ABSTRACT: A truly delightful movie based on the novel by Katherine Paterson but one will need tissues toward the end
CONTENT: (©©Nov 10, 2008~Ciao~~First published at Ciao under my pen-name of pyewacket)
The 2007 movie Bridge to Terabithia is based on the book by Katherine Paterson, of which I had read over a year ago. Both book and movie are a delight and I would call this an "everyman" type story that many will be able to relate to.
Jess Aarons is a rather lonely young boy of whom he feels no one understands him. His family consisting of his mother, father and four sisters certainly don't understand him, for instead of doing the typical "boy" like things he loves to draw and paint...he is the aspiring artist. His schoolmates don't understand him either due to his artistic preference and often bully him. He feels hurt and dejected that his father spends so much time with his younger sister and none with him, the only time the father pays any attention to him is to scold him for not doing his chores on time. The only one who seems to appreciate his artistic nature is his music teacher, Mrs. Edmunds.
Then along comes the "new" girl, Leslie Burke, also sort of an outcast only due to her free-spirited nature, and frankly she doesn't care about being an outcast, she loves and knows who she is, and is loved by her own family who are also a bit on the different drummer eccentric side.
A strange bond occurs almost immediately between Jess and Leslie, maybe perhaps since they are both outcasts and different from the other kids their age. Leslie just loves to extend her imagination to the hilt, and one day after being dropped off by their school bus, the two decide to explore some of the land that is nearby. They are in a heavily forested area and they come across a stream. Hanging on a tree on the other side of the stream is a thick rope, and she urges Jess to go over the stream and into the area of the forest no one has been in for ages. Taking a long stick, she pulls the rope toward her, grasps at it and swings over the stream to the other side. Not wanting to feel left out, Jess also grasps for the rope and swings over the stream also.
Leslie's imagination goes off on a rampart as they explore the forest. They come across an old abandoned dilapidated treehouse and decide to make it their own. Everyday after school, the two go back to the forest area and the treehouse. One day, Leslie climbs way up high on a tree, and urges Jess to follow suit and he does. she remarks to him...do you see it? He looks at her rather oddly for all he sees is a rather barren valley. She tells him..."Keep your eyes closed and your mind wide open." He closes his eyes for a few minutes, then opens them again, and he can now see what she sees...a indescribably beautiful land with rivers and streams and mountains in the distance. He asks her, what should we call this place and she replies....Terabithia.
With the "naming" of this place, Terabithia seems to come truly alive for the children...there are good creatures that will help them in their time of need, and evil creatures such as trolls and furry flying eagles. They continue to build up the treeshouse and it becomes their sanctuary. But all will not be well. Tragedy does strike and it would seem things will never be the same, yet a happy ending does occur.
Now when I mentioned that this is an "everyman" type story, what I mean is that so many of the characters in this movie, we the audience can relate to. How many children feel neglected by their parents, especially if the parents are constantly worried about finances, the way Jess' parents are. Or maybe feel envious that a parent pays more attention to one member of the family, in this case Jess's little sister May Belle? How many times have we come across a totally free-spirited person, and think them eccentric? And I think one thing many can relate to...the bully that loves to torment people and push them around as in the case of the character in this story, Janice...we later find out just why she is a bully.
So what exactly does happen in this magical land Jess and Leslie bring to life? Do the two begin to have a stronger sense of identity, and through the friendship feel better about themselves? What is the tragedy that occurs? Will their lives ever be the same due to it? Does Jess' father ever take notice of his own son? For that you'll have to watch the movie.
I have to admit I was hesitant about seeing this movie since I had read the book and knew what tragedy was to occur. Yet, I'm now glad I did. I just love this movie and can really identify with a bit of the characters in it myself, especially Jess and Leslie...there's a bit of both of them in me, even now I think. The saying that Leslie says...Keep your eyes closed and your mind wide open is so true. While the other cliched saying is seeing is believing, it's not necessarily so. Sometimes one's inner mind, inner belief is what makes things real and possible.
I don't think this is a movie for very young children, but children over the age of ten or so, will enjoy this and may also identify with the characters as well. The special effects are wonderful, bringing the creatures of Terabithia alive and were done by none other than the famous Weta Workshop of Lord of the Rings fame. The music is appropriate and I just love the song that Anna Sophia Robb (Leslie) sings, called "Keep Your Mind Wide Open" in which a special music video is also included in the DVD.
I would rate this a 9 out of 10 for this movie and highly recommend it.
Cast
Jess Aarons......Josh Hutcherson
Leslie Burke.......Anna Sophia Robb
Jack Aarons.......Robert Patrick
May Belle Aarons..Bailee Madison
Janice Avery.......Lauren Clinton
Mrs. Edmunds......Zooey Deschanel
Directed by Gabor Csupó
Music by Michael Chapman
Running Time: 98 minutes
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