Do you remember what it was like to walk through the woods, to have conversations with the trees, to envision gateways, portals to other worlds, filled with all manner of creatures? Do you remember what it was like to transcend the boredom of an ordinary day through the use of the one thing that every child possesses–the imagination? I do. Some days I feel the many years that have come and gone since I was a boy doing just that; on other days a mere scent in the air or a passing glimpse at a grove of trees can take me to within a hairsbreadth of that time. Watching the film version of Katherine Paterson’s award-winning novel Bridge to Terabithia was akin to stepping back in time and as such was the very best of bittersweet experiences.
I entered the film not having read the book, like Mary and Tori had, but I had a fairly good idea of one of the major plot points anyway. The test of any book-to-film translation is whether it generates an emotional resonance even if one knows the story. Bridge to Terabithia passes that test.
If you were to look back over my movie and book reviews you would quickly see that I am a sucker for a feel-good family story. A coming-of-age tale evokes a strong response in me because, even at age 38, I still feel that I myself am ‘coming-of-age’. I am still growing and changing and becoming who I was meant to be. Bridge to Terabithia is a story layered with messages about being true to yourself, about not being afraid to use your gifts, about opening your mind and using your imagination. It is a very emotional tale that I believe will speak strongly to young children and will speak even more strongly to the adult audience. It is being hailed as the first ‘must-see’ movie of the year. I would have to concur. It is very good.
Bridge to Terabithia starts simply enough. It centers around young 5th grader Jesse Aarons and his desire to be the fastest kid in his class. Despite diligent practice, his dreams are short-lived as the new girl in school, tomboyish Leslie Burke, beats both him and the rest of the boys, thus beginning a relationship that will shape and change Jesse’s destiny. Harsh financial realities and lack of true friendship has made Jesse’s artistic abilities his one area of escape. His budding friendship with Leslie and her encouragement of the use of imagination helps transform these abilities into the pathway to another world.
Marketing for the film really plays up the fantastical elements of the movie. If that leads you to believe that this is another Chronicles of Narnia or Neverending Story type of film then you are being severely misled. The majority of the film focuses on the importance of relationships as seen through the eyes of the principle characters. It is a funny, heart-warming, and deeply moving tale. Bridge to Terabithia is wonderfully cast. Josh Hutcherson, who I had last seen in Zathura, plays the complex emotional role of Jesse Aarons very, very well. AnnaSophia Robb, who was marvelous in Because of Winn-Dixie, shows continued promise with her role as Leslie Burke. She was truly wonderful. The rest of the cast was really fantastic as well. Robert Patrick, as Jesse Aaron’s father, is heart-breakingly real as a father struggling desperately to bring money in for his family while failing to demonstrate openly the real love he has for all of his children. And, in my humble opinion, a casting agent can do no wrong when casting Zooey Deschanel in a roll that calls upon her to sing. She plays Ms. Edmonds, the music teacher, and as such has many musical numbers. I fell in love with her voice in Elf and between her beautiful eyes and fantastic singing voice it is very believable that young Jesse would develop a crush on her. That is another of the themes that resonates so deeply with me.
I remember so well the days of crushes on older girls as well as budding romance with girls in my class during the elementary school years. The small country school, the older kids vs. younger kids mentality of k-8th grade schools, the walks through the woods, the track and field days, hours spent drawing and imagining other worlds…there is so much that I connected with in this movie. Even if you did not have these kinds of experiences you will connect with this film. It is a well-acted, expertly paced, beautifully filmed movie. Add in superb special effects by WETA Digital and lovely location shooting and you have a near perfect movie experience.
Bring your memories, bring your imagination, bring a box of Kleenex (I cried like a baby!!!) and bring home a wonderful movie experience. I cannot wait to read the book now.
Warning: Comments contain spoilers!
Oh man…I was already considering taking the youngster to see this tomorrow. Sounds great!
I wish I would have seen this. Instead, I watched the worst Marvel movie ever made. Yes, that includes The Hulk. Ghost Rider stank to high heaven.
It was a real toss up whether to see Ghost Rider or Bridge… Let me tell you if you LOVED Daredevil then you will LOVE Ghost Rider. Now I didn’t mind Daredevil, but it was in retrospect a forgettable movie. GhostRider to me is already forgotten and we saw it Friday. If I was in movie production, I would suggest doing a movie then showing it to people who like the genre (comics to movie) then LISTEN to their suggestions. This movie could have been sooo good with a few adjustments. Like Nic Cage and his lack of acting, he is seriously awful being a superhero. His best acting is when he is the rider and that is no doubt 99% C.G. So the digital actor is better than the human one! This weekend I hope to take the oldest one to see Bridge. My question though is what do you think the age minimum should be to see this movie? Could my 6-year old who loves movies see it and understand it? Okay one more comment on Ghost, Nic Cages last line is so awful I thought he was reading it from a cue card like SNL! F/X were great but couldn’t save the acting, nor could Eva Mendez’s over-exaggerated cleavage.
Great review of GR Tom…looks like you and Angela had the same experience with it. Thank you both for saving me a few bucks.
I’m not sure that J-man wouldn’t be bored by it. There really aren’t alot of scenes with the creatures and some are a bit scary, but this movie really is geared towards a bit older child, like J-man the eldest. The only other thing that might be a bit weird for your kids is there is a short little ‘does God damn people to hell’ scene that is much more appropriate to talk with an older child about than a young kid. Might just fly right over a young kid’s head. It made a difference in the story but seemed a bit too adult for a kid’s movie.
I am happy this movie exists, but I’m not sure if I’ll go to see it or not…the book made me so sad when I first read it as a kid that I have shied away from it ever since. 🙂 It’s beautiful and marvelous and deserves a loving film treatment, but I don’t know if I can take having it make me cry like that all over again. 😉
I will definitely pick up the book and read it. It was such a beautiful film that I just have to see the way certain scenes were described. I’m sure I’ll cry like a baby, but that’s okay.
Well, this is a double thanks. I was planning on taking my grandson to see GR. You two saved me from a bad experience. I was wondering about Bridge, It looked hopeful. Your great review convinced me to go see it. I love magical film like this. It take me back to being a kid and exploring the woods. Do you think kids now get that experience?
The experience of exploring the woods? I’m sure there are many that do. It is interesting looking back. Mary and I have chosen to live in a city for all of our married lives. Sure, we sort of live in a smaller town now, but most of my daughter’s ‘woods’ experiences come from parks or the occasional visit to a hiking trail or campground. She didn’t have the experience that my brother and I did, spending hours outside in the woods, climbing trees, damming up creeks and swimming, exploring old cow trails. I am sure at times as a teenager I longed for more of a city experience, but as a child I know that I had wonderful times and I am so thankful for the experiences that I had. Sometimes I am sad because I feel like Tori has missed out on those experiences, but at the same time she has had many that I never had at her age. I guess it is all pretty relative. I do worry sometimes that the instantaneous ability to watch movies, play video games, etc. has dampened kid’s ability to imagine other worlds, but I’m not so sure that is true. Only time will tell, but I remember people saying the same sort of thing when I was a kid and I used my imagination all the time!
I’m considering whether I was too hard on GR. If you have no idea what good acting is or if you are a die hard fan, you might find it entertaining. My wife found it entertaining. I was a bit more cynical because I was hoping the previews wouldn’t be the best thing about the movie and it mostly was. I want to take Julian to the Bridge movie but I have heard it is sad and the part about God and Hell might just go over his head but he does pick up on those things. May make for some good discussion afterward. He didn’t cry in Charlotte’s Web so maybe death doesn’t sink in yet.
Actually I do think the part about God is very respectful and does make for good discussion. The depth of the sadness will probably go somewhat over his head too, especially since you don’t see the event that occurs, you just hear about it.
I’ll see GR sometime, just probably not at the theatre. If you’ve seen GR or don’t care about spoilers here is a very fun review of the film by author Cherie Priest. I especially enjoyed reading her assessment of Eva Mendez’s ‘assets’.
You’ve left me with a very different impression of the movie than the ads have done.
It is COMPLETELY different than the ads let on, Jay. I went back and watched the trailer after the film and laughed at how misrepresentative it is of the film. I know they are trying to pull in the Narnia/Eragon crowd with the trailers which isn’t necessarily wrong, it just doesn’t represent the final film very well. It is an important but small part of the movie.
On another Terabithia note, I was disappointed, as were many others according to the Amazon reviews, with the soundtrack they put together on CD for this film. There are some great musical numbers in the film, many the songs sung in class by Zooey Deschanel. Unfortunately it looks like the producers through together a very kid-friendly pop soundtrack that has songs on it not sung by the people who sung them in the movie, including the closing song which was excellent. Sad, I probably would have bought this one.
It sounds awesome, you’ve made me really want to see this now!
I loved Bridge. When I read the book I cryed for about half a hour, but when
I saw the movie I was able to hold the tears back. I remember building a fort
in the woods one time at my cousins house. I love the woods. I wish so badly
that they were my playground. Kids now seem to lose their wild imagination
very fast. Now a lot of kids shows (like the ones on Disney) seem to be focused
on who likes who, or who’s dating who.
I used to love walking in the woods as a youngster, and know exactly what you mean, Carl, about that magic.
I had no idea what the movie was about when we went to see it (I took my 10 yo and my 8 yo, glad that I left my 5 yo at home), and was not expecting the major plot point.
I cried through the whole last third of the movie, but I loved it. And it gave us quite a few things to talk about on the way home–some really good things that needed to be talked about.
I’m so glad I went, and you’re right–it’s not the fantastical otherworldly movie the trailer makes it out to be. It’s a great family/coming of age/be true to yourself story.
Loved it.
I imagine several families went into the film, and will go into the film, with the exact same experience that you had with your children Colleen. The expectations set up by the trailer and what you actually get with the film are so different that it makes for an interesting conversation about the responsibility of the marketing department regarding delivering on its promises. I wonder if there will be any backlash from parents who go in completely unprepared to address these subjects with their children. Interesting to think about.
Glad you enjoyed it. This is one film that I am very glad was different than the trailer promised eventhough I was drawn in by the trailer.
I told Mary last night that I made it worse for myself because I was trying so hard not to be a sobbing fool that I ended up crying even longer and harder as the film went on than maybe I would have if I had just let it all out. I don’t mind films that make you cry, but crying when you have a head cold makes for a miserable afternoon! 😉
I have to read the book before I see the movie (a rule of mine), so I’ll probably wait for the DVD. Sounds good, though.
As for guys crying at movies, you are not alone. I’m six foot, 250 pounds, with a shaved head and numerous tattooes. And that scene in “Lonesome Dove” where Gus dies makes me bawl like a little girlie-boy every time I see it.
Have you read the book? I haven’t, but it doesn’t look anything like I think the book is. (Convoluted enough sentence there?) Anywho, glad it was a good time feel gooder.
Just saw the last line (that my eyes apparently skipped the first time reading) that says you haven’t read the book. Please report on differences or lack thereof once you read it. Because I doubt I’ll get ’round to it anytime soon.
Mary and Tori told me a few differences but according to their remembrance it is a pretty faithful adaptation, in spirit anyway. Look forward to reading the book.
I read this book when I was a kid and the only thing I really remember was sadness. When I started seeing the film trailers, I was surprised at all the fantasy elements!
It has to be one of the oddest marketing campaigns I’ve seen considering that the movie is nothing like what the trailers indicate.
I was misled by the previews as well and actually did not want to see the film because of this. I was pleasantly surprised by how true to the book the movie really is. I found myself haunted by the songs sung by Zooey Deschanel and her class of kids. For the life of me I can’t remember any of the names other than “Ohh, Child.” Does anyone else remember the other songs they performed?
I LOVED IT.JESSE IS SO HOT.I WOULD RECCOMEND IT TO ANYONE.