In a reversal that recognized modern day sensibilities, the executive committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ music branch has decided to allow the score to The Dark Knight be considered for Best Original Score. Initially, they disqualified the score, as they did Batman Begins, citing too many names attached to the documentation.

The November 10 decision was revered, according to The Hollywood Reporter after it decided that Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard were the main composers.  Ballots had yet to be mailed to the Academy’s voters so the film is not being adversely affected.
 

The biggest problem with the film version of [[[The Chronicles of Narnia]]] is that it cannot escape comparisons with [[[Lord of the Rings]]], much the same way the C.S. Lewis books were frequently measured against his contemporary, J.R.R. Tolkien.

As literary works and now as filmed entertainment, Middle Earth trumps [[[Narnia]]] without question. 

[[[Prince Caspian]]], the second film from Walden Media, ups the ante a bit with a more assured and sumptuous production compared with [[[the Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe]]].  Director Andrew Anderson has grown as a filmmaker and the movie benefits from his surer hand, both in terms of storytelling and scope.

And yet…in look and feel, Narnia feels generic. The sets, the costumes, the New Zealand locations, the score, it just all looks way too familiar. Rather than transport us to something fresh and different, we’re given pretty but bland material.  The Pevensies also come off poorly because we’re told more about their themes and personalities in the perfunctory background extras than we’re given in the finished product.

We pick up a year later in London as the Pevensies are in an underground station before they’re magically summoned to Narnia in the realm’s time of need.  But, before leaving our world, we get a mere hint of what these four kids have experienced since returning home.  When last we saw them, they had grown up, had ruled as Queens and Kings of the land for at least a decade before they returned home and to their natural ages.  Rich material that is ignored.   Lewis ignored such characterization so Anderson follows suit.

Once they arrive in Narnia, they learn 1300 years has passed.  Oddly, while the Telmarines have gained ascendancy, technologically, nothing has changed.  What has occurred in the intervening years to retard such development?  No clue, it’s ignored.  Instead, we get faux European people having a lovely political fight as Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes) flees for his life in the wake of his Uncle Miraz (Sergio Castellitto) now in possession of a son, an heir through which he can claim the throne.  When chased, he uses Queen Susan’s horn and summons the old guard.

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