When I first saw the trailer for Bridge to Terabithia, you could almost hear me groan. It isn't that the movie appeared to be bad — it looked like a decent fantasy film — it's more that it looked like I had already seen it. The trailer made the movie look like The Chronicles of Narnia: Part 2. Considering that I enjoyed, but was ultimately lukewarm to, that feature, it did not bode well for this family fantasy feature. What I got was not so much a fantasy yarn with mythical creatures and swordplay and magic, as a story of youth struggling to deal with harsh realities escaping into the realm of imagination. It offers up a lot of heart, touches on serious issues, and while leaving you with hope, doesn't wrap everything up in a neat package.
Jesse is a fifth grade outsider, a young artist who finds solace in a pencil. He is picked on rather mercilessly by bullies, and at home he struggles with his older sisters, and an overworked father. His young life is thrown for a loop when Leslie moves in next door; she too is an artist, a writer. Like Jesse, she is picked on for being different. The two are kindred spirits, and they soon find themselves escaping into an imaginary world where they can control what is happening, something they lack in the real world.
It may be a story about struggling to deal with the real world, and have that fantasy world to control, but it is not about the effects to create the fantasy world. As Jesse and Leslie create a friendship, they find a commonality in a vivid imagination, an common gift that is put to use. They have created a world to play in that takes them away from the troubles of their lives, but it is more than that. The imaginary world helps build them up in a way to be able to process the troubles of reality, from absentee parents, to bullies, to an overworked father.
Bridge to Terabithia is a film of subtle beauty. It is a family film that isn't dumbed down and it doesn't disrespect the audience's intelligence. I sat in the theater, completely held by the events as they unfolded; from the gradual creation of Terabithia, to the realistic portrayal of his school and family life, everything just felt so real. It is the rare family film, at least recently, that has any sort of depth.
I cannot adequately convey how much I enjoyed this film. I loved how the effects were used in small doses, how the characters felt genuine, how the script wasn't dumbed down, how everything wasn't wrapped up nice and neat, and especially how it seemed completely real. All too often we get family movies like Deck the Halls or Arthur and the Invisibles; it is much more rare to get a family film that has the strength of its convictions. There is a heart and a spirit in this film that brings it to life, it is vibrant and emotional, and all those things I walked in thinking it was not going to be.
Article comments
1 - Jessica
I went to the cinema yesterday, with my 11 years old son...the Bridge to Therabitia is not a good movie, I really would like my money back!! is boring..at the end everyone was crying because [SPOILER DELETED]. I go to the movies to laugh and have fun. not to cry!!!
Thanks for your time and to allow me to post my opinion.
2 - Dawn
I found the movie Bridge to Terabithia absolutely devastating. Not having read the book, and having only the movie trailers and short reviews such as, "An 11-year-old boy has his life changed forever when he befriends the class outsider, a girl. Together they create the world of Terabithia, an imaginary kingdom filled with giants, trolls and other magical beings." This review, and several others I read, did not prepare myself or my 10 year old daughter and 8 year old son for the type of movie it was. I am glad that this book and film have a following, I am very happy for anyone who likes or loves it, but I feel it was grossly misrepresented by advertising. The trailers for the film gave the impression that it was a fantasy, yet the fantasy aspect of this film was minimal. If the makers of Terabithia felt that the fantasy aspect was what would draw viewer to this film then perhaps they should have made a fantasy movie instead of one that was so harshly grounded in reality and not give any evidence of this aspect in its advertising. My son was dead quiet after the film, no joy, and simply stated "That's the worst movie I've every seen". My daughter cried absolute buckets. All in all not a positive or pleasant experience. I hope for anyone who reads this, that you go online and find out what the book and movie is truly about rather than relying on the advertising (what was I thinking) I guess I just figured being a Disney film for children that they would never be so incredibly misleading, I guess I was wrong.
3 - james taylor
i'm so sad that lesli dies at the end!!
4 - britt
i liked bridge to teribhita but while whatching it i felt as if i had all ready seen it in the third grade and i had went because the movie looked good but when Lesli died it was horrible but i had felt like i had seen that movie befor and almost the same thing happened execpt a different title
5 - josip
Jessica, if you wan to have fun and laugh, you´ve chosen the wrong movie.This movie is absolutely brilliant.
6 - Breanna
jess aarons is so hott!!!!!!!!!very good movie best
movie i have ever seen i my life
7 - Victor Hugo
This movie was cruel and backstabbing.
It was a masterpiece, but the unnecessary death just was a lowblow, a big uncalled for wallop.
8 - Isabelle Rose
dear bridge to terabithia
i think this movie was a very touching and enegectic. it had a very sad part though which i could NOT believe had just happended!
i reccomend this movie for children over 7 or 8. i am 9 but still it was very grown up but still kid-like. i hope there wiill be a bridge to terabithia 2 just not as sad.
from a fan, isabelle rose miller.
9 - Sogard3
I just watched this movie, and I was amazed by the first 4/5 of it. Then the worst thing that could possibly happen, does. Then they try to pull a happy ending out of their ass in 20 mins? It just doesn't work like that. It was a really good movie, but the ending just failed, it just did. I really wanted a happy ending for those two T_T
10 - Misba
Hahaha i watched the move twice once at home and once at school.
and now i have to write a review about it.
Rude init.
it was a alright film but why make its sad?
in school i had to write a essay about HOW KATHERINE PATERSON PORTRAYS GRIEF IN CHAPTER ....
But oh wel now i have to finish my review bye
11 - jennifer
I really like this movie, the bad ending was part of it...it made me sad that I don't usually feel on other dramas
12 - David Michael
Of course the advertising was atrocious and deceptive - I've given up expecting Disney to respect children as actual people rather than a source of money. But I don't think that should affect anyone's judgement of the film itself. It is devestatingly sad in its realistic portrayal of grief after the sudden death of a friend, and for that it is to be commended. Children can learn a lot from the way the main characters handle the tragedy. What other movie really does this, that you can think of? "To Kill A Mockingbird" does it for racism, but can you think of any contemporary movie that kids can watch and REALLY learn from? I mean, REALLY learn about life? There might be a few out there, but not many.
For the woman above whose children hated the movie because it was so sad -- why couldn't you understand the value of the film's message, one that's so important and that so many parents already have trouble explaining to their kids? Of course children will be distraught by the movie, and probably won't understand even some of the ways it deals with the tragedy...but it presents an excellent opportunity for parents to discuss what life and death really are in a way children can understand. Kids WILL have lots of questions after a movie like this, and they are GOOD questions, which should be asked and answered.
This film touched me like few modern ones can. The CGI was a little unnecessary, but not harmful to the story, and its redemptive theme at the end is incredibly moving and hopeful. C.S. Lewis said that any good children's story is as good or better to read as an adult as it is as a child, and that applies well here. Children and adults will both enjoy and learn from this story. The book may be superior (as they generally are), but the film is still incredible.
13 - sam
i love this movie i just dont like when leslie died. Other than that this movie was completely amazing.
14 - angelica evan a. villalon
when i watch this movies im cry
because i think me leslie
and my crush is jess
palagi nalang ako pinapasaya
ng crush ko at pamiya ko naman
ay hindi na nila ako pinapansin
parang walang silang pakielam
saakin kaya pag namatay ako
sila ang sisisihin ko
habang buhay
15 - tyreanne
I love this movie. It is so amazing and enegectic.I loved the whole thing execpt when leslie die.
16 - chris
dis movie was lame it was extra boring and people who like it are complete loosers
soo screw dat movie