MovieChat Forums > Tuck Everlasting (2002) Discussion > Major Difference/Book better than movie.

Major Difference/Book better than movie.

posted 18 years ago by butterflysdemise
10 replies | jump to latest

I like the movie don't get me wrong. It's rather sweet,but I feel inadaquetly done. The ages were changed, at least for winnie and Jesse. Jessie is supposed to be 17 while Winnie is 10! There is no grand love story...If you have read the book (and you should, even though it's classified as a children's book) then you would see that Winnie is just a small girl. Jessie wants her to wait until she is 17 and then drink the water, but deep down He knows he is asking too much.He does want to love and marry her, but it's more of a childish spur of the moment "OMG I love you" type thing and jessie isn't even the one who comes back in the end! Mae and Tuck are. It stayed true to themes it was supposed to but as far as I see it everyone wants it to be a huge love story but it isn't. To me it's more about cycles, cycles of life, seasons etc. It is used to show how one thing passes into the other and how life is worth living. Winnie doesn't drink the water in the end because she realizes it is worth more to live your life than to pass it by and have to hide,never settle down and be "like a rock" What she did is for the best and she is a courageous girl who helped a family she came to love...so yes, I'm rambling but bottom line. I like the movie but the book was better and they could have done a better adaptation...

[–] oberlan2 18 years ago

isn't that always the case.

[–] richard-III 17 years ago

I agree, the emphasis on the 'love story' in the film is much different from the book, because, as you wrote, "Winnie is just a small girl".
She's 10 years old!

That's a big decision to make when you're ten: do you want to live forever or do you want to stay with your family?

I really like the book best.
Next comes the 1981 film, which has some changes but in overall follows the book (and it has a beautiful music box tune).
In third place comes this Disney film. I really though that Alexis Bledes was too old, that really disappointed me.

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[–] shootingstars-4 17 years ago

i thought that the love story added to the overall plotline of the story. In the book you could tell that if Winnie and Jesse were around the same age they would have been in love, so why not just make it that way in the movie. And I think they kept the general aspects of the pure innocent love in the movie very well.

[–] XSunStarX 17 years ago

I like that they changed the ages. When I read the book when I was younger, I always imagine a love story between them. It seemed to fit the story.

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[–] maryswake 17 years ago

I've never read the book, (I will) but I STILL see what you are saying. I still felt the movie was more than just a love story. I felt that it was about "The Wheel" and the cycles/life. I think that huge theme was still well maintained. There could have been more but I still loved it (bought the dvd). Maybe there could have been slightly more development with something- not sure what but overall. I thought it was solid, like the Tucks.

Regards,
Mary

It ain't whatcha write, it's the way atcha write it. - KerouacJack

[–] fshepinc 16 years ago

They could, and did do a better adaptation -The 1981 film version. It's extremely hard to find, but it's a wonderful film. In my opinion, the Disney remake really ruined the story with unnecessary changes. Even worse, it totally wastes brilliant performers like Sissy Spacek and WIlliam Hurt in favor of added screen time for Jonathan Jackson, who really couldn't act at all.

The original book is a classic, and it deserves better than this lame remake.

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[–] LadyVirgoxoxo 16 years ago

I have to disagree. I thought everyone did a good job in their acting.

R.I.P. Heath Ledger 1979-2008

[–] always1234 16 years ago

I actually like the movie better than the book, especially for the age change.

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[–] KristenStewartForever 9 years ago

Jonathan Jackson CAN ACT!!!!

[–] Henahey41 8 years ago

I love this movie but I have never read the book so that is on my list of must reads