"Matilda" -- The Book vs. The Movie

The Ashburn Kids Book Club had a great time watching the movie of "Matilda" for our December get-together. The kids came up with MANY examples of ways that the movie is different than the book. Perhaps the most obvious difference is that the setting for the book is England while the movie occurs in the United States. Here's some more of the difference the kids noticed:

• Matilda's mom is fat and her dad is skinny in the book; in the movie it is just the reverse.
• Matilda's teacher is named Jenny in the book; in the movie she is called Bumblebee.
• Matilda's parents didn't sign adoption papers in the book; they did in the movie.
• Matilda never got put in the chokey in the book; she did in the movie.
• Matilda lost her amazing powers in the book; she never lost her powers in the movies.
• Their money is in British pounds in the book; they use U.S. dollars in the movies.
• They use the word "telie" in the book; in the movie it's called a "television."
• Mr. Wormwood rips up the book "The American Pony" in the book; in the movie he rips up "Moby Dick."
• Miss Trunchbull is called the "headmistress" in the book; she's called the "prinicipal" in the movie.
• Matilda didn't cook her own breakfasts in the book; in the movie she does.

I'm sure there are lots more ways that the book and the movie differ. But one thing the two did have in common -- they were both very enjoyable!

December Book Club: "Matilda"

The December 4th meeting of the Ashburn Kids Book Club will feature the book, “Matilda” by Roald Dahl. This wonderful book is about an extraordinarily gifted young girl named Matilda. Matilda’s parents are neglectful and self-centered and do not recognize or appreciate Matilda’s brilliance. Fortunately, there are other adults—a librarian and Matilda’s beloved teacher, Miss Honey—who take an interest in Matilda and nurture her amazing intelligence. But Matilda is more than just super-smart. She also possesses the power of telekinesis, or the ability to make objects move just by using her mental energy. This power is put to good use on her evil school headmistress who has tormented children for years and also cheated Miss Honey, her niece, out of her rightful inheritance.

The author, Roald Dahl, is considered one of the most beloved writers of children’s literature. Although he died in 1990, his books continue to be widely read by children. Some of his most famous books are: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, The BFG, The Witches, and The Twits.

In 1997, a movie version of Matilda was released. We will be watching this movie for our book club event on December 4. It will be fun to compare the movie to the book and see which one we like best. Since the movie is 98 minutes long, we will start it promptly at 7 pm and will be finished around 8:30 pm. Feel free to bring your pillows and blankets to spread out on the floor. Families are also invited to join us for this fun event.

From The Mixed Up Files...The Book vs The Movie

It was really fun to watch the movie with the Ashburn Kids Book Club readers (and assorted siblings, friends, parents, etc.). Here are some of the comments and comparisons I received:

---The kids meet Mrs. Frankweiler earlier in the movie than in the book.

---Claudia meets with the museum curator in the movie but not the book.

---Jamie doesn't take money from the fountain in the movie.

---There are three Kincaid kids in the movie but four in the book.

---Claudia writes a letter to the museum curator in the book but phones him in the movie.

---In the movie Claudia has an argument with Jamie and he leaves (but Claudia goes after him).

---The Kincaids had banana splits in the movie.

---The kids spot the Michaelangelo sign on the bottom of the angel statue while ducking down to hide; in the book they only see the imprint on the velvet after the statue is moved.

---The book has more plot involving Jamie and his money.

---Claudia doesn't take a bath at Mrs. Frankweiler's house in the movie.

---In the movie, the kids get picked up from Mrs. Frankweiler's house by their parents but in the book they get driven home by the chaffeur.

---In the book, the children never meet Mrs. Frankweiler at the museum like in the movie.

---In the book, Jamie never got sick and was made well by the angel, as was implied in the movie.

---In the movie, the kids never rented a post office box.

And here's one that I noticed: in the movie, the statue is sold at auction for $25,000 but in the book, if I remember correctly, it's only $250. Inflation!

There was an even split between kids who liked the movie more than the book and the reverse--liked the book more than the movie.

From The Mixed Up Files...

Hi Readers!

We will meet for our December book club meeting on Thursday, Dec. 6. Hopefully you all know by now that my intense searching has paid off and I was able to locate the video of the 1995 Hallmark movie based on the book, "From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler." It is out-of-distribution, so it's very difficult to locate. I think you'll really enjoy seeing the movie and comparing it to the book. Here's the details:

Time: 7-8:30 pm -- The movie is 90 minutes long, so we will start promptly at 7. Please come early so you can get your snack and get settled to enjoy the show.

Where: We will meet in the front two meeting rooms so we have plenty of space and also have the big screen for the movie.

Who: This is a great family movie and we will have the space, so please invite family members to join us.

Bring: You can bring blankets, pillows, etc. or whatever will allow you to be comfortable to spread out for the movie.

Donate: Please consider donating back your copy of the book; I'd like to get at least six!

See you all on Thursday!