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A Wrinkle in Time (2003 film)

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For the 2018 Disney film, see A Wrinkle in Time (2018 film). For the novel, see A Wrinkle in Time.
A Wrinkle in Time
DVD cover
Based onA Wrinkle in Time
by Madeleine L'Engle
Teleplay bySusan Shilliday
Directed byJohn Kent Harrison
StarringKatie Stuart
Gregory Smith
David Dorfman
Chris Potter
Kyle Secor
Seán Cullen
Sarah-Jane Redmond
Kate Nelligan
Alison Elliot
Alfre Woodard
Theme music composerJeff Danna (film version)
Patric Caird (four-hour miniseries cut)
Shawn Pierce (four-hour miniseries cut)
Country of originUnited States
Canada
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersJolee B. Lovick
Jordan Kerner
CinematographyJon Joffin
Philip Linzey
EditorSue Maggi
Running time124 minutes
Production companiesWalt Disney Television
Dimension Television
Fireworks Entertainment
The Kerner Entertainment Company
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseApril 24, 2003 (2003-04-24)

A Wrinkle in Time is a 2003 television fantasy film directed by John Kent Harrison from a teleplay by Susan Shilliday. The film, a Canadian and U.S. production, is based on the 1962 novel of the same name by Madeleine L'Engle. It is produced by Walt Disney Television, Dimension Television, Fireworks Entertainment, and The Kerner Entertainment Company. The film stars Katie Stuart, Gregory Smith, David Dorfman, Chris Potter, Kyle Secor, Seán Cullen, Sarah-Jane Redmond, Kate Nelligan, Alison Elliot, and Alfre Woodard.

A Wrinkle in Time premiered at the Toronto Children's film Festival on April 24, 2003, where it won the Best Feature Film Award.[1]

Plot

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From left: David Dorfman as Charles Wallace Murry, Katie Stuart as Meg Murry and Gregory Smith as Calvin O'Keefe on the planet Uriel

Meg Murry (Katie Stuart) is having a difficult time. Her father, astrophysicist Dr. Jack Murry (Chris Potter), has mysteriously disappeared. Her youngest brother, Charles Wallace (David Dorfman), a genius, is teased and belittled and thought to be stupid because he does not talk to anyone but family. Meg does not get along with her peers, teachers, her 10-year-old twin brothers (Munro Chambers, Thomas Chambers), or even with herself.

Into this unhappy situation comes a stranger, the mysterious, weirdly dressed Mrs. Whatsit (Alfre Woodard), and her friends Mrs. Who (Alison Elliott) and Mrs. Which (Kate Nelligan). They take Meg, Charles Wallace, and their new friend Calvin O'Keefe (Gregory Smith) via "tesseract" to other planets, preparing the children for a mission to rescue Dr. Murry from the malevolent "IT" on the planet Camazotz. Along the way they ride on the back of a beautiful winged creature (the transformed Mrs. Whatsit), learn about the shadow of tangible evil known as the Black Thing, and visit the Happy Medium (Seán Cullen), a cheerful and androgynous fortune-teller.

Once they reach Camazotz, however, it is up to Meg, Calvin, and Charles Wallace to face the dangers of CENTRAL Central Intelligence, aided only by each other and a pair of Mrs. Who's glasses. They do find and rescue Dr. Murry, but Charles Wallace is seduced away from his family by IT's agent, the Man with Red Eyes (Kyle Secor), and thus comes under the control of IT. Dr. Murry manages to tesser himself, Meg and Calvin, away from Camazotz, but Charles Wallace is left behind, trapped in the mind of IT. Angry with her father, Calvin and herself for leaving Charles Wallace behind, Meg is cared for by the sightless and motherly Aunt Beast (Ellen Dubin) on the planet Ixchel and argues with Mrs. Which about returning to rescue her brother. Returning alone to Camazotz, Meg must find a quality in herself—love—to free Charles Wallace, and possibly free the planet Camazotz as well.

Cast

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Production

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In September 1993, some time after its acquisition by Disney, Miramax announced a $15 million theatrical feature based on L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time as one of the first projects under its Family Films banner.[2] Production ultimately began in 2001, when project creator Catherine Hand (with Miramax's assistance) worked behind the scenes alongside TV producer Norman Lear to bring her vision to life.[3] A two-part miniseries running four hours was initially planned,[3] but the final product was later cut down into a singular, three-hour program.[3] While this made-for-television film was initially intended to be released in the United States in 2002, this release was delayed until 2004.[3]

The audience is provided with an explanation of tesseract through Mrs. Whatsit, who describes it as a "wrinkle in time" that allows one to travel across the universe.[4] Transforming such abstracts into television images was one of the many hurdles for the makers of the movie, but production issues regarding this portrayal were overcome by the use of special effects.[4]

Other difficulties with filming primarily concerned the way in which the novel was written because of L'Engle's focus on the internal feelings and thoughts of the characters, noted Suzanne Macneille of The New York Times.[4] Macneille recognized that, like with any film adaptation of a novel, the story adaptation could result in controversies because protective readers of the original story may look down upon any variation in plot.[4]

Reception

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A Wrinkle in Time received mixed reviews from film critics and journalists alike. Sharon Eberson, journalist for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette described it as a "a most faithful adaptation."[5] In particular, Eberson praised the interpretation of the "Wookiee-like beasts" from the planet Ixchel.[5] People's Terry Kelleher credited the film's inventive designing of the 1984 version of the dark planet (Camazotz).[6] That said, Kelleher hinted at a "preachy" ending.[6]

As Diane Ortiz from The University Wire described it, the novel's first film adaptation was a "dud", emphasizing its lack of substantial acting and special effects.[7] In her same article, Eberson acknowledged a similar inadequacy in the special effects and explained how they did not meet the hopes of the creators nor the viewers.[5] Nick Mangione, from Geek.com, suggested that many of the problems associated with the film relate to the creator's decision to dumb-down the concepts from the novel.[8] Mangione pointed out that in her novel, L'Engle trusted her audience and knew they would be able to understand the complex thoughts of the characters.[8] He believes that the film version shows no trust in the audience and spends the entire time simplifying everything and neglecting any of the more complex ideas.[8] Mangione further stated, "It's almost impressive how they managed to take every major location and plot beat from the novel and get absolutely none of it right."[8]

In a Q&A with MSNBC/Newsweek Entertainment reporter Melinda Henneberger, Madeleine L'Engle, author of the original novel, said, "I have glimpsed it... I expected it to be bad, and it is."[9]

Release

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The original 2001 production, a miniseries, was released in Canada, Australia, and Germany.[4] A Wrinkle in Time premiered at the Toronto Children's Film Festival, where it won the festival's 2003 Best Feature Film Award.[10]

The original adaptation also came with a teacher's guide that included student-directed questions about the film.[5] Examples of some of these questions include: "Why does Meg Murray think that she is stupid?", "How would you rate Meg's intelligence level?", and "Why does Meg think that no one likes her?"[5]

Home media

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A Wrinkle in Time was released on VHS and DVD November 16, 2004 by Buena Vista Home Entertainment. The special features included deleted scenes, a "behind the scenes" segment, and an interview with Madeleine L'Engle.[citation needed]

The home video rights to the film have since been obtained by Echo Bridge Home Entertainment, which has released the title both as a standalone DVD and as part of several family film bundles.[citation needed]

Awards and nominations

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Wins
  • Toronto Children's Film Festival Best Feature Film Award[1]
Nominations

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Stone, Susan (May 9, 2004). "L'Engle's 'A Wrinkle in Time' to Make TV Debut". NPR.
  2. ^ Eller, Claudia (1993-09-02). "Is Miramax Going the Disney Route? Well, Yes and No — Movies: Company known for feisty adult films opens a family division. Indie will use marketing expertise of its parent company". Los Angeles Times. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-15 – via ProQuest.
  3. ^ a b c d "A 'wrinkle' in primetime". School Library Journal. 47: 19. 2001 – via ProQuest.
  4. ^ a b c d e MacNeille, Suzanne (May 9, 2004). "Coming of age: Mostly a matter of time". The New York Times.
  5. ^ a b c d e Eberson, Sharon (March 7, 2018). "Please handle with care fan anxieties flare with 'a wrinkle in time' adaptation". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  6. ^ a b Kelleher, Terry (May 17, 2004). "A Wrinkle in Time (TV Program)". People Magazine.
  7. ^ Ortiz, Diane (March 11, 2018). "Review: Disney's "A wrinkle in time" redeems itself on-screen". The University Wire.
  8. ^ a b c d Mangione, Nick (March 10, 2018). "Let's Remember, and Try To Forget, That Other Wrinkle in Time Movie". Geek.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  9. ^ "I Dare You: Madeleine L'Engle on God, 'The Da Vinci Code' and aging well". www.newsweek.com. May 7, 2006. Retrieved January 8, 2009.
  10. ^ "News: Announcements and Press". madeleinelengle.com. Crosswicks Ltd. March 31, 2005. Archived from the original on 2006-12-12. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
  11. ^ Higgins, Bill (March 8, 2018). "Hollywood Flashback: Disney's First 'Wrinkle in Time' Fell Flat in 2004". The Hollywood Reporter.
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