Hmm, not sure what I think about dropping the CoN from the title. Certainly there are a lot of people who dismiss the films right from the start because they perceive the series as being too little-kiddy. But then there is the name recognition factor. As much as I'm sure we all wish everyone who likes the movies would have also read the books, there are many who've never bothered. Will they even realize The Silver Chair is a Narnia film if that's the sole length of the title?

I don't think they can win either way, but it would be interesting if they experimented with leaving it off the title (to see what would happen....). I'm sure people (fans and haters) would still be able to tell it's a Narnia film even if it isn't pre-labeled as such. But then the brand is so important as a marketing tool it really shouldn't be left off. And them upgrading the rating of SC to PG-13 would help this brand be thought of as less "kiddie".

I have to admit, it would be refreshing to see a franchise film go with a simple title rather than a mile long title with Roman numerals, etc.

The majority of fans of the books are die hards. And those who are more casual fans either only read the first book or just watch the movies. The die hard fans would know "The Silver Chair" is a Narnia movie. And those who are casual fans would probably pick it up after seeing Eustace in the trailer.

But I still think this film should, at least in advertising, distance itself from the other three. I think they should focus less on Narnia, show NO Pevensies or the White Witch, and instead focus on the new characters (except Eustace) and promote the land of the Giants/Harfang/Ruined City/Underworld rather then the Narnia the audience is familiar with. It should feel like a fresh start to the series with the only exceptions being the character or Eustace and of coruse Aslan.

That's actually a much better idea, Josh! Now that the "Pevensie Connetcion" is completely gone, it's now or never that the movie makers face the facts that it's time they start promoting the movie without Peter, Susan, Edmund, or Lucy included. After all, although three of them are in HHB, they aren't the main characters. This also goes for the WW. With the exception of MN, the WW shouldn't be in anymore films that she is not originally in.

But it would be a great sucess if Walden and Fox could advertise SC with only a few known characters (such as Eustace, Aslan, and even Caspian), and bring out the movie with all the new characters, places, and so on. If they work really hard at it (and actually care), they could do a fantastic job at this! Of course, there's a strong chance they won't try this, but it would really please me if they did!

And them upgrading the rating of SC to PG-13 would help this brand be thought of as less "kiddie".

By the terms of Walden's agreement with the C.S. Lewis estate, they are not allowed to make it anything stronger than PG, so that's not an option.

I think they should market the story, and the characters, and the imagery. Can you imagine a shot of the florescent forest and of the snow dance?

Here's my idea for a theatrical trailer: Eustace discovers Jill blubbing, Jill asks him "do you ever wish you were anywhere but here?" or words to that effect. He asks her if she can keep a really terrific secret. The scene changes to the look of wonder on the kids' faces as they gaze on Aslan's country for the first time. Then, Aslan's saying "You would not have called me if I had not been calling you, Human Child. You are here to complete an important quest." A shot of the aged Caspian (played by Christopher Lee) looking sad but regal and resolute, as the voice of Glimfeather explains that since the disappearance of the Prince, the throne of Narnia is without an heir.

Then, the voice of Puddleglum says with Marshwigglian cheerfulness (what they consider cheerfulness) "A job like this - a journey up north at the start of winter" (shot of the kids and Puddleglum marching through the mountains) "looking for a Prince that probably isn't there" (shot of an indistinct Princely figure riding through the forest), "by way of a ruined city that no one has ever scene" (shot of the ruined city) "will be just the thing to steady a chap." (shot of Puddleglum trying to cut a caper in Harfang).

End the trailer with a montage of teaser shots (the snow dance, the florescent forest, the Green Lady on her horse, a shot of Rilian attacking the Silver Chair, Eustace and Jill clasping hands and saying their good byes in the Underland) as Harry Gregson-Williams' music plays in the background.

Hmm, not sure what I think about dropping the CoN from the title. Certainly there are a lot of people who dismiss the films right from the start because they perceive the series as being too little-kiddy. But then there is the name recognition factor. As much as I'm sure we all wish everyone who likes the movies would have also read the books, there are many who've never bothered. Will they even realize The Silver Chair is a Narnia film if that's the sole length of the title?

When Josh described the Narnia films as "kiddie rip offs of LotR" the operative word was rip off, not kiddie. I'm not sure why people keep talking about how they need to make the films more mature to get an audience. LWW was a children's movie and it did extremely well. Whereas, with PC, they did everything in their power to appeal to teens and young adults, and, in spite of riding a wave of good will from the first movie, PC had no legs at the box office and had poor DVD sales. The problem is that the last two Narnia films have both seemed like attempts to profit off of other successes, rather than strong films in their own right.

You asked "Will they even realize The Silver Chair is a Narnia film?" Casual and non-fans probably won't. That's exactly the point. As bad of a rep as the Narnia films have, we don't want them to. They've become the fantasy equivalent of Police Academy.

If they need to they can get Silver Chair a PG-13 rating. Walden and C.S. Lewis's estate could revise or change the contract if they have good reasons to support it.

I understand that SC is a darker book, but it's only somewhat darker than PC. The thought of any of the Narnia films being PG-13 sickens me, but if it's PG-13 for good reasons (like violence, perhaps), I think I'd be fine in the end.

And I think they should still keep CoN with the Silver Chair title. Whether or not it's there, Silver Chair is part of the Chronicles of Narnia, and it would be startling if it wasn't there.

Why does it sicken you? Some of the Narnia books would most definitely get a PG-13 (SC, LB) if books were rated similarly to movies. Also, the PG-13 rating doesn't inherently make a movie bad or evil, not even an R rating does that. Content, context and worldview; not just content, should all be considered when discerning whether something is appropriate for anyone.

I think they should market the story, and the characters, and the imagery. Can you imagine a shot of the fluorescent forest and of the snow dance?

Here's my idea for a theatrical trailer: Eustace discovers Jill blubbing, Jill asks him "do you ever wish you were anywhere but here?" or words to that effect. He asks her if she can keep a really terrific secret. The scene changes to the look of wonder on the kids' faces as they gaze on Aslan's country for the first time. Then, Aslan's saying "You would not have called me if I had not been calling you, Human Child. You are here to complete an important quest." A shot of the aged Caspian (played by Christopher Lee) looking sad but regal and resolute, as the voice of Glimfeather explains that since the disappearance of the Prince, the throne of Narnia is without an heir.

Then, the voice of Puddleglum says with Marshwigglian cheerfulness (what they consider cheerfulness) "A job like this - a journey up north at the start of winter" (shot of the kids and Puddleglum marching through the mountains) "looking for a Prince that probably isn't there" (shot of an indistinct Princely figure riding through the forest), "by way of a ruined city that no one has ever scene" (shot of the ruined city) "will be just the thing to steady a chap." (shot of Puddleglum trying to cut a caper in Harfang).

End the trailer with a montage of teaser shots (the snow dance, the fluorescent forest, the Green Lady on her horse, a shot of Rilian attacking the Silver Chair, Eustace and Jill clasping hands and saying their good byes in the Underland) as Harry Gregson-Williams' music plays in the background.

I love your trailer ideas , you should seriously send this in to Walden.

O.K this is how I think Silver chair should be... (Sorry if I repeated some people but I am in a bit of a rush and had to skim )

I want Will Poulter to reprise his role as Eustace because he was AMAZING and I don't care if he is too old!
For Jill - someone unknown or completely new, I wont go into appearences because i've already written about that, but maybe someone like Sophie Turner (Game of thrones) ?
http://img.poptower.com/pic-42128/sophi ... .jpg?d=600

For puddle glum- I was thinking someone like (I said like as in similar to, not a clone of because he was in LWW ) James McAvoy ? But I can see Rupert Everett as well!

For Rillian - some one who looks like Ben Barnes but he could maybe shine a bit like Liliandil did as a star. That would be pretty and mysterious and you wouldn't see it while he was In the armor, but in the under ground it would be more obvious for the viewers.

For LOTGK- someone pretty and old-ish, I don't mind who.

I think that Silver chair should be a darker themed film like Prince Caspian was, and it should really show some of the harsher lands in Narnia, while maintaining the beauty of the landscapes. A High PG would be good. I would say 12 but I know that little children would want to see it as well and VDT was deffinatly mostly small child friendly!

For the story, i think it should pretty much stick to it like glue! I loved Silver chair most because it is the one that I can see on screen the most clearly when I read the book and try to imagine the film adaptation.

The only part that i'm not too keen of is the returning to England bit, because the other films have been quite beautiful and sad, but Silver Chair is a bit like - "Lets go and scare the bullies with some dead guys ghost and a giant lion!" and It doesn't seem very morally right, especially as in the book Jill and Eutace and their 'school friends' were quite young.

But I'm not bothered too much about that really! I just want to see silver chair get made so much! Director wise, keep the VDT director, he made a good film, he could do his reserch better on this one but over all VDT was a fab and beautifully made film so why not?

As far as release dates go, how about for a darker film an october 2012 release? Just a suggestion and there are probably problems with this but its just that I think it needs to be released before the Hobbit or it might get ignored!

For puddle glum- I was thinking someone like (I said like as in similar to, not a clone of because he was in LWW ) James McAvoy ? But I can see Rupert Everett as well!

For Rillian - some one who looks like Ben Barnes but he could maybe shine a bit like Liliandil did as a star. That would be pretty and mysterious and you wouldn't see it while he was In the armor, but in the under ground it would be more obvious for the viewers.

Interesting, but a total giveaway to audiences as to his identity.

I think that Silver chair should be a darker themed film like Prince Caspian was, and it should really show some of the harsher lands in Narnia, while maintaining the beauty of the landscapes.

I don't really see SC as "darker," per se. I do think it is presented as more serious, even more adult in the sense that the themes are more serious and adult. Another thing is the atmosphere, which again I would not describe as "dark," but as gray, gloomy, dreary, and also mysterious. That reflects, perhaps, the state of mind of the travelers as they seek out Aslan's signs, but have doubts about whether they are going in the right direction.

For the story, i think it should pretty much stick to it like glue! I loved Silver chair most because it is the one that I can see on screen the most clearly when I read the book and try to imagine the film adaptation.

Same here .

The only part that i'm not too keen of is the returning to England bit, because the other films have been quite beautiful and sad, but Silver Chair is a bit like - "Lets go and scare the bullies with some dead guys ghost and a giant lion!" and It doesn't seem very morally right, especially as in the book Jill and Eutace and their 'school friends' were quite young.

I must defend this part of the book. First of all, I completely understand where you are coming from: the first couple of times the revenge scene is totally awkward, and does seem "too mean" to be true of a Narnia book.

But we have to ask: what was Lewis doing in such a scene? Was Aslan really letting Eustace and Jill get their jollies by revenging themselves on the bullies? Well...kinda. But not really. I've often wondered if Jill and Eustace were glad to chase the bullies at Aslan's bidding or if, by that point, they had grown out of a desire for revenge. Aslan does take sides. Or rather, one either falls on his side or not. But everything he does, even for the baddies, is for the better. The problem with the bullies is that they have received 'modern' education and discipline. We already know how Eustace was at the beginning of VDT. Imagine a troop of Eustaces like that (some far worse) and that gives you a good picture of the bullies. The bullies do what they like and rather than get punished or expelled, they are treated as "interesting psychological cases" and "talk for hours and hours" with the teachers and even become favorites.

Now imagine the day the bullies chase Eustace and Jill, and remember that Eustace and Jill return at PRECISELY the moment they were being chased. Imagine you are a bully and having a great, thrilling time chasing someone (think Lord of the Flies...but school-approved). Then suddenly this big wall crumbles in front of you, you see a lion and three people armed with swords who begin chasing you and humiliating you by smacking your behind with their weapons.

The bullies receive an unexpected lightning bolt to their routine of torture. Yes, they are kids. All the more reason to stop it with a "shock"!

I wrote a college paper about this last semester. About how education and belief were intertwined, and what Lewis was doing by contrasting the "modern" education of Experiment House and the education that Eustace and Jill get in Narnia---one of trial and experience.

It is awkward. But it's awesome . It's my second-favorite scene in the book. My first is the whole funeral scene of Caspian and his resurrection in Aslan's Country.

The thought of any of the Narnia films being PG-13 sickens me, but if it's PG-13 for good reasons (like violence, perhaps), I think I'd be fine in the end.

The problem with a PG-13 movie is that it doesn't have to be that way. Disney did a really good job in LWW depicting a battle scene without too much violence or blood. It's mostly about how much the producers choose to show.

And them upgrading the rating of SC to PG-13 would help this brand be thought of as less "kiddie".

Anything higher than PG would result in a lot of people (more than a PG-13 would draw) deciding they didn't want their children watching it. My parents still haven't made up their minds to let me watch PC, and they really don't like a lot of parts in LWW. Narnia is highly patronized by the Christian community and many would be upset with a more violent movie.

I could go back and forth on the rating thing, if they were to do the PG version of SC they would then have to be very creative to get the dark parts of it right without going over into PG-13 territory. If they are very creative and smart they could find an innovative way to imply the violence of the LOTGK transforming into a serpent, viciously trying to attack Rilian and kill him, and the serpent’s head getting hacked off with Eustace, Caspian, and Puddleglum covered in serpent gore.

The only part that i'm not too keen of is the returning to England bit, because the other films have been quite beautiful and sad, but Silver Chair is a bit like - "Lets go and scare the bullies with some dead guys ghost and a giant lion!" and It doesn't seem very morally right, especially as in the book Jill and Eustace and their 'school friends' were quite young.

I must defend this part of the book. First of all, I completely understand where you are coming from: the first couple of times the revenge scene is totally awkward, and does seem "too mean" to be true of a Narnia book.

I’m not sure if CharlotteRose means awkward not just morally (Eustace, Jill, Aslan, and Caspian dishing out corporal punishment on the bullies)?.... but maybe in the age onscreen appearance sense?....

Charlotte Rose do you maybe mean awkward in having 18 year old looking Jill and Eustace beating other 18 year old looking characters playing the bullies? I'm still trying to think of another sort of scene they could have to replace it with but drawing a blank, because the scene as written in the book is just so effective.

I don't really see the ending as too sad at all, maybe a bit bitter with Caspian dying but then coming to life again--(that's pretty positive and hopeful), educational reform taking place at Experiment House, and Jill and Eustace being really good friends.

The age is an issue but high schoolers and even college age kids have been known to bully each other. If it is carefully handled, it could be a powerful anti-bullying message.