Bridge to Terabithia

Plot synopsis:
Jesse "Jess" Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) is a 12-year-old aspiring artist living with his financially struggling family in Lark Creek. He rides the bus to school with his little sister May Belle (Bailee Madison), where he avoids the school bully Janice Avery (Lauren Clinton). In class, Jess is teased by classmates Scott Hoager (Cameron Wakefield) and Gary Fulcher (Elliot Lawless), and meets new student Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb). At recess, Jess enters a running event, for which he had been training at home. Leslie also enters and manages to beat all the boys, much to Jess' irritation. On the way home, Jess and Leslie learn that they are next-door neighbors.
Later in the evening Jess becomes frustrated when he finds that May Belle has drawn in his notebook, but his strict yet caring father (Robert Patrick) sides with her. He later watches them gardening together, disappointed that his father does not spend time with him. Moreover, his mother cherishes her daughter more than him. The next day at school, Leslie compliments Jess' drawing ability, and they soon become friends. After school, they venture into the woods and swing across a creek on a rope. Jess and Leslie find an abandoned tree house on the other side, and invent a new world, which they call Terabithia. The fantasy world, which is a reflection on their lives, comes to life through their eyes as they explore the surroundings. For the next few days, Jess and Leslie spend their free time in the tree house getting to know each other.
Leslie gives Jess an art kit on his birthday, much to his delight. Jess becomes angry with his father's attitude to him, and refuses the existence of Terabithia the next day at school. Afterwards, Jess apologizes to Leslie by giving her a puppy, whom she names Prince Terrien. Once in Terabithia, they fight with various creatures, including a troll resembling Janice, and a squirrel-like creature resembling Hoager, whom they name the 'Sqoager'.At school, Leslie becomes frustrated by Janice's fee for using the toilet. Jess and Leslie play a prank on Janice, and she becomes the laughing stock of everyone on the bus. Once Leslie's parents finish their book, she and Jess help paint their house. Jess is impressed by her parents' happiness, and smiles as he watches their family. At school, Leslie discovers an upset Janice that her bullying is due to her abusive father, and they become friends and later Janice becomes Jess' friend. Jess and Leslie take P.T. to Terabithia, where they fight off several creatures resembling students at their school. When it starts raining, they decide to go home, and Jess looks on smiling as Leslie runs away.
The next morning, Ms. Edmunds (Zooey Deschanel), Jess' music teacher, calls to invite him on a one-on-one field trip to an art museum. Jess tries to ask his mother's permission; however, she is half-asleep and he takes her mumbling as approval. Jess doesn't ask Leslie to accompany him, and merely looks at her house as they drive by. When he returns home, Jess finds that his father and mother were worried sick since they didn't know where he was. His father reveals to Jess that Leslie had died that morning while trying to swing across the rain-swollen creek. Jess, being traumatized by this shocking news, first denies it, then runs out of his house to check on Leslie, but he discovers the emergency vehicles surrounding her house, and has no choice but to accept Leslie's death.
The following day, Jesse and his parents visit the Burke family home to pay their respects. Leslie's father, Bill Burke (Latham Gaines), tells Jess that she loved him, and thanks him for being a very good friend to her, since she had trouble making friends at her old school. Jess feels overwhelming guilt for Leslie's death, but his father consoles him to keep their friendship alive for her sake.
Jess decides to re-imagine Terabithia and builds a bridge across the river to welcome a new ruler. He invites May Belle to Terabithia; she is delighted because she was previously denied any opportunity to enter. They bring back Terabithia in even greater splendor, with Jess as king and his sister as a queen.

Tags: paranormal, fantasy, storytelling

Review:
After seeing it, I struggled to think of a better way of marketing this film, without giving away its ending or taking away the only audience that still seems to watch PG movies, kids.After watching it, however, I couldn't imagine taking anyone under ten to see it, nor could I imagine anyone under ten enjoying it as much as young adults, or even older audiences would.
If anything, the movie was a lot better than the preview made it seem to be, and I was pleasantly surprised.Instead of the brash and rude approach to filming movies, that seems to be the standard today with effects driven movies, Terabithia focuses on the characters, the story, and the heart when telling this beautiful tale.
Instead, Terabithia uses the talents of both the amazing young actors, and its adult cast to enthrall and absorb the viewer in the magic of imagination and the reality of every-day life.The story focuses on young Jess Aarons, whose school life and home life aren't all that ideal.
From what I had seen in the trailers, I thought the movie would be about two kids that end up in some magical world, similar to the Chronicles of Narnia (clearly, I did not read the book).
Rather than being a fairytale for youngsters, the movie actually gives the viewer an inside look in a young boy's life and all the troubles he faces, concerning school, family and friends.
The movie is a faithful and touching adaptation of the beloved children's classic book.The two main characters, Jesse and Leslie (splendidly played by John Hucheson and Annasophia Robb) are typical pre-teens, steering their way through the routine ups and downs kids everywhere deal with, and they develop a friendship/first crush due to their common interests and challenges.
Great movie for all ages I took my five year old and fiancé they loved it.....Josh Hutcherson was great in this and so was Anna Sophia Robb .....People actually cried and clapped after the show it touches your inner child...It will take you through a life experience that not all kids go through in life but you will be absorbed in the film as I was...If you are looking for a great film instead of all the kids movies that rely on jokes that are used over and over ...go to this film and you will be satisfied with drama, light comedy and maybe slight depression of the reality it faces, but your spirit will be lifted as will your child's..
Life, is not a pretty thing and more than the magical kingdom of Terabithia, this is a tale of a young kids' coming to terms with matters of being bullied, being loved, having a true friend and even trying to understand death.By the end of it all, many people around me were moved to tears and I myself was trying desperately to hold back.
This is the first time I write a review.Because this one really touched my heart.I have not heard about this movie or the book until yesterday.One of my friends gave me this movie weeks ago,but I saw this movie yesterday.Before watching this movie I have no expectations.I thought his will be a Narnia like movies.But the movie changed it.Josh Hutcherson and Anna Sophia Robb is excellent in this movie.I don't think this is only a kids movie,this is for everyone who had a childhood.This is the movie which made me cry.I expected Leslie will return in the end.I think all the characters in this movie have done a excellent work.This movie is haunting me till today.If there is anyone who haven't watch this movie please watch.Before watching this movie "keep your mind wide open"..
It's a fine kids movie for most of the film with great performances from Hutcherson and especially Robb.
Jess' younger sister Maybelle is quite cute and surprisingly believable as the annoying younger sister and most of the other players do a decent job with what little roles they have.I really remember loving the story when I was younger because it related directly to my own imaginative flights of fancy and the real-world portion was also relevant to me at the same time.
This movie was a based off a friendship between a boy named Jess(from a poor family) and a girl named Leslie(who's parents don't pay attention much to her because they are writers and they barely stop writing.
the acting was good though in my opinion it could have been a little bit better, I was not expecting the twist in the middle though, I do recommend this, it's a good family film to go to, Also the special effects where really great, I hear the novel is supposed to be better so i might go read it.
With the fantasy, the life of Jesse becomes bearable until the day a tragedy happens.After watching "Bridge to Terabithia" I immediately recalled my disappointment with the 1991 "My Girl".
I was impressed with the charm, beauty and talent of AnnaSophia Robb in the role of Leslie Burke, and I loved her character; and I never forget Josh Hutcherson, the Gabe of the delightful and sweet first love story "Little Manhattan".
If your mind is wide enough then let your imagination take you over the Bridge to Terabithia.This kid's, albeit family movie goes deeper than the standard fantasy movie, and his new soul mate has him believing that what we can imagine can become real; all it takes is a little courage and determination.
I have just watched this film and it's terrific, the young actors were super, the story was great and the ending very moving, it was nice to see Mr Patrick in a different type of role, up to now he has been in action type films but here he plays a father, just an ordinary Joe, this is truly a film for all the family, but in my case there was just me and my dog, the only film to ever make me cry was "Inn of the Sixth Happiness" with Ingrid Bergman and that was way back the but "Bridge.." did just that l found tears rolling down my cheek it's that kind of film and it must have got me just there, do watch this film it is amazing...oh in case you wonder l'm 63, never to old to show your feelings..
BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA, in my opinion, is a very touching movie based on Katherine Paterson's first-rate bestseller about a special friendship for all ages that will warm your heart and possibly make you cry.
Another film that it evokes is "Stand by Me" in that it deals with the trials and difficulties encountered by children who don't quite "fit in" as they grow up and the importance (and depth) of childhood friendships.The focus is on the young lead characters but this in no way means that it is a specifically children's movie.
It is rather a true family movie that adults will enjoy just as much and in some ways the depth of emotion will be lost on young children (recommended for 10+).
At a time where fantasy movies are on top of the world, there comes a film that brings every bit of magic and wonder but with emotion and drama that is unparallelled.This is a movie that will capture the heart and mind in ways that I have never seen.And as a couple of closing comment:For those who say that this is not a family movie and that the theme of death and drama is inappropriate, can I remind you of one of the most successful family movies of my childhood, My Girl.
Gabor Csupo brings to us a world which can only be imagined, if you decide to open your mind..."bridge to terabithia" will appeal to you WHOLLY as a positively charged movie.
Annasophia Robb plays the role of the catalyst in the movie..bringing hutcherson's young mind closer to the power of his imagination that he has been anxiously waiting to unlock..
'The Bridge of Terebithia' is an intelligent family film made in the manner of Disney classics like 'Old Yeller' and 'The Fox and the Hound', where things aren't always dressed up prettily just because many in the target audience are children.Based on the novel by Katherine Paterson, this film revolves around twelve-year-old Jesse, the only son of his working class parents' five children.
But when reality soon seeks to crash down on the children's world, changing their lives forever, can Jesse hold on to the magic of Terebithia...The child actors in this film were phenomenal and carried the story with the grace of veteran actors who had decades of experience under their belts.
Robert Patrick, one of the few adult actors to stand out in what is very much the child actors' film, was notable in his role as Jesse's father, a man who believed in showing his children the importance of hard-work, not realising his aloof nature was distancing his son from him, yet who did love his family very much even if he couldn't always demonstrate that effectively.The problem with this film was that it was marketed as if it was a fantasy-lite flick in the vein of 'Harry Potter' or 'The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe' when it is much more a coming-of-age film similar, in many ways, to 'My Girl', 'Jack the Bear' and 'Wide Awake'.
The primary thread of 'The Bridge to Terebithia' is about a boy standing on the cusp of puberty, the bridge between childhood and adulthood, and having to learn the harsh realities of life without letting go of his belief in magic and the jubilance of embracing his imagination.And, as a coming-of-age film, this succeeds very well in teaching children that, even if there is a darker side to the world, it doesn't mean it has to be a terrible place to live while also leaving adult viewers nostalgic for the time when they were Jesse's age and learning these lessons.
They're both outcasts from the rest of the pupils and create a fantasy world in the woods called Terabithia.This is basically a boy meets girl, overcome personal and family problems, make new friends, tragedy and family comes together afterwards type movie.
Going into the movie, I already knew the plot but did not know the ending, and because I love and have a great bond with both brothers I trusted their opinions on the book and hoped the film would be what the book was in comparison.I was blown away.
i was disappointed in this movie.it thought there would be more of a fantasy element to it,but that was just a very small part of the movie.most of the movie was nothing spectacular,with very little story or character development.i just felt they could have done more with the material.that's not to say that it's bad movie,because it isn't.the movie takes a dark turn towards the latter half,and becomes heartbreaking.i don't think it would be suitable for really young kids,because there are some pretty serious themes to it,and because it takes such a dark turn.there's nothing really offensive though,but parents should really use their discretion.for me,i give Bridge to Terabithia a 5/10.
And Robert Patrick and Zooey Deschanel were perfectly cast.The movie tells the story of young artistic yet shy Jesse Aarons (JOSH HUTCHERSON) and how his life is changed forever after meeting the new girl at school, his next-door neighbour, Leslie Burke (ANNASOPHIA ROBB) Together, Jesse and Leslie escape to Terabithia were they do what they want and are able to forget their reality troubles.This movie is really sad, yet enjoyable.
The characters were played reasonably well for child actors, and despite the often repetitive 'usual' expectation depicted in the scenes at school, the story, in my opinion, was better then some previously made films trying to portray a similar theme.
This film is about two school kids' special journey into a fantasy land called Terabithia.The trailer looks so promising, with all sorts of amazing mystical creatures.
Based on a children's fantasy story written by Katherine Paterson, and produced by the same company that did the latest Chronicles of Narnia, I thought that the movie would probably be mediocre given my lukewarm response to films of similar genre like Pan's Labyrinth and The Last Mimzy.
Even though the movie is / was intended to be a children fantasy  the way it was presented  I as an audience saw it as - A warm love story between coming to age of neighbors  boy and a girl  of may be around 14 years of age played by Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb respectively.
Bridge to Terabithia is not your average fantasy film--in fact, the movie has very little to do with fantasy and much more to do with the power of the imagination.
The ensemble cast really put the cherry on top of this wonderfully crafted film that is among the best of its genre.Terabithia stars Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb are sensational in the leading roles, and manage to hold the entire movie on their shoulders.
Joss Hutcherson plays Jess, a lonely bullied kid who befriends the school newbie Leslie (the superb AnnaSophia Robb), together they invent an imaginary world, Terabithia, which they explore to escape the drab mediocrity of their school and in Jess' case home lives.I have to admit I was expecting something along the lines of "The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe", but I couldn't be more wrong.The film is set in small town in modern day America, Joss' parents show very little love or affection to him, something he becomes more aware of when at Leslie's house when they 'help' paint a room.The film also deals with very adult themes, that as a child bad things can happen, you can lose people you love and care for.The two leads are excellent, and for two actors barely in their teens they should have promising careers ahead of them, my only criticism is that I wish Zooey Deshanel would put a few pounds on, she does look a bit skinny nowadays!
How sad that the movie makers thought so little of the story they were weaving that they felt the need to provide a literal visualisation for the kids' fantasies.Just a beautiful and wholesome film, one that I really thought would never get made again in this age of bling, perversion and shock.
when i first saw this film advertised i thought here we go again a fantasy film come rubbish but no this film is absolutely wonderful, the entire cast were all first class, the settings and surroundings wonderful and from a previous writer no crappy special effects ,this film is definitely not a kids film for under 8s, maybe the first half of the film then later on it gets a bit to serious or sad for younger children, the film itself can make you feel happy and even happier then sad and then just makes you burst into tears, whilst watching the film you really don't expect the outcome to hit you hard as it is really a joy to watch then boom the entire film changes and thats when it becomes a (LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRE FILM )but for all you out there who enjoy a good crying match then this is definitely the film for you,I'm 46 today and have 3 grown ups and a grandchild and another on the way and i balled my eyes out for a solid 15 minutes, when upon watching this and sitting crying it makes you think about things you've lost in the past and makes you cry even more.
I read or go to the movies to be entertained, to escape from life for a little bit, not to be reminded of how crappy it can be.My kids didn't cry, but they did think it was sad and I expect they were disappointed.
i cried from the middle to the end ..i was crying more and more ...pausing the movie and looking for tissues ..believe me it did worth it..maybe the special features or effect was not very good but the story and the fantasy its an amazing thing.
Based on Katherine Patterson's beautiful book, Bridge to Terabithia is a beautiful, charming and touching fantasy film, that serves as an emotionally rich testament to the life-changing power of friendship.
She played Leslie where her family didn't have time for her (though it wasn't really shown much throughout the movie) as she moved in and meets the main character, Jesse, played pretty well by Josh Hutcherson.
Robert Patrick acts out screen time, he definitely brings some powerful emotion to the film.This movie might feel a little mature for young children, not that it's an unsettling story, but some scenes could upset them.
I was just a little too old to have read the book when I was a kid, so I don't know how the film compares, but I can say it is a wonderful fantasy film.Jess is a budding young artist who's picked on at school, he befriends the new girl, Leslie, a social misfit who encourages him to dream in spite of his father's constant admonishments to "get your head out of the clouds".
I remember my imaginations of my childhood and I now follow my daughter creating imaginary worlds herself.Bridge to Terabithia is a marvelous movie about childhood, imagination, love and attachment.Young Jess Aarons is not very happy about his life.
Bridge to Terabithia, based on the book, is a story about two kids, Jess and Leslie, who form a friendship over a shared outcast status at their school.
The movie version of Bridge was incredibly true to the book, and the young actors portraying Leslie and Jess did a fantastic job.