december 13, 2005
Narnia Sets Box Office Records -- Inspires Evangelism
According to CNN online reports yesterday, "another fantasy world has joined Hollywood's instant-blockbuster club. Disney's The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe -- adapted from C.S. Lewis' tale of enchantment, epic battles and talking animals (and co-produced by Christian film company, Walden Media) -- debuted as the weekend's top movie with $67.1 million.” According to a feature in Variety posted online, “this is the second-highest weekend gross ever for December, behind only that of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, which debuted with $72.6 million in 2003.”
Film critics Ebert and Roeper gave the movie "two thumbs up" -- while children, teenagers and adults across the country praised the movie's quality and faithfulness to Lewis' Christian message.
C. S. Lewis stated openly that "Narnia's" lion, Aslan, was written as a Jesus figure, and the tale of sacrificial atonement was a central key to the plot.
One moviegoer stated, "I think this is a great opportunity for speaking out the Word, of what Jesus Christ did for each one of us. He died on a cross." Across the country, Christians are seizing this opportunity to share the meaning behind the sacrificial death of Aslan in the movie -- the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel in California, remarked, "We're thrilled with the fact that Hollywood does recognize that there's commercial value in good, family kinds of films."
Following the box office success of the film is the Music Inspired By: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Soundtrack project, which over the weekend saw significant sales increases. This past September 27th, EMI Music – the world’s largest independent music company partnered with Walt Disney Studios and Walden Media to release the soundtrack of music inspired by Lewis’ best-selling classic.
This past Thursday December 8th, Nashville’s Christian music community came out by the hundreds to support the film, including artists from the Music Inspired By: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe soundtrack, Rebecca St. James and members of Jars of Clay.
Following the screening, other artists attending, including Audio Adrenaline, Building 429, Plumb, ZOEgirl, Nicole C. Mullen, George Rowe, Don Moen, Warren Barfield, Selah, Veggie Tales' Mike Nawrocki and Kurt Heinecke, participated in a live radio broadcast produced by Renaissance Communications, and co-hosted by Moody Broadcasting Network’s Wayne Shepherd and St James, airing on over 75 stations across the country via Salem Radio Network.
Commenting on the film, St James noted, "The cinematography is stunning, the acting is brilliant and the scenes of redemption and forgiveness are very powerful. It's a movie with a message for all ages--and one with values that children can benefit tremendously.”
Kicking off the weekend’s biggest movie debut, E! Entertainment Television closed out their E! News Daily broadcast this past Friday with Steven Curtis Chapman’s video for his Inspired-by soundtrack single, “Remembering You.”
Order the Music Inspired By: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
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