Lisabona's errant analysis of 'Narnia'

Now, all the way from cold, snowy, Colorado, where I urged two of my young grandchildren to see the movie Narnia with me, I read Lisabona Rahman's review (Sunday Post Dec. 18, p. 18) of the amazing movie.

While the review was a fine recapitulation of the story as presented with the most realistic of modern moviemaking technology, I was stunned to find that she concluded that the story was a celebration of Militarism! Just because it opened with the bombing of London in World War II, and portrayed a gigantic battle between the good forces of Aslan, and the dark forces of the dictator Ice Queen?

I think the author C.S. Lewis -- who saw and was personally wounded in World War I, and lived through the terror of the bombing of civilians by Hitler's Nazis, would be mortified by that interpretation.

For the story is about the triumph of Good over Evil -- not by wars, which unfortunately good men and women are forced to fight to defend themselves. But, in the tale of Aslan, the great and wise leader Lion, who sacrifices himself for the weakest and most misguided of his flock.

A parable of unselfish love for others -- not military domination. And self sacrifice to the point of one's own destruction, for them.

Had there not been the scenes of violence, the movie would have been just a saccharine tale for innocent children about life as we wished it to be, not as it really is and will be when they grow up. And when they must bravely choose either power and violence, or love and sacrifice as examples to their own children. Narnia is all about moral choices. And as timely as when it was written 50 years ago.

DAVE HUGHES, Colorado, U.S.