Movie Reviews: Prince Caspian

I have missed Narnia.

And I know that I was expecting bit more out of the filmmakers since the The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I knew plot changes were added, I knew it would be more intense. I hoped beyond hoped that it would still be the Narnia that I love so dearly. And it was.

The magic of the world Lewis created is ever present in this latest film. I kept thinking during the movie that many of the events could happen "only in Narnia." It was almost a sigh of relief that the film jumped from England to Narnia within the first 10 minutes or so; it was so good to get back.

All this to say, I was disappointed in some aspects of the movie.

Add a Little Here and a Little There...

The Pevensies are older and with age comes change. Yet (and perhaps I am an old stickler for staying true to the story) it doesn't mean the story has to be changed. One of the key alterations were the additudes of the two eldest, Peter and Susan. Peter first.

He is struggling with the fact he is no longer a king. He is a bit tiffed at having to return to the "normal" world. Who can blame him? Pride combines with stubbornness to produce a real mess. Peter wants to prove himself, that he "coulda been (or still is) a contender." In this spirit, a raid on Miraz's castle is formed and ends up costing the lives of many Narnians. I even got a bit choked up when at one point part of the group has escaped and the other part is trapped inside the castle with no way to out.

I sympathize with Peter. As he tells Lucy, he just wants proof that Aslan is real, that he called them, and that he has a plan for them. But don't we all? Lucy comes back with, "Well, maybe we need to prove ourselves to him." Unfortunately, she didn't see the faces of the Narnians who knew they couldn't escape the doom descending upon them in the castle when Peter's attack failed. Attempting to prove our worth or maturity won't work and Peter learned that the hard way. We under no certain terms can ever prove ourselves to God. On the contrary, God proved himself to us, establishing himself as both just and the justifier of our sins (Romans 3:16).

On to Susan. I'll admit, I may be too hard on female characters in movies. Nevertheless, I stand by my conviction that this portrayal of Susan was really off the mark. The actress who plays Susan is pretty and rightly so. Queen Susan was the fairest of all while in Narnia. However, this beauty comes off as too much of Hollywood's babe mentality. Susan catches the eye of Prince Caspian. She says some of those phrases we all know from the romantic movies, such as "You may need to call me sometime." And she even kisses Caspian in the end! There were audible groans and a few forehead slaps after that one in the theater.

Somehow I don't see Lewis's Susan doing any of those things. It was written in one of the books that Susan received at her court the requests of many lords for her hand in marriage yet she was unswayed by all of them. She wasn't easily wooed. Was she a strong woman? Yes, but she didn't need to fight single-handily in the woods against Telmarines to prove it (another addition to the story I didn't quite appreciate).

Now could there be room for creative liberty in Lewis's story for developing typical teenage feelings and attitudes? Perhaps. But as we must remember, these were no ordinary children. These were kings and queens. These were called by Aslan.

Steadfast

Lucy (and Edmund) was very much the same. She was a bit taller and she had grown up but she as a Lewis character was still there.

It was almost as if Lucy was the only character who understood that major changes had been made to the story and she wasn't impressed with them. Peter wants to charge the castle and Caspian wants to hunker down in Aslan's How. Lucy pipes up with, "But you only seem to think there are two options." Anyone for Lewis's idea for the story?

In another scene, Susan bashfully looks down from a horse at Caspian and tells him to keep the horn because he may need to call her again. Lucy repeats the line to Susan later in the story as if to say, "What was that?!" She never got a full explanation.

Finally, when Susan runs back to Caspian for her kiss, Lucy's jaw drops and she says, "I don't think I will understand that until I am a grown up." I didn't understand it so I doubt she ever will.

Even with these major changes, the magic of Narnia was there. The first film had the story but lacked the magic. This one has the magic but lacked the fullness of the story Lewis penned. Maybe the next film will prove itself to combine both elements.

Conclusion

I'll say it again, I have missed Narnia.

Perhaps as much as the four Pevensie children did. However, while they have tasted the sweetness of Aslan's breath and have felt the warmth of his golden mane, I am still waiting for that day. The day when "we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2). See the movie if for nothing else to be stirred with the longing to move beyond this world into the next; to move "further up, and further in"; to kneel before the great Lion who isn't a tame lion but loves us and has "called us out of our darkness into his marvelous light," according to his purpose (1 Peter 2:9).

-- HM

The New Blog: Viva, Mangi, Ami

Well, I decided to start another blog (I think I'm becoming an addict). This one will focus on food and the construction of delicious meals we make in our own kitchen from scratch.

Now you may be wondering how theological/issue-covering blog may have anything to do with a foodie blog but I assure you there is a great connection. Solid discussion among friends is nourishing for the soul; who can beat a good conversation? Nutritious food is nourishing for the body; think of the best dish you have ever had. Now combine good conversation with a wonderful meal and that is how life is to be. Food and conversation go hand-in-hand.

So I hope you will visit my other blog at: www.viva-mangi-ami.blogspot.com. It's title translates: "Live, Eat, Love." And I hope you do.

--HM

Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder

This post comes a few weeks after the hub-bub on the internet regarding some photos. Needless to say it has more to do with who is in the photo than the photo in and of itself. Sure, Miss Miley Cyrus has the devout loyalty of girls between the ages of 10 and 14 and some even beyond that but her latest photo shoot with Vanity Fair has caused an uproar.

I rolled my eyes a bit at the commotion but when I was out on my run/walk the other week, I saw a section of newspaper, still tucked in its handy plastic bag, on a stranger's driveway. The only portion I viewed was this picture of Miss Cyrus and I guessed the paper was probably taking her to task.

Now I have seen the photo in question and have read Miss Cyrus's view on it. She thought it was "artistic" and when she viewed after the shoot, she and her mother loved it.

I haven't been able to understand this pop culture queen. She is a 24 year old in a 15 year old's body. That's entertainment, for you. However, you look at dresses she has worn and outfits she has paraded in front of cameras and it is kind of hard to get why everyone is upset about this particular photo. Change the sheet to a gown (keeping the same cut) and change the shoot to a red carpet, and there would be little to no bruhaha about it. A bit hypocritical?

And really what is beauty? Is it a photo such as the one Miss Cyrus is in? And who is to tell us what is beautiful? The culture? They have no idea. Is it all make-up and glamour?

"Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight" (1 Peter 3:4). We seek what is beautiful in God's sight; not what anyone else deems as pleasing to the eye. Is it hard? Yes. Is it true beauty is twisted into an unrecognizable mess? Indeed, we live in a fallen world marred by sin. Yet, God in his mercy allows us to still see beauty and may we never exchange it for lesser things.

"For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise." Copyright 2008 by Hannah Miller

--HM

My Review of College Plus!

As I begin my endorsement, I must mention that I haven't been asked by the said organization to write any review good or otherwise. I have talked to a few people who have questions about CP! and so I am here to give a brief overview about my experience as a student who has completed the program.

Here is a bit of background on my decision to use CollegePlus! During my junior year, my parents and I began to consider options for my senior year of high school and subsequently my college career. Through discussions, we specified four points that were important to me, that I had strong desires for: 1) to go through college as quickly as possible (I didn't want to spend four more years of my life in school); 2) to get through college debt free (no student loans, no nothing); and 3) to be at home because I wanted to be there when my little sister came home from China (ruling out out-of-state universities).

Now I have a highly popular university just 15 minutes down the road from my home which takes care of point number 3; I could get a full scholarship if I received a certain score on my SATs meeting point number 2. I could even cut down on the time it took to get my college degree by dual-enrolling during my senior year of high-school; thus point number 1 could have been fulfilled.

However, I also did not want what is point number 4: to sit in a classroom under the tutelage of a unbeliever in an secular institution. I just couldn't do that.

So my mom recommended CollegePlus! which met my criteria for college. The process has changed since I first enrolled (the tuition has gone up, other programs are part of the package, etc.). But I started with Life Purpose Planning for about 6 weeks. During this time, I answered questions and discovered strengths and weaknesses I have. I also got to know my coach. CP coaches are always boy to boy or, in my case, girl to girl.

If there was only one thing I could say on what made CollegePlus! excellent, it was the personal coach. My coach walked me through tests, worked me through mental barriers, suggested study tips, prayed for me at the end of each call, and encouraged me. The coach can not take the place of parental involvement and support, but he or she is a wonderful supplement that make this experience.

After Life Purpose Planning, I used CLEP tests to fulfill most of my general education requirements. You can see a list of the tests by College Board (the same people who handle SATs) and get more information here: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html.
These exams are taken and if passed, are worth the credits of what a student would have earned who had sat through the classes and passed. The credits range from 3 credit hours to 12 credit hours, varying from exam to exam.

I also used DANTEs exams. At first, these were only open to the military but that has now changed and civilians can take them instead of sitting through the class. Prometric's site (http://www.getcollegecredit.com/04learners_a.html) lists the tests they offer.

For all the CLEPs I took and for a couple of the DANTEs, my coach e-mailed me study guides CollegePlus! has developed to aid students in passing the tests. These study guides recommend appropriate reading material for studying and give insight into how to pass. For CLEPs and DANTEs, I would read the recommended books, take notes, perhaps make flash cards, study, and take a practice exam. Then I would go to the testing center (which your coach will help you locate) and take the exam. It may sound simple enough but I often would study 4-6 hours a week, 6 days a week for roughly two weeks per exam (some took more time).

About a year into my program, I enrolled at the college. Mine was Thomas Edison State College (http://www.tesc.edu/) an online course institution that has the highest accreditation a college can have. My degree will be good anywhere; it's definitely not a mail-order degree.

The process for me wasn't smooth and easy. I had rough patches; it was intense. I spent the greater portion of the last 20 months in my room studying and managing a part-time job. I didn't get out much. But now I can say I am done with my college degree.

This way of getting your degree is not for everyone. Being an independent learner and being self-governing/diligent are important qualities to have (perhaps this is why CP! appeals to homeschoolers). Nevertheless, I would not limit it to homeschoolers only. Working adults would find the program most helpful as it plans your degree schedule which is flexible to work around your day.

With college tuition continually rising, CP! is a wonderful option to cut down costs and get a good education at the same time. I have worked with CP! on its E-Zine Acceleration and have gotten to know a couple of people beyond my coach which has truly enriched my experience. If you have any questions about CollegePlus! check out their website at www.collegeplus.org or e-mail me with questions at wicket.gate@yahoo.com. I love to discuss this program and the cutting edge approach to college it gives.