Wrinkle Reflections
Madeleine's readers and fans share their thoughts on the "Wrinkle" movie and the book.
If you would like to have your thoughts posted here, please send an email to info@madeleinelengle.com with the subject line "Wrinkle Reflections."
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Having viewed "Wrinkle" last night, I want "whoever, wherever" to know that I was absolutely THRILLED with the casting, the music, the special effects, and the sense that the production's timing was all a part of that process which Madeleine, herself, reflects in every stage of her life. I THANK you, from MY heart, for the absolute JOY that was mine in viewing the story that I have LOVED for so long, and who's theme was not compromised by it's delay in production! The "up-dating" to fit our ever-more-increasingly complex society only enhanced the story that Madeleine allowed to come through her over thirty years ago. As I watched, it was just as I might have IMAGINED the portrayal so many years ago when I read it for the first time. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
-MH
I knew when I decided to watch the movie, that there wasn't a way
for anyone to capture the "movie" I'd created in my imagination
when reading the book. Just as I feared - the movie could
not begin to meet my imagination of the characters or locations
in the story. I spent much of the 3 hours going "that's
not right! Did that happen like that in the book? That's not what
she/he (that) looks like!".
One positive came out of watching the movie with my daughter (18)
- she now wants to read the book, She wants to find out what
my comments throughout the film mean! <smile>. We will
be reading the book together very soon!
-EMSR
Well...I don't even know where to start, but will try to keep it short. For someone like me who's worn out three copies of Wrinkle, the story line was just recognizable - in fact, some of it was verbatim from the book. But on the whole, the movie is bad (as I see Ms. L'Engle herself thinks). I'm sure the people who made it meant well, but... In trying to update it, they made it way too trendy. The over-the-top music detracts instead of adding anything to the story. I read one critic who said the movie improves when the children get to Camazotz, but that's exactly where I think the departure from the story line of the book is too extensive. It's like a bad American action movie. I miss so much that was in the book. I could have handled some things being left out, but too much was fabricated! I feared that the movie makers would be afraid of the religious references, and I noticed only one mention of God. I missed the quotations from scripture that made parts of the book so compelling and touching. And it's not as if the religion in the book is narrow or preachy - it isn't. I was hoping I'd want to buy the video, but I wouldn't have it. I hope that some day someone will make a movie of this loved story in the right way (take heart, Ms. L'Engle, even though you may not see it in your earthly life). I'll bet the British could do it, though they'd need to use American actors.
-BM
As I reflect on what I have watched so far (the first two hours with plans to watch the rest later), it saddens me that Katherine Hand has produced what Madeleine would call "a nice story" but left out all the wonderful "stuff underneath" that Madeleine put in when she wrote the book--the essence is missing. The producer certainly missed the most important stuff underneath or she would not have made Mrs Which into a beautiful woman who didn't want "those children" involved and she definitely missed the true character that was the Happy Medium. What happened to the wonderful quotes of Mrs. Who's? And it was appalling to hear Charles Wallace translating the song of the creatures simply as "joy"--all the stuff underneath, the beautiful words from the Psalm, was missing. I only hope that viewers who have not read the book will be motivated to find a copy and read it and discover "all the stuff underneath"!
-E & J
It was with great anticipation (upon hearing almost a year and a
half ago) that I looked forward to A Wrinkle in Time movie.
Imagine the disappointment after viewing Disney's "interpretation".
It did nothing to satisfy this 30 year reader of a favourite
classic. I have passed along my love of this book (and the many
others that came before and after) to many friends and family -
most notably my children. As we watched this 3 hour ad-fest, we
were all quite disappointed.
The characters were only partly fleshed out and mostly non-existent
in the actual books. (For instance, Aunt Beast was such a solid,
well-rounded, significant character in the book and yet played
almost no role in the movie; Jack & Dana?! - what was that?
Obviously, there are countless examples of such liberties sprinkled
throughout.) The sequence of events were askew and carelessly plotted.
As a family, we figured that this movie could have been cut down
to 2 hours easily and still have very little to do with Ms L'Engel's
unique and beloved story. What a shame!!! (We all wondered what
Ms L'Engel thought about it!!)
Until recently, I had no idea that A Ring of Endless Light was also
movie-fied. After watching Disney's abysmal version of A Wrinkle
in Time, I no longer feel the urge to see another beautiful story
butchered on screen. Perhaps, it is impossible to visually interpret
Ms L'Engel's imagination and creations outside one's own head.
Interestingly, during the viewing, I kept envisioning an animated
version - and that it probably would have been a better approach
to illustrate and keep the integrity of these "not-of-this"
world characters. (Here again, Aunt Beast's tender ministration
of Meg could have been further realized.)
My hope is that another attempt will be made at some point to give
this book, the characters, theme and Ms L'Engel their rightful
treatment.
All the best to you and Ms L'Engel!
-KN