Chronicles of Narnia
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bloodshotFanatical — 20 years ago(December 11, 2005 12:47 AM)
ROFL!
I guess if Narnia were a stageplay, she might have been the right cast. Come on! Did you believe her as the white witch even for a moment? I know I didn't although she did look a lot more like a white witch than Tilda Swinton; but looks don't make a performance I fear.
"We must have waffles. We must all have waffles forthwith." -
xaniski — 20 years ago(January 20, 2006 10:06 AM)
No the new Chronicles has none of the purity of the BBC version. As far as I'm concerned the White Witch was utter crap in the new version. Whoever designed her wardrobe should NEVER work again ever. An awful awful portrayal. So what if Barbara was a stage actor? She's amazing. I love her and she makes the role very real.
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bloodshotFanatical — 19 years ago(April 18, 2006 06:41 PM)
I completely agree on the wardrobe for the new witch - dreadful, distracting, clunky, awkward - the list of adjectives goes on.
But I strongly disgree with you concerning Kellermann; very much so - it was in no way, shape or form believable. It felt like someone pretending; I never felt convinced of her evil nature. That's not to say that Tilda Swinton was a smashing sucess - there are good and bad parts in them all.
Here's what it comes down to: the BBC version felt like a filmed stageplay whereas the new version felt a lot more cinematic. sure, it's flawed but as a lover of cinema and not as much the theater, I prefer the Swinton performance (albeit it isn't the greatest).
"We must have waffles. We must all have waffles forthwith." -
umm_okay — 19 years ago(May 23, 2006 02:20 PM)
Wow, I feel the complete opposite. I thought she was absolutly believable as the witch. Everything about her, I felt she WAS the witch through and through.
I understand some people feel her performance was over the top. Of course its over the top! Shes playing a witch in a fairytale book, thats the only way the witch should be! The yelling, the contriving of each word she says, the brazen stares are EXACTLY how the witch would act. It should be an over the top performance, because thats the nature of the character. There are looks the witch gives that are absolutly chilling, because you feel the hideousness of the witch ISN'T just a performance, but that shes truely that terrifying inside.
Anyway, I Tilda Swinton's performance was underwhelming, to say the least. And though the make-up on her face was quite creepy, I didn't feel she really WAS the character. I felt like her's was a performance.
So I guess I feel the exact opposite from you. -
andyscobie — 20 years ago(December 19, 2005 10:00 AM)
I know what you mean. Her role as the White Witch in Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe will always be her finest momement.
When you look Narnia as a whole the white witch is a far greater acknowledged character than the Green Lady.
Do you remember she had a small role as the hag in Prince Caspian, what did you think of that -
Reddeer5 — 20 years ago(December 23, 2005 05:59 AM)
Barbara was lovely as both the White Witch AND the Emerald Witch, aka The Green Lady. However, the script for THE SILVER CHAIR minimized a lot of what she had to work with. In the book the key point is not how mean and cruel the Emerald Witch is, but how alluring and soothing her voice is, luulling both Prince Rilian and the children into willing and spellbound obedience. But the TV production makes her seem more shrill and cruel than soothing and hypnotic in her voice and mannerisms.
In THE LION THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, it's funny how the White Witch turns around and winks at her evil dwarf once Edmund starts eating the Turkish Delight. That's not in the book for sure!
Barbara Kellerman was perfect in the NARNIA books and I hope she's still working now, making great films and shows! -
philipmgriffin — 17 years ago(November 14, 2008 11:34 AM)
No, I know she is a stage performer but she was so over the top. the exagerated gestures and massive facial expressions were disracting rather than engaging. I did like the panto lion Aslan more than the cgi one though.