Product DescriptionBased on Katherine Paterson's young-adult novel and filmed in picturesque New Zealand, Bridge to Terabithia has lessons to impart about empathy and self-expression, but the tone is never heavy-handed. Jesse (sleepy-eyed Josh Hutcherson, Zathura), a fifth-grade loner, lives in the country with his parents and four sisters, including pesky May Belle (Bailee Madison), who adores him. His strict father (Robert Patrick, The Terminator 2) works in a hardware store. Money is tight and classmates make fun of his hand-me-downs, so Jesse finds refuge in running and drawing. Everything changes when two writers and their daughter Leslie (wide-eyed AnnaSophia Robb, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) move in next door. Leslie is faster than all the boys, which initially puts Jesse off, but the two soon bond over their love of make-believe. In the forest, they find a creek that can only be crossed by rope. Leslie names the land on the other side Terabithia, where they imagine themselves rulers of the kingdom. Jesse and Leslie also connect with their unconventional music teacher, Ms. Edmonds (Zooey Deschanel, Elf), who encourages their creativity. Despite the tension at home, Jesse's personal life is finally coming together when the unthinkable happens. Will he revert to his anti-social ways or will he grow from the experience? Though aimed at all ages, pre-school students may find Terebithia's creatures frightening. For grade-school kids and up, however, there's much to savor in this smartly written, sensitively acted film. --Kathleen C. Fennessy - Actors: Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, Zooey Deschanel, Robert Patrick, Bailee Madison
- Director: Gabor Csupo
- Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
- Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
- Language (Original Language): English
- Language (Subtitled): French
- Language (Subtitled): Spanish
- Language (Dubbed): French
- Language (Dubbed): Spanish
- Release Date: 2007-06-19
- Running Time: 94 minutes
- Theatrical Release Date: 2007-02-16
Customer ReviewsReviewed on 2008-07-24  
Not For Children - Depressing
Sorry.. After watching this movie, I have to agree with the negative reviews. Note..I have not read the book, but I imagine it is close enough to the plot.. Bottom line is that this is not a fantasy movie for children, as many would assume.. Yes there is fantasy and, yes, the main characters are children, but.. the story turns very depressing and basically becomes a character study of how one of the characters deals with a major tradgedy. There is not much to gain from this film and I found it to leave the viewer disappointed. The only reason I give it two stars instead of one is that I found the two young actors (Josh and AnnaSophia) to be convincing. Again.. Sorry. |  | Reviewed on 2008-07-12
Our Dreams help us sort the past and plan for the future, but they are not reality
It's important that you understand what type of movie this is, since it deals with several heart wrenching topics. I believe reviews should be written based on the genre of the movie; you may just hate crime movies, but don't give the Godfather a bad review because you don't like the genre. With that being said, Terabithia, while having fantasy and adventure elements is really a Drama and Tragedy. I agree, the trailers really do mislead you.
The fantasy scenes are the kids' way of dealing with their struggles at school and home. You may be hoping at the end that something magical will happen, but that is not what this movie is about. Its about loneliness, isolation, bullies, friendship, imagination, crushes, the yearning for close family relations, questions about what happens when you die, loss (deep loss), acceptance, hope and love. Every reaction is very human, which is the point the creators intended, but be prepared for it - if you're not in a soul searching mood, go ahead and pass on the movie. You have heard of the stages of grief, and they are most covered, but we are taken beyond acceptance. We end with a determination to prevent other loss and a renewed value for the relationships we still have.
| | Reviewed on 2008-07-03
Looked intriguing, in reality it was quite boring
Ever since Bridge to Terabithia came to the big screen I wanted to see it, but unfortunately I missed it. I was glad to see this come out on DVD and had high expectations. The cover looked fascinating, it promised a magical world inhabited by trolls, castles, and magical creatures, but in reality it was a sad and pointless film.
The co-stars in this movie are bullied at school by the same kids daily and after school they escape to a scary, slightly magical world in the woods behind their houses. Soon the girl dies in a drowning accident (why?) and she leaves the boy to grieve alone.
I won't let on with the rest of the story because I don't want to spoil it, but I was truly shocked when the movie ended since it never picked up in the first place.
The creatures seemed randomly thrown together with no meaning or story to explain their existence. In fact, much of this movie doesn't make sense.
My seven year old daughter watched the movie alone in her room one evening and told me she didn't like it. I wondered at first if perhaps it was scary or had a complicated plot that she didn't understand. I was wrong, it really wasn't very good after all.
The reason I gave the movie three stars despite not liking it is because I would say half the movies I've seen have been better than this one, and the other half worse. The acting on the other hand was quite good. This would simply be an average movie, which is far below the capabilities of Disney. | | Reviewed on 2008-06-21
Fight the Bullies and the Cliches
This is a strange movie. It's largely realistic, but it has a streak of fantasy that might have been better if it were implied or gauzed over with effects that suggested menace and creatures without really showing them.
The plot is familiar. Jesse, a teenage boy, although big and husky enough lets himself get bullied at school. He's an outsider (what else is new?), the butt of jokes; he's a fast runner, and has a gift for art. He is alienated from his mother and father and two of his four sisters. (His two nasty sisters are reminiscent of Cinderella's two caustic step-sisters.) He is close to one little sister. A strange new free soul of a girl, Leslie, comes to school, outraces Jesse, and eventually they become soul mates who discover a fantasy world.
The stereotypical schoolyard bullies are in play. Leslie's father is like an empathetic resurrected hippie while Jesse's tough-minded dad takes an awful long time to come around. The movie has a good message to convey, and it holds your interest although some clichés and stock characters and time-worn plot devices are in evidence. It's about misfits who triumph. Highly recommended for kids of all ages.
Nine Lives Too Many
The Daemon in Our Dreams
The Rice Queen Spy
Clawed Back from the Dead | | Reviewed on 2008-06-18
Touching movie
Bridge to Terabithia is about 2 kids named Jess and Leslie who, together, build their own magical kingdom in the forest. I bought this movie maybe a year ago and was impressed with it and the moral to it. Basically the moral is that you should appreciate who you are and don't let anybody (bullies) tell you any different. I think that really brought out the story. Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb did an excellent job playing the parts of Jess Aarons and Leslie. If you like calm and touching movies, then I recommend Bridge to Terabithia for you. | |
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