Adamson hopes fans enjoy intimate moments as much as epic scale

Director Andrew Adamson.

It may be an epic fantasy full of sophisticated visual effects, but Andrew Adamson hopes viewers enjoy the intimate moments in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe as much as the effects-laden ones.

New Zealand filmmaker Adamson, the man behind the hugely popular Shrek movies, was yesterday promoting what is hoped to be the first of several movies based on C S Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia books in Auckland, where much of the film was shot.

But though modern computer technology has enabled him to create quite realistic talking lions, wolves and beavers, Adamson says the story is just as much about the human journey of the four Pevensie children.

"That's one of the things that I liked about it". "It goes from very small and very intimate - really a family drama - and it becomes an epic adventure and that transition happens throughout the film.

"I think when you're on the battlefield with Peter (the eldest of the Pevensie children), you're kind of wondering yourself how you got there and yet you're along for the journey.

"Some of those small intimate moments I think are the most successful moments in the film - I think the part when Lucy meets Mr Tumnus is one of my favourite moments."

A man of average height and thin build, Los Angeles-based Adamson looks as though he's more comfortable in a west Auckland pub than a plush room at Auckland's Hyatt Regency hotel, where media interviews are taking place.

He comes across as being as down to earth as New Zealand's other king of film fantasy, Peter Jackson, only more relaxed and personable. He and Jackson are reportedly quite good friends, but it's hard to imagine anybody not getting along with Adamson.

He's also happy with a low profile, which events yesterday proved he still has to some extent. Though a sizeable crowd came to welcome his plane into Auckland Airport yesterday, they only had eyes for the triumphant All Blacks, who were also on the plane.

"Everybody was too busy looking at them so I just made a quick left turn. They're definitely the stars of the moment."

There are of course some nerves about how the $219 million film will be received when it opens on December 9, but he's pleased with what he's come up with.

"It really is the film that I set out to make and I'm sort of proud that I got to do that," he said.

"Everyone did a great job - I think the kids did a great job, and at the end of it all I'm very happy with it. The film is very reflective of how I remember the book."

The Narnia film was Adamson's first in which he filmed actors, but it wasn't something he found intimidating.

"I directed live actors in a different context obviously with the voice talent in the Shrek films and strangely enough it's not really that different.

" At the end of the day it's a remarkably similar process you go through as a director - certainly similar emotional process; you have the same highs and lows, the same successes and failures."

Perhaps the biggest difference was that it was his first film with a full production crew. With digital animation he'd never needed to work with camera operators, lighting crews, costume makers or set constructors.

"With live action you've got a big crew standing around, the weather's changing, you're waiting for light to come or go, and you have that time pressure, and you have to rely on your gut instinct a lot more in live action.

"But at the same time there's something satisfying in that; something more visceral and in the moment that I really enjoy."

However, there's no doubt the animated characters who were all created after shooting finished are among Adamson's favourites - especially the Beavers, comic sidekicks in the best traditions of the Shrek films.

In particular, he was delighted with Ray Winstone, best known for his darker character parts, giving Mr Beaver a cockney voice.

"It's fun to mix things - the idea of Ray Winstone as a beaver is in itself funny," he said.

"Just letting Ray be himself and knowing that it's coming out of a beaver is immediately warm and funny.

"When I look at casting voices I just listen to a lot of videos with my eyes closed and really just go for voices which have a lot of character."

There are certain parts of the film which appear to be inspired by the Lord of the Rings films, but Adamson said they weren't a direct influence.

"In general I'm sure you gain a lot through osmosis of seeing films over the years - but in general you always try and do something original and try not to reference too many films.

" I think the film that I found the most useful for the battles was actually Braveheart, which I remembered from early on - in particular, the first battle in Braveheart.

"It definitely has epic scale and all of those kind of things but really it's more of an intimate story."

Once premieres and promotional work for The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe are finished, Adamson has some work to do on Shrek 3, which he is producing rather than directing. He would like to return to New Zealand to make films, maybe even a second Narnia film if this one is successful enough.

"I'd definitely like to make more films here. I don't know if I'm going to make more films in this series or not.

"I'd like to wait and find out, take some time out and reflect on whether I want to make something this large again."

- NZPA