For some reason, movies and TV shows only explain interdimensional travel one way: by making a character fold a piece of paper and stick a pen or pencil through it (see: Interstellar, Event Horizon, and Stranger Things). The character looks up like, “I’m blowing your mind, aren’t I?” while all the other characters stand around agape with facial expressions that say, “Yes.” It’s a very unsubtle info dump for the audience, and at this point, often an unnecessary one. But A Wrinkle in Time has found a brave new way. In the trailer, which dropped Sunday night, our young protagonist Meg Murry (Storm Reid) uses an ant and a string of yarn to describe bending the rules of time and space for fifth-dimensional travel. Neither a pencil nor a piece of paper is anywhere in sight.
It’s a small moment, but one that encapsulates the creative vision of Ava DuVernay. She’s here to give you something you’ve never seen before.
If technical explainers for faux-scientific achievements aren’t your thing, don’t worry: DuVernay's film looks like it’s full of sumptuous imagery and creative costumes. Expansive shots of seemingly floating rocks in the middle of the sky give off some serious Avatar vibes—in a good way. A Wrinkle in Time’s stunning visuals and talented, diverse cast (Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, and Chris Pine, to name a few) come together to make the film look like a genuinely interesting and creative effort—a rarity in Disney’s case, as the studio is leaning more and more on turning its animated classics into live-action remakes. A Wrinkle of Time is special, and you’ll want to make it to theaters come March 9.
