Disney's adaptation of Natalie Babbitt's beloved childhood novel is not as powerful as it tries to come across as. Winnie is aged so that she and Jamie can have a more romantic story-line and so the heart of the story will be their tragic love for each other. But it is just so unnecessary. The original novel holds true wisdom because this little girl, in the prime of her innocence and childhood youth can see that everlasting life is not all it's cracked up to be and she decides to let time play a part in her decision. But in the movie Winnie is grown and in love with Jamie, so her decision is odd. I for one could not see why she wouldn't be forever happy with the man she loves.
That small alteration is about the only difference from book to film, but it is a fatal one. In changing the age of the main character you change the essence of the story and it in turn loses everything that was everlasting about it. This overdone Romeo and Juliet bit is so prosaic that you cannot even really feel bad for the lovers when they are inevitably torn apart by circumstance, distance and eventually, time.
This will not be the definitive film version and I eagerly await another go at it. 6/10
That small alteration is about the only difference from book to film, but it is a fatal one. In changing the age of the main character you change the essence of the story and it in turn loses everything that was everlasting about it. This overdone Romeo and Juliet bit is so prosaic that you cannot even really feel bad for the lovers when they are inevitably torn apart by circumstance, distance and eventually, time.
This will not be the definitive film version and I eagerly await another go at it. 6/10