasn't clear the first time, as I really had to look for it. Remembering the interviews of the cast now, "If you want to see something deeper than just the story, you can look for it, and you will find it." True that

Sadly, I was too busy laughing my head off in the next scene. If you haven't seen it yet, I'm just going to say one thing: "Stay Puft Marshmallow Man."

When i went to see this movie at the premiere, my brother leant over to me at that exact moment and just said "Stay Puft!", and without any further explanation i knew what he meant.

Please explain this reference - someone said it on facebook and I don't get what it means!!

I'll explain - at the end of Ghostbusters 1, the disembodied voice of the main bad guy tells them that the next thing they think of will be the form he chooses to destroy the world. After a little bit of banter between the group, the character played by Dan Aykroyd (Ray Stantz) then says a near identical line to that of Edmund in this movie - "I couldn't help it! It just popped in there!" and cues the arrival of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man for the final battle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stay_Puft_Marshmallow_Man

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087332/quotes

I think if you haven't seen both movies, the connection might seem a bit vague and tenuous, but the phrasing and the delivery of the line is just so similar in style to that scene (possibly one of the most iconic and memorable scenes in the Ghostbuster movies) that its almost impossible not to notice if you have.

I didn't get the part with the Albatross...he flys in, circles, and...suddenly he's gone and we never see him again. We don't see him leading the Narnians out of the Dark Island as he does in the book. He's just...there...and then he's gone.
I just got a very random idea...what if the Albatross isn't even Alsan in the movie? (Of course, we all know it's Alsan from the book, but I'm speaking from the point of the movie now) What if they decided to make the Albatross Lilliandil? Like she can "change form" (If this is a distraction from your mission, I can change form), so she supposedly became an Albatross to encourage them? RANDOM IDEA, AND I HOPE IT"S NOT TRUE!!! What do you think?
At any rate, the scene definately needed to be elaborated on. It was too quick and kind of stuck out a bit...and the CGI was really bad!

Despite Lucy praying for "Aslan" to "help us", I don't think it was clear at all that the albatross was actually Aslan. It just looked like Aslan sent the albatross. I thik the point would have gotten across much better if we had seen Aslan as a lamb, then it would be understood that Aslan can change his form.

I absolutely love that they included that reference. Even if you have not read the books nor are familiar with the Rime of the Ancient Mariner, it is still a beautiful sign in the movie.

In the books I thought Aslan sent the Albatross (in a similar manner of how God sent a dove to Noah). I never knew the Albatross was suppossed to be Aslan. I guess it doesnt matter as long as the point gets across that Aslan helped them.

In the movie however, we don't even know why the Albatross shows up.