The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Disney vs. BBC, part 2

This is part 2 of a rambling compare-and-contrast on the BBC miniseries and Disney feature film versions of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, with extensive reference to the book (since the book is my only true canon). As of yet, I have no preference for one filmization over the other, since both have elements that make me happy and elements that annoy me to no end.

link to part 1
link to part 2
link to part 3
link to part 4
link to part 5

jump to some thoughts on Prince Caspian

-----

Edmund's betrayal:

( The BBC has leisure to reproduce almost all of the book dialogue... )

-----

In the Witch's house, part 1:

( Both versions of Jadis's castle are cold and creepy, but the blue, icy internal light... )

-----

Setting out for the Stone Table:

[NOTE: for the next three sections, I am using the BBC version to arrange the order of scenes and events, since it's generally faithful to the book. Disney is by now playing so fast and loose with the story that a lot of mental hopscotch or cut-and-paste is required to map their version of events onto Lewis's framework. Therefore, the order in which I discuss events is often not the order in which Disney shows them.]

( The BBC keeps the moderate pace of the book, though they exaggerate Mrs. Beaver's preparations... )

-----

Father Christmas and his side-effects:

( Disney skips right to the next morning, with the Beavers and the Pevensies looking out across... )

-----

The thaw:

( The BBC shows this mostly via shots of running water and the Witch's sledge traveling through fog... )

---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------

More to come soonish. I have finished writing up the BBC version and am perhaps 3/5 of the way through rewatching the Disney version critically and writing down my observations. (I also went back and edited part 1 of this review, to fix some inaccuracies that had crept into my memory of the Disney film version.)

link to part 3

smoke shop incidents: the strange aftereffects of California, with bonus 'donuts'

Tonight I had a brief conversation at cross-purposes with a customer until I realized he was under the impression that nonfilter American Spirit cigarettes must cost more than filtered American Spirits. This is true for Camels, but American Spirit only charges extra for organic tobacco; the presence or absence of filters is a non-issue in terms of price.

He was pleased to know he wouldn't have to spend extra. After I sold him the pack of cigarettes, I asked if he wanted matches. "They're complimentary with purchase of tobacco," I told him.

"Really?" he said. "Wow -- nobody's offered me matches in nine years! Of course, I've been living in California."

I decided not to ask for clarification.

He took the matches. Then he pulled a small quartz crystal from his pocket and offered it to me as a tip.

...

Am I supposed to blame that on California too?

---------------

In other smoke shop weirdness, Charlie (one of our regular customers) brought in a box of "donuts" for us to enjoy. This is very kind of him, and we are always grateful for baked goods.

We are also very confused, because while he insisted he was giving us donuts, he actually handed over a box of banana nut muffins.

Um. A rose by any other name...?