Hatrack River Forum: The Passion of Walt Disney

This is topic The Passion of Walt Disney in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by digging_holes (Member # 6237) on :

From narniaweb.com :

quote:

Walt Disney is to promote its $100 million adaptation of C S Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as a "Passion of the Christ for kids" in an attempt to secure worldwide Christian support for the film.

[...]

Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ has taken than $600 million (£311 million) at the box office since its release last year, principally because of the large number of Christians who went to see the film. Similarly, the animated adventure The Polar Express, which received poor reviews, became a hit after producers emphasised its Christian credentials.

In an effort to ensure that the Narnia film reaches a similar audience, Disney has hired Motive Marketing, a public relations company that specialises in reaching out to faith groups and was widely credited with the success of The Passion of the Christ. It has shown clips from the film to representatives from church groups and religious media. The strategy has already met with enormous success.

They have also hired a public relations company to market the film directly to Christian groups to ensure that the powerful evangelical movement, which is particularly strong in America, is happy with the content.

[...]

This makes me uncomfortable.

Don't get me wrong. I like that they are keeping the Christian core of The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe intact. In an industry that is usually more bent on Christian-bashing, it's refreshing to see that reversed.

What disturbs me is this growing tendency to regard my faith as a giant cash cow ripe for exploitation. Of course, I would expect nothing else from Hollywood. Their business is to make money. The disturbing thing is that the Christian community is so happily going along with it; there is a difference between approving of a film and effectively providing the studios with free marketing. It's turning pastors into salesmen.

When I consider that Zondervan, the largest bible publisher in the world (owned by HarperCollins) prefers to think of the Bible as a "product" and Christians as "consumers", constantly churning out new translations and new editions of older translations to keep the money rolling in, it seems to me that the Hollywood marketing thing is only the tip of the iceberg. The idea of spreading God's Word is becoming more and more eclipsed by the idea of making money, and I can't help think that it will have very bad consequences.

[ March 10, 2005, 07:21 PM: Message edited by: digging_holes ]

Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :

You should read Disney War. Michael Eisner is a crazy nut.

Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :

It's just going to Promote it right? It's not going to change it?

This is going to RUIN LWW for generations of Children: "Oh, LLW? That's a christian film isn;t it? I'm not seeing/reading that!"

They're missing the point. Yes it is, but it's also a wonderful story for children that children can enjoy without even understanding what lies beneath.

This makes me so upset.

quote:
You can not understand the story in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe without reference to God

Yes you CAN. Millions of children do it every year. I did it- I still do it. And I get great emotion out of it.

[Cry]

[ March 10, 2005, 07:38 PM: Message edited by: Teshi ]

Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :

Oh cr@p. I came into this thread to make a joke about Walt being crucified. The truth is worse than my joke.

Posted by digging_holes (Member # 6237) on :

Well, actually, it always was a Christian story, and it would be impossible to make a secular version without completely changing the story. So it's not going to "ruin" the film for generations of children. Though maybe some parents might.

"What? Christan film? I'm not letting you see that! Bunch of religious wackos! Burn those books I gave you for your birthday!"

Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :

Well d_h, there you go. People will not see it and they will miss what great stories they are. They will forget that often these epic stories are part of the human conciousness and are not just one religious realm.

Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :

"The idea of spreading God's Word is becoming more and more eclipsed by the idea of making money."

If it makes you feel any better, there has never been a time in Western history in which part of the appeal of spreading God's Word has not been the opportunity to make barrels of money from the gullible.

Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :

I'm looking forward to the Narnia movies.

The article doesn't say Disney or Walden Media will aim the film _only_ at the Christian audience, or try to exclude non-Christians.

I don't think that those who believe in God are all gullible, or those who preach about Him are all corrupt and greedy.

But then, I'm one those Christians, so I'm biased.

Edit: Spelling corrected

[ March 10, 2005, 10:56 PM: Message edited by: Puffy Treat ]

Posted by Book (Member # 5500) on :

I believe the director said, "It certainly is in there. It's in the Matrix, too, you know."

But, yeah, the idea of hocking it to Christians is a trifle upsetting, isn't he? I mean, it. It's like you have to pay money to feel righteous, when everyone knows what you really have to do is make a last minute confession on your deathbed.