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Bridge to Terabithia 8 out of 10
Running time: 1:55 MPAA rating: PG (Thematic elements including bullying, some peril and mild language.) Peruvian rating: Apta para Todos
Cast:
Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb,
Zooey Deschanel, Robert Patrick, Bailee Madison, Lauren Clinton. |
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It would be really unfair to compare Bridge to Terabithia to the likes of Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia or Lord of the Rings. Although the commercials, TV spots and trailers implied that this was a fantasy adventure full of special effects, monsters and magic, but that's not exactly the case. Yes, there are some fantasy elements in Bridge to Terabithia, but most of them belong inside the mind of its underage protagonists. This movie is about the relationship between two fifth-graders and the way they escape reality through imagination. Those expecting monsters, battles and magic spells will be disappointed, not because the movie's bad, but because it was ill-marketed. Bridge to Terabithia has an identity of its own.
The movie tells the story of Jesse Aarons (Josh Hutcherson), who happens to be an artist, but doesn't receive as much attention as one would want. He's bullied all the time but, surprisingly enough, doesn't give much of a fight. One day, Leslie (AnnaSophia Robb), arrives, being the new girl in the class. Since she's an artist too, even though she's extrovert and fun, she's bullied. At first, Jesse is mildly hostile towards her - like the other students - but they eventually become friends. Soon, they are doing everything together and their explorations of the woods lead them to create Terabithia, a magical place where everything that seems normal is transformed into all sorts of magical creatures and things. They enjoy many adventures in this world and spend a lot of time together, and things in the real world seem to be improving. Jesse softens in his attitude toward his little sister, May Belle (Bailee Madison); Leslie's parents (who are writers) finish their book and pay more attention to her, and a helpful music teacher, Ms. Edmonds (Zooey Deschanel), starts helping Jesse with his artistic skills.
Although Disney marketed Bridge to Terabithia in a way that made it look similar or in the same vein as the Narnia movies, there could be nothing further from the truth. Granted, there are a couple of fantastical scenes in which Jesse and Leslie let their imaginations go wild and see all sorts of creatures and cool places, but that doesn't mean this is a film that relies on CGI, ugly monsters and magic spells. Terabithia is a land of imagination, and the protagonists are only kids trying to escape reality. The movie focuses on the relationship between Jesse and Leslie, showing how two people with similar interests can spend time together and create something that makes them forget about bullies and school.
This is a kind of movie that depends on its characters and the relationship between them, meaning it also depends on the performances of its leads actors. Fortunately enough, the actors present in the flick give strong enough performances to make it work. Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Reaping) are really good. The contrast between Jesse's introspectiveness and Leslie's extrovert personality is effective, and chemistry between them is palpable. This is by no means a romantic story; their relationship is pure friendship, and it's believable. Supporting performances are also pretty good, and although the movie belongs to Robb and Hutcherson, they provide with solid acting. Zooey Deschanel - great actress - and Robert Patrick manage to make their characters credible, never taking the spot-light from the kids.
Another reason why the film works is something I wouldn't expect from Disney. I mean, we're talking about the company that releases cheap, embarrassing sequels to its classics - directly to DVD - only to grab some quick cash, and that's been known for releasing crappy live-action movies for years. (Although that began to change with the Pirates of the Caribbean and National Treasure flicks.) Bridge to Terabithia is actually a family movie, a film that manages to entertain audiences of all ages without resorting to fart jokes or excessively juvenile humour. I mean, I'm a cynical 17-year-old and I actually liked the flick. It's always cool to watch a fantasy movie that contains believable, three-dimensional characters, interesting themes and entertaining material for all ages.
Bridge to Terabithia surprised me. I wasn't expecting much from it, but I ended up watching a movie that chose to focus on its characters more than on the special effects or cool monsters. Congratulations to the filmmakers. Considering the actual trends on movies, it was a very brave thing to do, and it paid off. The fate of one particular character might be a little too sad and the CGI might be a little sub-par, but the film as a whole managed to entertain me without requiring me to turn my brain off. Although Bridge to Terabithia is no masterpiece, it's definitely an above-average, entertaining and smart fantasy flick, and a motion picture that I'd recommend to audiences of all ages.
©2008 Sebastián Zavala - Star Wars Epica