Book to Movie Review

Out of all the books I read last year, I only read one twice and then saw the movie. 





I very much enjoyed The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.
Published 2004
546 pages

It's a fresh romance novel that has humor, tragedy, and flows in a way that makes you want to learn more about the characters.
Henry is a Chicago librarian that has had a problem with time travel his whole life.  Without much control he literally disappears from his current time and slips either into the past or future constantly running into himself.
Clare is a sculptor who uses paper and wires to express her feelings.  She is always waiting on Henry to come to her or come back to her depending on how old she is.
The first time they meet as seen from Clare's point of view is when Clare is 6 and Henry is in his 40's.
The first time they meet as seen from Henry's point of view is when Clare is 20 and Henry is 28.
The book changes its point of view between the 2 characters making some story lines meet in the middle.  This is definitely not a linear book.  It might make you flip back and forth from the beginning to the point you are currently reading, but this didn't bother me much.  I did it out of my own curiosity to make a few connections and clarifications.
It's a powerful love story that shows how much one person is willing to sacrifice to wait for their true love to return. 
Henry is always trying to solve short term problems like finding clothes (since whenever he jumps times he arrives naked) and Clare has one long term problem (will Henry come back this time, when will he be here again).
It certainly hit the mark with me and moved me to tears more than once.  The couple has some very challenging problems develop over time and sometimes there are no good solutions.
It's definitely a good read.  I give it 4 out of 5 bookmarks only because I would've liked to read a bit more steamy love scenes.

AND NOW - the movie version.






Release date: 2009
Run time: 107 minutes
Starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams
Directed by Robert Schwentke


How disappointing that you can love a book so much, completely fall in love with the characters, and all of their problems and then have it all fall apart onscreen.
That's what I'm afraid I have to tell you about this movie.  I was so looking forward to seeing it once I read the book.  The story line was rich with character development and completely sucked you into Clare and Henry's world that you simply couldn't put the book down.  The movie was such a let down.

For some reason unknown to me, the movie has really changed up some of the scenes, some of the very important beginning and ending scenes.  Henry and his mom at the beginning of the story is different in the movie from the book.  And to me, this is a pivotal point in Henry's young life.

The movie changed the ending.  Something that solidifies one characters struggle throughout is now missing.
Huge oversight.

In the book, one character ASKS for something from the other and gets it - in the movie - the same character doesn't ask for it, they MANIPULATE the other character to get it.  Not only does this change the original story for the person who sees the movie alone - it makes the perception of the independent people within the couple, and their values skewed.  Tricking your partner into giving you something you want is a huge deception (given what the thing is in the story).  The movie goer sees this person now as someone who's willing to do anything, even disregard the other's thoughts and feelings about this issue to get it.  Completely changes the dynamic of the partnership.  I can't believe the author allowed this particular change because to me, it affects the entire story and the morals of the character who does the manipulation.
In the book, the person who has been asked for something decides to give it of their own free will because they realize how important it is to the other's happiness.  That's what love is supposed to be - thinking of your partners needs in addition to your own wants and desires.

In a separate problem of the movie, there's a large section of the book that deals with someones accident that limits a lot of things they used to be able to do.  I feel the movie gleans over this and it's almost an afterthought to put it in.  In the movie, you really don't feel the misery and pain that this character experiences in the book and it's a very VERY big deal to them.  I don't feel it was handled right at all in the movie.  I mean, it's not like the movie is running too long at this point -it's full running time is 1 hour and 47 minutes; I think a few more minutes devoted to montage scenes, without dialogue, could have effectively shown what the audience needed to understand about the loss for the character.

The museum scene towards the end of the book is emotional, but in the movie it's shorter and omits another very emotional scene.  Very disappointing to see this left out as personally, I remember reading this scene vividly and feeling a true sense of urgency in the characters.  So rich with emotion, such a shame it wasn't there in the movie for the audience, what a missed opportunity!

The acting was good.  Clare's played by McAdams and Henry by Bana.  I think the individual performances were strong but they lacked some necessary chemistry to provide on screen fire.  Whether the director or screenwriter are to blame for the changes I'll never know but whoever did it should be ashamed of themselves.

Reading/viewing a story like this you have to put yourself in the plot and ask some questions.
 
Do you want to know your future? 
Do you have any control over your life really, or is it destiny? 
Knowing that certain things happen in the future, can they be changed?

For example - Henry and Clare are looking for a new house.  Henry knows from his time travelling that it looks a certain way in the back yard.  Clare looks at every house fresh and with an open mind.  Henry meanwhile walks in, looks out the back window and within seconds says it's not the right one.
Does Clare have any choice really if Henry already says we live in a house that looks like this in the future?

I give the movie 2 out of 5 ticket stubs because so many big scenes were altered or omitted it changed the whole story, plus the lack of onscreen chemistry for Bana and McAdams.