Bridge to Terabithia

Reviewed by:
Pete Hammond

Although this family flick is being sold as the second coming of The Chronicles of Narnia or The Lord of the Rings, be warned that advertising can sometimes be deceptive. As any kid who has read the award-winning, best-selling Bridge to Terabithia knows, it's not so much a story of trolls and other creatures roaming a "magical kingdom"; it's really a downbeat tale of premature death and the effect it has on those left behind. Basically the story centers around two contemporary kids who form an unlikely friendship and create a bond through an imaginary place called Terabithia, an invented world made to look all too real by the demands of motion pictures. As a book, the kids' fantasy creation lent itself to its young readers' imaginations. But in the movie, the authenticity of this place and state-of-the-art CGI work put it right in the viewer's face. A blatant and awkward Christian message also keeps creeping into this film, making it feel sometimes like a Sunday school class. Despite a cast of no stars and the fact that it was unimpressively shot (other than the special effects), Bridge to Terabithia should still connect with its intended young audience. And the film does deserve points for attempting to breathe on a higher level than most films aimed at teens and tweens today. Unfortunately, everyone else will probably see it as a Bridge to Boredom.

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