Interpreting Caspian? For Whom?

After hearing so many conflicting views on Prince Caspian, this weekend’s top grossing film, I couldn’t help but scratch my head. Christians are on high alert because one of their most beloved authors is getting the star treatment. But alas, he’s dead, and his legacy is apparently up for grabs.

While some are thinking it’s cool that C.S. Lewis’s beloved characters — Peter, Susan, Edmund, Lucy, Trumpkin and Reepicheep — are now celluloid heroes, others are pondering the compromises along the way. How can a secular studio ever capture the full scope of this Christian classic? And if they did, would it still be “Christian” or “classic”?

Perhaps this is why the “Christian” genre of things was started anyway. You know,

• Christian Fiction
• Christian Film
• Christian Music

At least “Christian filmmakers” can control the content of their product (i.e. make sure the interpretation suits their end). I mean, there’s little doubt as to what Facing the Giants is all about, right?

But isn’t that the problem? Secular studios interpret things differently than Christian audiences. Disney sees things in terms of $$$, not some dense philosophy about “mythic imagination” or “baptized paganism,” which Lewis pondered in the book. Who cares what Bacchus represents, as long as they can get the ‘tween demographic.

And all the while, Christian ticket holders wait nervously for Aslan to appear and articulate their cherished beliefs. Oh! He said “Believe.” Yippee! Or, Lucy can see him while the other brutes can’t. See?! Uh, yeah. I get it it. And the lady sitting next to them is jamming popcorn in her face while her kid fidgets in anticipation of the next battle scene.

Is this really what Lewis envisioned?

So there’s two different interpretations — the Christian and the, uh, not-Christian. But another chasm has opened, this one between the Narnian purists and the, shall we say, Narnian tourists. While the one broods over the dwindling spiritual themes, the other is content to associate such a high quality film with anything “Christian.” So what if the deeper elements of Lewis’s theology were left on the cutting room floor. Everyone knows the Lion is supposed to be Jesus. Don’t they?

Tags: Prince Caspian, C.S. Lewis, Narnia