Giant Ape Vs. Mystical Lion

More important than the unending war of Man vs. Woman, of course, is the question of who will win the box office battle -- mighty Kong or wise Aslan?

The debate started here, about 20 or so comments into the thread.

Assuming the wisdom of markets, Kong will win -- by a solid margin. The Hollywood Stock Exchange, where people essentially bet upon the box office takes of movies, has Kong at $220 million domestic take, while Aslan trails at $173 mil.

My money's not on the line, but I'd guess both of those are lowballs.

Kong is also dominating in positive reviews, by a similar margin. Naria rates a good but not great 78% "Fresh" rating according to Rotten Tomatoes, whereas Kong garners a very impressive 100%. (There aren't nearly as many reviews for Kong, and maybe those getting early looks at the movie are more favorably inclinend to give it a good review.)

Whichever movie wins, it looks like a good December for movies.

Critics Pan Christian Allegory? In the comments, See-Dubya snarks:

The New York Times review (and find your own damn link) was explicitly down on the Christian angle. 'Too high a Jeesiosity quotient', I believe they said.

Apparently he's using single-quotes to help conserve for the war-effort. But, still funny.

But also not really that far off the mark. Clive Davis posts on Narnia reactions, and includes this ugly anti-Christian stinkbomb of hatred from Guardian leftist reactionary Polly Toynbee:

Philip Pullman -- he of the marvellously secular trilogy His Dark Materials -- has called Narnia "one of the most ugly, poisonous things I have ever read". Why? Because here in Narnia is the perfect Republican, muscular Christianity for America - that warped, distorted neo-fascist strain that thinks might is proof of right. I once heard the famous preacher Norman Vincent Peel in New York expound a sermon that reassured his wealthy congregation that they were made rich by God because they deserved it. The godly will reap earthly reward because God is on the side of the strong. This appears to be CS Lewis's view, too.

Yeahhhh... remember, folks, this is a fairy-tale about a talking lion.

I am always amused by atheist evangelists. They're more fervent than the objects of their ire.

Incidentally, I may be wrong about this, but as far as I know, Pullman's books aren't really "secular" in the sense they don't touch on the metaphysical. They have a God, or at least a Good Omnipotent Being. His name is Satan.

More... The American Scene notes that some critics seem to think C.S. Lewis was a flawed writer, and that flaw, of course, was his Christian faith.

Diversity, schmiversity. The same cheesedicks who'd fall all over themselves to praise a book or movie celebrating paganism (like The Mysts of Avalon) sit here in stern judgment over this kooky, dangerous, occult belief system called Christianity.

Big Plot Hole In King Kong? The '77 remake avoided this strangeness, but the new version faithfully brings it back. John notes:

I think Jonah Goldberg had a good take on King Kong -- they go to an island where they find a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and everyone's excited about the giant monkey?

Hah! That is pretty strange when you think about it. There are dinosaurs -- dinosaurs!!! -- everywhere you look but what really captures Jack Black's imagination is a gibbon with a glandular condition.

posted by Ace at 08:34 PM

| Access Comments