Critic Reviews
Bridge to Terabithia (2007) Rank 5 Reviews
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Parent Previews
Like the book, written by Katherine Patterson, the storyline deals with the challenges of childhood that are sometimes dismissed by adults too concerned with their own worries. Finding a safe place (in this case the made-up land of Terabithia) to work ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Parent Previews
ShowBIZ Data
Although billed as a fantasy film for kids, Bridge to Terabithia has found a warm reception among adult critics. "Consistently smart and delicate as a spider web, Bridge to Terabithia is the kind of children's movie rarely seen nowadays," comments ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at ShowBIZ Data
The Movie Boy (Dustin Putman)
How is it that "Bridge to Terabithia" can be made at the same studio whose last live-action family release was 2006's deplorable "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause?" Not one to be consistent, Walt Disney Pictures has proven itself to be capable of ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at The Movie Boy (Dustin Putman)
Spirituality and Practice (Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat)
A top-drawer screen adaptation of a Newbery Award-winning novel about two children who become friends and use their imaginations to transform their everyday world. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Spirituality and Practice (Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat)
New York Times (Jeannette Catsoulis)
Consistently smart and delicate as a spider web, Bridge to Terabithia is the kind of children’s movie rarely seen nowadays. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at New York Times (Jeannette Catsoulis)
FilmJudge (David Mercier)
Sacramento News & Review (Jim Lane)
...a movie of homespun all-American beauty... ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Sacramento News & Review (Jim Lane)
OhmyNews.com (Brian Orndorf)
You take your kids to Night at the Museum or Charlotte's Web, and you've employed a temporary babysitter. Roll them over to Bridge to Terabithia and you'll feed their minds with a rich tapestry of emotional investment. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at OhmyNews.com (Brian Orndorf)
TheMovieBoy.com (Dustin Putman)
Enchanting, transcendent and profoundly moving, Bridge to Terabithia is a masterpiece. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at TheMovieBoy.com (Dustin Putman)
Film School Rejects (Chris Beaumont)
When I first saw the trailer for Bridge to Terabithia, you could almost hear me grown. It isn’t that the movie appeared to be bad, it looked like a decent fantasy film, it is more that it looked like I had already seen it. The trailer made the movie ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Film School Rejects (Chris Beaumont)
efilmcritic.com (Todd LaPlace)
Contrary to popular belief, I don’t think Walden Media, the production company behind “Bridge to Terabithia” exists to promote the Christian ideal. For starters, its CEO, Cary Granat (seriously, that’s his name), is Jewish, or at the very least, ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at efilmcritic.com (Todd LaPlace)
Killer Movie Reviews (Andrea Chase)
eFilmCritic.com (Brian Orndorf)
Family film treats are few and far between, which makes "Bridge to Terabithia" something to hug tightly to. A warm, unexpectedly moving drama, the picture is being incorrectly sold as a special effects bonanza. It's a shame that Walt Disney Pictures has ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at eFilmCritic.com (Brian Orndorf)
Killer Movie Reviews (Andrea Chase)
THE BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA is an exquisite children's film marketed at older kids, and thereby in danger of losing the adult demographic, an audience that would love it as much, if not more, than those kids. Though it directly addresses the darker side of ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Killer Movie Reviews (Andrea Chase)
Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
Disney not so long ago stuck its finger into a fine children's novel, Gail Carson Levine's "Ella Enchanted," and dumbed it down into a mindless jumble of medieval setting and modern-day sensibility. Needless to say, this dad sensed croissing this new ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
Filmjerk.com (Brian Orndorf)
Family film treats are few and far between, which makes "Bridge to Terabithia" something to hug tightly to. A warm, unexpectedly moving drama, the picture is being incorrectly sold as a special effects bonanza. It's a shame that Walt Disney Pictures has ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Filmjerk.com (Brian Orndorf)
Laramie Movie Scope (Robert Roten)
One of the best family films in years. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Laramie Movie Scope (Robert Roten)
Orlando Weekly (Jason Ferguson)
Directed by Rugrats creator Gabor Csupo, this adaptation of Katherine Paterson’s excellent children’s book is firmly within the (seemingly lost) tradition of Disney films that extol the virtues and powers of youthful imagination. Two fifth-grade ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Orlando Weekly (Jason Ferguson)
Preview Family Movie Review
Based on the popular Newbery Award-winning novel by Katerine Paterson, Bridge To Terabithia is a fantasy/adventure story of friendship, family and the power of imagination from the producers of The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Preview Family Movie Review
Mark Reviews Movies (Mark Dujsik)
What a wonderful, sorrowful film. Full of the imagination of childhood and the heartaches life brings, Bridge to Terabithia instantly obtains status as one of the seminal family films. Based on the 1977 book by Katherine Paterson (which was ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Mark Reviews Movies (Mark Dujsik)
iF Magazine (Sean Elliott)
It is great to see something so closely follow the book from which it came. It is also worthy to note that Disney and Walden are raising the bar in children's films with these different movies they are releasing, and I can only hope that they continue in ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at iF Magazine (Sean Elliott)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"Bridge to Terabithia," a film based on the 1979 Newbery Medal-winning novel by Katherine Paterson, is a winning adaptation of a beloved book.
The advertising campaign is misleading. Focusing on the children's fantasy world, the trailers give the ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at St. Louis Post-Dispatch
E! Online (Dezhda Mountz)
Beloved kids' novel makes it to the big-screen unscathed, with very real childhood relationships, surreal special effects and a big weepie ending. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at E! Online (Dezhda Mountz)
Film Journal International (Katey Rich)
Good news: They didn't screw it up! Trailers for the screen adaptation of Katherine Paterson's children's book Bridge to Terabithia have advertised it as a CGI-laden fantasy, a far cry from the rich coming-of-age tale beloved by several generations of ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Film Journal International (Katey Rich)
Reeling Reviews (Robin and Laura Clifford)
Shunned at home and at school, loner Jess Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) sets himself the goal of becoming the fastest runner in his middle school. On the day of the big race, though, Jess and the rest of the boys are shown up when newcomer Leslie Burke ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Reeling Reviews (Robin and Laura Clifford)
Philadelphia Daily News (Gary Thompson)
[Director Gabor] Csupo understands that what's really important to this story isn't the fantasy, but the reality -- he's especially shrewd at showing us how keenly Jess feels his family's money troubles. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Philadelphia Daily News (Gary Thompson)
Film Blather (Eugene Novikov)
Harry Potter is enchanting stuff, but it has magic, and dragons, and dark lords at its disposal -- it's almost easy. Bridge to Terabithia kept a full theater of children and adults entranced without the benefit of any of that, though the marketing has ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Film Blather (Eugene Novikov)
The Cinema Source (Michael M. Dance)
Washington Post (Ann Hornaday)
The news is good for Bridge to Terabithia fans. The beloved children's book has not just survived but thrived in its adaptation to the screen. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Washington Post (Ann Hornaday)
Los Angeles Times (Alex Chun)
A wonderfully heart-wrenching love story for tweens, teens, and even adults who fondly remember when a friendship could be ignited by a gesture as simple as offering a stick of Juicy Fruit. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Los Angeles Times (Alex Chun)
Village Voice (Jessica Grose)
Director Gabor Csupo of Rugrats "fame" steer clear of cutesy tween stereotypes, but it's Jess's relationship with his father, played by Robert Patrick, that elevates Terabithia from a good kids movie to a classic contender. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Village Voice (Jessica Grose)
ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
This is easily the best family feature of the early year. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Tiscali UK
For the Pevensie children, it was a wardrobe that provided a portal into the magical kingdom of Narnia, for Jess Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) and Leslie Burke (Annasophia Robb) it is a rope that transports them into the fantasy land they call Terabithia. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Tiscali UK
Boxoffice Magazine
This big-screen adaptation of Katherine Paterson’s award-winning 1977 children’s book (preceded by a serviceable 1985 television movie) isn’t likely to displace anyone’s memory of the popular tome, but its winning cast and generally faithful ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Boxoffice Magazine
The New York Times (Jeannette Catsoulis)
Despite an ad campaign suggesting wall-to-wall special effects, “Bridge to Terabithia” is grounded in reality far more than in fantasy. Adapting Katherine Paterson’s award-winning novel, the screenwriters David Paterson (Ms. Paterson’s son) and ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at The New York Times (Jeannette Catsoulis)
Entertainment Insiders (Brian Hughes)
Based on the Newberry Award winning book by Katherine Paterson, Bridge to Terabithia tells the story of two outcast kids from different economic backgrounds that rely on their furtive imaginations to come to terms with the bullying they receive at school ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Entertainment Insiders (Brian Hughes)
St. Paul Pioneer Press (Chris Hewitt)
Three children talk about God in "Bridge to Terabithia," and it not only sounds like a chat actual children might have but it also has something to say.
That's the appeal of "Bridge," an imaginative drama that never loses its focus on the things that ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at St. Paul Pioneer Press (Chris Hewitt)
The Land of Eric (Eric D. Snider)
In the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that I wept like a baby at the end of "Bridge to Terabithia." If a movie's quality were judged solely on the basis of how many tears it elicited, I'd have to give this one an A+. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at The Land of Eric (Eric D. Snider)
L.A. Daily News
Terabithia is a fantasy land born of the joined imaginations of Jess and Leslie, a couple of young teens who bond in self-defense against the bullies at their school.
Set in a lush forest with awesome mountains and breathtaking waterfalls in the ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at L.A. Daily News
MovieEye.com
Frank's film tip: It's a kid's world after all in the jubilant coming-of-age fantasy BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA
Some family-oriented fare is best suited when their scope ranges from the immaculately whimsical to the poignancy of the message-driven theme. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at MovieEye.com
Denver Rocky Mountain News (Robert Denerstein)
There's enough emotional truth in Bridge to Terabithia to make it a worthy addition to big-screen children's literature, if not to propel it into the realms of a childhood classic. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Denver Rocky Mountain News (Robert Denerstein)
The Baltimore Sun
Bridge to Terabithia is much less than it's being advertised as, which makes it much more of a good thing.
Advertisement
<A TARGET="_blank" ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at The Baltimore Sun
The Onion (A.V. Club) (Tasha Robinson)
This is Csupo's feature directorial debut, but as creator, producer, and writer of "Rugrats" and "The Wild Thornberrys," among several other series, he's had a long career in animation, and he handles the CGI setpieces masterfully. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at The Onion (A.V. Club) (Tasha Robinson)
Shadows on the Wall (Rich Cline)
This is a sensitive and moving teen drama about dealing with bullying, loneliness and grief. Admittedly, it's a hard sell, but Disney isn't doing this fine film any favours by billing it as a magical fantasy adventure.
Jesse (Hutcherson) is a gifted ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Shadows on the Wall (Rich Cline)
ShowBIZ Data
Although billed as a fantasy film for kids, Bridge to Terabithia has found a warm reception among adult critics. "Consistently smart and delicate as a spider web, Bridge to Terabithia is the kind of children's movie rarely seen nowadays," comments ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at ShowBIZ Data
Cinema Blend
Whatever you may have heard or seen, Bridge to Terabithia is not a fantasy movie. The trailers make it look like a third-rate Narnia knockoff or an Eragon bosom buddy, but there are no talking lions, magic kingdoms, or mystical prophecies in the movie. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Cinema Blend
Pop Syndicate (JE Smith)
Based on the Newbery Award-winning 1977 novel by Katherine Paterson (and filmed once before, for PBS in 1985), Bridge to Terabithia is a heartfelt drama masquerading as a Lord of the Rings-type fantasy film. Certainly the advertising campaign is skewed ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Pop Syndicate (JE Smith)
Greenwich Village Gazette (Eric Lurio)
The big question in adapting a book into a film is legacy. How far can a screenwriter go from the original and still be able to get away with it? This is doubly true for children's chapter books and teen novels, especially the classics. This is not James ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Greenwich Village Gazette (Eric Lurio)
Apollo Guide (Brian Webster)
MovieWeb (Evan "Mushy" Jacobs)
Cinematical (Kim Voynar)
The beauty of Bridge to Terabithia was always about the friendship, and that aspect remains the focal point of the film as well. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Cinematical (Kim Voynar)
DVD Talk (Matthew Hinkley)
ViewLondon (Matthew Turner)
UpcomingDiscs.com (Joshua Noyes)
Orlando Sentinel (Roger Moore)
A fanciful, emotional and entertaining movie. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Orlando Sentinel (Roger Moore)
ViewLondon (Matthew Turner)
IGN Movies (Todd Gilchrist)
Bridge to Terabithia is a real anachronism in today's family-movie landscape, if for no other reason than it simply and accurately portrays the interior life of adolescents. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at IGN Movies (Todd Gilchrist)
Empire Magazine [UK]
DVD Talk (Phil Bacharach)
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Jack Garner)
Refreshingly, Bridge to Terabithia finds most of its strength in its very human, live-action sequences, and less so in its limited special-effects fantasies. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Jack Garner)
efilmcritic.com (Uri Lessing)
The tale introduces us to Jess (Josh Hutcherson), a child struggling through junior high school. He doesn’t receive (or ask for) any attention from his parents or sisters, struggles with bullies at school, and uses drawing and art to cope with the ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at efilmcritic.com (Uri Lessing)
The New York Times (Jeannette Catsoulis)
Consistently smart and delicate as a spider web, Bridge to Terabithia is the kind of children’s movie rarely seen nowadays. And at a time when many public schools are being forced to cut music and art from the curriculum, the story’s insistence on ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at The New York Times (Jeannette Catsoulis)
Austin Chronicle (Marrit Ingman)
When the special effects aren’t getting in the way, the kids’ imaginary scenes have a hazy, shimmering quality, as if the potential of a long afternoon with no homework could be measured in waves. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Austin Chronicle (Marrit Ingman)
Variety
Paterson's much-loved 1977 novel has resonated strongly with generations of young readers, particularly those who were more comfortable growing up in worlds of their own making than on the school playground. Ten-year-old farm boy Jess Aarons (Josh ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Variety
Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Melinda Ennis)
While the filmmakers have beefed up fantasy elements from the book, this is a very human story. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Melinda Ennis)
MovieFreak.com (Sara M. Fetters)
This handsomely mounted adaptation of Katherine Paterson's Newberry award-winning novel is an intelligently layered drama of creative inspiration and adolescent friendship. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at MovieFreak.com (Sara M. Fetters)
Miami Herald (Peter Debruge)
[Csupo's] take on Bridge to Terabithia doesn't pander or misrepresent, but instead illustrates the power of open-mindedness in both its forms: creativity and acceptance. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Miami Herald (Peter Debruge)
The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (Jennie Punter)
Both a cathartic and a creative family entertainment. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (Jennie Punter)
San Francisco Chronicle (Peter Hartlaub)
Bridge to Terabithia is a good movie, but it could become truly great with a director's cut that leaves the fantastic elements a little more vague. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at San Francisco Chronicle (Peter Hartlaub)
Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) (Josh Larsen)
...follows two young friends who create a fantasy world in a forest as a way to escape from the bullies of real life, and it's mostly a joy to be able to escape with them. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) (Josh Larsen)
Los Angeles Times (Alex Chun)
From the special effects-laden trailers, "Bridge to Terabithia" looks for all the world like the second coming of "The Chronicles of Narnia." It's not — and that's a very good thing.
Firmly grounded in the real world and based on Katherine ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Los Angeles Times (Alex Chun)
Movie Parables (Michael Elliott)
Don't believe the ads... but don't stay away from this realistic coming-of-age tale. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Movie Parables (Michael Elliott)
San Diego Union-Tribune (David Elliott)
The adroitly calibrated life lessons include a chill gulp of death, and Terabithia proves to be soulful, even healing. What most delivers is the efficiently just-right cast, the charmed bonding of kid stars Robb and Hutcherson. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at San Diego Union-Tribune (David Elliott)
Minneapolis Star Tribune (Colin Covert)
There are trolls and magical creatures, but they are the parsley on the plate. The film is a real human story about love and imagination and loss, infinitely superior to most of Hollywood's machine-stamped fantasies for children. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Minneapolis Star Tribune (Colin Covert)
Christianity Today (Peter T. Chattaway)
A decent adaptation of Paterson's novel, and at times it is quite moving. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Christianity Today (Peter T. Chattaway)
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
They are too often shallow and pandering, with crude humor and more two-dimensional characters than their animated counterparts.
And while my cynicism is occasionally tamped down by a ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Groucho Reviews (Peter Canavese)
Paterson's lovely, sweet story locates unexpected emotional power... ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Groucho Reviews (Peter Canavese)
Creative Loafing (Matt Brunson)
It's for bright, inquisitive children (and attendant adults) who subscribe to the theory that imagination is one of the most wonderful tools available. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Creative Loafing (Matt Brunson)
Hollywood.com (Kit Bowen)
Imaginative, touching and keenly attuned to the coming-of-age genre, Bridge to Terabithia is a welcomed breath of fresh air in the stale family movie arena. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Hollywood.com (Kit Bowen)
Detroit News (Tom Long)
Terabithia picks up a lot of emotional punch as it rolls along, and anyone leaving the theater with a dry eye should be checked for a pulse. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Detroit News (Tom Long)
Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
Bridge to Terabithia the movie, like the book, is buckets-of-tears sad. Director Csupo and company manage to get that - the simple power of a story about kindred souls, about loss, about the limitless possibilities of a lively mind - just right. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
Boston Globe (Ty Burr)
It's like an After-School Special version of "Pan's Labyrinth ," and I actually mean that as a compliment. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Boston Globe (Ty Burr)
The Hollywood Reporter
Author Katherine Paterson's Newbery Award-winning "Bridge to Terabithia," about a pair of outsider school kids who create a vivid fantasy world to deal with the frustrations in their young lives, has made that tricky passage to the big screen ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at The Hollywood Reporter
Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)
Elaborately mounted, expensively produced and filmed with style and empathy, it's an adaptation of Paterson's Newbery Medal-winning book that manages to expand the original vision, yet preserve much of its intense emotion. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)
The Flick Filosopher (MaryAnn Johanson)
Oh my god. Oh my god. Do kids know this story? They must know -- this is apparently based on a “beloved” book, which means that kids must know it, right? Oh, devastating, devastating and lovely and bittersweet and entirely wonderful, this ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at The Flick Filosopher (MaryAnn Johanson)
Cinema Signals (Jules Brenner)
One Guy's Opinion (Frank Swietek)
There are excellent messages about creativity, friendship, and learning to live with difference and loss in this adaptation of Katherine Paterson’s Newbery Award-winning novel of 1978. Unfortunately, other aspects of “Bridge to Terabithia” muddy ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at One Guy's Opinion (Frank Swietek)
The Dallas Morning News
TV Guide (Angel Cohn)
Parents should be warned that the novel ventures into some emotionally dark territory that could be upsetting to very young or sensitive children, and might want to consider reading and discussing the book together before seeing the film. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at TV Guide (Angel Cohn)
Film Finder
Don't be fooled by the ads: "Bridge to Terabithia" is not just a sweet, sentimental journey into a childlike world of make-believe. That world exists, but it's only a small part of a film based on the reality a lot of kids face - the reality that ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Film Finder
WaffleMovies.com (Willie Waffle)
sometimes feels like a rudderless movie meandering along without a plot, but you can enjoy the ride, and feel the emotional wallop waiting for you at the end. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at WaffleMovies.com (Willie Waffle)
New York Post (Kyle Smith)
Has buckets of gentle sincerity. Since there aren't any dumb jokes or hip visuals, it's easy to get caught up in the simple messages: Be good to your sister, don't be a bully, use your imagination in a pinch. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at New York Post (Kyle Smith)
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Paula Nechak)
The two young actors -- Hutcherson and Robb -- are terrific and unpretentious. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Paula Nechak)
Christian Science Monitor (M. K. Terrell)
Extraordinarily close to the book by Katherine Paterson in many ways, the film may even surpass it by showing how a shocking instance of grief can draw a family together. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Christian Science Monitor (M. K. Terrell)
Kalamazoo Gazette (James Sanford)
While the visual-effects team conjures up a suitably spectacular vision of Terabithia... what's most impressive about the movie is its sympathetic handling of some difficult real-world topics. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Kalamazoo Gazette (James Sanford)
Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
Bridge to Terabithia the movie, like the book, is buckets-of-tears sad. Director Csupo and company manage to get that -- the simple power of a story about kindred souls, about loss, about the limitless possibilities of a lively mind -- just right. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
Baltimore Sun (Chris Kaltenbach)
There's a persistent innocence to this movie that will work wonders on all but the most churlish. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Baltimore Sun (Chris Kaltenbach)
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) (John Beifuss)
A 'family' film that is more convincing, honest and intense than most 'adult' movies. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) (John Beifuss)
Wolfpack Productions (Sujit 'Chief' Chawla)
Jesse isn't a happy kid. He gets picked on in school, has to deal with 4 sisters, and all he wants from his father is a little love and understanding, but even that's hard to come by. One day, a new girl named Leslie comes to school. She's a little ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Wolfpack Productions (Sujit 'Chief' Chawla)
ReelTalk (Betty Jo Tucker)
If you’ve lived through childhood miseries of your own, the ones depicted in Bridge to Terabithia could bring back painful memories. Two pre-teen youngsters, played heartwarmingly by Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb, rely on their friendship and ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at ReelTalk (Betty Jo Tucker)
In addition to the strength of the narrative -- the delightful script by
Jeff Stockwell and David Paterson is based on Katherine Paterson's novel --
the movie works marvelously because of the talent of the two young lead
actors. Josh Hutcherson, ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at
The Movie Mom (Nell Minow)
Thirty years ago, a young mother named Katherine Paterson wrote a book to console her son David after his close friend was killed in an accident. That book went on to win the Newberry, children's publishing's highest honor, and to become a schoolroom ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at The Movie Mom (Nell Minow)
RevolutionSF (Deanna Toxopeus)
Bridge to Terabithia started out as a novel by Katherine Paterson, winning the John Newberry Medal in 1978. In the children's publishing world, the Newberry is like a license to print money: a replica of the medal gets placed on any new editions of the ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at RevolutionSF (Deanna Toxopeus)
Big Picture Big Sound (Joe Lozito)
Devoted followers of Katherine Paterson’s “Bridge to Terabithia” needn’t be concerned. The film version is a reverent, harmless, almost innocuous adaptation of the beloved children’s book which is surely not going to offend anyone. Sadly, it ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Big Picture Big Sound (Joe Lozito)
ReelTalk (John P. McCarthy)
Walt Disney and Walden Media are marketing Bridge to Terabithia, their jointly-produced adaptation of Katherine Patterson's lauded children's novel, as a full-blown, effects-laden adventure. That's not what they deliver. At most, twenty percent of the ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at ReelTalk (John P. McCarthy)
Washington Post (Ann Hornaday)
Based on the beloved children's book, "Bridge to Terabithia" takes viewers on a journey not just into the vividly imagined world of its title but into a deeper metaphysical realm. This tender, beautifully realized coming-of-age story fulfills all the ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Washington Post (Ann Hornaday)
Richmond Times-Dispatch (Daniel Neman)
If the first three-quarters of "Bridge to Terabithia" is a thoroughly mediocre children's film, the movie more than makes up for it with the last section.
It is as if it were two different movies. The first, longer movie merely recites platitudes ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Richmond Times-Dispatch (Daniel Neman)
Ultimate Guide to Disney DVD
The near-immeasurable success of films adapted from books in the Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings series has made child-friendly fantasy literature as hot in Hollywood this decade as it's ever been. After stepping up to the plate by turning the ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Ultimate Guide to Disney DVD
San Francisco Chronicle
There's an element of sadness in "Bridge to Terabithia" that you don't get in most films that are made for children. In addition to a few specific downer events, the plot itself has a melancholy tinge -- there's something wrong when kids have to invent ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at San Francisco Chronicle
Compuserve (Harvey S. Karten)
Almost by definition, loners are people who are in a small
minority in any community. They are loners either by choice or
because they have been ostracized by the larger element,
shunned generally because they are considered weird, i.e. out
of touch ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Compuserve (Harvey S. Karten)
New York Daily News (Elizabeth Weitzman)
Csupo needed two very gifted leads to do this beloved story justice, and found them in AnnaSophia Robb and Josh Hutcherson. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at New York Daily News (Elizabeth Weitzman)
Cinema in Focus (Denny Wayman and Hal Conklin)
The need to create is basic to our experience as humans. But our need for love is what makes that experience complete. When both creative imagination and loving friendship are joined, the bond that is created can surpass death itself and leave behind a ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Cinema in Focus (Denny Wayman and Hal Conklin)
BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA is a wonderfully old-fashioned kids' film -- the type that reminds one fondly of old series like "Spin and Marty" that used to play on the "Mickey Mouse Club." The simple story relies heavily on imagination but is always grounded in ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at
Haro Online
Every time a decent children's movie comes out, it is almost certain that people will ignore it. Take Katherine Paterson's Newberry Award winning Bridge to Terabithia. It has no fart jokes, and unlike many children's movies, deals with some pretty ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Haro Online
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
For those who haven't already read the novel, the film adaptation of "Bridge to Terabithia" is not the "Chronicles of Narnia"-like fantasy that misleading ads make it appear to ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Deseret News, Salt Lake City
The New York Times (Jeannette Catsoulis)
Despite an ad campaign suggesting wall-to-wall special effects, “Bridge to Terabithia” is grounded in reality far more than in fantasy. Adapting Katherine Paterson’s award-winning novel, the screenwriters David Paterson (Ms. Paterson’s son) and ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at The New York Times (Jeannette Catsoulis)
Guess the Gross
Jess Arons (Josh Hutcherson) has always been an outcast. At school and even at home amongst his four sisters. He has never had a friend until a new girl moves in next door to him. Her name is Leslie (Anna Sophia Robb) and though it takes a little time ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Guess the Gross
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Those crossing the "Bridge to Terabithia" (Disney) may find themselves underwhelmed, though the journey is not without its delights.
Based on Katherine Paterson's Newbery Medal-winning children's novel, the coming-of-age fantasy centers on Jess Aarons ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Chicago Reader (J.R. Jones)
This family feature from the Christian production company Walden Media is something of a disappointment after its excellent "Holes" and "The Lion, the Witch and the ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Chicago Reader (J.R. Jones)
FirstShowing.net (Barry Wurst)
The trailers for Bridge to Terabithia have seriously overplayed the fantasy elements of this family film, another adaptation of a beloved book (by Katherine Paterson), made by Walden Media and distributed by Disney. Truth be told, the film is similar ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at FirstShowing.net (Barry Wurst)
Austin Chronicle (Marrit Ingman)
Once again, don’t fear the trailer. Katherine Paterson’s Newbery-winning 1978 novel arrives at the screen inviolate, adapted with care by her son, David. But the movie’s marketers don’t understand it, so they emphasize its weakest parts: the CGI ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Austin Chronicle (Marrit Ingman)
Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
David Paterson (Love Ludlow), son of author Katherine Paterson, co-writes this script based on his mother's Newberry Medal-winning book from the late 1970s. Although a popular work, the book has also been criticized by some parents and groups for its ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
Comingsoon.net
I never read the book "Bridge to Terabithia," so I didn't have any particular nostalgia for it like other people might. In fact, I went into this film knowing almost nothing about it. What I found was a nice little movie about friendship, family, and ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Comingsoon.net
Time Out New York (Mark Holcomb)
Few filmmaking ventures are as fraught with peril as an adaptation of a classic children’s book, but happily, Bridge to Terabithia rises to the occasion. Directed by veteran animator Gabor Csupo from a script cowritten by David Paterson (son of ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Time Out New York (Mark Holcomb)
EDGE Boston (David Foucher)
Follows in lock-step with the book and populates its titular fantasyland with CGI creatures... neither idea was very good. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at EDGE Boston (David Foucher)
Plugged In
The film version follows Jess, an artistic seventh-grader growing up in an unnamed farming community that could as easily be Iowa as northern California. Jess is viewed as a nuisance by his four sisters and as an outsider at school, where one girl tells ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Plugged In
PopMatters
Children’s films tend to proselytize and moralize more often than any other genre. Bridge to Terabithia finds a way out of these pitfalls, with worlds—both imagined and real-- unfolding more organically and honestly than that in any Narnia or Middle ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at PopMatters
ChildCare Action Project: MOVIE ANALYSES FOR PARENTS
Life is hard for gifted artist and bullied young Jessie Aarons (Josh Hutcherson). Daily battles with scarce money, spiteful sisters Brenda (Devon Wood), Ellie (Emma Fenton) and Joyce (Grace Brannigan) and school make things emotionally brittle. Little ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at ChildCare Action Project: MOVIE ANALYSES FOR PARENTS
MovieMaze.de (Markus Ostertag)
Obwohl der 11-jährige Jesse Aaron täglich verbissen dafür trainiert, der schnellste Läufer seine Klasse zu werden, wird er von Klassenneuzugang Leslie Burke mühelos überholt. Trotz dieser Konkurrenzsituation entwickelt sich zwischen den beiden eine ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at MovieMaze.de (Markus Ostertag)
USA Today (Claudia Puig)
For a movie about the power of imagination, Bridge to Terabithia is not as clever as you would hope. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at USA Today (Claudia Puig)
Chicago Tribune (Matt Pais)
"Bridge to Terabithia" honors the pesky hormones, the inevitable bullies and the sweet and scary reality that comes with being a pre-teen, even if it occasionally steps awkwardly into societal faux pas. Probably not a good idea to compare being abused by ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Chicago Tribune (Matt Pais)
Toronto Star (Susan Walker)
For all that Bridge to Terabithia does to encourage children to exercise their imaginations and pursue the arts, the movie's producers give only glimpses of the wonderful creatures and magical kingdom dreamed up by two children. It's as if someone cut ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Toronto Star (Susan Walker)
ColeSmithey.com (Cole Smithey)
Haphazardly adapted from Katherine Paterson's popular 1977 coming-of-age children's book, "Bridge to Terabithia" is a problematic movie held together by its charming child actors. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at ColeSmithey.com (Cole Smithey)
Slant Magazine
Bridge to Terabithia is a film most children should see, but it's so dully aestheticized they may not care to. Like Arthur and the Invisibles, the story observes a young boy navigating the precarious crawlspace between childhood innocence and adult ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Slant Magazine
KSL Radio (Steve)
Based on the popular Newbery Award-winning novel, BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA is a fantasy/adventure story of friendship, family and the power of imagination from the producers of “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” Jess Aarons ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at KSL Radio (Steve)
Moviepie.com
As far as adaptations of beloved children’s books go, this one is okay. Much like recent predecessors such as Because of Winn-Dixie or Hoot, the family friendly film is decent but certainly not exceptional, and many audience members may be disappointed ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Moviepie.com
Reel Times: Reflections on Cinema (Mark Pfeiffer)
While it's admirable that Bridge to Terabithia isn't sugar-coated, more often than not it plays as miserabilism for kids. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Reel Times: Reflections on Cinema (Mark Pfeiffer)
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
There's something endearingly quaint about the images and ideas presented in ''Bridge to Terabithia,'' the notion that the most troubling force in a kid's life could be the fear of a bully on the school bus, and that frolicking in the woods could provide ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Reel.com
Since they founded Walden Media in 2001, Cary Granat and Micheal Flaherty have made good on their pledge to produce wholesome, life-affirming feature film adaptations of popular children's novels free of hipster cynicism and cheesy pop culture references. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Reel.com
efilmcritic.com (Peter Sobczynski)
“Bridge to Terabithia,” the big-screen adaptation of Katherine Paterson’s much-loved and award-winning 1977 children’s book, is a hymn to the power of imagination that has unfortunately lost a large amount of that very element in the transition ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at efilmcritic.com (Peter Sobczynski)
Movieman's Guide to the Movies (Kushmeer Farakhan)
Christian Spotlight on the Movies
“Bridge To Terabithia” is very true to Katherine Paterson’s Newbury-award-winning novel. It is also very true to life when you’re a middle schooler dealing with school bullies and stressed-out parents struggling to make ends meet. Jess Aarons ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Christian Spotlight on the Movies
7M Pictures (Kevin Carr)
less of a liberal hippie preach-fest that the book was, but still needlessly depressing for a kids' movie ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at 7M Pictures (Kevin Carr)
Film-Forward.com (Kent Turner)
Moving and well acted, the film is a throwback to the days, back in the '60s, when Disney (one of the film's producers) made ambitious live-action family films. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Film-Forward.com (Kent Turner)
UpcomingDiscs.com (Gino Sassani)
Jam! Movies (Jim Slotek)
It pulls no punches from the harder aspects of the book, particularly the central tragedy that makes Bridge to Terabithia the tremendously sad, albeit redeeming, movie it is. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Jam! Movies (Jim Slotek)
Entertainment Weekly (Gregory Kirschling)
The movie -- which never decides if it's a fantasy or coming-of-age story -- spends a lot of time away from Terabithia; that also leaches out the wonder. The boy seems more excited that Zooey Deschanel is his hottie music teacher than he is to see tree ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Entertainment Weekly (Gregory Kirschling)
TV Guide's Movie Guide (Angel Cohn)
[Actors] Robb and Hutcherson are the keys to the film's success: She has a refreshingly offbeat charm, and he smoothly handles emotional material that would be too daunting to many more experienced actors. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at TV Guide's Movie Guide (Angel Cohn)
TV Guide's Movie Guide (Angel Cohn)
[Actors] Robb and Hutcherson are the keys to the film's success: She has a refreshingly offbeat charm, and he smoothly handles emotional material that would be too daunting to many more experienced actors. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at TV Guide's Movie Guide (Angel Cohn)
Newsday (Rafer Guzman)
One problem with Terabithia is that the director, Gabor Csupo, puts too much stock in the abilities of computer graphics to make things real. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Newsday (Rafer Guzman)
Reel Film Reviews (David Nusair)
Based on the acclaimed children's novel by Katherine Paterson, Bridge to ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Reel Film Reviews (David Nusair)
kids-in-mind
An 11-year-old boy who's bullied and lonely meets his new neighbor, who is also shunned by the other students because she is new to town. In order to escape the drudgery of their everyday life they create the imaginary world of Terabithia in the woods ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at kids-in-mind
Denver Post (Lisa Kennedy)
Has inspired moments but too often feels like an extended after-school special, albeit one with good production values. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Denver Post (Lisa Kennedy)
Seattle Times (Tom Keogh)
There's a lot to recommend Bridge for a young crowd. Hutcherson and Robb have excellent chemistry, Jesse's palpable hunger for his father's approval is quietly poignant, and a third-act tragedy deepens and sweetens everything. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Seattle Times (Tom Keogh)
Mr. Cranky Rates the Movies
Maybe "Bridge to Terabithia" was a passable book, but that doesn't mean it makes a good movie. Unfortunately, since that little devil spawn called "Harry Potter" came out, every producer in Hollywood is digging up some otherwise unknown children's book ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Mr. Cranky Rates the Movies
Contra Costa Times (Mary F. Pols)
Through computer-generated imagery, the imagination becomes literal, and in some sense, this feels like a robbery of what lives inside the heads of children. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Contra Costa Times (Mary F. Pols)
filmcritic.com (Chris Barsanti)
One wonders if the makers of Bridge to Terabithia actually have something against all the people who loved reading Katherine Paterson's award-winning book as children. The original story, which deals with loneliness, isolation, and the importance of ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at filmcritic.com (Chris Barsanti)
eFilmCritic.com (Mel Valentin)
Two words: Walden Media. If you don’t know who or what Walden Media is, you should. Founded only six years ago, Walden Media produces family-oriented film, television, publishing and Internet products. Two years ago, Walden Media co-produced (with ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at eFilmCritic.com (Mel Valentin)
Peterborough This Week (Mike Sage)
It's an appropriate thing this film is about the strength of imagination because you'll be needing yours if you plan on surviving until the final credits ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Peterborough This Week (Mike Sage)
The Independent (Robert Hanks)
Maxim (Pete Hammond)
Although this family flick is being sold as the second coming of The Chronicles Of Narnia or Lord Of The Ringsbe warned that advertising can be deceptive. ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Maxim (Pete Hammond)
The Independent (Robert Hanks)
filmcritic.com (Chris Barsanti)
The Arizona Republic
Several elements make Bridge to Terabithia stand out, most notably the actors. Hutcherson (Zathura, RV) masters the role of Jesse. Whether he's fighting off make-believe warriors or dealing with his inner turmoil, he always comes across as warm and ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at The Arizona Republic
Deseret News
For those who haven't already read the novel, the film adaptation of "Bridge to Terabithia" is not the "Chronicles of Narnia"-like fantasy that misleading ads make it appear to be. Katherine Paterson's beloved novel and this live-action film do feature ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Deseret News
Boulder Weekly (Thomas Delapa)
In a story that supposedly sings the praises of the power of imagination, you'd think Csupo and his writers could dream up a better ending than the downbeat one that Paterson so tactlessly tacks on ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at Boulder Weekly (Thomas Delapa)
eFilmCritic.com (David Cornelius)
I have never read Paterson’s book, although my wife and daughter inform me the screenplay - penned by David Paterson (Katherine’s son) and Jeff Stockwell - sticks fairly close to the source material. In this case, the novel is as much to blame as the ...read the complete Bridge to Terabithia movie review at eFilmCritic.com (David Cornelius)
User Reviews
by Alan Coakley on October 17, 2009
Good Movie
Mainly it was the characters especialy AnnaSophia Robb (Leslie Burke)that i liked most about the movie The Characters i thought were all likable and, and the friendship between Leslie and Jess felt real,. The Movie looked very good too, the ...
by ConcerningTarutar... on September 21, 2009
"Bridge to Terabithia" is one of the most affecting coming-of-age movies I have ever seen that is not afraid to treat its target audience like intelligent human beings. Performances by all the actors is uniformly excellent, from Hutcherson's moody and ...
by MarlowesMom on September 12, 2009
This is one of the most intelligent, moving "children's" films I have ever seen. I took my four-year-old. He was scared at times, but not so scared that he insisted on leaving, as he did with Ratatouille. He paid close attention and afterward said he ...
by C. Ladino on September 07, 2009
Bridge to Terabithia comes to life in this fascinating adaptaion of the Catherine Petersen children's book. It is a powerful and shocking portrayal of hope, loss and the power of the imagination. This is not a fantasy like it was advertised, but rather a ...
by I. Kozlik on July 07, 2009
Excellant movie for teenagers regarding lessons in life on bullies and how to kindly befriend them by understanding their internal pain. ...
by Celia Hayes "Sgt.... on June 02, 2009
It's been a truism for decades that bright and imaginative children will create their own world, especially when the real one does not suit in the least, when distracted or uninvolved parents, quarrelsome siblings, intimidating teachers and playground ...
by Bulldozer on May 26, 2009
This is one of the best family films I've seen in a very long time. It was only because I was familiar with the novel that I DVR'd the film. It had been awhile since I read the novel, which was about 14 years ago when I was in the 6th grade. So I vaguely ...
by AIROLF on May 08, 2009
A well-made, well-envisioned (it's based on a book) adventure family film about growing up and being a kid at the same time. ...
by 77vqmous "-e-" on April 30, 2009
Ok, I admit, I was just watching this for Zooey Deschanel.
But!
I must say, as kid's movies go, this was pretty good. It is about a sullen boy, who has plenty to be sullen about. He's grounded (as in, he's interested in things) and self motivated, ...
by Duane R. Wirdel on April 27, 2009
What a great film! I am 55 and not prone toward sentimentality, but my face was streaming with tears after watching it. It made me think of my own childhood and the recent death of my best friend, Dennis. I know the ending was supposed to be uplifting, ...
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