Bridge to Terabithia

We watched a movie this weekend that I had heard good things about, but was hesitant to see because it looked a little silly. The Bridge to Terabithia, however, was as good as many of the reviewers claimed. It is the story of Jess, a middle-schooler who has no friends and a bad family life. He likes to draw and is quite a bit of a loner. He soon meets a quirky, artistic type girl, Leslie, who has an over-active imagination. So far it sounds kinda cliche, huh?

The two kids slowly become friends and soon find refuge from their lonely lives in the woods near their homes, where they create the mythical world of Terabithia, where they are the rulers and can do anything they want. This world is a refuge for them and a place where they can be themselves and finally be comfortable.

They have a few adventures in the woods with some CGI creatures that spring from their imaginations and it is obvious that these kids need an outlet for their lives. Their imaginations run wild, but seem like a lot of fun. Throught the story the kids face bullies at school and deal with them in some unique ways. They even learn that one of them isn't as powerful as she seems.

This movie isn't some Narnia knockoff or anything like that. It is very unique and is about these kids lives. Unfortunately it seemed to be advertised as a kids fantasy movie, which doesn't do this work justice. It reminded me of a nineties film like Radio Flyer or The War. It is a family film with heart and a message. There is a major twist near the end of the film with changes everything and is pretty hard to watch. It brings the kids back to reality and it really can be a lesson to kids.

My wife and I loved this movie. It was one of the best that we have seen in a long time. It was great to see a movie about life, love, imagination, and loss. It was not overbearing or preachy, it was just a great story with some great characters. If you want to see a really great family film, check this out.