Bridge to Terabithia - Reviewed By Nick Goundry

Submitted by capitalmag on July 27, 2007 - 9:46am.

Marketed by production-company Walden Media as a reduced-scale Chronicles of Narnia, Bridge to Terabithia, based on the novels by Katherine Paterson, is certainly smaller, but the ambition is far more adult. Alienated farm-boy Jess (sensitively played by Josh Hutcherson) is an artist at heart but is bullied at school and under-appreciated by his large family, as his parents struggle to pay the bills. When the expressive and free-spirited Lesley (AnnaSophia Robb) enters his life, the two become friends and create their own fantasy world, dubbed Terabithia.

Despite the broad similarities to Narnia, this is family drama with a firm footing in the real world. For Jess and Lesley, Terabithia becomes a refuge from the school-bullies and the berating adults, while the world itself is realised with impressive visual-effects that never distract from the story. While ití¢â‚¬â„¢s undeniable that kids are the target-audience here, thereí¢â‚¬â„¢s much to impress the adults as well, especially as the story takes an unexpected tragic twist without drowning in sentimentality. Ití¢â‚¬â„¢s a simple story well-told, and bolstered by impressive performances from two talented child-actors. Watch the trailer:
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