Bridge to Terabithia, 2007

This adaptation of a children’s novel starts out as a rather clichéd story of a young boy who feels alienated by both his family and class mates, he is bullied, and finds it difficult to communicate with his agricultural American family who are under financial pressure. a new girl named Leslie arrives at his school with whom he builds a relationship, as she recognises his artistic ability and encourages him to imagine a fantasy world in the woods near where they both live. The film seems inappropriate for children, there are very obvious attempts to subvert a peculiar type of protestant liberalism to children which comes across as a distasteful dislike of modernism, rationality and agricultural values, also condemning violence whilst simultaneously validating it as a form of vengeance, however it is perhaps inappropriate for younger viewers not for this reason, but because of its bleak and depressing style, which I imagine only a minority of children would find entertaining. There is however redemption from these flaws, firstly in the fascinating relationship between the two childhood friends, and the remarkable insight into the concerns and motives of children and their psychology. The fantasy sequences are likely to win over younger viewers as they are imaginative and compelling. But the most striking feature of the film, is how the theme completely changes when Leslie is killed, changing the film from sickly sweet sentimentalism to original social commentary on how young people are expected to cope with loss and death, two subjects very seldom addressed in children’s films with the maturity and emotional sensitivity displayed in the one.

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Some kid's movies are fun for both kids & adults. This is not one of those. Rent it for the kids but you may want to read a book while they're watching it. I found this flic frustrating as it never really went anywhere. It just dawdles around in a most unsatisfying manner. A fantasy movie that's all about the "bridge" with little time spent on other side.

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I hadn't read the book, and I know life isn't perfect, but please don't sell this movie as a feel good fantasy of wild magical creatures because it's FAR FROM IT. I like the idea that the kids imagination is making up this entire land, but it's a real downer to have a death of a main character happen and then try to make it all better 5 minutes later. Definitely disappointed with it.

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WOW WAS THIS FILM A DIFFICULT WATCH! This is not your average Disney film. A very sad movie based on the book which is about loss and friendship.This is ot really a kids film unless you want your kid to be crying his/hers eyes out. While actress Annasophia Robb can be annoying with her overacting, Josh Hutcherson gives an amazing and heartwreching performance. Not what it seems this film is mainly a tale about love, loss and eventually moving on in a healty way.

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This is a fine film about childhood, imagination, and loss. The acting from the kids is terrific and I actually rather liked the liberal use of special effects to tell a story (get it, folks? the filmmakers are asking us to use OUR imaginations, too!)...however, as has already been pointed out ad infinitum, the marketing campaign was in fact quite misleading. It led us to believe this was a grand epic fantasy a la 'Narnia', which it definately is not. It is more of a low key children's drama--which is actually a rare treat. Ten years from now no one will remember the ad campaign, anyway.

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