More links on the Narnia movie from the Web Evangelism Bulletin:

The Good Book Company in UK is another ministry offering Narnia tracts: http://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/Youth-and-Children/Tracts/

COOK Ministries offer a Narnia-based 4-week multimedia curriculum program to disciple teens and empower them to reach out and share their faith: http://www.CookMinistries.com/NarniaProject

Talking Narnia to Your Neighbors: How C S Lewis’s fairy tales can impact your friends for Christ: http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/2005/006/11.42.html

CCCI have recast their 4 Spiritual Laws as a single Narnia-based gospel page: http://www.talesofnarnia.com/

R-R-ROAR! FINDING GOD IN THE LAND OF NARNIA: Dave Buckna has created a Narnia-based quiz available for syndication into print or web media - write to him at dabuckna [at] direct [dot] ca http://www.ashleylangford.com/archives/2005/12/chronicles_of_n.html

LEWIS. If you want an in-depth look at C S Lewis, Leadership University have brought together a wide range of articles: http://www.leaderu.com/focus/lionandlewis

It has been interesting to note that we seem to have reached a ‘tipping point’ in contemporary culture, with the film receiving considerable criticism in the secular media for being, as they see it, Christian propaganda. This would not probably not happened several years ago.

This is a movie of (primarily) ten years in the life of Johnny Cash showing his early years recording at Sun Records and ending 1n 1968 with his on-stage proposal to June Carter. Cash is a legend, and it is hard to imagine anyone even attempting to make a movie of even ten years in his life. This movie does great credit to show one aspect of this decade in detail - Cash’s battle with drugs and the story of what it took from June Carter and others to even save his life. It is a story of redemption.

Joaquin Phoenix plays Cash, and Reese Witherspoon plays June Carter. Both Phoenix and Witherspoon sing their own songs here - there is no dubbing or looping. They both took six months of training for this. Phoenix may not look like the mature Cash I remember, but he nails Cash’s trademark mannerisms and nuances, and does a more than credible job of doing Cash’s baritone growl. Phoenix doesn’t seem to be imitating Cash or acting - he takes on the skin of Cash for a very organic performance. Phoenix was chosen personally by Johnny Cash to take the role in this movie.

The stage performances don’t start until about half-way through the movie, but after that there are many. About the middle of the movie when Phoenix steps to the stage and says “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash” - you believe it. Phoenix is heads-up for an Oscar on this. Witherspoon also plays an excellent June Carter, belting out “Jackson” in the last performance with June’s trademark growl. The on-stage chemistry between the two in the movie is incredible.

Forget the story details when watching this movie and focus on the personalities. The on-stage interaction between the two personalities is also electric.

You can find the Quicktime movie trailer at:

http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?id=1369895&sdm=web&qtw=640&qth=400
Remember - that is Phoenix singing on the trailer. No dubbing or looping of Cash’s real voice.

Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media are releasing The Chronicles of Narnia movie on December 9, 2005. This is the first of a collection of stories by C.S. Lewis. Unlike Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings with indirect references to the Gospel, C.S. Lewis used bold analogies that tell the redemption story in a profound way. In the Portland area, the following leading organizations are already endorsing this film:

Mission Portland
International Renewal Ministries (the Prayer Summit people)
KKPZ
Western Seminary

At the national level, Mission America, George Barna, and Focus on the Family are among those endorsing it. Start preparing your church on how your church can use this as a powerful outreach tool.

Andrew Adamson, who directed the Shrek and Shrek2 films, directs the film. Unlike those, however, the film isn’t a cartoon. The CG effects are used to bring the story to life, just as in Lord of the Rings. In fact, Richard Taylor, famous now for his Lord of the Rings work and soon-to-be-released the Legend of Zorro, directed the special effects of Narnia. Yes, New Zealand’s WETA was involved. One of the big challenges, of course, was creating a life-like CG lion for Aslam (The Lion of Judah). Liam Neeson voices Aslam.

Although the film is two months away as this is written, it’s not to early to get resources for your church to use it and begin planning. Here are the web sites for resources:

http://www.narniaresources.com - free resources such as posters, door hangers, etc.

http://www.outreach.com - Free and resources you can customize and purchase.

http://www.barnapreview.com - How to few the entire film on December 8 - or one day earlier. Contains previews, “making of” videos, and trailers.

Mission America Site - Outreach ideas, making the Bible Connection, and more.

Christinaity Today Movie Interview

TIME Magazine Article

I’ve been warned that children will understand the film easier than adults. It isn’t, however, just a children’s story. It’s the greatest story ever told.