Movie Review

[logisticslad]

This weekend I saw Bridge to Terebithia http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398808/ and found it to be very moving and enjoyable. Had I read this book as a kid, it would have been one of my favorites. It's the story of a young boy (played by one of the kids from Zathura) and a young girl (played by Violet from the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) who are both artistic (he's an aspiring artist and she's an aspiring writer) and outcasts at school. Together they create a magical world to play in as a way to deal with their problems. It had more depth than I expected due to a tragic event that occurs in the story, and it resolved very satisfyingly. I'd certainly recommend it (although I think that kids under 9 might find it challenging). I loved the sense of wonder it faithfully conveyed throughout the movie.

Comments

[jenn-girl.livejournal.com]

It was always one of my favorite books, and I look forward to getting to see the movie.

[logisticslad.livejournal.com]

I haven't read the book, but I thought that it worked as a movie on its own terms. I think you will enjoy it!

[circesbed.livejournal.com]

I loved this book as a kid. It was read to us in the gifted kids program I was in, and then they showed us the "After-School Special" movie version. Both the book and the movie made me cry, which was kind of embarrassing for a fourth grader, especially when no one else seemed to be so emotional about the story.

When I first heard this movie was in the works (about a year or so ago), I was pretty psyched about it. But the previews that I've seen for the movie seem so different from how I remember both the book and the movie that I'm not that excited about seeing it. I readily admit that the memories I have of the book and or movie may not be completely accurate, but I remember it as one of the first stories (Charlotte's Web being the very first) that really hit me emotionally.

Since I have precious few memories of my childhood years, I'm inclined to leave this one intact.

I'm eager to hear more about whether people like this movie and their thoughts of the faithfulness of the movie to the book - without, of course, any spoilers. And I sometimes wonder if anyone else remembers the ABC After-School Special version of this story.

But I'm really glad that you enjoyed it!

[tennis-bear.livejournal.com]

By the by, the screenplay was adapted by the son of the author with her enthusiastic blessing. He shopped the screenplay around for almost 20 years before he could get it produced without "standard Hollywood" changes (ie, butchering).

I encourage you to take a listen to the interview link I posted below.

[logisticslad.livejournal.com]

Since I haven't read the book, I can't speak to how well they adapted it as a movie. Having seen some dreadfull adaptations of my own childhood favorites (e.g., Wizard of Earthsea, Wrinkle in Time), I certainly understand about preserving the memory.

[tennis-bear.livejournal.com]

I just podcasted this excellent Bridge to Terabithia author/screenwirter interview, and it made me want to see the movie. I too believe this would have been a fave of mine had I ended up reading it as a youth.

Oh well, I'll just have to settle for a Wrinkle In Time... :-)

[circesbed.livejournal.com]

I confessed to cappyhead the other day that I didn't completely understand _A Wrinkle in Time_ when I read it as a kid. Whether I'm stupid or just read it too young is up for debate. ;)

Thanks for the link. I'll definitely check it out when my midterm is a thing of the past.

[logisticslad.livejournal.com]

Then by all means avoid the horrible TV movie adaptation that they made of it a few years ago. It did the basic story without all the things that made it so memorable.