From: Steven Engelfried <sengelfried>
Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2003 15:26:25 -0700

I keep trying to think of more excellent film versions of children's books, but keep going back to non-theatrical productions. Wonderworks' "Anne of Green Gables" was just about perfect. The series of Ramona films that came out in the 80's and the BBC version of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" also top my list. Maybe there's something about the big screen that gets in the way of interpreting kids' books. They need to be spectacular, larger than life, and appeal to huge masses, where the productions I mentioned seem to have a more personal, character driven focus. With the first Harry Potter movie, I could not find fault in any of the visual interpretations: the quidditch match, the troll, the two headed guy...they all looked just like they should. But I felt like I was watching the whole thing, not a part of it. Compare that to the low budget "Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe," with fake looking animals and simple sets...but it brought you right into the story.
 A modern remake might have a perfect digital Aslan, and the final scene, with stone creatures coming to life, would be dazzling...but I wonder if the characters and story would suffer just a bit from that. Similarly, Tim Burton's coming "Charlie & the Chocolate Factory" will probably look great, but will it have the charm and subtlety of the Gene Wilder version (which I guess R. Dahl hated, but I thought was excellent)?

- Steven Engelfried, Head of Youth Services
  Beaverton City Library
  12375 SW 5th Street
  Beaverton, OR 97005
  503R6%99 sengelfried at ci.beaverton.or.us
Received on Sun 13 Jul 2003 05:26:25 PM CDT