A Wrinkle in Time Movie Review

2018 Version

2004 TV version

Well, here I am again with a review that’s not for a book. This week my sister and I went to see the ‘new’ Wrinkle in Time movie. Yes, you read that right the new movie, there is an older movie from Disney. However, it seems that this first attempt at an adaption has completely been forgotten with many saying the movie currently out is the first adaptation of the book.  According to IMDB, this version was released for TV in 2004. I have to say that while this new movie was not horrible I preferred the old one better.

They both retell the story written by Madeleine L'Engle in her novel of the same name. This review will consider the newest movie. The movie moved quickly through the tale with many adjustments and retractions. I feel that the story was lacking in the dimension which the book showed because of a shift from a focus on truth and love to simply love between Meg, one of the main characters, and her brother Charles Wallace. This lack was noticeable to me because I had seen the first movie and read the book. Calvin also became a useless character instead of the group's diplomat helping Meg along the way. I was bothered by the fact that all he could find to say was that her hair was pretty. Really, they couldn’t at least make him be able to give a better compliment. I understand they were trying to empower Meg but I felt this hurt the story because the three were to be working together to save Meg’s father and the universe. A dynamic was missing between Meg and Calvin which was seen in the book and older movie.

The storytelling itself was not that bad but I kept expecting things from the old movie and/or book. This story feels as if it moves quickly through the idea that Meg doesn’t like herself or her father but will accept what she finds. The movie shows what can be accomplished when you believe in yourself and that you should accept yourself how you are. The lessons taught are important but take away from the original story's emphasis on truth and love, alongside friendship and working together. I feel that Calvin could have been left out and the story would have been the same because his character along with a few others was unimportant to Meg's true journey to accept herself.

Reference

Cinemark. (2018). A wrinkle in time [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.cinemark.com/a-wrinkle-in-time?showDate=03/31/2018

Disney Movie Trailers [Username]. (Jul 12, 2017).  A wrinkle in time official US teaser trailer [YouTube video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4U3TeY2wtM

Heather Turner [Username]. (Apr. 2, 2012). A wrinkle in time movie trailer [YouTube video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdjShe0ouiw

IMDB. (2018). A wrinkle in time (2003). Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0290382/