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Religion

'Narnia' dazzles youths in sneak peek

About 300 at a local church see the snowy fantasy world, the precocious kids and the Christian message in The Chronicles of Narnia.

By GAIL HOLLENBECK
Published December 10, 2005

INVERNESS - Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, about 300 local students were among the first viewers of the latest Disney film, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

The student ministry from First Baptist Church of Inverness, along with other area sixth- through 12th-graders, were treated to a private viewing of the film Thursday at Regal Citrus Center a day before it was released in theaters.

The movie is based on a classic novel by C.S. Lewis that follows the exploits of four siblings - Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter Pevensie - in World War II England. They enter the world of Narnia through a magical wardrobe they stumble upon while playing a game of hide-and-seek in the rural country home of an elderly professor.

"Once there," say production notes for the film, "the children discover a charming, peaceful land inhabited by talking beasts, dwarfs, fauns, centaurs and giants that has become a world cursed to eternal winter by the evil White Witch, Jadis.

"Under the guidance of a noble and mystical ruler, the lion Aslan, the children fight to overcome the White Witch's powerful hold over Narnia in a spectacular, climactic battle that will free Narnia from Jadis' icy spell forever."

Before the film, Ryan Shipp, First Baptist's minister of music and youth, expressed his hopes for the film.

"First, I just hope that the students enjoy the movie," he said. "I think it's important for students to realize that Hollywood is very capable of creating quality movies that are wholesome and uplifting. Just because a PG tag is placed on a movie doesn't mean that the quality of that movie decreases. Secondly, on a much deeper level, I pray that students will watch this movie and realize that there is much more to our lives than the best that the world has to offer. In a me-first society, the simple story of sacrificial love touches the hardest of hearts. And, ultimately, that sacrificial love is the love of Jesus of the Bible."

Shipp's hopes were not in vain. During the movie the audience of young people was deeply engrossed in the adventure, whistling and applauding numerous times.

Before the movie, 15-year-old Citrus High sophomore Chelsea Adkisson said she was "definitely excited and looking forward to seeing it."

"I grew up with the book," she said.

After seeing the movie, Chelsea had not changed her mind.

"I'm very glad I came," Chelsea said. "I'll be recommending it to my friends."

She had only good comments about the film.

"My favorite part was when Aslan came back to life," she said. "It was really cool how it represented the story of Jesus and helps us understand it more."

Chelsea said the movie can be used as a witnessing tool.

"Instead of just pushing Jesus in front of somebody, it's a way to get them interested," she said.

Before the film, Ethan Ellzey, 14, an eighth-grader from Inverness Middle School, said he expected it to be a lot of fun.

"A lot of people that don't know Jesus will go to it," he said, "so it should be pretty much fun for them as well."

Ethan also was not disappointed.

"It was good that everybody could come and learn more," he said. "Hopefully those who came who didn't know Jesus got the Gospel message, and Ryan helped with that at the end, too, with his message. And the movie was good. I hope it's a blockbuster."

Ethan said he liked the role Aslan had in the movie, and his favorite part was when the witch was killed.

"They defeated evil so they could have eternal life in Narnia," he said.

Cami Plaisted, 17, is a junior homeschooled student. She has never read the C.S. Lewis book, but she said she has been familiar with the story for a long time and it was recently reviewed by her youth pastor.

"I remember it from when I was a little kid," she said. "I think the movie was true to the book. We all came in here knowing that this wasn't just a movie, but I don't think any of us realized how much it would really impact us."

Cami said the movie evoked emotions in her.

"I was very impressed and very touched," she said. "Seeing this movie and getting to actually see the parallelism of Aslan dying and Jesus dying on the cross, it just put it all together, and it really touched me."

Cami said she hopes there will be more movies like this one.

"It had a great message, and I think it will definitely make an impact on the way that teenagers are able to see, in a visual way, what Jesus actually did for us."

Shipp was all smiles after the movie.

"It was everything I thought it would be," he said.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is being shown at the Regal Citrus Center, 2635 E Gulf to Lake Highway, Inverness, 637-3377; the Regal Crystal River Mall 9, 1801 NW Highway 19, 564-6864; and the Regal Hollywood 16, 2801 SW 27th Ave., Ocala, (352) 861-2699. The film is a production of Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media.

[Last modified December 10, 2005, 00:51:18]