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List Price: $29.99 | | Label: Walt Disney Video
Salesrank: 3223
Released: June 19, 2007 |
| Our Price: $5.60 |
| Used Price: $1.99 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
From Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media comes BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA the exhilarating and heartwarming fantasy-adventure about the power of imagination and the magic of friendship. Tired of being bullied at school and neglected at home Jess Aarons and Leslie Burke escape into the woods where Leslie opens Jess's mind to the amazing kingdom of Terabithia. It's a secret land where they reign supreme among the giants ogres and other fantastical creatures they create. As their imaginations soar and their friendship deepens they discover how to rule their own kingdom fight the forces of darkness and change their lives forever. Based on the Newbery Medal-winning book BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA will take you on a journey you'll never forget.System Requirements:Running Time: 96 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: PG UPC: 786936715781 Manufacturer No: 05237200
Description of Bridge to Terabithia (Widescreen Edition):
Based on Katherine Paterson's young-adult novel and filmed in picturesque New Zealand, Bridge to Terabithia has lessons to impart about empathy and self-expression, but the tone is never heavy-handed. Jesse (sleepy-eyed Josh Hutcherson, Zathura), a fifth-grade loner, lives in the country with his parents and four sisters, including pesky May Belle (Bailee Madison), who adores him. His strict father (Robert Patrick, The Terminator 2) works in a hardware store. Money is tight and classmates make fun of his hand-me-downs, so Jesse finds refuge in running and drawing. Everything changes when two writers and their daughter Leslie (wide-eyed AnnaSophia Robb, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) move in next door. Leslie is faster than all the boys, which initially puts Jesse off, but the two soon bond over their love of make-believe. In the forest, they find a creek that can only be crossed by rope. Leslie names the land on the other side Terabithia, where they imagine themselves rulers of the kingdom. Jesse and Leslie also connect with their unconventional music teacher, Ms. Edmonds (Zooey Deschanel, Elf), who encourages their creativity. Despite the tension at home, Jesse's personal life is finally coming together when the unthinkable happens. Will he revert to his anti-social ways or will he grow from the experience? Though aimed at all ages, pre-school students may find Terebithia's creatures frightening. For grade-school kids and up, however, there's much to savor in this smartly written, sensitively acted film. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Bridge to Terabithia (Widescreen Edition) Reviews:
Friendship and Hardship 
2008-10-11 - Based upon the award-winning book by Katherine Paterson, Bridge to Terabithia is a touching film about the bond between two children, both of them outcasts, who learn the importance of friendship and the power of imagination. The screenplay was written by Jeff Stockwell and co-written by David Paterson, the author's son, so the film remains quite faithful to the spirit of the book. The director, Gabor Csupo, handles the emotionally charged story with skill and sensitivity, which only heightens the impact of the events therein.
Jess Aarons has two passions in life: drawing and running. He draws so that he can escape into a world of his own, so that he can escape the demands of his stern father and constant harassment from his sisters, and the bullying he endures at school. He runs because he wants to be the fastest boy at his school, which in his eyes is the only way to win the respect of his peers and his father. But his dream of being the fastest runner is dashed to pieces when his new next-door neighbor, Leslie Burke, beats him in the race on the first day of school. At first, Jess holds a grudge against Leslie. That changes when he discovers her free-spirited nature, which earns her the reputation of being weird. Together, Jess and Leslie create an imaginary world where they can be themselves without fear of social ostracization. They become the closest of friends and they look out for one another. Still, their friendship differences sometimes cause conflict. Jess' family is large and is struggling financially, while Leslie's family comprises only of her parents and her and they are wealthy, and Jess' family goes to church, but Leslie's doesn't. In spite of these differences their mutual respect and admiration blossoms into innocent, unconditional love. However this time of happiness is intruded upon by a horrible accident, which leaves Jess angry and questioning his faith. He is ultimately strengthened by his friendship with Leslie, and he begins to reach out to other people, even those that he never would have before.
It's unfortunate, but when Walt Disney Studios and Walden media advertised this film, they presented it as being a fantasy/adventure film. This is hardly the case. Bridge to Terabithia is a family film about the problems of life and the inevitable and painful lessons we have to learn in order to grow. It's a film about childhood innocence and the loss of that innocence, as we mature into adulthood. But most importantly, the film is about letting your imagination carry you away from your troubles just long enough for you to find the solutions, and about letting your love free you from your fears. Bridge to Terabithia is a film that will move its viewers, both the young and the young at heart.
The story is propelled by the talented cast, especially Josh Hutcherson as Jess, AnnaSophia Robb as Leslie, Robert Patrick as Josh's father, Jack and Zooey Deschanel as Josh's teacher, Ms. Edmunds (whose beautifully emotive blue eyes illuminate the screen in every scene she's in).
The DVD includes these bonus features: Digital Imagination featurette, Behind the Scenes featurette, Keep Your Mind Wide Open music video by AnnaSophia Robb, two audio commentaries with cast and crew, and previews.
Also recommended:
My Girl
The Indian in the Cupboard
Fly Away Home
The Mighty
Pay it Forward
Holes
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Charlotte's Web
Bridge to Terabithia - Blu-ray Info
2008-09-18 - Version: U.S.A / Region-A
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
MPEG-4 AVC BD-50
Running time: 1:35:31
Movie size: 24,41 GB
Disc size: 30,24 GB
Average video bit rate: 22.63 Mbps
LPCM 5.1 6912Kbps 48 Khz/24-bit English
DD AC3 5.1 640Kbps English / French / Spanish
Subtitles: English SDH / French / Spanish
#Behind the Book: The Themes of Bridge to Terabithia
#Digital Imagination: Bringing Terabithia to Life
#Music Video: AnnaSophia Robb
#Commentary by Director Gaber Csupo, Writer Jeff Stockwell and Producer Hal Lieberman
#Commentary with actors Josh Hucherson & AnnaSophia Rubb, who are joined by Producer Lauren Levine
Pointlessly depressing 
2008-09-17 - This film could have been almost acceptable as a tragedy, if there was a point to all the suffering. There wasn't. It could have been a kid's adventure move if the characters had been written to see anything remotely amazing or grow in any more meaningful way. Not so. It could have been a morality play if characters' intentional actions were linked to consequences. They weren't.
As it is, the film is a vile protracted trudge through pointless suffering, punctuated by fleeting and insipid moments of sad fantasy by doomed characters. No good deed goes unpunished; all opportunities for growth are resolved in dime novel or mean-spirited fashions.
If you love suffering, guilt, shame, futility, and incompetence set in an uncaring and malevolent universe, this is the film for you.
I'm still retching.
(As a postscript, the two young actors were excellent in this otherwise waste of an effort).
excellent surprise 
2008-09-01 - I was watching tv with my niece one night and Bridge to Terabithia came on a movie channel. From the advertisements I recalled it looked something like the Spiderwick Chronicles, something else I hadn't seen but wasn't interested in at all. I decided to put on Terabithia for my niece, and long after she went to bed I was hooked on the movie. I was so hooked in fact, that when a tragic event occurs towards the end of the film I was still fighting back tears long after. The beauties of love and loss are so well played here, especially considering the main characters' age. If you're looking for another tired fantasy film aimed at kids, look elsewhere. This movie is apparently based on a work of young adult fiction that's very popular/challenged by censors (thank you wikipedia), and I won't go into detail about the storyline, but know that this movie affected me in a way few have. For that I love it.
Terrfic Family Movie
2008-08-16 - This is a great movie about two kids who don't fit in & start out disliking each other but become very good friends, until tragedy strikes one of them
