Bridge to Terabithia
Sun Feb 18, 2007 3:51 am
First off, I would like to say that I loved this movie and thought it was deep, emotionally rich, and one of the few unpretentious Disney live action films I've ever seen. It was heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.
But I have a HUGE bone to pick with Disney's marketing department over this one.
This movie, in the previews, is represented as a Diet Narnia. In fact, the movie has little to do with a fantasy world. It has much more to do with the imaginations of two very bright young kids. I was very pleasantly surprised to see that for once, the kids are REALLY relying on imagination instead of tripping in to a fantasy world. But more importantly, this movie deals with themes that were definitely not portrayed in the ads.
SPOILER WARNING:
Near the end of the movie, the main character's best friend, the girl who helped him create Terabithia, dies.
If you don't want to read the spoiler, just rest assured that there are some very dark and quite depressing themes in this film that may not be suitable for smaller children, particularly sensitive children, or children who have recently undergone a traumatic experience. Please use discretion.
If you are a parent, please read reviews of this film before taking children under 10 to see it. I honestly think that any parent who takes their kids to the movies is responsible for investigating the film prior to letting their kids see it, but most parents just assume that anything PG or animated is happy crappy and feel-good.
I've heard from fans of the book that it stays very true to the text. For once I didn't want to inflict a hatchet wound on the child actors. They were great. Although the film wasn't a Prozacerrific snuggle-fest of happy endings, I really did enjoy it and I highly reccommend it. But please, do not drag your 6-year-old to this movie if you are ignorant of its true colors, and warn other parents you know. This is a beautiful and good movie, but use your head when taking your children.
But I have a HUGE bone to pick with Disney's marketing department over this one.
This movie, in the previews, is represented as a Diet Narnia. In fact, the movie has little to do with a fantasy world. It has much more to do with the imaginations of two very bright young kids. I was very pleasantly surprised to see that for once, the kids are REALLY relying on imagination instead of tripping in to a fantasy world. But more importantly, this movie deals with themes that were definitely not portrayed in the ads.
SPOILER WARNING:
Near the end of the movie, the main character's best friend, the girl who helped him create Terabithia, dies.
If you don't want to read the spoiler, just rest assured that there are some very dark and quite depressing themes in this film that may not be suitable for smaller children, particularly sensitive children, or children who have recently undergone a traumatic experience. Please use discretion.
If you are a parent, please read reviews of this film before taking children under 10 to see it. I honestly think that any parent who takes their kids to the movies is responsible for investigating the film prior to letting their kids see it, but most parents just assume that anything PG or animated is happy crappy and feel-good.
I've heard from fans of the book that it stays very true to the text. For once I didn't want to inflict a hatchet wound on the child actors. They were great. Although the film wasn't a Prozacerrific snuggle-fest of happy endings, I really did enjoy it and I highly reccommend it. But please, do not drag your 6-year-old to this movie if you are ignorant of its true colors, and warn other parents you know. This is a beautiful and good movie, but use your head when taking your children.
Sun Feb 18, 2007 4:13 am
Oooh, thanks for that review- I loved the book when I read it (years ago 
), and have been worrying that they would totally destroy it.
I'm actually quite relieved by your spoiler- that's a huge part of the book, and I was terrified that it was going to be cut out to make it more ~*~kid friendly~*~ and all that jazz.
), and have been worrying that they would totally destroy it.
I'm actually quite relieved by your spoiler- that's a huge part of the book, and I was terrified that it was going to be cut out to make it more ~*~kid friendly~*~ and all that jazz.
Sun Feb 18, 2007 4:25 am
Xela of Xandra wrote:Oooh, thanks for that review- I loved the book when I read it (years ago
I'm actually quite relieved by your spoiler- that's a huge part of the book, and I was terrified that it was going to be cut out to make it more ~*~kid friendly~*~ and all that jazz.
Definitely go see it. They really didn't pull any punches with this one.
Sun Feb 18, 2007 6:40 am
I'm glad to hear they stayed true to the book, even though I'm against film adaptations of children's books. If they DID stay true to the book, though, their advertising department should definitely be slapped a couple times. The trailer definitely made it look like a fantasy movie, when the story's actually realistic fiction.
As to parents exercising discretion, I can see your point. Then again, I was nine when I read Bridge to Terabithia, and even though I didn't know anything about the book before I read it, the story didn't traumatize me. Kids are often more capable of handling dark concepts than adults expect--Roald Dahl's books bother me a lot more now than they did when I was younger.
As to parents exercising discretion, I can see your point. Then again, I was nine when I read Bridge to Terabithia, and even though I didn't know anything about the book before I read it, the story didn't traumatize me. Kids are often more capable of handling dark concepts than adults expect--Roald Dahl's books bother me a lot more now than they did when I was younger.
Sun Feb 18, 2007 4:27 pm
Moongewl wrote:I'm glad to hear they stayed true to the book, even though I'm against film adaptations of children's books. If they DID stay true to the book, though, their advertising department should definitely be slapped a couple times. The trailer definitely made it look like a fantasy movie, when the story's actually realistic fiction.
As to parents exercising discretion, I can see your point. Then again, I was nine when I read Bridge to Terabithia, and even though I didn't know anything about the book before I read it, the story didn't traumatize me. Kids are often more capable of handling dark concepts than adults expect--Roald Dahl's books bother me a lot more now than they did when I was younger.
I know some children are more capable than their parents beleive them to be, but a lot of parents aren't as capable as they ought to be. I saw some enraged mother ranting and raving about the movie being "inappropriate" as she stormed out of the theatre, with her two kids who were insisting they loved it in tow. Sometimes, it's more of what parents are ready to let their kids see than it is about what the kids are ready to see themselves.
Mon Feb 19, 2007 2:23 am
It's weird- I've actually never heard of this book before, and the commericals, at least, made it seem very famous.
Whoops!
I want to check it out, but I'll probably be waiting for DVD.
Whoops!
I want to check it out, but I'll probably be waiting for DVD.
Mon Feb 19, 2007 4:47 am
I think pretty much every child in America is required to read this book in 4th or 5th grade. Unfortunately, I was among the unfortunate children who had to suffer through the made-for-TV 1985 version, where after the spoiler, they just sat around and cried for 30 minutes. It was HORRIBLE. Not to mention everyone was wearing acid-wash jeans and had big hair.
Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:29 am
theonlysaneone wrote:I think pretty much every child in America is required to read this book in 4th or 5th grade. Unfortunately, I was among the unfortunate children who had to suffer through the made-for-TV 1985 version, where after the spoiler, they just sat around and cried for 30 minutes. It was HORRIBLE. Not to mention everyone was wearing acid-wash jeans and had big hair.
I wasn't required to read it.
Heck, I didn't even know it was originally a book until I read this thread.
Anyways, it sounds like an interesting movie, I think I'll go see it if I have time.
Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:44 am
It's also on the 'books children are forced to read' list here along with To Kill a Mockingbird, Lord of the Flies, etc.
Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:56 pm
Christopher wrote:It's also on the 'books children are forced to read' list here along with To Kill a Mockingbird, Lord of the Flies, etc.
I was never forced to read Bridge to Terabithia, but I was required to read those two you mentioned and I love them
Sat Feb 24, 2007 3:13 am
I read the book aaaggggeeesssssss ago, and I liked it though it was very sad. I refuse point-blank to watch the movie because I know I would get really upset. It hacks me off that they blatantly mislead people in the ads, though.
~Robin
~Robin
Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:23 pm
I read the book for a project a few years ago and I loved it.
I'm relieved to know its not all fantasy world-ish.
I'm relieved to know its not all fantasy world-ish.
Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:16 am
I just read the book and loved it.
Tue Feb 27, 2007 2:54 am
I had read some of this tread before going to the movie, so I realized that what the kids were seeing was all inside their minds. I love the movie for this. I remember actually going outside and playing as a kid, without really having a lot to play with. I had toys but I also used my imagination. I feel many children today have lost that ability. They expect their toys to entertain them. When I was a kid toys didn't do a whole lot, which left a lot to the imagination. Kids today would be very bored with the toys I enjoyed. But anyway, I had little made up games and stuff. Nothing as vivid as what these two children shared, but I tried. I really did get into a few of the games I played as a child. I remember a time when nearly everyone in my whole school got a three hour recess for some reason. I think the teachers were doing something and they just let us play. That was a good day.
I remember our annual trips to the park too. I could go to the park any time, but it was more fun with the whole school there.
Still, I wasn't prepared for parts of this movie, as I didn't read the spoilers. So I was basically crying my eyes out, and I am an adult. I think the kids handled it better than I did.
I remember our annual trips to the park too. I could go to the park any time, but it was more fun with the whole school there.
Still, I wasn't prepared for parts of this movie, as I didn't read the spoilers. So I was basically crying my eyes out, and I am an adult. I think the kids handled it better than I did.
Sun Mar 04, 2007 9:04 pm
I went with my friends mom and my friend and,even though I read the spoilers,I cried.But my friends mom criend her eyes out.Tip:Bring kleenex next time!smudgeoffudge wrote:Still, I wasn't prepared for parts of this movie, as I didn't read the spoilers. So I was basically crying my eyes out, and I am an adult. I think the kids handled it better than I did.