Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The acting in this movie is really good.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

I avoided Bridge to Terabithia because I heard there was some tragedy in it and who needs tragedy in their children's fantasy movies. But for some reason I recently took a look, and I wish I'd stuck with my original course of action.There is much to like in this movie. AnnaSophia Robb is excellent as one of those impossibly wonderful people who, as in this film, appear as angels to help out sullen brooders like Jess (Josh Hutcherson). The fantasy sequences are excellent, particularly an extended sequence in the middle. The movie does a good job of portraying how children can create their own world and play off each other like an improv troupe.There are also things to not like. The movie several times descends into musical-montage territory to ill effect, and Hutcherson's glumness is wearying (although no inaccurate; I myself was a glum and probably unlikable child).But the big problem is that at a certain point the movie goes from a whimsical tale about the power of imagination to being a really upsetting bummer. And while I understand the genesis of the story (from wikipedia) and can see its value, I just don't want this experience. If there were exchange departments for experiences I would go back and get something different.The movie's attempt to end on an uplifting note simply fell flat for me. But if you don't mind bummer twists, go ahead and watch this.

Bridge to Terabithia is one of my personal favourite movies. In my opinion it's a children's story made for adults, since it might be too tragic and dark for a small child. Lot of the movie takes place at school, which is familiar to all of us. At home we see Jess' family, who, excluding the father, do stay in the background of the story. We don't ever really learn to know the older sisters and mother too well, which is my only complaint. Okay, they don't really bring anything to the actual story, but still they seem rushed. Even the father, Robert Patrick, comes out one dimensional, probably to enhance his strict attitude against Jess. He is always more demanding towards Jess, but May Belle, the younger sister, get's more wanted attention from him. Understandable because Jess is the only boy in the family.Jess and Leslie's friendship at first seem quite unlikely. Jess is an introverted boy and Leslie a new comer in school. But they quickly learn to share same visions, imagination and justice and soon become inseparable. It happens so fast, what is only possible in children's world. They don't yet have learned to be careful, because in adult world you possibly couldn't trust someone so wholeheartedly. Tragic is, that this friendship ends even quicker than it started, and it destroys the viewers heart. Watching Jess struggle his way out of disbelief and fight his all too sensible parents, and when he calls for Leslie in the woods just to wait for her to pop up from the background like she never went away, is heart wrenching. Soon Jess will learn how unfair life is, reality of it I mean. For a while he sinks in despair, grieves and loses belief in the magic world they created together. Then he finds May Belle's drawing and sees the potential in his little sister and gives her a chance. He takes May Belle with him, finally, since the little girl has wanted to join her brother's and Leslie's play from the beginning. May Belle witnesses the imaginary world together with her brother. World is saved. Terabithia again has a king, and a new princess.AnnaSophia Robb and Bailee Madison were brilliant in this movie. When Janice steals May Belle's twinkie and Leslie raises a campaign to "free the pee" during recess is fun to watch. I love children's stories and Bridge to Terabithia has inspired me a lot during the years. Its beautiful scenery and subtle use of CGI creates a perfect balance between fantasy and reality.

Well... what is the movies focus? Imagination, friendship, originality, emotion and loss... and Juicy Fruit chewing gum.Since that's the thematic focus, let us analyze this on it's own terms.Imagination: Everything in this film is generic. Generic fantasy treated with pathos, stolen from pretty much everything that's been done before. No original features or interactions. Just the big shining letters IMAAAAAGINAAAAATION, branded on every scene.Friendship: Everything in this movie is over-dramatized. The character's aren't very believable (and they are terribly acted) most of the time, so you don't really get to connect with them. The movie is very unfocused, which can be a good thing, but in this case it just means that the friendship aspect is kind of not fully realized. Which is a bummer, since this is a movie about two friends. I just didn't buy into the emotions.Originality: IMAAAAAAAAGINAAAAAAATION! No.Emotion: Hutcherson's performance is very flat and emotionless, with the exception of the last part of the movie. Robb's performance is artificial and over-enthusiastic. Everything just tries too hard to ENCHAAAAANT you with IMAAAAAGINAAAAATION. The emotion doesn't really work until...Loss: The theme of loss is treated quite well. That and...Juicy Fruit chewing gum.All in all, it's a terrible movie, but you can make worse, when it comes to kids movies.Very forgettable.

I liked this movie to begin with. It has a good pace and starts with a great story. Then out of nowhere the story takes a horrible unexpected UNNECESSARY turn that totally ruins the movie. It tries but fails to make up for it after. Just horrible horrible.It also fails to explore the fantasy world more than it actually does. It only just scrapes the surface where it could've gone so much further (down the rabbit hole).Most of the characters in the movie are good, but some are unnecessary and should've been left out completely. They only take up space where there should've been more fantasy world exploration.