Bridge to Terabithia

The whole picture begins shamefully with a premature climax. With those fantastic opening credits. However, after them a movie follows that finally deserves to be described as a fantasy, because it manages to shatter any fantasy you may have. My joy knew no bounds. But it was killed by the same thing that kills all similar movies. CGI scenes for no reason at all and the movie’s greatest boon that I mentioned above. Where before your fantasy was working full on, then the creators use a computer instead. And the whole atmosphere is spoiled. Unfortunately, afterward it’s impossible to return to what once was. There are moments when it almost looks like things will return, but it never makes the return fully. Plus, despite the excellent orchestral music, many scenes have pop songs as background music with hellish texts (a perfect example is when they are painting the room - the music ruins the whole scene). I wouldn’t like to give you the impression that Terabithia is a bad movie. It isn’t. In fact, of the current glut of kids’ movies from across the ocean, this is the clear king. But it’s very clear just how much better it could be. I could kick the filmmakers in the butt for wasting this amazing potential. They might learn from it for next time. (2008-06-28)

I am probably not going to be the first or the last to have expected this movie to be just another commercial fantasy movie like The Chronicles of Narnia or Peter Pan. The trailer even looked like it was going to be just that. However, this really was not any kind of a rip-off – Bridge to Terabithia is an original movie that does not copy anything else and does not try to be what it really is not. The cast is excellent, especially AnnaSophia Robb, who seems to be a very talented actress. Josh Hutcherson is also good at evoking emotions (especially at the end) and Robert Patrick makes a great daddy-terminator. A very decent movie for kids over twelve, however, I do not know if younger kids could handle the terribly sad emotional ending. (2008-07-21)

The theme is essential and the basic idea that friendship and human imagination can overcome many problems and beautify the surrounding world is undoubtedly truthful and deeply human. However, I have a problem with the execution, which seems template-like, emotionally calculated (especially the ending), and directorially conventional. I was also not satisfied with the cast, especially the children - not that the children acted outrightly badly, but their performers lacked charisma. Last but not least, I also disliked the level of special effects, although that is something I usually do not pay attention to. Overall impression: 50%. (2009-01-31)

I have a huge weakness for films that celebrate the human imagination, a capacity I never want to lose. And Bridge to Terabithia is an ode to the imagination. It truthfully shows how powerful it can be, and why one should never stop dreaming, and demonstrates this through a sympathetic, funny and moving story. However, I don't give the film full stars for two reasons: The first is the digital effects, which, although decent (Weta is Weta), are completely unnecessary. Not only is their use not very logical (two people imagine the same non-existent things in exactly the same way?), but they also "rob" the viewer of his imagination, which he doesn't have to engage because of all the digi-creatures being served up. The second reason is the ending, a really beautiful climax to the story, but one in which I was missing an important thing - for the two of them to meet again, or at least see each other from afar. It would be possible in Terabithia. (2012-04-09)

The fewer the effects and fantastic quests, the more soul and magic. The intro may give the impression of a fantasy ignitor for extinct emos, but the excellent soundtrack and very good child actors give the film the joyful magic of free fantasizing. A unique mix of children's coloring books, Peter Pan and a love story for teenagers takes on a new dimension after a twist, which surprisingly revealed to me how much I was able to empathize with the film's cuteness. Very pleasant and peacefully acquired emotions, Gábor Csupó can do almost exactly what Marc Forster did with his Finding Neverland… and like him, he does not have excessive visuality, but the work with the characters is excellent, and I admit that I shed a tear. A film for everyone who likes to return to childhood and sometimes lives in dreams. (2008-05-13)