Customer Reviews

Bridge to Terabithia (PBS TV Version)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

When I discovered that a movie was produced that was based on Patterson's book, Bridge to Terabithia, I was very interested in viewing it. After seeing the movie, I was extremely disappointed in the film version. I felt that it did not develop the characters, plot, and theme to the point that Patterson had.

In the novel, Patterson does an excellent job of describing the main characters, Jess and Leslie. We discover their insecurities, likes and dislikes, and their family situations. Although the film does make it apparent that the two become best friends, Patterson has a way of showing you 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. Patterson also explains how much Jess's life improves from meeting and building a friendship with Leslie, by becoming more confident and caring. The film does not cover that metamorphosis to the same degree.

Major scenes in the book have been severely shortchanged or even omitted in the movie. The strong opening where Jess is determined to be the fastest runner in the fifth grade is represented in a poor manner. The poignant moment where Jess builds a bridge to Terabithia, which is where the title of the book comes from, doesn't even exist in the film version! Jess's guilt from going to the art museum is lightly mentioned, but never clarified. Also, the lack of development with scenes involving key supporting roles, really affects the overall message in the story.

The two major themes of Patterson's book are friendship and loss. By not defining seasons in the film, the viewer is not fully aware of how long Leslie and Jess are friends. 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. The actors portraying the role were not convincing as to what their characters were truly feeling during critical moments in the story.

Once the credits began to roll on the television screen, I was left with the feeling that one of my most beloved books had been misrepresented. This is definitely a case where the quality of the book far exceeds that of the movie in all aspects.

I can't say that this film, based on a popular book for young readers is particularly impressive. It's the story of two friends who enjoy an imaginary world together in the woods, a place they call "Terabithia" , and whose special friendship ends in tragedy, (reminding me of the more recent movie, "My Girl"). This is a plot with a lot of potential to make a good movie, but to me, some of the acting seemed shallow, and the plot, as interpreted by the movie, lacked depth and detail. The relationship between the two best friends is not fully developed, so there isn't much of an "emotional charge" to draw you in.

In spite of these negatives, the film is entertaining enough to keep some children's attention, or for family-time viewing and discussion. I think the best use of the film would be to show it to children at home or at school as a supplement to the book, and for this, it would serve its purpose adequately. It may be time to do a higher quality remake of this movie.

As an elementary school teacher, I read Bridge to Terabithia with my class every year. It's the best core-lit book in our school. The video is pretty good for a TV movie. The acting performances approximate the characters pretty well. It could easily been a lot better with the addition of a classroom teacher character. Combining the teacher Jess loves with the one he can't stand was a bad move. Still. I enjoy showing the movie after reading the book. As we say in Spanish, Mejor que nada!

I insist on this novel every spring with my Grade 5 students - a perfect book for reading aloud - jewel-like prose, great messages, palpable relationships. I'm grateful this film exists, since we get a good chance to compare such adaptations with originals. Both kid actors are adequate, often quite natural, occasionally stilted. A strong sense of poignancy never quite evolves, however. Or poverty. Or personal conflict...I'd suggest a lush, more developed remake, motion-picture length, which includes scenes and characters not explored in this version. It would become sacred to English teachers across this continent. Just like the newest Secret Garden, or Narnia, perhaps.

This is an amazing story! For pre-teen readers. It will definalty touch your life....The book is about a young boy who has a crush on his music teacher, sort of a misfit in his family, a loner. A girl, about his age moves in next door in a big, old barn house. The two share amazing adventures together...a childhood of imagination and wonder! Then one day, it all ends, tragicly. As you imagine your self as the boy or the girl, your life will never be the same again...Be prepared, this story will touch your life and it is surly on you will never forget.... END

I read the original book The Bridge to Terabithia when I was a kid. I don't remember very much from the book, but I remembered the general premise and the ending. When I originally read it, I really liked the book. So, obviously, when hearing that they were making it into a movie, I was very skeptical. Most good books don't translate into good movies. Then I saw the previews for the movie, and I was even more skeptical. This was not a book about fantasy lands and magical beings. This is no Chronicles of Narnia. I think it's much better, but it's certainly different.

This movie is about friendship, and imagination. It's the story of two fifth-graders, Jesse and Leslie, next-door neighbors, who are both outcasts. They aren't readily accepted in school, and aren't in love with their home lives, either. They grow a fast friendship where they "travel" to an imaginary land, Terabithia. In reality, it's just the woods behind their houses. All of the CGI that you see advertised is simply their imagination, and there's really very little of it. Just about every CGI-animated scene in the movie is shown in the previews. That is NOT what this movie is about, although that's what Disney would have you believe. It's about imagination and creativity, and how children should be encouraged to use that imagination.

I have a problem with all of the parents giving this movie terrible reviews because they say it's not child-appropriate. I don't have an opinion as to whether or not it's appropriate for children, that's for each individual parent to decide. Some kids can handle it, some can't. It doesn't take much research, however, to find out that this is not the happiest of stories. Any parent who really cares about what their kids see is going to research the movie BEFORE allowing their kids to see it. That involves either looking it up online, asking friends who have already seen it (or read the book), or watching it themselves FIRST to screen what their children see. I will not ruin the story by saying what happens, but if you really want to know, spend five minutes doing some research. Read the other reviews on this page, for crying out loud. But if you bring your kids to a movie that you haven't researched at all and it's not what you expect, don't blame the movie for your lack of effort. I understand Disney falsely advertised this movie, of course they did. Advertising it as another Chronicles of Narnia is certainly going to bring more sales in. But this movie is VERY GOOD. One reviewer said you have to be masochistic to enjoy a movie like this. I don't believe that's true. You simply have to appreciate a well-told story. Sometimes life sucks, and sometimes really terrible things happen. That's what the book was about, and this movie is faithful to that story.

I'm in my mid-twenties. When I went to see this, I went with a few friends of mine, all of us adults. Every one of us loved it. The two main actors (the two kids) are REALLY good. Jesse is the introvert and Leslie is the extrovert. You really buy into their friendship as you watch them learn to know one another. You want Jesse to punch the bully in the face; you want Leslie to stand up to the eighth-grader.

By the end, you could hear plenty of sniffles throughout the audience, including coming from my friends. Heck, I knew the story beforehand, and I still teared up. It's difficult to watch, but I believe the story was handled with very much care by Disney. Overall, this is an excellent movie, if not with reservations. If you're concerned with what your children see, then spend some time and find out what's in the plotline. But this movie is really good.

i recently took this video out of my library and watched it. i thought that it captured the book very well. sure it did leave out a few characters, but wasn't this video made for tv? because then they probably left situations out (like the easter service part) for time. the acting overall was very good, but there were some times when the actors/actresses got annoying. i thought it was a great adaption of a great book.

Yes this is an older movie (1985) and it is not as visually spectacular as the Disney version, however, I enjoy this version of Bridge to Terabithia much more. It is more closely based on Kahterine Paterson's novel. It is especially wonderful to watch after your child has read the novel. I showed it to my 4th grade students and they loved it.

I experienced (not "saw") this movie today with my adult daughter, on a dinner and movie afternoon to "catch up" on things; we both share a delight in fantasy that is is interpretive and reflective. Unlike virtually all of the reviewers I've read here, I had no knowledge that a book even existed, let alone was a beloved classic. I saw the movie based on a few intriguing trailers, and never read a review of the movie. We both came to the theatre without expectations based on reviews or the preconception that this was a canon to some, not to be trifled with. It is clear from the reviews here that many viewers were clearly hoping to share something with their children that they had experienced as a child reading the book. Clearly, most of these reviews of the movie judge this movie on it's fidelity in mood, plot, and character to what they individually brought with them from the book they read as a child....and that's OK (for them). I will not discuss the plot, but I cannot understand how someone who read and loved the book would not be aware of the plot and it's central turning point and judge their children's reactions accordingly. I saw no sobbing children...perhaps they were more thoughtful than if it had been "Shrek", but as a parent, I would have felt that this film spoke honestly to children about how difficult it is for them to understand their children's world, and how equally tough it is for children to understand the grown up world. I would have expected questions and been prepared with some answers. "The Bridge to Terabithia" resonated with me as a much kinder, gentler, and above all honest treatment of the bridge we cross when we move from childhood to adolescence, with it's loss of innocence and come face to face with the world in which we live.

Setting aside THE BOOK, I found the MOVIE to be one of the best I've seen this year in it's ability to tap into my feelings about my early years, both as a child and a parent, and I was absorbed from beginning to end by the wonderful, fanciful, magical special effects, as well as the development of the parents from being seen from the children's point of view to a sense of them and their difficulties I understand as an adult. OK, I loved this movie, and I will return with my wife to experience the joy and sadness and wonder of this enchanting film. I loved these characters and I loved the film, and I see many, many films. The innocence and lack of cynicism reminded me of a collaboration of Norman Rockwell and Steven Spielberg. If you have no young children, see this movie anyway. You will walk out feeling good and ready for coffee and conversation.

I read the book when I was in the 7th grade, which was a looooong time ago. I was so inspired by Leslie that I vowed I would never keep a television in my home if I had children. I was really excited that "Bridge to Terabithia" would be in theaters, but I must admit that the previews for the movie were misleading and had me afraid that the movie would not be like the book and would have too many special effects. Actually, the movie stays very close to the book and the special effects were minimal, which is good. Having too many special effects would defeat the message of the movie: use your imagination. "Bridge to Terabithia" was deep and it focused on friendship, relationships with family and peers, death, bereavement, and keeping an open mind. I cried towards the end and I'm sure I wasn't the only one. This movie was great and I'm really surprised by some of the negative reviews I see on here. Just because something is supposed to be a "kids movie" doesn't mean you take your 3-6 year old to see it. This movie touched on issues that young people experience and it doesn't make it a bad movie. Five stars for an awesome movie based on an awesome book!