Customer Reviews:
misleading.......2008-02-27
I, too, bought this film thinking it would be a fantasy film like Narnia, which I love but I found this film a great disappointment. It is not a fantasy film fit for small children (in any country!) and I am glad I did not watch it with my granddaughter.
Text and picture on the cover of the DVD are utterly misleading.
not what you expect.......2008-02-23
No fantasy, no happy ending, nothing like narnia or harry potter, five minutes of fantasy at the most during the whole film. do not recommend
Nice trip back to the marvel of childhood imagination..........2008-02-08
...But left me in flood of tears, so consider yourself warned! Not at all what I was expecting from the adds. Do read reviews first!
Saved by online reviewers!.......2008-01-31
I am so glad I read some of the online reviews about this film before I allowed my 5 year old daughter to watch it. I decided to watch the film first to see what all the fuss was about.
I am no prude and my daughter is VERY sensible and emotionally sturdy, however, this film is HIGHLY unsuitable for the young children it is purposefully aimed at!!
Marketing this film as a fantasy a la Narnia etc is utterly dishonest. It's like buying a box of Corn Flakes only to find dog biscuits inside - except we'd be able to complain about that.
My daughter loves Harry Potter films and all sorts of quite scary stories and films but the death of young people opens up a whole world of anxiety. So many kids will be upset by this film and no doubt parents will face a great deal of sleepless nights.
I enjoyed the film from an adult's perspective but it unsettled me and I dread to think how it would have affected my daughter.
A million thanks to the online reviewers before me.
Missleading in every way. Had my 5 year old in tears.......2008-01-30
Spoiler::: First of all I want to say that there should have been a warning about the contents of this film. One of the lead children dies very suddenly and this should have been explained for those of us with young children. I normally watch a film first before allowing my 5 year old to watch it but he was ill today and really wanted to watch it, I thought it totally harmless from the previews I had seen so I allowed it. What a mistake there was hardly any fantasy and the young girl died which left both of us in floods for the rest of the film. Don't get me wrong it was excellent as a coming of age movie, the acting was fab and the subject awe inspiring but it was not advertised as this. We expected a wonderous collection of monsters and magic as both the adverts and the front of box showed this. Instead we got a slow running, hard to explain to a young child, drama. False advertising which they should be prosecuted for. Very angry as I have spent hours now explaining a situation I was not prepared for to my 5 year old.....
Customer Reviews:
Little bit disappointed.......2007-12-21
The film itself was good. Nice easy going. Easy to watch. But I was disappointed, as I would have liked to have seen more of the fantasy creatures/people.
Other than that, ok.
Beautiful.......2007-09-30
this is the best picture quality I've ever seen on blu-ray. I support and own 7 blu-ray discs (9 if games included). I bought it from the US.
This is definitely a must buy, if you are into blu-ray. I highly recommend this.
I love the way the menu works in blu-ray (seemless), unlike DVD
Customer Reviews:
Can our imagination become reality?, .......2007-08-28
When I was a kid, I wanted the world to work that way. I wanted the trees to talk back, war with imaginary villains, and fly with the birds. I really felt it and so did the main characters of the story.
Josh Hutcherson, who is no stranger to acting already, starring in 15 plus films plays quiet and artistic Jesse Aarons who usually finds himself the [...] of jokes by the loud and obnoxious fellow students at his public school. Hutcherson is terrific and such an amazing lead actor in this film. I think kids will love watching him and really relate to his situation and really respect him and follow him. I hope he continued to get some really great roles. Also really terrific is AnnaSophia Robb who plays unique dreamer Leslie Burke who befriends Jesse and together they have incredible adventures together and form a lasting friendship. AnnaSophia is such a sweetheart and really does bring Leslie to life as this carefree, deep thinking, happy, spirited little girl. She really is the perfect Disney girl and probably has a promising career as such ahead of her. Also terrific is 8 year old Bailee Madison who plays the irrepressible and adorable May Belle Aarons who is really heading towards the same fate that Jesse finds himself in, in the real world. Jesse takes her under his wing and shows her the magic world that him and Leslie have created. Robert Patrick is also just terrific as the Aarons' father, Jesse Sr. Patrick's character is not a bad guy at all!! In fact he is desperately trying to provide for his family, and has simply been worn by the world around him. He wants his children to be raised to be strong providers especially his only son. The supporting cast is also terrific with key performances by Zooey Deschanel, Lauren Clinton, and Cameron Wakefield.
The movie bounced back and fourth between the friend's school life and their imaginary world. The two loved each other more than anyone could love and didn't even show it with a kiss. This movie should of been longer. 90 minutes seems to be the typical time for a movie but this one probably needed 15 minutes more. I wanted to see more of their world as it showed just a fair amount in my opinion (kind of like how Pan's Labyrith was - great film by the way). Movies are marketed different now a days and some viewers may be disappointed. I saw this movie more as drama than an adventure.
I never read the book but I'm hearing Disney kept it very similar to it. I like that a lot as I hear "Eragon" wasn't even close. This isn't a better fantasy film I've seen in years, I just wish they had more but still a movie to see with the kids.
Human Drama NOT Sword 'n' Sorcery.......2007-06-24
If you look on Wiki it appears the producers of this movie disowned the publicity campaign which led the potential audience to believe they were in for a LOTR/Narnia/Elidor fantasy/other world adventure. Not hard to see why as the film is really just a young teen rites de passage drama. It's not a bad story but the average sword 'n' sorcery fan watching this is likely to be left rather bemused and unfulfilled.
The plot has already been covered in the overview, but essentially it's misfit boy from impoverished family befriends oddball new girl in class. "Terabithia" is really just their den in an isolated area of woodland, accessible only by crossing a river on a flimsy swing-rope. The fantasy world and creatures are simply figments of their imagination to pass the time of day. The tragic event two thirds of the way through provides a bit of a shock though not entirely unexpected. Unfortunately this being Disney the whole thing is done in the best possible taste. No Donnie Darko or Heathers style teenage angst and the two main characters barely hold hands. Even the school bullying scenes are toned down and sanitised.
Not really sure which demograph Disney are targeting. It's hard for a story about two young teenagers to sustain the interest of an adult viewer while the events are a little downbeat for a very young audience. If you want human pathos with a sprinkling of fantasy then something like Shymalan's "Lady in the Water" works far better.
With hindsight this film was probably a rental job rather than a purchase. In conclusion, Terabithia is worth watching if you enjoy human drama. However it's important to repeat that if you're looking for epic battles, dragon slayers or even just uplifting fantasy this is NOT on offer here.
Bits of Fantasy, but More of a Drama.......2007-06-23
Jesse Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) is the middle of five kids and the only boy. His family is poor and lives on a farm in the country. In fact, they're so poor he has to wear his older sister's shoes on the first day of fifth grade.
It's also that first day of school when he meets Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb). She's his new neighbor. When she beats Jesse at races during recess, he's less then happy. But slowly the two build a friendship.
It's Leslie's idea to create a magical kingdom. In Terabithia, anything they can imagine goes. They are the rulers and must fight against the evil creatures of the realm. Slowly, Leslie's imagination rubs off on Jesse, and he begins to enjoy these games as well. Their friendship even helps them deal with the bullies they face at school. But will it help when tragedy strikes?
This movie is based on a classic children's novel. Those familiar with the book need not worry, this movie sticks closely to the book. For those not familiar with the book, that means pay no attention to the ads you may have seen because this is not a fantasy movie. The majority of the movie is spent in the realities of fifth grade life.
And it has a very bitter sweet ending. If you are looking for a light film, you will be disappointed. But it is well worth enduring the sorrow for the beauty of the ending.
The original novel was written and set in the 1970's but the movie is given a modern setting. It only affects little things, and the heart of the story remains unchanged.
The acting is top notch, too. AnnaSophia Robb and Josh Hutcherson are both newcomers and are perfectly believable as the leads. The other stand out is Bailee Madison as Jesse's younger sister.
My only complaint comes from comparing the movie to the book, a situation in which the movie almost always loses. I read the book for the first time last month, and was deeply moved by it. The characters were rich and there was lots of depth to the story. Naturally, that can't be achieved in a movie. If the book wasn't so fresh in my mind, I would have enjoyed this version more. This is a minor complaint, however, since I was as deeply moved by the ending of the movie as I was the book.
Don't watch this expecting a light fantasy story. But by all means do watch it. You'll be moved by this story of the power that friendship can have on a life.
The Best Motion Picture of 2007.......2007-06-08
Starring the two absolute best child actors around today (I won't bother with the "perhaps" and "possibly") 2007's "Bridge to Terabithia" is easily the best motion picture to have came from Walt Disney Pictures in recent times. Nay, it's easily one of the best that they've ever made, period. I advise you to pretty much forget the advertising campaign that has marketed this as the latest Narnia-knockoff fantasy, because that's not what "Bridge to Terabithia" is. Overall, this motion picture is almost entirely different to the movie the ad campaign seems to portray. It's not some mindless fantasy movie, because its the most realistic motion picture of 2007 as well as the best. Accurately portraying the mannerisms and troubles of two children bullied by their peers and somewhat neglected by their parents, "Bridge to Terabithia" does indeed embrace the power of one's imagination but also refuses to avoid the harshness of the real world. This motion picture will make you feel more than anything else you'll possibly ever see at your local cinema. It's the best motion picture of 2007 so far.
Jesse Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) is bullied at school and neglected at home. His only escape from his troubles are in running and drawing. So when new girl at school Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb) beats him and every other boy in the class in a footrace things are even bleaker, right? Nope. The two become best friends from there, changing Jesse's life in ways that he couldn't have imagined beforehand. Together they invent a way to escape from all the troubles and problems in their lives. They invent a land called Terabithia, a place only accessible by them, filled with wondrous creatures and adventures.
Josh Hutcherson seems to effortlessly raise the quality of any movie he's in and, while "Bridge to Terabithia" could never have been a bad film, is one of the main things that serves to make this movie as perfect as it is. His performance as Jesse, a loner whose now found the best friend of his life, is astoundingly good. Equally astounding and brilliant, as new best friend Leslie, is AnnaSophia Robb. She shows talents in her performance not even posessed by some of Hollywood's most seasoned actresses. Together, the two leads put on a phenomenal display. Also lending supporting performances are Robert Patrick (as Jesse's neglectful, too-serious father), Zooey Deschanel (as the pair's teacher Ms. Edmonds), Baillee Madison (as Jesse's little sister) and numerous other actors and actresses, none of whom put on bad performances.
Director Gabor Csupo has gotten the best out of everything he's been given to make "Bridge to Terabithia". His cast are consistently superb, the creatures that Jesse and Leslie dream up are magnificently realised, the emotions within are shockingly real and the looming spectre of reality hanging over proceedings is something greatly used to the movie's advantage.
"Bridge to Terabithia" is based on the much-loved novel in America and I honestly can't imagine that the book surpasses the quality of its movie adaptation. Overall, "Bridge to Terabithia" is astonishingly perfect throughout. The movie makes the audience feel real emotions, doesn't give them a choice about liking the two main characters and effectively doesn't give the movie that they carry any apparent flaws. This motion picture is genuinely awe-inspiring. Boasting an immaculate mix of imagination, love, humour and even tragedy, "Bridge to Terabithia" stands as 2007's best cinematic release by many a mile and shall certainly not be surpassed from this point onwards. The movie may only consist of fifteen minutes of fantasy in its entirety but that's not the point. Disney and Walden Media (their best distributor) have combined to release a motion picture of sheer brilliance that the whole family can enjoy regardless of whether it embraces the all-out fantasy of the majority of Disney's releases these days. For what it does do, this movie astounds the viewer and leaves them delighted with what they've just witnessed.
Honest, clever, beautiful, frank, engrossing and tragic. "Bridge to Terabithia" is one of the best films that I have ever seen, and I've seen many. A movie that embraces reality, like it or not, as well as the imaginative fictional world at its core, "Bridge to Terabithia" cannot be done justice by any review or star rating. Watch it!
Great movie! I loved it!.......2007-05-30
I saw this movie just yesterday and it blew me away.I'm into fantasy stuff so I enjoyed it very much.But this movie isn't all about fairytales and magical countries.It's about life.It had a connection between real life and the magical life that not many other fantasy movies have.I do really hope Amazon is selling this wonderful movie in other dvd formats than BlueRay,though..because my dvd players can't play this format..and I simply HAVE to have this in my dvd collection!
Customer Reviews:
Can our imagination become reality?, .......2007-08-28
When I was a kid, I wanted the world to work that way. I wanted the trees to talk back, war with imaginary villains, and fly with the birds. I really felt it and so did the main characters of the story.
Josh Hutcherson, who is no stranger to acting already, starring in 15 plus films plays quiet and artistic Jesse Aarons who usually finds himself the [...] of jokes by the loud and obnoxious fellow students at his public school. Hutcherson is terrific and such an amazing lead actor in this film. I think kids will love watching him and really relate to his situation and really respect him and follow him. I hope he continued to get some really great roles. Also really terrific is AnnaSophia Robb who plays unique dreamer Leslie Burke who befriends Jesse and together they have incredible adventures together and form a lasting friendship. AnnaSophia is such a sweetheart and really does bring Leslie to life as this carefree, deep thinking, happy, spirited little girl. She really is the perfect Disney girl and probably has a promising career as such ahead of her. Also terrific is 8 year old Bailee Madison who plays the irrepressible and adorable May Belle Aarons who is really heading towards the same fate that Jesse finds himself in, in the real world. Jesse takes her under his wing and shows her the magic world that him and Leslie have created. Robert Patrick is also just terrific as the Aarons' father, Jesse Sr. Patrick's character is not a bad guy at all!! In fact he is desperately trying to provide for his family, and has simply been worn by the world around him. He wants his children to be raised to be strong providers especially his only son. The supporting cast is also terrific with key performances by Zooey Deschanel, Lauren Clinton, and Cameron Wakefield.
The movie bounced back and fourth between the friend's school life and their imaginary world. The two loved each other more than anyone could love and didn't even show it with a kiss. This movie should of been longer. 90 minutes seems to be the typical time for a movie but this one probably needed 15 minutes more. I wanted to see more of their world as it showed just a fair amount in my opinion (kind of like how Pan's Labyrith was - great film by the way). Movies are marketed different now a days and some viewers may be disappointed. I saw this movie more as drama than an adventure.
I never read the book but I'm hearing Disney kept it very similar to it. I like that a lot as I hear "Eragon" wasn't even close. This isn't a better fantasy film I've seen in years, I just wish they had more but still a movie to see with the kids.
Human Drama NOT Sword 'n' Sorcery.......2007-06-24
If you look on Wiki it appears the producers of this movie disowned the publicity campaign which led the potential audience to believe they were in for a LOTR/Narnia/Elidor fantasy/other world adventure. Not hard to see why as the film is really just a young teen rites de passage drama. It's not a bad story but the average sword 'n' sorcery fan watching this is likely to be left rather bemused and unfulfilled.
The plot has already been covered in the overview, but essentially it's misfit boy from impoverished family befriends oddball new girl in class. "Terabithia" is really just their den in an isolated area of woodland, accessible only by crossing a river on a flimsy swing-rope. The fantasy world and creatures are simply figments of their imagination to pass the time of day. The tragic event two thirds of the way through provides a bit of a shock though not entirely unexpected. Unfortunately this being Disney the whole thing is done in the best possible taste. No Donnie Darko or Heathers style teenage angst and the two main characters barely hold hands. Even the school bullying scenes are toned down and sanitised.
Not really sure which demograph Disney are targeting. It's hard for a story about two young teenagers to sustain the interest of an adult viewer while the events are a little downbeat for a very young audience. If you want human pathos with a sprinkling of fantasy then something like Shymalan's "Lady in the Water" works far better.
With hindsight this film was probably a rental job rather than a purchase. In conclusion, Terabithia is worth watching if you enjoy human drama. However it's important to repeat that if you're looking for epic battles, dragon slayers or even just uplifting fantasy this is NOT on offer here.
Bits of Fantasy, but More of a Drama.......2007-06-23
Jesse Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) is the middle of five kids and the only boy. His family is poor and lives on a farm in the country. In fact, they're so poor he has to wear his older sister's shoes on the first day of fifth grade.
It's also that first day of school when he meets Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb). She's his new neighbor. When she beats Jesse at races during recess, he's less then happy. But slowly the two build a friendship.
It's Leslie's idea to create a magical kingdom. In Terabithia, anything they can imagine goes. They are the rulers and must fight against the evil creatures of the realm. Slowly, Leslie's imagination rubs off on Jesse, and he begins to enjoy these games as well. Their friendship even helps them deal with the bullies they face at school. But will it help when tragedy strikes?
This movie is based on a classic children's novel. Those familiar with the book need not worry, this movie sticks closely to the book. For those not familiar with the book, that means pay no attention to the ads you may have seen because this is not a fantasy movie. The majority of the movie is spent in the realities of fifth grade life.
And it has a very bitter sweet ending. If you are looking for a light film, you will be disappointed. But it is well worth enduring the sorrow for the beauty of the ending.
The original novel was written and set in the 1970's but the movie is given a modern setting. It only affects little things, and the heart of the story remains unchanged.
The acting is top notch, too. AnnaSophia Robb and Josh Hutcherson are both newcomers and are perfectly believable as the leads. The other stand out is Bailee Madison as Jesse's younger sister.
My only complaint comes from comparing the movie to the book, a situation in which the movie almost always loses. I read the book for the first time last month, and was deeply moved by it. The characters were rich and there was lots of depth to the story. Naturally, that can't be achieved in a movie. If the book wasn't so fresh in my mind, I would have enjoyed this version more. This is a minor complaint, however, since I was as deeply moved by the ending of the movie as I was the book.
Don't watch this expecting a light fantasy story. But by all means do watch it. You'll be moved by this story of the power that friendship can have on a life.
The Best Motion Picture of 2007.......2007-06-08
Starring the two absolute best child actors around today (I won't bother with the "perhaps" and "possibly") 2007's "Bridge to Terabithia" is easily the best motion picture to have came from Walt Disney Pictures in recent times. Nay, it's easily one of the best that they've ever made, period. I advise you to pretty much forget the advertising campaign that has marketed this as the latest Narnia-knockoff fantasy, because that's not what "Bridge to Terabithia" is. Overall, this motion picture is almost entirely different to the movie the ad campaign seems to portray. It's not some mindless fantasy movie, because its the most realistic motion picture of 2007 as well as the best. Accurately portraying the mannerisms and troubles of two children bullied by their peers and somewhat neglected by their parents, "Bridge to Terabithia" does indeed embrace the power of one's imagination but also refuses to avoid the harshness of the real world. This motion picture will make you feel more than anything else you'll possibly ever see at your local cinema. It's the best motion picture of 2007 so far.
Jesse Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) is bullied at school and neglected at home. His only escape from his troubles are in running and drawing. So when new girl at school Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb) beats him and every other boy in the class in a footrace things are even bleaker, right? Nope. The two become best friends from there, changing Jesse's life in ways that he couldn't have imagined beforehand. Together they invent a way to escape from all the troubles and problems in their lives. They invent a land called Terabithia, a place only accessible by them, filled with wondrous creatures and adventures.
Josh Hutcherson seems to effortlessly raise the quality of any movie he's in and, while "Bridge to Terabithia" could never have been a bad film, is one of the main things that serves to make this movie as perfect as it is. His performance as Jesse, a loner whose now found the best friend of his life, is astoundingly good. Equally astounding and brilliant, as new best friend Leslie, is AnnaSophia Robb. She shows talents in her performance not even posessed by some of Hollywood's most seasoned actresses. Together, the two leads put on a phenomenal display. Also lending supporting performances are Robert Patrick (as Jesse's neglectful, too-serious father), Zooey Deschanel (as the pair's teacher Ms. Edmonds), Baillee Madison (as Jesse's little sister) and numerous other actors and actresses, none of whom put on bad performances.
Director Gabor Csupo has gotten the best out of everything he's been given to make "Bridge to Terabithia". His cast are consistently superb, the creatures that Jesse and Leslie dream up are magnificently realised, the emotions within are shockingly real and the looming spectre of reality hanging over proceedings is something greatly used to the movie's advantage.
"Bridge to Terabithia" is based on the much-loved novel in America and I honestly can't imagine that the book surpasses the quality of its movie adaptation. Overall, "Bridge to Terabithia" is astonishingly perfect throughout. The movie makes the audience feel real emotions, doesn't give them a choice about liking the two main characters and effectively doesn't give the movie that they carry any apparent flaws. This motion picture is genuinely awe-inspiring. Boasting an immaculate mix of imagination, love, humour and even tragedy, "Bridge to Terabithia" stands as 2007's best cinematic release by many a mile and shall certainly not be surpassed from this point onwards. The movie may only consist of fifteen minutes of fantasy in its entirety but that's not the point. Disney and Walden Media (their best distributor) have combined to release a motion picture of sheer brilliance that the whole family can enjoy regardless of whether it embraces the all-out fantasy of the majority of Disney's releases these days. For what it does do, this movie astounds the viewer and leaves them delighted with what they've just witnessed.
Honest, clever, beautiful, frank, engrossing and tragic. "Bridge to Terabithia" is one of the best films that I have ever seen, and I've seen many. A movie that embraces reality, like it or not, as well as the imaginative fictional world at its core, "Bridge to Terabithia" cannot be done justice by any review or star rating. Watch it!
Great movie! I loved it!.......2007-05-30
I saw this movie just yesterday and it blew me away.I'm into fantasy stuff so I enjoyed it very much.But this movie isn't all about fairytales and magical countries.It's about life.It had a connection between real life and the magical life that not many other fantasy movies have.I do really hope Amazon is selling this wonderful movie in other dvd formats than BlueRay,though..because my dvd players can't play this format..and I simply HAVE to have this in my dvd collection!
Customer Reviews:
Can our imagination become reality?, .......2007-08-28
When I was a kid, I wanted the world to work that way. I wanted the trees to talk back, war with imaginary villains, and fly with the birds. I really felt it and so did the main characters of the story.
Josh Hutcherson, who is no stranger to acting already, starring in 15 plus films plays quiet and artistic Jesse Aarons who usually finds himself the [...] of jokes by the loud and obnoxious fellow students at his public school. Hutcherson is terrific and such an amazing lead actor in this film. I think kids will love watching him and really relate to his situation and really respect him and follow him. I hope he continued to get some really great roles. Also really terrific is AnnaSophia Robb who plays unique dreamer Leslie Burke who befriends Jesse and together they have incredible adventures together and form a lasting friendship. AnnaSophia is such a sweetheart and really does bring Leslie to life as this carefree, deep thinking, happy, spirited little girl. She really is the perfect Disney girl and probably has a promising career as such ahead of her. Also terrific is 8 year old Bailee Madison who plays the irrepressible and adorable May Belle Aarons who is really heading towards the same fate that Jesse finds himself in, in the real world. Jesse takes her under his wing and shows her the magic world that him and Leslie have created. Robert Patrick is also just terrific as the Aarons' father, Jesse Sr. Patrick's character is not a bad guy at all!! In fact he is desperately trying to provide for his family, and has simply been worn by the world around him. He wants his children to be raised to be strong providers especially his only son. The supporting cast is also terrific with key performances by Zooey Deschanel, Lauren Clinton, and Cameron Wakefield.
The movie bounced back and fourth between the friend's school life and their imaginary world. The two loved each other more than anyone could love and didn't even show it with a kiss. This movie should of been longer. 90 minutes seems to be the typical time for a movie but this one probably needed 15 minutes more. I wanted to see more of their world as it showed just a fair amount in my opinion (kind of like how Pan's Labyrith was - great film by the way). Movies are marketed different now a days and some viewers may be disappointed. I saw this movie more as drama than an adventure.
I never read the book but I'm hearing Disney kept it very similar to it. I like that a lot as I hear "Eragon" wasn't even close. This isn't a better fantasy film I've seen in years, I just wish they had more but still a movie to see with the kids.
Human Drama NOT Sword 'n' Sorcery.......2007-06-24
If you look on Wiki it appears the producers of this movie disowned the publicity campaign which led the potential audience to believe they were in for a LOTR/Narnia/Elidor fantasy/other world adventure. Not hard to see why as the film is really just a young teen rites de passage drama. It's not a bad story but the average sword 'n' sorcery fan watching this is likely to be left rather bemused and unfulfilled.
The plot has already been covered in the overview, but essentially it's misfit boy from impoverished family befriends oddball new girl in class. "Terabithia" is really just their den in an isolated area of woodland, accessible only by crossing a river on a flimsy swing-rope. The fantasy world and creatures are simply figments of their imagination to pass the time of day. The tragic event two thirds of the way through provides a bit of a shock though not entirely unexpected. Unfortunately this being Disney the whole thing is done in the best possible taste. No Donnie Darko or Heathers style teenage angst and the two main characters barely hold hands. Even the school bullying scenes are toned down and sanitised.
Not really sure which demograph Disney are targeting. It's hard for a story about two young teenagers to sustain the interest of an adult viewer while the events are a little downbeat for a very young audience. If you want human pathos with a sprinkling of fantasy then something like Shymalan's "Lady in the Water" works far better.
With hindsight this film was probably a rental job rather than a purchase. In conclusion, Terabithia is worth watching if you enjoy human drama. However it's important to repeat that if you're looking for epic battles, dragon slayers or even just uplifting fantasy this is NOT on offer here.
Bits of Fantasy, but More of a Drama.......2007-06-23
Jesse Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) is the middle of five kids and the only boy. His family is poor and lives on a farm in the country. In fact, they're so poor he has to wear his older sister's shoes on the first day of fifth grade.
It's also that first day of school when he meets Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb). She's his new neighbor. When she beats Jesse at races during recess, he's less then happy. But slowly the two build a friendship.
It's Leslie's idea to create a magical kingdom. In Terabithia, anything they can imagine goes. They are the rulers and must fight against the evil creatures of the realm. Slowly, Leslie's imagination rubs off on Jesse, and he begins to enjoy these games as well. Their friendship even helps them deal with the bullies they face at school. But will it help when tragedy strikes?
This movie is based on a classic children's novel. Those familiar with the book need not worry, this movie sticks closely to the book. For those not familiar with the book, that means pay no attention to the ads you may have seen because this is not a fantasy movie. The majority of the movie is spent in the realities of fifth grade life.
And it has a very bitter sweet ending. If you are looking for a light film, you will be disappointed. But it is well worth enduring the sorrow for the beauty of the ending.
The original novel was written and set in the 1970's but the movie is given a modern setting. It only affects little things, and the heart of the story remains unchanged.
The acting is top notch, too. AnnaSophia Robb and Josh Hutcherson are both newcomers and are perfectly believable as the leads. The other stand out is Bailee Madison as Jesse's younger sister.
My only complaint comes from comparing the movie to the book, a situation in which the movie almost always loses. I read the book for the first time last month, and was deeply moved by it. The characters were rich and there was lots of depth to the story. Naturally, that can't be achieved in a movie. If the book wasn't so fresh in my mind, I would have enjoyed this version more. This is a minor complaint, however, since I was as deeply moved by the ending of the movie as I was the book.
Don't watch this expecting a light fantasy story. But by all means do watch it. You'll be moved by this story of the power that friendship can have on a life.
The Best Motion Picture of 2007.......2007-06-08
Starring the two absolute best child actors around today (I won't bother with the "perhaps" and "possibly") 2007's "Bridge to Terabithia" is easily the best motion picture to have came from Walt Disney Pictures in recent times. Nay, it's easily one of the best that they've ever made, period. I advise you to pretty much forget the advertising campaign that has marketed this as the latest Narnia-knockoff fantasy, because that's not what "Bridge to Terabithia" is. Overall, this motion picture is almost entirely different to the movie the ad campaign seems to portray. It's not some mindless fantasy movie, because its the most realistic motion picture of 2007 as well as the best. Accurately portraying the mannerisms and troubles of two children bullied by their peers and somewhat neglected by their parents, "Bridge to Terabithia" does indeed embrace the power of one's imagination but also refuses to avoid the harshness of the real world. This motion picture will make you feel more than anything else you'll possibly ever see at your local cinema. It's the best motion picture of 2007 so far.
Jesse Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) is bullied at school and neglected at home. His only escape from his troubles are in running and drawing. So when new girl at school Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb) beats him and every other boy in the class in a footrace things are even bleaker, right? Nope. The two become best friends from there, changing Jesse's life in ways that he couldn't have imagined beforehand. Together they invent a way to escape from all the troubles and problems in their lives. They invent a land called Terabithia, a place only accessible by them, filled with wondrous creatures and adventures.
Josh Hutcherson seems to effortlessly raise the quality of any movie he's in and, while "Bridge to Terabithia" could never have been a bad film, is one of the main things that serves to make this movie as perfect as it is. His performance as Jesse, a loner whose now found the best friend of his life, is astoundingly good. Equally astounding and brilliant, as new best friend Leslie, is AnnaSophia Robb. She shows talents in her performance not even posessed by some of Hollywood's most seasoned actresses. Together, the two leads put on a phenomenal display. Also lending supporting performances are Robert Patrick (as Jesse's neglectful, too-serious father), Zooey Deschanel (as the pair's teacher Ms. Edmonds), Baillee Madison (as Jesse's little sister) and numerous other actors and actresses, none of whom put on bad performances.
Director Gabor Csupo has gotten the best out of everything he's been given to make "Bridge to Terabithia". His cast are consistently superb, the creatures that Jesse and Leslie dream up are magnificently realised, the emotions within are shockingly real and the looming spectre of reality hanging over proceedings is something greatly used to the movie's advantage.
"Bridge to Terabithia" is based on the much-loved novel in America and I honestly can't imagine that the book surpasses the quality of its movie adaptation. Overall, "Bridge to Terabithia" is astonishingly perfect throughout. The movie makes the audience feel real emotions, doesn't give them a choice about liking the two main characters and effectively doesn't give the movie that they carry any apparent flaws. This motion picture is genuinely awe-inspiring. Boasting an immaculate mix of imagination, love, humour and even tragedy, "Bridge to Terabithia" stands as 2007's best cinematic release by many a mile and shall certainly not be surpassed from this point onwards. The movie may only consist of fifteen minutes of fantasy in its entirety but that's not the point. Disney and Walden Media (their best distributor) have combined to release a motion picture of sheer brilliance that the whole family can enjoy regardless of whether it embraces the all-out fantasy of the majority of Disney's releases these days. For what it does do, this movie astounds the viewer and leaves them delighted with what they've just witnessed.
Honest, clever, beautiful, frank, engrossing and tragic. "Bridge to Terabithia" is one of the best films that I have ever seen, and I've seen many. A movie that embraces reality, like it or not, as well as the imaginative fictional world at its core, "Bridge to Terabithia" cannot be done justice by any review or star rating. Watch it!
Great movie! I loved it!.......2007-05-30
I saw this movie just yesterday and it blew me away.I'm into fantasy stuff so I enjoyed it very much.But this movie isn't all about fairytales and magical countries.It's about life.It had a connection between real life and the magical life that not many other fantasy movies have.I do really hope Amazon is selling this wonderful movie in other dvd formats than BlueRay,though..because my dvd players can't play this format..and I simply HAVE to have this in my dvd collection!
DVD Review:
- Charmed - Season 8
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind--Collector's Edition (two discs) [1978]
- Doctor Who - Beneath the Surface (The Silurians [1970] / The Sea Devils [1972] / Warriors of the Deep [1984])
- Doctor Who - Destiny Of The Daleks [1979]
- Doctor Who - Genesis of the Daleks (2 Disc Set) [1975] [1963]
- Doctor Who - New Beginnings (The Keeper of Traken [1981] / Logopolis [1981] / Castrovalva [1982]) [1963]
- Doctor Who: Series 1 - Volume 3 [2005]
- Doctor Who: Series 1 - Volume 3 [2005]
- Doctor Who: Series 1 - Volume 3 [2005]
- Doctor Who : Series 1 - Volume 4 [2005]
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