At the moment, I'm not too sure.

Yes, a few of the deeper points could get across. However, I would maybe like to have some of the characters share their thoughts, kind of like how Eustace did a few times in Walden's VDT.

However, some things are just best shown. Maybe if there were some reboot and LWW were remade, when the children first hear the name Aslan, to show each of their feelings, maybe a montage of clips could be shown to convey their emotions at that second(if you know what I mean). I just believe that would cause more of an emotional impact on the audience.

I think it would be a good idea, but only if it was used in MN. The introduction absolutly needs to make it onto the big screen! It would also help explain what on Earth was going on, since that story may seemed a bit detached form the rest of the series.

I voted "yes" only because the poll said for a Narnia moives, I don't think it would work to well for the other moives, unless you want the HHB to feel more like "The Ten Commandments." (Which I would have no issue with )

I voted no.

I don't think it's a bad idea, I just don't think it would work well in a Narnia movie.
I think part of the reason is, I just don't think anyone could top Lewis' own narration in the books.
And it would come across as annoying to me because I would think who ever they got to narrate would try to be putting on a Lewis type voice or sound like they are over doing it.
Just my opinion as always though.
It's a different Idea though. Nice thought.

I voted "not sure".

Basically, I think it should have a little narration at times, but not so much that it's considered an official narration. There are times, I think, in MN that would require it just for it to make sense. But this would probably be aided by the fact that we actually see Professor Kirke telling the story to the children during some of the scenes, rather than only hearing his voice through the whole thing. It could be a balance.

The same principle could apply in a PC reboot, with the Nurse telling what happened to the Pevensies, if they chose that route.

Now, I do think a narrator could work very well for LB, if it's ever made. There were so many perspectives going on in that book - Shift, Puzzle, Tirian, the Pevensies, Eustace, Jill - it might be handy or even necessary to have a narrator to unite them all somehow.

~Riella

If you mean a narrator as in a disembodied voice, then I'd say absolutely not. Narrators of that sort tend to pull the viewer out of the story, and it's much better to either find some way to show it, or if absolutely necessary, provide a story teller/"narrator" from inside the story (such as nurse or Professor Kirke). It'd still need to be used sparingly, though.

Not a narrator to explain the deeper points. That would be "tell, not show", and not a good idea.

Some parts of the past history can be narrated by existing characters, though. MN could involve Digory telling the Pevensies about his experiences in Narnia - still with the main events being played out as live action - it might even make more cameos, which are so popular

A narrator at the introduction of a movie, might work. Some comments on the situation before everything starts ... I very much like the MN introduction that this happened while Sherlock Holmes lived in Baker Street and the Bastables children were hunting for treasures in Lewisham Road, and that is something that might be put in the mouth of a narrator.

But when the action starts, he should step down.

I'm voting for it would be a good idea, but only when absolutely necessary. For example something like in Spirit, where the horses don't talk, but occasionally Spirit will emphasize how he felt about a certain character... it helped you to get into his head. I'm thinking it might be good as some have said for introductions to tie things in with other stories, such as MN. And I'd agree with Badger they'd have to be tied to the story somehow, perhaps like Professor Kirke explaining to Peter how he ended up in Narnia (Like the Balto intro), or something like Eustace's Journal... not however like Edmund in BBC LWW- that I felt was too cheesy.
I do agree that "tell, not show is a bad idea as Varnafinde said, but there are somethings in Narnia, I think, that can't be shown without being told. You shouldn't tell and not show, but perhaps tell and show... maybe a character could say a sentence or too about how they feel in a certain scene, while that scene is playing.

I think it's interesting that narrators tend to go over better when it's for an animated film... then again, those same animated films tend to be about animals, and we're a bit more forgiving in those cases.

In general, though, when writing a script one finds that while that sort of narration might be nice and easy, there are better, cleaner ways to get the message across.

Good question...voted for yes. I don't think it would come across as cheesy if done right. The Balto example is a good one, Wolf.

I can envision scenarios where a narrator might work - an introduction to MN or LB, for example. But the trick is, as Varnafinde noted, to avoid crossing that line from showing to telling (movies are a visual medium, so avoiding excess exposition is usually a good thing).

(Incidentally, certain voices come to mind immediately as potential narrators, such as Douglas Gresham, who introduces the FOTF Radio Theatre Narnia adaptations).

The Balto example is a good one, Wolf.

It is indeed. In Balto, if I recall correctly, the narrator only shows up in the beginning of the film and the end, and is also a character from within the story. If done in that fashion, I'd be fine with a narrator in books such as MN or possibly LWW.

The thing about a narrator throughout the film is that it's outdated today. I don't have anything against it, but it's not "stylish". So... Although I think making the Narnia films super "up to date" has hurt the franchise, I also think a narrator throughout the film would set it back too much, or relegate it to child films too much. A little narrated intro would be OK, I think. LOTR did that beautifully, and Tangled's intro, though long, is fun. Of course, Tangled is a children's film...

But I voted "I don't know", because it could be done tastefully, if minimal.

A little narrated intro would be OK, I think. LOTR did that beautifully, and Tangled's intro, though long, is fun. Of course, Tangled is a children's film...

Again, animated... Really an interesting theme we have going on here. Can anyone think of a recent film, with narration, that isn't animated? I suppose you could count Forrest Gump, but that film is sort of a genre all to its own...

Really an interesting theme we have going on here. Can anyone think of a recent film, with narration, that isn't animated? I suppose you could count Forrest Gump, but that film is sort of a genre all to its own...

Ya know that's a good question... Balto started Live Action then switched over, but I don't think that's what you mean... Dinosaur was CGI, it too had a narrated ending, but I can't think of anything strictly Live Action off the top of my head... (Not counting Spock's one Line in Star Trek, Or VDT) Didn't the professor guy Narrate in the lost version of LWW? I'll have to find the news story about that.