Reel News: Narnia Director Speaks Out
Andrew Adamson says directing The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is "kind of like a gift." Plus: Halle Berry gets Razzed; Hunter S. Thompson commits suicide; Tom Cruise brings Scientology to the set.
by Jeffrey Overstreet | posted 02/28/2005

Andrew Adamson says he wouldn't have missed this for the world—that is, the opportunity to direct The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, a Disney film opening December 9.

In a newly released behind-the-scence featurette, the director says he loved the book as a child, "so when this [opportunity to direct the film] came to be, it was kind of like a gift and there was no way I could not do it."

The three-minute video also features comments from producer Mark Johnson and from WETA Workshop guru Richard Taylor, whose brilliant work was most prominently featured in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

Adamson, who also directed both Shrek movies, says he's bringing that experience to his Narnia direction: "I'm gonna approach it the same way I approached Shrek, which is basically to make a movie that works on multiple levels, and I really think there'll be something for everyone."

In other Narnia news, the story's action figures are among a wave of new movie-related toys coming to stores. Check out picture of some of the Narnia toys here.

Meanwhile, Narnia special effects coordinator Dean Wright talks about how he's animating the centaurs and the beavers, among other things.

And finally, New York Times film critic Dave Kehr put together a story about Disney's marketing strategy for the film. Will Disney remain faithful to the

In other movie news:

Halle Berry 'honored' with Razzie as Worst Actress (AP)
And she makes it a double as Catwoman is named 2004's worst movie

Hunter S. Thompson, writer of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, commits suicide (CNN)
Thompson's son not surprised, while his widow heard the gunshot on the phone.

Tom Cruise brings Scientology to the set (New York Metro)
Cruise's sister and spokesperson gives actor's religious fervor more press.

Sandra Dee, the original 'Gidget,' is dead at 62 (New York Times)
The wife of singer Bobby Darin was portrayed by Kate Bosworth in Beyond the Sea.

Natalie Portman learns that Jerusalem's Wall is not a place for kissing (Yahoo! News)
"Ultra-Orthodox Jewish worshippers" protest kissing scene at Western Wall.

Hotel Rwanda implicates all of us (Contra Costa Times)
The film "has much to teach us about suffering, redemption and transformation."

Gunner Palace wins PG-13 rating despite harsh battlefield language (Washington Post)
Creators of Iraq war film appealed MPAA's R-rating and got their wish.

GQ decides it knows the best actors of a generation (Movie City News)
Where's Sean Penn? Daniel Day-Lewis?

Eternal Sunshine wins Writers Guild Honors (ABC News)
Sideways was the other big winner at the annual event.

Act One to begin training Christians for top Hollywood jobs (Religion Journal)
Program to prep believers to "become the decision-makers in Hollywood."

ABC planning a new Ten Commandments miniseries (Family.org)
"The American Christian public now has the attention of television."

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