Movie Review - Bridge to Terabithia


Reel rating:						5/5

Reel commentary: ... Unlike the bulk of children’s films, Terabithia makes its points/lessons with subtlety, believable situations, and avoids the usual over-sweet, condescending, saccharine fodder that has become the unfortunate staple of a Disney kid’s flick ... full review

Movie Review

By Christopher Symonds

What an irony this film represents. From one of the most disgustingly misleading trailers created in memory, from the soulless marketing hacks in Hollywood, this film has got to be one of the most affecting, beautiful children’s pictures ever made in spite of this. To those who created this marketing strategy: have some faith that an audience – young and old – might actually be interested in a film more like The Yearling in tone and quality, than the Harry Potter knock-off you tried to represent it as.

Based on the novel by Katherine Paterson, Bridge to Terabithia tells the story of outsider Jesse Aaron – a young boy isolated from his family and at school by a shyness and remarkable artistic talent. The day a tomboy named Leslie shows up, Jess’s life is changed as they forge a friendship that teaches him the most important life-lessons a boy can learn (or some adults for that matter) such as embracing your gifts and accepting loss.

Everything about this film is the top of its game, starting with script. David L. Paterson (the author’s son, and the reason this story was created) and Jeff Stockwell deliver a modernised but faithful adaptation of the novel, with relatable, human characters placed in situations that all of us face throughout our lives. Unlike the bulk of children’s films, Terabithia makes its points/lessons with subtlety, believable situations, and avoids the usual over-sweet, condescending, saccharine fodder that has become the unfortunate staple of a Disney kid’s flick.

Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb

All images copyright © 2007 Walt Disney Pictures

Performances from all the cast are exceptional, thoughtful, and a benchmark to be held for future attempts at this type of story. Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb, as Jess and Leslie respectively, are a joy to watch; little Bailee Madison turns in an amazing performance as May Belle, and at her whole seven years of age is a perfect tutor for how to be sweet without being sickly; Robert Patrick delivers his blue-collar everyman persona with the same panache that won him many fans as John Doggett in latter seasons of the X-files; and Zooey Deschanal (a life long fan of the novel) brings a beauty and lightness that contrasts the seriousness observed by Jesse in most adults. All the cast are well cast, and only add layer upon beautiful layer to the film.

Director Gabor Csupo, coming from an animation background, (Rugrats, Simpsons) transcends into live-action with inventive camera angles, framing and timing that shows a real instinct for eliciting emotion, and an equal proficiency in special effect laden and character-driven scenes.

Special effects, from Weta Workshop (Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia), are unsurprisingly spectacular, as always. It should be noted, though - despite the marketing push - this is not a special effects movie, and these moments are sparse throughout the picture.

It seems a rare occurrence when a film of this quality arrives on the silver screen these days, even less likely when its directed at children (who, for some reason, most filmmakers think are stupid by the crap they are trying to peddle on them in mass). Nevertheless, Bridge to Terabithia defies the low quality arena it belongs to (as well as its ad campaign), and just like the book it was adapted from, is a beautiful, magical story that expresses important themes in an honest way - a great film for both kids and adults alike.

Christopher Symonds

Comments

Frank says:
Jun 27. 2007 19:32

More Quotes:

And she's right. With a mind like yours wide open, you could create a whole new world.

I have four sisters. And I'd trade them all in for a good dog.

I'll call you Prince Terian, P.T. for short.

You have to write it. No offense but boys' handwriting sucks!

Great! Now there's three of us!

I may not know much Jess but I do not that there's no way in the world that little girl is gonna burn in hell.

mandah says:
Dec 3. 2007 23:43

thnx foh helping me wif homework.

Chris (reviewer) says:
January 18. 2008 09:42

You're welcome, Mandah. Education is important. 'Wif'... are you British?

Silverterror says:
February 18. 2008 12:18

Bridge to Terabithia was sad. The movie was awesome. I won't spoil the ending. But seriously the ending should be way different. I cried when I heard what Jess's dad says. The rest of the movie then only gets sader and sader. Then finally the ending gets sorta happy. But from what happened to one of the characters, it messed up the whole movie. Most of the film was good, but the ending is a waist. They deleted a scene from the movie that would've made the movie better. I can't find it anywhere though. And I give the Bridge to Terabithia movie a 9/10.

SahBear says:
March 31. 2008 01:32

Hey OMG im doing a project on Bridge To Teribithia at the monent......i personally LOVED th book! it has so much meaning

deffinatley 10 / 10

and the movie

omg the best movie ever!

well betta get back to my homework

bye

Anonymous says:
May 30, 2008 23:55

A movie full of heart... inspires and stays true to Paterson's vision.

nessi says:
Aug 8, 2008 22:22

the book was alright

sad though

soz but it was kinda bad too much fantasy.

kk, i want say anymore

Tria says:
Jan 16, 2009 23:22

are there any quotes of janice avery?i'm badly needing it.thanks

DVD Information

Special features include an anecdote filled commentary with director Katja von Garnier, and actor Oliver Martinez, and a large collection of deleted scenes.

Screen formats: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 presentation

Subtitles: French; Spanish

Language and Sound: Dolby 5.1 English, French, Spanish

Other Features: Color; interactive menus; scene access.