Bridge To Terabithia (2006) (Blu-ray) (2007)

"A wonderfully heart-wrenching love story for tweens, teens, and even adults...  Alex Chun, Los Angeles Times
"A thoroughly pleasing family film with fine performances and honest, affecting real situations...  Angie Errigo, Empire
"The beloved children's book has not just survived but thrived in its adaptation to the screen.  Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
"Csupo needed two very gifted leads to do this beloved story justice, and found them in [Robb and Hutcherson].  Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News
"Consistently smart and delicate as a spider web...the kind of children's movie rarely seen nowadays.  Jeannette Catsoulis, The New York Times

Editor's Note Animation master Gabor Csupo directs his first live-action film in this adaptation of the novel The Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson, whose son David co-wrote the screenplay and serves as a producer. Jess (Josh Hutcherson) is misunderstood. Despite Jess' talents as an artist, the school bullies pick on him, his father (Robert Patrick) belittles his dreams, and his four sisters invade his space in the family's cramped house. Jess' bleak world changes when Leslie (Annasophia Robb) moves into the house next door. Bright, creative and outspoken, Leslie also finds herself an outsider in their school. Soon the two are thick as thieves, spending their after school hours exploring the woods beyond their backyards and on the others side of a creek, which Leslie deems the kingdom of Terabithia. Here, they create their own magical world, complete with a Dark Master and his minions, dragonfly soldiers, giant trolls and a treehouse fortress. In Terabithia, the two friends let their imaginations run wild and control their destiny, far away from school bullies and the pressures of adolescence. Hutcherson and Robb are well cast as Jess and Leslie in this coming-of-age tale. Hutcherson handles both the melancholy intensity and unbridled joy of his character beautifully, and Robb's smile and charisma are infectious. Zooey Deschanel also stars as Miss Edmunds, the music teacher who befriends Jess. Parents should read the book or learn more about the story before taking young children to see this film, as the story includes not only some scary creatures, but also the death of a young person. Terabithia and its creatures are created by WETA Digital LTD, the same company that did the effects for the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy and KING KONG.

	AnnaSophia Robb
	Josh Hutcherson
	Robert Patrick
	Zooey Deschanel
	Aaron Zigman - Original Music By
	David Paterson - Screenplay
	Gabor Csupo - Director
	Jeff Stockwell - Screenplay
	John Gilbert - Editor
	Katherine Paterson - Based On Novel By
	Kevin Halloran, et. al. - Producer
	Michael Chapman - Cinematographer
	Michael Pangrazio - Art Director
	Robert Gillies - Production Designer

New York Times
"[A] thoughtful and extremely affecting story of a transformative friendship between two unusually gifted children." 02/16/2007 p.E12

USA Today
"[W]ith a positive message about seeing the troubled person behind the bully and the importance of keeping an open mind....A sweet family-friendly film..." 02/16/2007 p.3E

Box Office
"[With] the powerful and bittersweet spirit that has, for decades, continued to make the story a favorite." 04/01/2007 p.127

Sight and Sound
"An engaging film with its big heart in the right place....What a pleasure for a children's film to offer nothing but an honest depiction of emotions..." 05/01/2007 p.54

Ultimate DVD
4 stars out of 5 -- "It's the performances that really bring the film alive. AnnaSophia Robb is a particular find -- a future star if ever there was one..." 06/01/2007 p.105

Total Film
4 stars out of 5 -- "[T]his consummate charmer couldn't be more wholesome..." 11/01/2007 p.131

Empire
3 stars out of 5 -- "There are fine performances -- particularly Robb's -- and touching moments, notably in an emotional final reel..." 11/01/2007 p.186

ReelViews 9 of 10
Bridge to Terabithia is an example of a movie that does not deliver what the marketing campaign promises. Instead, it delivers something richer and more meaningful. Disney, in its infinite wisdom, is trying to make the film look like a watered down Harry Potter or Chronicles of Narnia...This is a movie about imagination and friendship, not about swords and sorcery...Despite what Disney is promising, Bridge to Terabithia is not filled with special effects. When employed, the CGI works, but it's not used often...The movie is magical but not in the same sense that The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is. Bridge to Terabithia touches the heart without pulling too hard at the strings, and it reminds us that creativity should be encouraged in children, if only to give them a temporary refuge into which they can retreat when the colors of reality turn gray. This is easily the best family feature of the early year. - James Berardinelli

Variety 8 of 10
The imaginary world dreamed up by two youngsters in Katherine Paterson's coming-of-age classic has been realized imperfectly, but with intelligence and sensitivity nonetheless, in "Bridge to Terabithia." Some literal-minded attempts at magical realism are redeemed by the film's emotional texture, winning chemistry between the tyke leads and scrupulous adherence to a childlike point of view...Viewers familiar with the novel will anticipate the story's shift into darker territory, and they'll be relieved to know that it's handled as delicately as possible, and all the more moving because of it...The dark earth tones of Michael Chapman's cinematography invest the forest sequences with an enticing sense of mystery and danger, counterbalanced by the more benign wonderment of Aaron Zigman's score. Costume designer Barbara Darragh deserves mention for her smart decision to clothe and accessorize Robb like a tyro hippie. - Justin Chang