most negitive reviews of this movie are by people who loved the book. as i have never read the book, i enjoyed watching the movie with my family. the ever charming mischa barton does what she does best, gets the viewers to like her. she shines as vicky austin and keeps the whole movie together. their are better movies out their and mischa has done better work, but she is good and the movie is worth watching.
54 Reviews
About the other comments and the movie
anneoever26 February 2005
I would like to say something about the movie, cause that's what this thing is for, remember? I understand that it's very disappointing when the movie is different from the book you've read. I think the movie was lovely, I haven't read the book, maybe that's better. I would just like to say that if you think a book is wonderful DON'T WATCH THE MOVIE. I think it's good that they've changed the story, so that it's still fun to watch. I don't know if you've ever read the Harry Potter books and watched the movie, but they are very different, but that's the nice thing about it. It has to be interesting. This is what I wanted to say, everybody please shut up about "the book is way better" and so on!
Pretty Boring....
Darkest_Rose29 December 2002
Watching Original Disney movies is my guilty pleasure. Well anyways, i'm a fan of Mischa Barton so I decided to watch this one. First of all, I was so disappointed with her acting, I have seen her in other movies and she was great but in this movie her acting was so dull, she was like a wooden doll just reading of her script. Anyways this movie is about a young teenage girl named vicky who goes to spend the summer at her grandfather's at some island. Anyways, she notices that she can communicate with Dolphins and along with Adam (Ryan Merriman) a boy at the island that studies dolphins and her ex boyfriend Zach (Jared Padaleckie) they will do anything to save the dolphins from dangerous drift nets. I thought this movie was pretty boring and predictable, i've read from a lot of the other reviews that the book was way better, but i haven't read the book so i can't really say anything. Anyways I would give A Ring Of Endless Light 7/10
Absolutely Dreadful
quick_its_the_cops18 July 2004
I did not enjoy this movie at all. I am a huge fan of the book and at first was excited that Disney decided to make a movie from it. I was shocked that the movie was not like the book AT ALL. I really did not like the actors and actresses chosen to depict the characters. Mischa Barton does in fact have a similar appearance to the Vicky in the book, but is not a very good actress and her performance was unenjoyable. I expected Zachary Gray to be more "dark" and "pale" as he is described in the book and I was disappointed that Jared Padalecki was chosen for this part. There were a lot of characters either added or taken out of the story. Whatever happened to Leo and Jacky Rodney, Mrs. Rodney, and the death of Commander Rodney? Or what about Binnie at the hospital? Or even Mr. and Mrs. Austin, who only appear in the movie at the very end. Scarlett Pomers was also not a good choice to play Suzy. She appears as red-headed, frizzy-haired and four-eyed instead of the petite, dark-haired, purple-eyed tween genius she was described as in the book. There were also a lot of different things added to the movie, such as the whole story about the drift nets which did not appear in the book at all. I think Disney captured this whole idea about changing the movie from the story of a teenage girl coping with her grandfather's leukemia into the story of a girl choosing between two boys and having to deal with the captain of some ship leaving drift nets in the water and potentially capturing the dolphins.
To conclude, I was extremely disappointed with this movie. In my opinion, read the book. It's one of the best pieces of written fiction I've read, and is much more satisfying as a story than the movie ever will be.
To conclude, I was extremely disappointed with this movie. In my opinion, read the book. It's one of the best pieces of written fiction I've read, and is much more satisfying as a story than the movie ever will be.
Decent, but nothing compared to the book.
heater068 July 2003
If this book is even close to being your favorite, you'll be offended by the movie. The plot is only loosely similar, the only major connection being the fact that Vicky can communicate with dolphins. The names are the same, and there's still that love triangle, but really...Leo, a major character in the book, isn't even IN the movie. Although I guess the movie alone is decent, the book is better. If you haven't read it, you might like the movie. It's a typical, light-hearted Disney flick, I suppose. Mischa Barton is a GREAT actress, but this movie just wasn't right for her. I wouldn't suggest it to you--5.5 out of 10. I've seen worse.
An over-simplified, Disney version of an intelligent, successful novel
liquidmercury5 September 2006
Warning: Spoilers
This movie is supposed to be based on a Ring of Endless light by Madeleine L'Engle but completely veers from the text. Disney made an interesting book about coping with death and dying, and finding your place in the universe a sappy movie about illegal fishing that has nothing to do with the novel. Anyone who has read the book will be highly disappointed about how this book has chopped into pieces to make a magical ending that seems deeper than it really is. This would be a great Disney movie if it hadn't been proclaimed to be based on a Ring of Endless Light, because it is mostly lighthearted and good for children, but it is absolutely horrid for true L'Engle fans.
Cute movie
MariaLBD1 March 2021
It was a nice, whimsical movie.
The only thing I didn't like was the character Adam. Based on his comments about school and research, I assume he was 22-23 years old. Unfortunately, he acted about 15. The character was annoyingly immature on several levels.
The only thing I didn't like was the character Adam. Based on his comments about school and research, I assume he was 22-23 years old. Unfortunately, he acted about 15. The character was annoyingly immature on several levels.
a travesty
evadedcadence23 August 2002
Warning: Spoilers
SPOILERS!!! Madeleine L'Engle is my favorite author. _A Ring of Endless Light_ is my favorite book. This movie should have never been made because it makes Ms L'Engle look like the writer of a bad after-school special. The woman who wrote the tele-play should be ashamed of herself.
There are so, so many characters left out of the movie (Vicky has an older brother John who works at the Science Center w/ Adam... not to mention The Rodneys and Jeb Nutley!).. and there are NO death walls in the book! Vicky and Adam and Zach do not catch the "bad guys" because there really are no "bad guys" in the book.
Zachary's father is an international business man, not the owner of a fleet of fishing boats!!! Zachary does NOT live on the island.. he would probably rather die than live there, IMHO.
Vicky's parents would NEVER force her to attend a school she didn't want to go to.. and are very supportive of her writing. Oh, and the entire family knows about Grandfather's leukemia--that's why they are spending the entire summer with him (and the parents are there with the children, in the book)! Mr. Rochester and Ned belong to The Austins, not to Grandfather. Just so, so many plot points are left out and replaced by dumb ones.
BTW, Enid's calf dies in the book... and when Vicky and Adam are out in open water Basil brings another dolphin (Norberta) with her calf (Njord) to comfort Vicky and Adam. Oh, and Basil is NOT Enid's mate... It just seems that the tele-play writer wanted to make a dolphin movie and couldn't come up with her own character names...
It pained me to see these horrible actors speaking some of Ms L'Engle's best words. . . I burst into tears several times during the movie because the script and plot got me so, so mad!
The only thing I did like was the actor playing Grandfather--if this horrible movie was more like the book, he would have been the PERFECT person to play Vicky's wonderful Grandfather.
This book is perfect... Sadly, when people attempt to improve upon perfection they fail miserably.
There are so, so many characters left out of the movie (Vicky has an older brother John who works at the Science Center w/ Adam... not to mention The Rodneys and Jeb Nutley!).. and there are NO death walls in the book! Vicky and Adam and Zach do not catch the "bad guys" because there really are no "bad guys" in the book.
Zachary's father is an international business man, not the owner of a fleet of fishing boats!!! Zachary does NOT live on the island.. he would probably rather die than live there, IMHO.
Vicky's parents would NEVER force her to attend a school she didn't want to go to.. and are very supportive of her writing. Oh, and the entire family knows about Grandfather's leukemia--that's why they are spending the entire summer with him (and the parents are there with the children, in the book)! Mr. Rochester and Ned belong to The Austins, not to Grandfather. Just so, so many plot points are left out and replaced by dumb ones.
BTW, Enid's calf dies in the book... and when Vicky and Adam are out in open water Basil brings another dolphin (Norberta) with her calf (Njord) to comfort Vicky and Adam. Oh, and Basil is NOT Enid's mate... It just seems that the tele-play writer wanted to make a dolphin movie and couldn't come up with her own character names...
It pained me to see these horrible actors speaking some of Ms L'Engle's best words. . . I burst into tears several times during the movie because the script and plot got me so, so mad!
The only thing I did like was the actor playing Grandfather--if this horrible movie was more like the book, he would have been the PERFECT person to play Vicky's wonderful Grandfather.
This book is perfect... Sadly, when people attempt to improve upon perfection they fail miserably.
Best Family movie, Mischa Barton shines!
jamiestein116 September 2002
This is just the sweetest family movie, and the best I've seen on Disney Channel in a long time. My nieces thought the movie was magical and it even entertained Gran. I hadn't seen the young Mischa Barton before but, boy she really has charisma, and she shines in this movie. We all laughed and cried along with her. She reminds me of a young Julia Roberts, there's something about her eyes. She and James Whitmore together were so great! I give it a ten! Disney Channel should have more like this!
Good but disappointing if you've read the book
stormlover-124 January 2005
This was a good movie but i was sorely disappointed when i was watching it. I was looking forward to the book by Madeliene L'Engle becoming a movie. Even though the movie is "based" on the book it doesn't hold true to the story line. Characters are missing that were important in the book, the plot is changed quite a bit and the ending is Totally different. I enjoyed the movie but it pales in comparison to the book. If you want to know the best version i suggest you read the book. And if you've read the book i'm sorry about how the movie turned out, but it was still worth watching. all in all I thought that if you haven't read the book you'll enjoy it.
READ THE BOOK!!!!!!
READ THE BOOK!!!!!!
Horrible
BellsOnHerShoes4 June 2006
If you've read the book, don't watch this movie. You'll be severely disappointed, especially since Mischa Barton played the part. Awful acting added to an amazing storyline does not work out. This is one of the few disappointing Disney channel originals. I know that it's common for the movies to be worse than the books, but this was ridiculous. The plot was completely changed, and some characters were left out entirely. I didn't even think I was watching A Ring of Endless Light, that's how different it was. Ryan Merriman did a pretty good job, as he normally does. But this movie had no where near the same effect on me or others I know as the book did. This book is amazing and I can't believe it's been degraded like this.
What a great movie
disturbpsycho231 April 2005
A ring of Endless Light was an excellent movie. The cast that they picked was perfect and if fit with the age of the characters. Ryan Merriman did a fantastic job playing Adam, I wanted to play Vicky so i could kiss him. Mischa Barton play a good rendition of Vicky, i love how she did all the emotional scenes with James Whitmore who play Vicky's grandpa. Jarad who played Zach, was really hot in some scenes.... but all i am saying is that...this is a great family movie...it's so great, that it will make you want to go to the beach..haha...so go check it out when it comes on the Disney channel. The story is about Vicky Austin..who goes and visits her grandfather in seven bay islands. She goes there with her little sister, Suzy, and her little brother, rob. She meets this young marine biologist name Adam Eddigton, who shows Vicky there summer projects, which were dolphins. Somehow,Vicky feels something when she is with the dolphins, something like, they were trying to talk to her. that's all i am gonna tell you...you have to go and see it when it comes on.
Move over Citizen Kane!
vince_cadena31 August 2002
I watched this movie on the Disney channel and unlike the rest of their tv movies this one was a film. To start out its an amazing technical achievement for the world of film, its the Raging Bull for 2002. I've been waiting to see films like Gangs of New York and The Two Towers but those will look like b-movies compared to this. From start to finish we are graced with amazing cinematography. When I was viewing this film I thought it was John Toll but its done by Rodney Charters photographer of Psycho IV:The New Beginning. The Music is as good as Ennio Morricones score for Days of Heaven, its done by Phil Marshall. He has a great career ahead of him. The acting in this movie is some of the best I've ever seen reminicent of Cassavetes Faces. James Whitmore is good as the "dying grandfather". If you havent seen this film yet do yourself a favor and check it out, its on the disney channel. This is a film that will be studied in film schools in 20 years.
Pretty Good
sportsgirl2113 August 2004
I am in the middle of reading the book, but the only reason I am reading it is because I saw the movie on TV one day and I thought that I should read the book because the movie was so good and interesting. Granted, I missed the first twenty minutes of the movie, but what I saw was really good...and it was a nice, light, easy movie. Mischa Barton was a great choice.
I might be biased because I LOVE DOLPHINS AND MARINE BIOLOGY, but it would have been a good movie nonetheless. Anyways, it made me more interested in dolphins.
By the way...the book is great! You should read it!
I might be biased because I LOVE DOLPHINS AND MARINE BIOLOGY, but it would have been a good movie nonetheless. Anyways, it made me more interested in dolphins.
By the way...the book is great! You should read it!
I never read the book and it was still terrible.
muamba_eats_toast26 April 2020
Forgetting what appears to be a clear misuse of source material the acting from start to finish in this film is woeful at best extremely wooden. The story is so remarkably basic it hurts and the special effects even for a film of this age were terrible. Save yourself 90 minutes and don't bother watching this film I'm probably being generous giving it 3/10.
this is bad
caragwapa3 September 2006
I have not felt compelled to comment on a movie here in IMDb until reading the good comments and the fairly okay rating this inane Disney movie garnered. Granted, I have read the book first and totally love it. Love the theme of finding life in death and all that. AS an adaptation of the book, the movie was not only totally different but horrible. It bears no resemblance to the book, not just in the events that happened but thematically as well. The whole mood and theme of the book, which was what made it so compelling was lost and instead replaced by trite, bland clichés. Divorcing the movie from the book, it was still a pretty bad movie. The actors were horrible. I do not watch the O.C. and now I don't think I ever can since Mischa is so irritatingly wooden and untalented. Just a pretty face. The boys were not portrayed with eny depth at all. The story was so Disnefied its revolting.
A Ring of Endless LIght
diggettperry23 August 2009
I did not read the book that this movie was loosely based on, however, I thought it to be a wonderful movie, uplifting, sweetly played and suitable for young and old alike. Mischa Barton as the Granddaughter, interested in ecology and writing, sends a positive message to teens that we don't often see in movies today. James Whitmore as the Grandfather, a wonderful Character Actor, plays his character making you want to have a Grandfather like him or maybe even reminding you of a Grandfather you once had like him. The children in the movie show Respect and love for the older generation and this is something that one doesn't see in life, much less the movies very often today. I know, I'm a teacher. I was sad to find out that Disney (DCOM) did not put this in DVD form for sale. It was only shown on TV. I would buy this movie for my collection, if and when this happens.
Everything good about the book is RUINED in this movie version!
hotpepper91320 September 2005
The book is one of my favorites of all time; it contains so much depth and the characters are realistic and interesting. There is nothing cheesy or cliché about it. It's a bittersweet story about life and death with a bit of fantasy and romance woven into it.
However, in making the movie, the producer/director have managed to ruin everything good about the book. The plot is cheesy and cliché. The characters are wooden and dull. It's so different from the book. It doesn't even deserve to have the same title, in my opinion.
The only thing good about it is the tender relationship between Vicky and her grandfather. That's why I give this movie a "2" instead of 1. But you should really stay away from the movie. Oh and Disney HAS successfully made movie versions of books, one example is Anne of Green Gables... but this one sucks in comparison. Stick to the book, stay away from the movie.
However, in making the movie, the producer/director have managed to ruin everything good about the book. The plot is cheesy and cliché. The characters are wooden and dull. It's so different from the book. It doesn't even deserve to have the same title, in my opinion.
The only thing good about it is the tender relationship between Vicky and her grandfather. That's why I give this movie a "2" instead of 1. But you should really stay away from the movie. Oh and Disney HAS successfully made movie versions of books, one example is Anne of Green Gables... but this one sucks in comparison. Stick to the book, stay away from the movie.
Very lovable
avag23 August 2002
I give this movie 10 stars because it's very good. The acting was actually pretty good. Ryan Merriman and Mischa Barton worked well together. I recommend this movie to anyone. It has a little bit of drama, action and its absolutely wonderful...not to mention the dolphins were great. So if you haven't seen this movie...go see it.
A Ring of Endless Light
EndlessLight6 February 2005
Yes, I totally agree with everyone else. (If this book is close to your favorites, you will totally be offended by the movie) Yes, that is to true! A Ring of Endless Light is my FAVORITE book, but, the movie was awful! And they totally chose the wrong actors! Mischa Barton was too pretty to play Vicky, because Vicky was supposed to be ugly, and her sister was supposed to be all pretty and smart. Even though I rated the movie a 5, I would of rated the book a 10! Plus, the movie was totally different from the book! There was like nothing in common. They changed the movie just to make it more "kid like" I think. I totally think another channel should remake this book into a lovely movie, so it wouldn't have to be so "kid like". But anyway, thats my opinion.
A movie about a girl who communicates with dolphins
FieldHockeyBabe925 April 2004
This is the most touching story (movie I have watched ) On Disney channel. The ending is sad and I think Disney channel has made it even more touching. This is a good movie and I never planned on watching it until today. I think it is very very excellent as a movie, I rate it highly. This movie should be shown more on Disney channel. Most people disagree but I think it could bring a whole new meaning to what people think about the Disney channel. I think that the movie had some good points about life and everything. And it makes you realize the meaning of life. Well I guess that I am saying that the movie is good, and the picture from the director and the crew they did a really good job at presenting this movie.
A young girl who learns how to deal with life and death.
iknewilikedyou18 February 2005
If you liked the book, do not see the movie. Disney sucked all the life out of this award-winning book. The casting was really off. Misha Barton was definitely not the right person to play Vicky Austin. And the heart just wasn't there and they kind of cut out the parents I thought.And as always, Disney sucked all of the religion out of the book. I want to know how you can address the matters of life and death with out even entertaining the thought of God. I was sorely disappointed, and found little of the book I loved in the Movie that Disney ruined. It was a sad day when Madeline signed her rights over to Disney. So if you are thinking about watching this movie do not. If however you like bland acting, boring story lines, please watch it.
Well...It has dolphins!
Beeslo3 March 2003
I'm sorry...but this movie was flat out horrible. The story and dialogue were so delusional, I couldn't help but change the channel on the complete waste of time. It does have dolphins, however, if you even want to call these cheaply animated and designed pieces of rubber such. The acting was pretty bad too, but I guess this is partly to blame because of the horrible script.
Why did I sit through this movie you asked if it was so horrible? I know one of the actors...thats it. Jared, ya might want to take your time and pick worthy projects to do...don't waste your time on crap like this...well at least you weren't doing something like MacGyver...that would be so crappy...oh....wait....nevermind.
Why did I sit through this movie you asked if it was so horrible? I know one of the actors...thats it. Jared, ya might want to take your time and pick worthy projects to do...don't waste your time on crap like this...well at least you weren't doing something like MacGyver...that would be so crappy...oh....wait....nevermind.
i think this movie is one of my favorites its a must see
xocross_my_heartxo29 October 2005
Warning: Spoilers
a girl that talks to dolphins,none other than Mischa Barton,now thats a great combination.This movie is amazing,its a must see and personally it is one of my favorites.This movie has everything,drama,action,comedy.It was rated a 8.9 out of teen people so it must be good.I love this movie,and i think you'll love it too,I am very surprised and if i say so myself angry that Disney channel has not played this movie even though it is a very good movie i cant believe they wont play it and don't argue saying because its an old movie its not so old,made in 2001 and the movie smart-house has been played so many times on Disney channel that i already hate that movie even though its still old they still play it.so i wish Disney channel will play this movie more.
Worst book to movie ever!!
angela-chen1016 December 2008
I thought this movie was terrible!! I love the book!! I first read it when I was around Vicky's age (15 i think) and it was such a great book about growing up, and death, and all the troubles you deal with at that age. I was pretty excited when they were going to make a movie out of it, but they butchered the book, absolutely butchered it!! The book is so much more than the 2 dimensional story they made for the movie. Mischa Barton is a terrible actress as always (it really doesn't get better even in the OC - and i even saw this movie before the OC and thought she was a terrible actress!!) and the guy who plays Adam doesn't grasp his character at all. Disney channel seems to have made a book that was written for a teen age group that could potentially have been a great movie (w/o all the sex that seems to be involved in movies about high school & that age group) into some movie that probably only children would really enjoy. It just made me sad - a great book, that could have been a great movie if they had the right actors, and possibly, if they actually stuck to the story line. Really, kids or teens aren't that stupid - I'm pretty sure they could have grasped what was going on even if they had stuck to the original!!
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