This trailer was really great. It was a teaser, 2 minutes and 10 seconds. The movie people may have had a more limited selection of material to work with since the animation is still in it's getting work on stage. Of course since we are only six months away they would be slowly getting everything completed. I seriously hope that the actors and movie producers/directors don't get on this site. I would feel pretty darn bad if I put together what things I had, and thought it was pretty good, then released it into the public and found that Narniafans said it was terrible, horrible, bad. Considering it really isn't.

The WW and the older Pevensies at the end really don't bother me and make me joyful. As Tilda has said her part is pretty small, I'm confident it's for a nightmare scene or a vision that Edmund has. If she had more screen time it really wouldn't bother me, but what they seem to have for her is just dandy for me. Tilda is a very great and powerful actor and they were some people who really like the WW in the movies. They may be trying to connect with all audiences. I thought she was a good villain and a direct challenger for Aslan. Her appearance in PC really seemed to fit in the moment and I think it will be the same for VOTD. Her appearance will fit with the current situation. "You are all about to be tested" This line seemed to directly go along with Jadis and Edmund scene in the trailer. He's again being tested by the WW. But this time possibly in a nightmare. Maybe each if the characters worst fears will be shown in the dark island scenario. We'll just have to wait and see

As for the scenes people choppily pasted together, I just can't see this. They seemed to flow, and even though we saw less of some characters then I expected, I believe they will bring these people out more in later trailers. We've already been told Eustace's dragoning and undragoning is present so maybe they wanted to show us the things that would surprise us the most! Peter, Susan, and Jadis! Boom! Wow! Awesome!

The painting in the beginning with the water pouring out was Awesome. That scene was really well done. I like the dialog and how Eustace attempts to tear the painting from the wall, then the whole room is flooded. And look! The 'Dawn Treader' looks great! It's moving in the water! It's gleaming in the sun! Yeah!! Our favorite ship is in the trailer.

The lift that Caspian and Lucy are being brought to the ship with looks very interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing how that things works. The beautiful designs in Caspian's cabin are great. Lucy's costume is gorgeous! It's definitely fitting with the feel of the sea and a sailer, but at the same time looks like 'her'. Caspian looks like a king. Even though we get to see him very little he really does look like a King now.

Lucy is using Susan's bow! Yeah there is battle! What's a good Narnia movie without just a bit of action? I'm really hyped for the battle in what seems to be the desertish street! And even though we didn't see any clues of there capture by Pug, I'm thinking maybe the action ties in with that. The Magician is cool. He seems kinda mysterious. And I love the scene with the jumping dugglepods! Their island looks very colorful.

WOO HOO! Caspian goes to the end of the world. I actually think bringing him there was an awesome choice. I just can't see an image of Caspian, (who doesn't look 16...) throwing a tantrum. I never really liked that part of the book anyway. Plus, Caspian is just more mature in these movies. Him pouting and yelling cause he didn't get his ways seems rather childish. I just can't see Ben doing that. The large wave rolling near them in the end of world is pretty cool....and...*squeels* Susan and Peter. I'm extremely excited to see them and I can't wait to see how they tie in there or where ever they come in in the movie. I think this film, and it's trailer, are going to be and are awesome. This trailer set's off on the voyage and gives us glimpses and bits and pieces to munch in, not tear into shreds. A big hand to the director, actors and producers! This was a nice trailer and I'm really excited for the movie. This trailer is what got me soooooo excited for the film.

~Lover

lover of narnia, I disagree with pretty much everything in that post. You asked what the movie would be without action. My answer: Closer to the book and probably more thought-provoking.

And this trailer looked absolutely nothing like either of those movies.

This trailer makes VDT look like a brainless, feel-good, action-packed, gimmicky, magical piece of popcorn entertainment. (Which is what Avatar and TF2 were)

If the trailer gave you an accurate impression of the movie, most moviegoers would be saying it looks boring (assuming the movie is a faithful adaptation).

lover of narnia: I dissagree too. Especially about Caspian throwing a "tantrum". In the book, Caspian's heart was in the adventure, at the end of the world. His duty as a king is to stay with his countrymen and serve his country, not to follow his own desires. It is very reasonable that he was upset. Makes me worried that they will have him at the world's end in the movie. How do you get rid of kingly duty? Kings can't just throw their lives in danger and do whatever they want! I really hope that Caspian doesn't go with the Pevensies. It wouldn't be right. And ditto what glumPuddle said about the action in the movie. This is a character driven story, not a "save Narnia from an evil villain" story.

This trailer makes VDT look like a brainless, feel-good, action-packed, gimmicky, magical piece of popcorn entertainment.

I will not disagree with the fact that the trailer seemed to be somewhat poorly put together as it followed the book of trailer stereotypes in every way.

But what I will have to disagree with you on, completely and entirely, is the reason the average movie-goer is excited for this film. The reason they are excited is because this trailer reminded them of what they loved about the magical feel of LWW. And what PC completely and utterly failed to be. They are excited because they think they are going to finally return to the world of Narnia created in the first movie. Not the dark, dismal, action-packed sequel that turned off so many people and nearly brought the franchise to an end. (I'm not saying that's my opinion by the way, but that's what I'm reading.)

So if you consider LWW to be a brainless, feel-good, action-packed, gimmicky, magical piece of popcorn entertainment, then you're right about why people are excited for this movie.

^ That's fair. I'll concede that point . (Although I still think it looks brainless and gimmicky, and that is an attraction to many moviegoers)

It's almost comical how hard the trailer tries to remind you of LWW. It goes so far as to use a snowy background for the text, just like the one they used in the LWW trailers. (Except, in the LWW trailers, a snowy background made sense)

Fox is clearly playing dirty with the marketing, and that's why we can remain hopeful. We pretty much know for sure that including the White Witch and the older Pevensies in the trailer and on the theater stand is very misleading. So we can only hope that many other things in the trailer are also misleading.

I can see lover of narnia's reasons of wanting to stay positive and some of the great things that we have seen in the trailer. My only problem in the trailer was the ordering of it and the scenes gave no plotline, again I agree that the crew probably have not gotten some of the scenes ready enough for the actual preview and had whatever they had to work with.

I will admit I'm still slightly disappointed with the ordering but the scenes really are not that bad. A lot of them are from straight out of the book. That is where my positive side is going.

GtG: If you look at the end of the world scene Caspian and Reepicheep are not on Aslan's Country yet. You can see it behind Aslan in the distance when he roars. Aslan could possibly be roaring because he is upset with Caspian wanting to risk himself going there in the first place and is shuting him up. Caspian can still go back to his ship at that point and Reepicheep can still go off in his coracle.

I will say again, it's not the scenes that I'm particularly mad or confused about, it's the ordering and the narration I'm not to happy about.

One thing is for sure is that this little 2 minute trailer is not the movie itself. Some of these things will possibly make sense when the movie comes out.

lover of narnia: ditto on everything! seriously! I totally agree!

I am sure that this movie is going to be better than even I think it will be and blow myself and everyone away. IMO

Wow...some very deep discussion!

This is a character driven story, not a "save Narnia from an evil villain" story.

Isn't this what the film people in all of their interviews are telling us? That it is a character driven story?

I completely agree with not having "mindless action." But can't there be a medium between putting in action and keeping it close to the book? Battle scenes may certainly get tiresome, but on the Lone Islands, would we rather see battle or watch Caspian and Gumpas have a long debate on politics? (Everyone here will feel different on that question.)

Besides, who knows? Maybe there will be both.

It seemed to me like the trailer caught the tone of VDT very nicely. One of my favorite spots is Reepicheep climbing to the top of the mast and looking out with a smile. Something that simple can say a lot for the film, I believe. And then there is Lucy waving to the water girl.

On the issue of Caspian being with the Pevensies at the end of the world, will it really matter? (I will have to see the entire movie to make my final judgment on this, but it doesn't seem so bad at the moment to me. ) In the book, he says that he wants to go on and see the world's end with Reepicheep, which of course he couldn't do without forsaking Narnia in a way he shouldn't. But mightn't he come just to say goodbye to the Pevensies? He still has to return and marry Lilliandil. I don't think this is going to be too awful.

In short, I don't think the trailer is "awful." As a lot of people are saying, it's just a trailer, not the entire movie. For a trailer, aren't they more likely to put together the more exciting shots? I don't believe this means the movie itself will be mindless action.

Edit: This post basically means that while I cringed at a few spots, I do like this trailer.

I would far rather see Caspian cleverly outwit Gumpas like he did in the book than see another fight. We've seen fights over and over again. Are we that brainless a culture that the only way a movie can be enjoyable is if there's a fight every two seconds?

The White Witch's appearance is just a creative way of showing Edmund's nightmare and Lewis never said it didnt happen.

You could justify virtually anything with that. Lewis also never said that Susan and Puddleglum are not the same character. Would it be okay to make them the same character?

I think I know what Josh is talking about here, but rather than speak for him I’ll put it in my own words.

When adapting a book to a film you could make three kinds of changes: additions, deletions, or modifications. Yes, if carried too far any change could be terrible (like adding a romance between Caspian and Susan, for example) but assuming the filmmakers are at least trying to stay close to the book, I find that I can tolerate additions or deletions better than modifications. It doesn’t bother me that Tom Bombadil isn’t in the movie Fellowship of the Ring, because that part of the story could have happened, only the film doesn’t show it. In other words, the dialogue doesn’t specifically deny that it happened. I think you’ll agree that deletions are the most necessary change in adaptations and as long as they don’t deny the possibility of the deleted scene happening, we’re pretty much OK with them.

Additions don’t bother me either, as long as they are in the spirit of the book. I’m against the waterfall scene in LWW, not because I objected to an action scene being inserted into the movie, but because it was not in the spirit of the book. None of the characters in the scene acted like the characters in the book…well… with the exception of Mr. Beaver. Peter wouldn’t have been conflicted about killing the wolf, Susan wouldn’t have nagged at Peter to drop their only real means of protection, Maugrim wouldn’t have tried to talk them down, he would have just killed them.

On the other hand, the scene between Ed and Tumnus in the Witch’s house intrigued me because even though Lewis didn’t write it, it struck me as something that might have happened if the story were true.

As long as an addition does not contradict the book, and is in fact likely, then I am OK with it.

Modifications bother me the most, because they are outright contradictions of what was established in the book. Having Caspian blow the horn earlier in PC was a modification, and it had an effect on the entire movie afterwards. This change may have been necessary, but that doesn’t stop me from getting a little bit annoyed when I think about it. The story was changed, and there is no way to reconcile the story in the movie with the story in the book. They are simply different. Having a battle on the Lone islands? This is another modification that I don't like because it goes directly against the plot in the book. In the book they win the islands back by outwitting their opponents. In the movie it appears as though they win the islands back by outfighting them.

To bring this back to the where we started, I have a feeling that what Josh was saying is that as far as adaptation changes go, the addition of the White Witch is pretty small. (Although I’d agree with you that not only is her appearance annoying, but also makes no sense when this movie is placed in context with the other two. Why would Edmund be tempted?) In terms of adaptation, the addition of a dialogue with a dream of the witch is a creative way to show Ed’s nightmare, and it doesn’t seem to contradict anything that C. S. Lewis wrote. Perhaps the witch is Ed’s worst nightmare. That doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s afraid of her when he is awake. I’m not afraid of AT-ST’s (chicken walkers from Star Wars) but I’ve had at least one dream in which I was. (It’s hard not to feel a little bit of fear when you are under fire.) Fortunately AT-ST’s aren’t real, and when I woke up, I realized, that “there really wasn’t anything to be afraid of and never had been.”

The White Witch's appearance is, imo at this point, not a creative decision. It is a purley commercial decision. As is evidenced by the fact that they are showing her in the trailer even though we know her appearance is very brief. I think the reason they put her in the movie is that they wanted to put her in trailers and on posters to market the film. Tilda Swinton is now an Oscar-winning actress, and the White Witch was the villain in the first fillm which made over $700m.

Interesting theory, but I do have a feeling that her appearance was an artistic decision. I believe this in part because Focus on the Family made the same artistic decision in their radio drama. It is true that she is in the trailer despite the fact that her appearance in the movie is brief, but the same could be said for PC, in which the addition of the witch was an artistic decision. In fact it appears as though Adamson was reluctant to allow Disney to “let the cat out of the bag.” At this point I think the WW in VDT is an artistic choice, but Fox’s marketing department is having a field day with it, -just like how they are having a field day with Reepicheep.

As for Edmund, it makes no sense for the character. It was a pretty powerful character moment for him when he stabbed the WW in PC. It was a completion of an arc for him. Peter was taken in by the Witch's magic, but Edmund was not. Because he had seen it before.

Agree.

Now the filmmakers are throwing all that out the window in the name of box office numbers.

Disagree. There isn't enough evidence about how this scene fits into the overall story yet. If it doesn't, then I reserve the right to agree with you come December.

Frankly, I am confused. I don't understand why it's such a big deal if some people want to focus on what they think is positive and some people focus on what they think is negative. *shrugs*

Please stop tearing the movie apart before we have even gotten a full trailer... and preferably stop tearing it apart until we have seen the movie.

I don't think anyone is tearing the movie apart. We are tearing the trailer apart. And we wouldn't be tearing the trailer apart if we planned to boycott the movie.

Would you rather the movie not be made at all!?

Yes, actually. If fundamental changes are made (key word: fundamental), then I would rather the movie was not made. Film is a powerful medium, one that I think can be (and often is) underestimated. The reason I was happy to hear that the Chronicles were being made into movies was because I knew how powerful the stories were and I wanted to see the power and beauty behind them captured on screen. They were not captured, and the Narnia movies do not stick out in any way from other movies in the same genre.

ditto to just about everything Bookwyrm said on page 29.

As for Edmund, it makes no sense for the character. It was a pretty powerful character moment for him when he stabbed the WW in PC. It was a completion of an arc for him. Peter was taken in by the Witch's magic, but Edmund was not. Because he had seen it before.

Exactly. If Edmund is tempted by the White Witch it would be a regression of his character. Even if he's not tempted by her, the trailer makes it look like he is. If he is tempted, it's terrible character development. If he's not tempted, it's misleading advertising. Either way, not a good idea.

So if you consider LWW to be a brainless, feel-good, action-packed, gimmicky, magical piece of popcorn entertainment, then you're right about why people are excited for this movie.

Actually........................feel-good, action-packed, kind of gimmicky, and most definitely a magical piece of popcorn entertainment describes LWW pretty well in my opinion.

but on the Lone Islands, would we rather see battle or watch Caspian and Gumpas have a long debate on politics?

A long debate on politics! Seriously, one of my favorite movies is Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. What does Mr. Smith do in Washington? He uses the filibuster. And it's not boring.

Personally, I was extremely excited when the trailer first popped up on the internet. I wouldn't have watched it six times if I had hated it. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to point out what I think is wrong with it. I am still very excitedly waiting to see the movie, in the mean time, I am going to pick the trailer to bits because it is all I have. When the movie comes out, I will probably like it. And then pick it to bits afterward. Just because I pick something to bits doesn't mean I don't like it.

I would far rather see Caspian cleverly outwit Gumpas like he did in the book than see another fight. We've seen fights over and over again. Are we that brainless a culture that the only way a movie can be enjoyable is if there's a fight every two seconds?

No way, not every two seconds! Perhaps people have grown too much to expect something like LOTR.

I'm trying to explain that I would not be opposed to a few battle scenes if they are put in, so long as they are in good taste. And in my opinion, a battle scene on the Lone Islands would be fine. Just so long as someone isn't watching VDT just for battles....

but on the Lone Islands, would we rather see battle or watch Caspian and Gumpas have a long debate on politics?

A long debate on politics! Seriously, one of my favorite movies is Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. What does Mr. Smith do in Washington? He uses the filibuster. And it's not boring.

Hmm, never seen that one. But what if someone gets lost on the dialogue? Then they see Gumpas storm out like in the book and wonder, "Gumpas gave up so easily? That's odd..."

I really liked your answer about the negativity, Bookwyrm.

We are discussing a lot about the negative / confusing parts of the trailer. But most of us have also talked about the positive parts. Dare I say all of us realize that this is a trailer and trailers can be very misleading. Even I know that and I hardly ever see trailers. I have read through all the pages and I'm pretty sure no one has said "The trailer is awful so I'm not going to see the movie." I didn't take some marketing seriously enough on PC and then was blind sided by the change in Peter's character. I'd much rather prepare myself for the worst and then have something much better happen.

Many of us have developed a list of what we think is "essential" Narnia / to each book. This list might not be entirely conscious but when we see something that is going against what is on our list it sparks negativity. I think it is save to say that most of us had at least one part in each of the movies that went against our grain / a part where we feel they missed the point of the story and/or that particular spot. I don't know about others but I tend at time to get an almost "mother protecting her young" type feeling about Narnia. Seriously, I was worried about starting the poll on the BBC's Chronicles because I was afraid I would get too upset and type things I shouldn't. *is afraid men in white coats are coming*

I wasn't around here for the first two movies so I can't comment on if the reactions were more positive. If these comments are more negative, I wonder if part of the reason is that many people were disappointed in PC and are afraid that VDT will repeat errors. Unfortunately the trailer depicted scenes that reminded a lot of us of parts of PC that we didn't like (Peter's attitude and his interaction with the witch). Also, although we have been told the leaked script was dropped, we still have it in the back of our minds. Sure we have heard good reviews from people who have seen the super trailer, but then we also are it with the weird marketing that seems to confuse things.

I don't mean any disrespect to people who are connected to the filming in anyway, but I'm not going to say that I love something if I don't. I am glad that they are making the movie. I will go see the movie. I will then rant about the changes until my time limit is up (my family limits me ). Then, we will discuss the parts we liked. Unless all of the parts I hold dear are missed and it no longer feels like Narnia to me, I'll end up with the DVD in my collection and probably other VDT stuff.

Frankly, I'm tired of people complaining about the negativity in this thread. This is at least the second time it has come up. I don't mean to be rude, but it makes me feel like I have to continually justify my opinions and why I feel the way I do. Then I feel that I am saying something wrong. I really don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. I just want to be able to express my feelings. No matter how negative this thread may appear, many people have used images from the trailer for avatars / signature and the polls are more positive.

I mostly agree with Movie Aristotle about deletion, modification, and addition (I'm not sure about the addition of the dialogue between Tumnus and Ed, although I don't think that would make it to my top rants. I really don't like what the witch said to Tumnus but I'm not sure that has anything to do with it). The addition of a fight in the Lone Islands is a big departure from the book. Seriously, the whole point of that part of the book was that it was done without fighting. About the Witch, Ed might have had nightmares about her. It is reasonable that he might remember that time in his life with shame and horror. I think the problem with her coming back is: She did that in PC and Peter and Caspian reacted to her in a way they never would have done in the book. I'm afraid they are going to play the same scene but with Edmund instead of Peter.

I think the negative reactions from fans have a lot to do with the marketing differences between Disney and Fox. It makes perfect sense to assume Fox constructed this trailer, primarily. After all, their main goal is to distribute the film while Walden produces the actual finished product (with a good amount of Fox input, I'm sure). It's obvious that Fox has a different style and approach in advertising their films to an audience.

It seems to me they are playing it safe, almost desperately with this trailer (and with the rest of the marketing we've seen). The predictability may be a wise move if we see it from their perspective. Why go for more daring and creative marketing with your investment when you're unsure of its financial success? They know the franchise they've picked up is not on a very solid foundation. Now's not the time to get all unconventional and artistic to please the few fanatics.

But I don't see why we should feel guilty for criticizing the weaknesses of the trailer. I doubt the actual production team has enough time or will to sift through NarniaWeb. I don't see director Michael Apted having an emotional breakdown in knowing the opinion we have about the trailer, a trailer that he likely had little to do with. If he did choose to bother with our comments, I would instead expect him to laugh at our clueless assumptions or brush our words aside and get back to work. Regardless of how Fox chooses to present the film, Apted knows what kind of movie he's trying to make. And we, the fans, do not really know his vision yet. Maybe it would do us some good to "chill out" a bit more.

I have one word for the trailer, fantastic! I think it really is hard to make a trailer especially those people who expect it to be amazing and wonderful. The trailer was very good, and I expect more from what we saw from it.