Critic Reviews
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J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
It's the sort of movie I admire more in retrospect than I did while watching it.
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Derek Adams, Time Out
An affecting inquest into the nature of courage, mortality, grief and the healing power of faith.
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Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
It's rendered in a very touching and authentic and beautiful way.
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Joshua Land, Time Out New York
As humane a Hollywood film as we're likely to see all year.
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Claudia Puig, USA Today
The story is a pleasant enough diversion with a positive message about seeing the troubled person behind the bully and the importance of keeping an open mind.
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Susan Walker, Toronto Star
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.
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Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
Pretty much a religious sermon attempting to jab at impressionable viewers about god, heaven, and spirituality.
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Alicia Potter, Boston Phoenix
The screenplay retains the gritty emotion of its source but gets ponderous in the iconic third act.
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Steven D. Greydanus, Decent Films Guide
The film, though, takes us to a world in which imagination comes to life, with lavish CGI special effects giving the magic of Terabithia a palpable presence it never had in the book, even in Jess and Leslie's imaginations.
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Heather Huntington, ReelzChannel.com
The Bridge to Terabithia is chockablock with some terrible child acting--especially on the part of the supporting cast.
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Steve Biodrowski, ESplatter
The fantasy scenes ... do not resonate with the mythic power of those in Pan's Labyrinth, but this is as moving a coming of age story as one could want.
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Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
sort of awful, but it goes places most conventional children's entertainments fail to go
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Matthew Sorrento, Film Threat
Radiates with youthful imagination and the joys of using it to abandon the everyday.
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Enrique Buchichio, Uruguay Total
Una película entretenida y emotiva sobre la idea de la pérdida, el dolor, la culpa, y sobre todo de la imaginación como válvula de escape. No es el típico pasatiempo inocente que promete; es mucho más interesante que eso.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Pleasing magical coming-of-age kidpic.
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Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media
Beautiful lesson in friendship for young and old.
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Christopher Smith, Bangor Daily News (Maine)
A champion of imagination.
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Kam Williams, Mount Desert Islander
Though only rated PG, the mature subject matter of this optimistic, sensitive saga about mourning and renewal might prove to be too upsetting for younger tykes accustomed to happily-ever-after fare.
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James Plath, Movie Metropolis
A worthy adaptation of Katherine Paterson's beloved children's book, made special by the performances of the two young stars.
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Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views
It's a rare film that gives children an honest voice that doesn't talk down to them. Yet at the same time, there's also a solid film inside for adults to enjoy as well.
Read all 20 critic reviews
Featured Audience Ratings
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Robb and Hutcherson shine in this movie, It reaches out, grabs your heart strings and doesnt stop pulling till the very end. Me and my girls all cried.
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There is so much potential in this children story that is more than frustrating to see it all go to waste in this highly uneven film. Bridge to Terabithia is admirably smaller in it's scale as a film and is more character driven film. It does not even try to be a film about… More
There is so much potential in this children story that is more than frustrating to see it all go to waste in this highly uneven film. Bridge to Terabithia is admirably smaller in it's scale as a film and is more character driven film. It does not even try to be a film about effects or any huge fantasy set-pieces. It is more story about friendship, imagination and even more serious themes like loss and being bullied.
Intentions are obviously good here, but the problem here is that the many of the themes and elements in here feel underdeveloped. Especially the entries into fantasy world feel just brief glimpses of what might have actually developed into much bigger scenario. But it is not only these momets that suffer. There are many characters that feel kinda unnecessary, like the music teacher played by Zooey Deschanel, whose role in here just feels honestly a bit pointless.
It is also frustrating that the film suffers from it's short running time way too much. Just when the film should begin and we are getting to know these characters, the story comes to it's grim ending that feels a bit out of place. There are couple of magical moments here and young talent Annasophia Robb is very good as a Leslie. Too bad that we never actually get to know what the mystical kingdom of Terabithia is actually like. It might not be the film's point but still it is something that this film would need to be something richer and interesting. It does not also help that director Gabor Csupo's direction feels something out of average TV-film and some of the scenes are visually quite frankly more than corny.
Bridge to Terabithia is a wasted opportunity and a weak entry into world of imagination and fantasy. Even the good intentions of it cannot save the material from sinking.
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Bridge to Terabithia is one of the worst films that I've seen. I felt that this film was terrible because everything about the film was overdone. The acting and story seemed way too over the top for my taste. I felt that the story was pretty cheesy and overall pretty dumb. The… More
Bridge to Terabithia is one of the worst films that I've seen. I felt that this film was terrible because everything about the film was overdone. The acting and story seemed way too over the top for my taste. I felt that the story was pretty cheesy and overall pretty dumb. The acting was so bad and the film was pretty boring. This film lacks anything engaging and really is a waste of time. Until I saw Passchendaele, this was the worst film I had seen. Bridge to Terabithia is a wasted opportunity and the film fails to entertain. At least, it failed to entertain me. The film was very laughable. This is a film that is plainly a waste of time. I felt that the filmmakers missed the mark with this one, and it really didn't deliver anything entertaining or interesting for that matter. There's absolutely nothing good about this. The story was terrible, and the actors over did it. Bridge to Terabithia is a family film that really doesn't work, and is just pointless to watch. I really didn't enjoy this film, and I think it should've never been made in the first place. This film joins select unfortunate family films that really don't do anything to appeal to anyone. I'm trying to understand why this film is so "good" because it's not. The film is a dud, and I found it to be very boring and dull.
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This was okay, though it wasn't nearly as good as the book. I expected it to be slightly darker, just like the mood the book had taken, but not to a PG-13 level, as it is a family movie for certain. There was one big similarity to the book, though: I made a fool of myself and… More
This was okay, though it wasn't nearly as good as the book. I expected it to be slightly darker, just like the mood the book had taken, but not to a PG-13 level, as it is a family movie for certain. There was one big similarity to the book, though: I made a fool of myself and cried in the end.
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I must say I did not see the second half of the film coming at all, it blew my emotional feelings in. It is not a film for children if you ask me. It is a charming, loving, and magical tale about a boy and girl who become friends and each is a little different, and they find a… More
I must say I did not see the second half of the film coming at all, it blew my emotional feelings in. It is not a film for children if you ask me. It is a charming, loving, and magical tale about a boy and girl who become friends and each is a little different, and they find a forest and make it there magical world, but then tragedy occurs. The young actors are amazing, they truly capture the drama and happiness. Don't show them this movie expecting the next Narnia, there is something much more dramatic in this movie, but I didn't like how Disney was advertising this as a sweet fantasy, when its not really. It was a great drama but dont take your kids to this.
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Not as much fun as it could have been but packs a bit of a punch with the ending. Full review later.
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Great acting with great plot and drama
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Didn't realize that I read the book in 5th grade until the emotional climax of the movie. It was a good adaptation but this movie, like the book, is ridiculously sad in the face. Subtract .5 stars because of the wallowing sadness, really deep story for the children but the… More
Didn't realize that I read the book in 5th grade until the emotional climax of the movie. It was a good adaptation but this movie, like the book, is ridiculously sad in the face. Subtract .5 stars because of the wallowing sadness, really deep story for the children but the sadness is wallowing by the end.
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I loved this movie. It was beautiful.
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i hadnt read the book so i didnt know what the ending was and i was actually suprised that it didnt have your normal disney kid movie ending and i mean that in a good way. the movie is good but it moves slow in parts. i dont regret seeing it. B
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"So I realize that if it's hard for me, how much harder it must be for you."
There are very few movies that inspire a genuine emotional response from me. Something beyond the superficial momentary humor, happiness, and sadness that is the basis of so many films. Movies… More
"So I realize that if it's hard for me, how much harder it must be for you."
There are very few movies that inspire a genuine emotional response from me. Something beyond the superficial momentary humor, happiness, and sadness that is the basis of so many films. Movies like The Wrestler, Million Dollar Baby, and Forrest Gump all take the viewer beyond the passive experience of watching, to the active experience of feeling exactly what the characters are feeling. Bridge to Terabithia is most definitely another one of those movies. I kid you not when I tell you that the last part of the movie left me stunned in a way that took me quite a while to get over.
It's also one of the best films about what being a kid is actually like. Dealing with issues that adults can't even handle well, like loss and loneliness and problems at home. And it handles those issues in an adult way that pushes Bridge to Terabithia far beyond the label of "kid's movie". Sure, it's about friendship and imagination and other topics that are the cornerstones of movies for kids, but those subjects are only the tip of the iceberg.
There isn't much fault to find with it, beyond the heavy emotional toll it may take on those who are too young or unprepared to deal with the subject matter. There are a few unnecessary and non-mainstream ideas about Christianity that the movie would have been better served by leaving out, but I can't find fault with anything else. The cast was great, the special effects were imaginative and well done, and all the elements combined together in manner that just felt "right". This is a sweet, genuine, and heartbreaking story that should be seen by anyone and everyone who has the emotional maturity to handle it.
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i really didnt enjoy this movie!!
its not really what i expected and i guess thats why i didnt particularly enjoy this movie!!
it just bored me and didnt havve as mush fantasy that i was expecting and was hoping for i just found the story really stupid and pointless !!
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This film's mistake is getting promoted as Fantasy film the likes of Harry Potter or something, which it is certainly not. There are fantastic elements, but they are few and all in the children's imagination. One should be aware of that before expecting something entirely… More
This film's mistake is getting promoted as Fantasy film the likes of Harry Potter or something, which it is certainly not. There are fantastic elements, but they are few and all in the children's imagination. One should be aware of that before expecting something entirely different from this movie. It's more a fantastic variety of "My girl", a coming of age story about dealing with loss and the power of your imagination. The kids' and adult acting is great and it's very nicely filmed, just all around really likable. But I couldn't help it, the film made me incredibly sad and the ending could not make up for that. I don't often say this, but parents really should watch this with their kids, because they may feel the same way I did.
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I couldn't believe that the girl really died at the end. That was something unexpected. But anyway, this was nice. Especially good for kids.
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Majorly Imaginative! This movie delivers for people of all ages! Please make an unnecessary sequel! I'll be first in line! It's hard to make me cry, but I had tears!
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I guess I'm 20 years too old for this film to really appreciate it but that said, I did like elements of it. I thought the ending was bold and unexpected and the acting by the kids was good. I thought 'Terabithia' itself was a little crap but it?s nice that they kept it… More
I guess I'm 20 years too old for this film to really appreciate it but that said, I did like elements of it. I thought the ending was bold and unexpected and the acting by the kids was good. I thought 'Terabithia' itself was a little crap but it?s nice that they kept it imaginary. The giant being the bully was awful though but made me laugh, albeit. for the wrong reasons. I'll let my kids watch it without any worries but I'd rather they watched the Muppets or something a little less serious.
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Interesting one this....I thought it was gonna be a kind of Narnia style film but it wasn't, its mainly based in reality and has two kids using their imagination to escape their boring bullied lives. Not totally original and not totally that interesting either. Its very well… More
Interesting one this....I thought it was gonna be a kind of Narnia style film but it wasn't, its mainly based in reality and has two kids using their imagination to escape their boring bullied lives. Not totally original and not totally that interesting either. Its very well acted by the two kids and also has very good supporting actors including T2's Robert Patrick.
Buts thats about it, really great acting but alittle dull. You get bits of the fantasy world of Terabithia but thats it, you'll be yearning for more, Terabithia looks great with orges, dark warriors, trolls, giants and all sorts of weird creatures, but you never really see them and they never really do anything, you just get the reality and problems of growing up in the sticks as kids. Thats fine but from the poster and what I read I was expecting more fantasy...shame.
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finer film celebration of the power of imagination is hard to think of. No doubt investors had prayed for franchise-sized box office returns from <i>Terabithia</i>. But the heavy promotion of its "magical kingdom" CG elements seemed to backfire - boring those who… More
finer film celebration of the power of imagination is hard to think of. No doubt investors had prayed for franchise-sized box office returns from <i>Terabithia</i>. But the heavy promotion of its "magical kingdom" CG elements seemed to backfire - boring those who wanted a family movie without hairy-hoofed creatures; and confusing others who expected <i>Narnia 2.</i> Considering <i>Bridge</i> was built by the Christian-fuelled Walden Media production group, the <i>Narnia</i> comparison is strong.
Indeed, I'm talking about another tale of youngsters who find themeselfs in an unreal world and have to save it <i>en route</i> to saving themselves.
What you notice quickly aobut warm, wise <i>Terabithia,</i> though, is that it keeps its CG action to a minimum. And it's more interested in real world matters than fantasy.
When loner Jess and spritely oddbod Leslie (Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb, both exceptional beyond their years) invent Terabithia as a sanctuary from their everyday issues - school bullies, working-class home life, parents - much of what I see is the duo acting out (not in) their invented land.
For more satisfying than the first <i>Narnia</i> adaptation, <i>Terabithia</i> salutes make-believe while reminding that playtime will end.
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Wholesome children's film which celebrates the power of the imagination and surprisingly tackles death in an unpatronizing way. Clearly this has a lot to thank its book source for but I'm just thrilled Hollywood would make a film like this - recommend it to a child today !
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I'm a big fan of fantasy/adventure films. This has been promoted as such a film but I think of it more as a drama. It's more about the power of childrens imagination and well, childhood altogether.
A positive thing is that the main focus on the film isn't the wonder… More
I'm a big fan of fantasy/adventure films. This has been promoted as such a film but I think of it more as a drama. It's more about the power of childrens imagination and well, childhood altogether.
A positive thing is that the main focus on the film isn't the wonder of SFX but the really nice story and the younger actors. They really do a nice job.
The story has a tragic side to it so I wouldn't really recommend this one to the youngest ones. A good and entertaining flick with heart for the preteens and older ones.
Read all 20 featured audience ratings
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