I thought the way they visualised the undragoning, with Aslan scratching his paws in the sand, was a rather clever and an interesting way to go about things. It certainly avoided having to do any awkward posturing of the two creatures, and also avoided any gruesome flesh ripping, so i would have to give them credit for devising such a novel and unique solution.

However, i did find the whole sequence to be entirely too short and its significance felt vastly underplayed as a result. Intercutting the undragoning with the Sea Serpent battle meant it suffered in much the same way as the freeing of the statues scene at the end of LWW did in the movie version - it made what should be a poignant sequence feel rushed and merely a minor stopping point amongst a more grand and important battle sequence - though in the case of VDT the effect was perhaps even more so, given that it was so brief.

I think they made the right call though on leaving the undragoning until much later in the movie, as otherwise there would not have been any time at all to fully develop Eustace's character arc (especially given how rapidly the majority of the voyage progresses). However, i would of preferred they wait untill after the Dark Island sequence was completely finished, and then given the undragoning sequence the time it deserved, as i felt they didnt really have the time to do it justice in the current set-up

I think they made the right call though on leaving the undragoning until much later in the movie, as otherwise there would not have been any time at all to fully develop Eustace's character arc (especially given how rapidly the majority of the voyage progresses).

I had not thought of this as a reason for the placement. Thank you for adding another possibility. That does make sense, from a film perspective.

When I spoke with Mr. Flaherty after the screening I attended, he said that they did it that way because it would have been an instant PG-13 if they had put Aslan's claws into the dragon skin at any point. Which makes sense to me.

I thought the timing of the undragoning was good. If they'd drug it out any, it would have seemed a bit overdramatic. The location was good because it showed Eustace making a conscious decision to get the seventh sword back to the table to emphasize the change in his behavior.

However, i would of preferred they wait until after the Dark Island sequence was completely finished, and then given the undragoning sequence the time it deserved, as i felt they didnt really have the time to do it justice in the current set-up

That's more or less my take on the scene as well. It felt like if you blinked, you'd miss it entirely and be left wondering when Eustace turned back into a boy.

As it stands, I don't see how they could have finished the Dark Island sequence without the undragoning, so I think I would just have cut back to Eustace sooner and done the undragoning in two parts.

They could have put Aslan's claws in Eustace's skind without getting PG-13. They would just have to cut it well to avoid gory shots.

I personally didnt mind the method of the undragoning but how rushed it was. In my opinion, the scene where Aslan undragon's Eustace is the most memorable and emotional scene in the book. And I felt it was one of those scenes that could make or break the movie.

It was extremely short, especially since they were more interested in the battle. I would have shown more of a struggle of Eustace clawing at himself before Aslan undragoned him. And I would have actually like DIALOUGE between Aslan and HUMAN Eustace. Really, the spiritual connection between the two felt completly lost when Eustace got teleported to Ramandu's Island.

Rather I think Eustace should have had a short, but heartfelt conversation with Aslan after being undragoned. It could be just as long as Aslan and Lucy's conversation during the battle at the end of PC. It would have made the scene, and the movie a lot better.

My dad, despite liking the film overall, felt that the movie wasnt moving to him. He was moved in LWW by several moments, but felt that they messed up this scene.

I feel the scene wouldnt have been that bad if they had just developed a Aslan/Eustace relationship.

However, i would of preferred they wait until after the Dark Island sequence was completely finished, and then given the undragoning sequence the time it deserved, as i felt they didnt really have the time to do it justice in the current set-up

Perhaps they did that to be reminicsent of the first to movies? It seems to be the trend in Narnia to have some really important scenes take place simultaneously to the action climax

I don't suppose someone could explain how close it was to the book, and did it involve fire...there was fire in some of the video...

[ I don't suppose someone could explain how close it was to the book, and did it involve fire...there was fire in some of the video...

It was not like the book, really at all. First Eustace tries to scratch off his skin, as Aslan approaches him. He is looking at Aslan all the while. Aslan, looking at Eustace, scratches at the sand on the ground. At that point, Eustace's skin starts to tear as if Aslan is actually scratching Eustace. Then Eustace is lifted into the air as a dragon. Then the fire surrounds Eustace, still in dragon form, and he is transformed back into a boy.

^Cool! As long as they make it clear that he tries to do it himself, but can't and that Aslan has to do it for him I always thought that that scene might be a bit too PG-13ish anyway

They could have put Aslan's claws in Eustace's skind without getting PG-13. They would just have to cut it well to avoid gory shots.

Rather I think Eustace should have had a short, but heartfelt conversation with Aslan after being undragoned.

I have to disagree with the first part as I had it straight from the President of Walden Media.

I do agree with the conversation with Aslan. That would have been a touching scene. Maybe something just before he was undragoned with a response to show Eustace's shame at his actions.

However, I did think it was wonderfully done and the point that Aslan had to do it made very clear. To me, that was the important part.

Agree - you aren't going to yank the skin off a creature and keep a PG rating, at least not in the US.

Also agree with icarus. When they showed the undragoning I thought it was a cool visualization, even if it isn't a direct translation from the book's description.

My point is that they could have shown Aslan place his paw on Eustace's skin, a nd then cut away and imply the undragoning and then cut back with the visual of a human Eustace standing next to his dragon skin.

One idea I thought would have been interesting (if this were being intercut with the battle) would have been to show Eustace roaring in pain as Aslan undragons him, cut to a shot of the serpant roaring in pain as he gets stabbed or injured by the crew, cut back to Eustace as the scales fall off, and then back to the serpant as the serpant falls down dead. It would be a way of showing the two defeats of evil and making a symbolic comparison.

I really liked this way of doing the undragoning, with Aslan's paw in the sand rather than on the dragon (especially given the concerns about ratings mentioned above). The person I saw the movie with mentioned it could have been a bit longer - perhaps have the dragon try a couple of times first? - but I liked the sublety here. Book fans will understand what's going on - though at least a bit of the conversation would have been nice - and I think it'll be clear, even to non-book readers, that Aslan had to do the undragoning.

Does Eustace speak as a dragon?

Does Eustace speak as a dragon?

no.