It's not even just the serpent attack that is a concern when it comes to keeping these movies PG. It's the psychological torture Rilian experiences in the chair. Even in the rubbish production values BBC version that scene was rather intense (probably more so because of the mask and his manic eyes).

What's remarkable is that the seventh Harry Potter film, which theoretically a lot of young Potterfans would have seen, is a very strong PG-13. We're talking about a very graphic love-scene with more than a little implied nudity. It was...uncomfortable to watch with my siblings. I certainly had not been warned. The previous film had upped the ante on the "scare" factor, but this latest one did more.

You don't see Potter Parents (many, if not most of whom are Christians) calling for less violence though they certainly have more grounds to than the folks who object to Prince Caspian.

Honestly, movies of Narnia that hope to be faithful to the books are going to be PG-13.

By the way, The Passion of the Christ was deservedly rated R. Most of the people who were going to see that were Christians. We can spare a little PG-13 for important Narnia moments that need to be more scary than Pooh's Grand Adventure.

I really don't care who directs it, as long as they do a good job! Micheal Apted was good, so maybe him, but so was Andrew Adamson, Peter Jackson probably couldn't do it since he's doing "The Hobbit" right now but I wouldn't mind if he did!
As for actors, Johnny Depp sounds...interesting as Puddleglum, it could work. But i'm not sure he has the voice for it. And I think my cousin Rebecca should play Jill! She's got her looks and personality! And she's an excellant actress! Of course that's never gonna happen though!
As for other actors, I HAVE NO IDEA!!! The only actors I'm interested in are the LOTR cast and the Narnia cast!

As for actors, Johnny Depp sounds...interesting as Puddleglum, it could work. But i'm not sure he has the voice for it.

Hi Narnia+Middle-Earth .

I've been advocating NOT having Johnny Depp play Puddleglum, for various reasons. You yourself mentioned one of them: that it would be "interesting." That, to me, is a reason against having him play Puddleglum. He has played too many "interesting" characters, and I think as Puddleglum he would turn the character into a caricature of what Puddleglum should actually be like.

Benedict Cumberbatch would be the absolute best choice for Puddleglum. Either him or the actor who played the Mouth of Sauron in LotR: Return of the King. He has a very Puddleglum physique and manner.

Benedict Cumberbatch would be the absolute best choice for Puddleglum. Either him or the actor who played the Mouth of Sauron in LotR: Return of the King. He has a very Puddleglum physique and manner.

Cumberbatch DOES look a lot like Puddleglum! Good spotting! Someone suggested Doug Jones to me the othe day, who is a pretty fair choice. But I stick with my original choice .

Hugh Dancy as Rilian is the most perfect casting yet that anyone has suggested. Anyone else found another potential Rilian?

I think the kind of parents who would boycott a Narnia film over violence are most likely on the extreme right of Christianity. And honestly, most of those people are still stuck in the Magic/Fantasy = Satanism mode. Not sure how many of them would even consider letting their children see the film. Again, most, not all. Not trying to stereotype here. I'm fully aware that there are a lot of ultra-conservative Christians who aren't longing for the good old days of the witch trials.

The problem with pandering to the demand that Narnia films be light and fluffy and safe for all audiences is that you either have to cut everything from the books to keep the two year olds from having nightmares or you end up with a bizarre mish-mash of scary and tame like VDT. And that's not good enough for the people who think that one scary image is going to end in years of therapy for their children.

It's not even just the serpent attack that is a concern when it comes to keeping these movies PG. It's the psychological torture Rilian experiences in the chair. Even in the rubbish production values BBC version that scene was rather intense (probably more so because of the mask and his manic eyes).

Actually that's true too W4J... I keep going back and forth on the ratings debate.... I wonder...maybe they need to start including these movies with specific Movie Facts for Parents (a la the FDA Nutrition Facts on food products) to help them judge a film's appropriateness without reading reviews or going to prescreen the movies for their kids...which probably really conscientious parents would do....

The Silver Chair
Movie Facts
PG-13 ingredients----
Witch/serpent murdering Queen L scene
High volume of serpent blood and gore
Psychological/mental torture
Alluringly disguised witch (?)
Dark and sinister looking Underworld
Giants that eat talking beasts (?)

PG ingredients----
Fun-loving dwarfs, fauns, owls, and other creatures, two appealing young leads, one depressed Marshwiggle, celebratory snowdancing, friendly-tough-love Lion.

Brief scenes of corporal punishment inflicted upon aggressive bullies by aforementioned young leads, Lion, and additional resurrected King.

P.S.
Not suitable for children under 8. (The Focus on the Family Radio Theatre CD has this disclaimer on its packaging).

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?

Yeah, thats an issue too! because Jill has to look the same as Eustace and he's gonna look older so it might be a bit weird? Especially as it is already quite a hard hitting story all things considered!

I already know a certain change that I can see coming up for the SC and it's completely obvious that they will do this. Instead of Rilian, Eustace, Jill and Puddleglum trying to find their way out of the underworld after killing LOGK: They will instead after breaking Rilian free they will escape the underland castle, we will see LOGK looking over a balcony and there she will transform into a 400 feet serpent, suddenly the parliment of owls, fauns and coughminotaurscough* will come rushing in to help our heroes. Our heroes will ride on the owls swinging swords and shooting arrows at the serpent until she falls dead.

I know this because it will be inevitable that they'll think of a battle they can place in the movie somewhere ("How bout an underground battle!!? huh? ), we cant show a serpent getting it's head cut off, parents were worried about their kids seeing a brief scene of a man getting his head cut off in PC. The scene between LOGK and the heroes about the belief in an over world and a sun is just too long, blah and Puddleglum has this long speech and sticks his hand in a fire to stop LOGK's enchantment, blah, lets just skip on to the underground battle. Is what they'll think and say.

My guessing for a rating will still be PG if this film is made.

My thoughts on Jill's age, doesn't matter, the pevensie's are 5 times older then the ages they should be anyways.

Heh, I've been saying for awhile now that I fully expect something like that to happen. If they went the book route with Puddleglum's speech and all, I would be shocked.

Benedict Cumberbatch would be the absolute best choice for Puddleglum. Either him or the actor who played the Mouth of Sauron in LotR: Return of the King. He has a very Puddleglum physique and manner.

Cumberbatch DOES look a lot like Puddleglum! Good spotting! Someone suggested Doug Jones to me the othe day, who is a pretty fair choice. But I stick with my original choice .

Hugh Dancy as Rilian is the most perfect casting yet that anyone has suggested. Anyone else found another potential Rilian?

To me, having a physique like the character in the book is the least important factor. The two critical traits are acting and charisma, or, another way of putting it, connection to the character and connection to the audience. This is especially true for a character as rich and dynamic as Puddleglum. I've seen Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock and Small Island, and I can't say I picture him connecting to the character of Puddleglum. It's possible, but it's not obvious to me. As for Doug Jones, he looks kind of creepy. Does he have the charisma to play Puddleglum?

Both actors are great actors and have excellent charisma. Benedict is more the gentleman type though and Doug is more the eccentric hermit type.

I am in love with Benedict Cumberbatch! his acting I mean of course

Yes true he is a gentleman type but he can play eccentric as well, he does so in Sherlock. I'm hoping he gets casted as Puddleglum! He would be the best I think

Sorry, yes, I meant that. Actually he's also an eccentric hermit-type, he's just more of a gentleman (refined may be the better word, since he doesn't really seem to care for anyone, let alone women.