Bridge to Terabithia Opens to Rave Reviews Posted: Feb 22, 2007

The movie, about how two kids use their imagination to deal with reality, is being hailed as a solid family adventure despite its sad ending.

Most critic complaints don’t focus on the movie, but rather the marketing for Bridge to Terabithia, which makes the movie look like a fantasy adventure (i.e. Narnia). It’s not and critics are letting Walden Media and Walt Disney Pictures know that the movie is good enough that they don’t need to use deception to bring in the audience.

Here is a sampling of what critics are saying about the movie:

“…Terabithia, which is based on a popular children's book, has buckets of gentle sincerity. Since there aren't any dumb jokes or hip visuals, it's easy to get caught up in the simple messages: Be good to your sister, don't be a bully, use your imagination in a pinch…”
~ Kyle Smith, New York Post

“A big thumbs up for me… it’s rendered in a very touching and authentic and beautiful way.”
~ Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

“…Parents should be happy to have a sweet family-friendly film in theaters, in contrast to inappropriate crass-fests like Norbit or manic time-wasters like Night at the Museum. But a word of caution for those unfamiliar with the novel: The plot takes a sad turn that could be disturbing to some children.”
~ Claudio Puig, USA Today

“…Elaborately mounted, expensively produced and filmed with style and empathy, it's an adaptation of Paterson's Newbery Medal-winning book that manages to expand the original vision, yet preserve much of its intense emotion...”
~ Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

“As magical kingdoms go, Terabithia is a bit scrawny. But when it comes to well-acted children's stories filled with good lessons and realistic touchstones, "Bridge to Terabithia" kicks Narnia's over-produced fairytale butt all the way to, well, Narnia…”
~ Tom Long, Detroit News

“From the special effects-laden trailers, "Bridge to Terabithia" looks for all the world like the second coming of "The Chronicles of Narnia." It's not — and that's a very good thing. Firmly grounded in the real world and based on Katherine Paterson's 1977 Newbery Award-winning novel, "Bridge to Terabithia" is a wonderfully heart-wrenching love story for tweens, teens, and even adults who fondly remember when a friendship could be ignited by a gesture as simple as offering a stick of Juicy Fruit...”
~ Alex Chun, Los Angeles Times

Bridge to Terabithia is rated PG “for thematic elements including bullying, some peril and mild language.”