I usually hesitate in posting in a thread that has been inactive, even for a little while, for fear of just making things drag on and on, when the discussion is really over.
So forgive me if this thread is "dead"...
Anyway...
The movie Narnia did evoke LOTR at times. I remember experiencing a jolt out of the world of the movie (never a good thing) when the White Witch said, "We have work to do" to one of her minions. I was reminded of Saruman in the movies, I admit.
I have never seen a movie stick so close to the book as Narnia did.
That being said, I feel that Narnia was more like popcorn. Sure, it had depth, but...I dunno. There was something about it that didn't evoke as much emotion in me as the LOTR movies did.
Part of it may be the religion. Don't get me wrong, I am christian, but I like my symbolism subtle, when it's there at all. I have the same problem with the books. I also do not agree with many of C.S. Lewis' ideas about the faith: male-dominated, etc. Also, before seeing Narnia, I went back and re-read the series, since I hadn't read them since I was about seven years old...and couldn't BELIEVE that Susan wasn't allowed back into Narnia because she was interested in lipstick and invitations, and is dismissed as always trying to be too grown up. If Narnia is supposed to signify heaven, I guess that most of us are destined for hell, then, because that shift in interests happens to most people. So that and the anti-feminism in the books may have ruined the movie for me.
It was still a good show, but I do disdain allegory now that I'm old enough to see through it.
OK, so enough of my ranting. I guess what I missed in Narnia was the magic. LOTR drew me in, and I could really believe in Middle-Earth. I guess it's more of what other people were saying about transition fantasy. It's not like I had a hard time suspending disbelief (the special effects and acting were amazing, in both movies), it's more that I didn't feel as invested in the story with LWW as I did in LOTR, and the difference may have been that with LOTR there is nothing in between. You open the book and you're there. No transition necessary. Narnia was a mostly fun movie (though the Stone Table scene was downright scary, I do admit), but LOTR felt much more consistantly serious.
And another interesting note about the White Witch's costume... Did anyone else pick up on how she dressed with a lion-like theme at the battle, down to the makeup at the inner corners of her eyes? I thought that was a great costume choice, really rather spooky.