Bridge to Terabithia Review

This is a fantasy/drama film geared toward younger children/pre-teens but people of all ages are enjoying it.  One must be forewarned not to get the 2007 version confused with the 1985 verion that starred Annette O'Toole.  It seems that when Disney released the newer version producers of the '85 version decided to also release theirs on DVD.  The original version from '85  has been getting a lot of bad reports because viewers were very disappointed that the movie didn't sufficiently cover enough material from Katherine Patterson's award winning novel of the same title.  However, viewers will be very pleased to know that Disney did a much better job in retelling the story in the 2007 version.

Katherine Paterson first published her book in 1974.   In 1978, Bridge to Terabithia won the Newberry Medal.  Paterson drew inspiration for the novel from a real event that occurred in August 1974 when her son's best friend  was struck by lightning at a beach and killed.

From here forward I will be discussing the 2007 Disney version unless otherwise noted. This is a 96 minute movie rated PG for thematic elements including bullying, some peril and mild language.  The movie was filmed entirely in Auckland, New Zealand and once you enter the make believe world of Terabithia the scenery is breathtaking.  The musical arrangements are also very compelling.  I typically don't care for instrumental music but Aaron Zigman's composition of "Seeing Terabithia" at the beginning of the movie is so mesmerizing that if you close your eyes you feel as if you have entered that beautiful land of mystical creatures.  I even watch the credits just to hear it played again. 

The movie appears to take place in a rural town.  I noticed that no one except for May Bell (Bailee Madison) and Ms. Edmonds (Zooey Deschanel) wore anything that resembled modern day fashion.  Another reason I thought it was a small rural town was that the elementary and middle school students were on the same campus and even had lunch together.  Jess Aarons (Josh Hutcherson also in Little Manhattan and RV) is probably in sixth or seventh grade because they make mention of only the eighth graders being allowed to sit in the back of the bus. May Bell appears to be in first or second grade.  Perhaps the standard of dress was to help depict that Jess' family was struggling but then it would appear evene moreso that he were being neglected if he had to wear a pair of his older sister's hand-me down sneakers and Maybell was in the nicer clothes.

 The main characters in the movie and book are Jess and Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb also in Because of Winn-Dixie).  Leslie moves in next door to the Aarons and wins a boys race the first day of school.  This is very significant because it seems that was Jess' goal-to return from summer break and win the first race of the year.  Jess is always being bullied by Gary Fulcher (Elliott Lawless) and Scott Hoager (Cameron Wakefield) and believes winning the race will be a redeeming quality in their eyes so you can imagine how disappointed he is when he loses the race to a girl.

We discover their insecurities, likes and dislikes, and their family situations. As you watch the movie you are happy to see Jess and Leslie become best friends; especially when at their age it wouldn't be common for children of the opposite sex to be the best of friends. The producers have a way of showing you "how" the friendship developed but also "why" they needed each other. Jess, coming from a family of having only sisters and demanding parents, needed an outlet and Leslie, being an only child with extremely progressive parents, needed Jess as a social peer.  Many would say that both children were being neglected at home to a certain extent.  I picked up on it really quick with the way Jess' father, Jack (Robert Patrick) related to May Bell and showered her with hugs and kind words while Jess looked on.  It took me several viewings to actually pick up on it with Leslie.  It was at some point when she's speaking with Jess and she conveys to him that while her parents are writing they don't really have time for her.  You also realize how much Jess's life improves from meeting and building a friendship with Leslie, by becoming more confident and caring. Leslie tells him, "Close your eyes and keep your mind wide open."

Bridge To Terabithia is a good movie that can teach children how to cope with difficult situations in life even when adults cannot make sense of them.  I believe this movie would be a great movie to watch as a family and perhaps even in a classroom setting when a teacher could facilitate a discussion afterward.

Some questions or thoughts that could be addressed:

• Why do you think Jess and Leslie were the perfect match?  They were both very imaginative and one brought the creative writing to the friendship and the other the artistic ability.
• What was the significance of Leslie telling Janis, "Nice feet" during one of their first encounters?
• How could one act of kindness encourage many more?  Leslie befriends anyone even Janis the bulley.
• What was the significance of May Bell's flowers?
• The conversation in the truck after the church service and how it reappears later.
• The beautiful relationship between Jess and May Bell. 
• What happens to make Jess' father reach out to him? 

I loved Ms. Edmonds the music teacher.  I liked her style.  Can you imagine sitting in class on top of your desks?  Ms. Edmonds seemed to be a displaced teacher of sorts.  Her fashion combined modern dress with a hint of eclecticism.  Even her taste in music that she shared with the children seemed to come from days gone by, like perhaps hippie-music.  But I loved the songs: "Ooh, Child,  Why Can't We Be Friends and Someday."  She's the kind of teacher that every child needs to have a chance encounter with at least once in their life.  Jess develops a crush on her so why do you think he feels guilty for going to the art museum with her?  Watch the movie to find out!

Some will argue that the movie, unlike the book, doesn't define the seasons enough to convey to the viewer just how intense and how long Jess and Leslie have been friends.  I fully agree!  The movie begins with the first day of school, so perhaps mid-August, first of September.  You don't see a winter wardrobe come into play whatsoever so you are thinking everything has transpired over the course of several weeks.   It does not give the idea that the two of them have developed such a strong bond that they would do anything for each other. Thus, when tragedy strikes it is difficult to comprehend life ever being normal again. 

The fantasy part of the movie is very alluring.  It brings you into that world of giants, mystical creatures and everything else that would stem from a very vivid imagination.  When the children enter Terabithia anything is possible.  They have the ability to run faster, fly, slay "squoagers," and see nature really come to life.  I don't think I laughed that much in the movie.  Because I read the book as a sixth grader I found myself pondering more of the movie and questioning: "Is that how it happened in the book or I don't remember that or why didn't they do this or cover that?"  I got angry many times when I could sense the sting of pain in poor Jess when you would see his father ignore him.  His father took time with May Bell but wouldn't even acknowledge his son as a blooming artist.  I think all Jess needed was a pat on the back, a "good job son" or a kind word spoken and I was made that it took a tragedy to bring his father to him.  But having had really good relationships with my teachers in 5th, 8th, and 12th grade I was glad to see Ms. Edmunds reach out to him.  Another very touching moment was when Ms. Myers had that very engaging talk with Jess.

There is so much more I could say about this movie but I fear I would divulge too much.  All I can say is that if you have read the book you will not be disappointed with the movie.  Just make sure you view or purchase the right version.  Don't get the DVD with Annette O'Toole circa 1985.  I saw it on PBS one time and yes, it is a disappointment.  If you have read the book you will recognize many differenes from book to movie but I still feel Disney did a much better job retelling the story than the PBS version.