From Book to Movie/The Time Traveler’s Wife

When you really love a book and you find out it is being turned into a movie, your first reaction might be excited. But as the movie release date gets closer you might start to worry that the movie will not be an accurate representation of the book and people who see the movie without reading the book might never understand the magic of the story.

And we all have been disappointed when that happened. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy comes to mind. The book was hilarious, magical, unique. The movie didn’t deliver. And everyone who saw the movie but never read the book now thinks HHGTG sucks. And it doesn’t! I want to scream that to them! READ THE BOOK, IT IS MUCH BETTER.

But sometimes the movie might make you want to read the book. I watched Slumdog Millionaire and was enthralled. And luckily for me, I already had a copy of the book, Q&A, in my apartment. I’d had it for awhile but didn’t know the details about it. After watching that movie, I knew I needed to read the book.

And then there is The Time Traveler’s Wife. When I started working at the book company in 2006, I had to join one of our book clubs as part of my job. That meant that I got to take advantage of the initial deal — 6 books for $1 . I didn’t know what to order so I turned to my coworker Edith for suggestions.

She gave me some amazing recommendations. Some of my favorite books to date are from that initial order, including Jesus Land and The Glass Castle. But the very first one I read, the one Edith had raved most about, was The Time Traveler’s Wife.

As soon as I started reading this book, putting it down was not an option. I was in love. It was the most beautiful book I had ever read. I started telling everyone I knew about it and began giving copies to friends and family as gifts. To this day, over 3 years later, when anyone asks me for a book recommendation, that is the very first one I tell them. And you remember that creepy guy at Barnes & Noble who inquired about what I did to make my hair look so strange? THAT is the book I told him to get for his “little sister”, who it turns out was older than him. He was skeptical, but I can only hope he listened to me for his sister’s sake.

When I found out 2 years ago that The Time Traveler’s Wifewas being made into a movie, I was so happy and excited. When I found out that Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana were playing Clare and Henry, I was even more excited. I was equally excited to hear that Ron Livingston was playing Gomez. IMDB gave a Spring 2008 release date originally for this film. I could not wait.

As the time approached and I had not heard anything more about the movie — no previews, no information on IMDB — I got worried. Where was this movie! Then they pushed the release date to November 2008. Only a few more months! And soon 6 photos from the movie appeared on IMDB. Mostly the same photo, but still. It was proof that the movie was being filmed. It couldn’t be canceled after the work was done, right? Right???

The movie was then pushed back to Christmas day, 2008. In preparation I reread the book so it would be fresh in my mind for the movie. I am so happy I did because I loved it even more. And now I remembered details that I wouldn’t have otherwise.

And then the movie was pushed back again. My friends and family and I lamented that this movie might never in fact happen.

Finally I began hearing more about the movie. Previews, TV commercials, more photos on IMDB, giant cardboard signs at movie theatres. It was  finally happening. August 14, 2009. Only a couple years after it was supposed to.

And I found this fact on IMDB:

After filming was done, Eric Bana started filming Star Trek (2009) a role which required him to shave his head. However re-shoots for The Time Traveler’s Wife (2009) was needed, but production was put on hold so Eric’s hair could grow out. It took so long that the movie’s release date was pushed back for nearly a year.

Eric Bana’s HAIR??!!

Okay, whatever, not complaining. Because on Monday, I was looking up movie times for this Friday — the movie’s release date! And I came across something that I could not ignore. An early sneak preview screening of the movie, on Tuesday, August 11, with the director. The Museum of the Moving Image was showing this screening at the Time Warner Center and tickets were available for purchase!

No question. I got tickets for my best friend and me. (When I first gave this book to my best friend, she started reading it and then called me and asked me if this was some kind of joke. I told her to keep reading, and she too fell in love. She too read it again in preparation for the movie.)

Yesterday I just wanted to get through the day so I could see my movie! I checked some online message boards and many people expressed their belief that the movie would suck, that it would not be anything like the book and it would be a huge disappointment. Although I was so excited, these messaged brought me down a little. Everyone judging without seeing! Yes, I knew I might be disappointed. But it was the DAY I WAS FINALLY SEEING THE MOVIE I HAD BEEN WAITING FOR! I was too excited to care.

After a quick dinner at Whole Foods, we went to the movie. They gave out a program with excerpts from Warner Bros. production notes. I am so glad I have this! It really helps you understand what they were trying to accomplish and convey with this movie.

The movie began. I recognized the characters. I recognized the lines — many were taken straight from the book, word for word. I smiled. I cried. I was thrilled. They could not have done a more perfect job.

They left out what didn’t need to be there and included everything that did. Casting was spot on. The movie was wonderful. It really was the best it could possibly have been. As soon as it ended, I turned to my best friend with a giant smile on my face and tears in my eyes and said, “That was perfect.”

After the movie, the film’s director, Robert Schwentke, took the stage with someone from The Museum of the Moving Image for an interview. It was fascinating to hear the director talk about making this movie, the approaches he took, the casting and content decisions he made, the process, the themes he wanted to convey and the mood of each scene. There was a Q&A session with the audience and I learned more from their questions as well. It was such an incredible opportunity to hear the director of the movie based on my favorite book discuss his experience and vision in creating this film!

I’m not sure what the movie is like for people who haven’t read the book. One question to the director showed that either one major point wasn’t made clear in the movie, or the guy who asked the question just didn’t pick up on it or maybe wasn’t that bright. I don’t know. I do think everyone should read this book anyway. So if you’re thinking of seeing the movie, you might want to pick up the book. It is a very fast and very enjoyable read, and then you will have the full experience at the movie.

But for someone who loves the book and couldn’t wait to see the movie, let’s just say it exceeded all my expectations.

Audrey Niffenegger’s new novel, Her Fearful Symmetry, is coming out September 29 — I can’t wait. But first, I want to read The Time Traveler’s Wife again. This is just that kind of movie.