What Do The Critics Say?

"Extraordinarily close to the book by Katherine Paterson in many ways, the film may even surpass it by showing how a shocking instance of grief can draw a family together." M. K. Terrell CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR "Directed by Gabor Csupo, the animator best known for creating "Rugrats," "Bridge" faithfully adapts Katherine Paterson's novel. As much as anything, Bridge is about how powerfully friendship can transform children." Jeffrey Westhoff NORTHWEST HERALD "The kids are great. Leslie is such a cool, engaging chick, Jesse doesn't even know how lucky he is. Dude, enjoy it while it lasts. When you get older, they only talk to doctors or Wall Street tycoons. Hutcherson gives a full bodied performance. Pan's Labyrinth for kids... such a story can be just as powerful without the gore and war." Fred Topel CAN MAGAZINE "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 Wilmington CHICAGO TRIBUNE "The special effects sequences are well designed, with the fantasy elements cleverly mirroring their real life counterparts (the giant's resemblance to the bully is particularly amusing) so that they don't overshadow the real story. Enjoyable, superbly acted drama that will appeal to kids and adults alike." Matthew Turner VIEW LONDON

"Most pleasantly, the movie doesn’t overdo its special effects. Weta Digital bring Jess and Leslie’s imaginations to life slowly and in to-scale fashion. The production company behind 2005’s smash hit big screen version of C.S. Lewis’ "The Chronicles of Narnia" and its forthcoming sequels, they have established a clear pattern of mining best-selling and award-vetted children’s literature for adaptation, the goal being to produce a brand name both as beloved and incontestably defined as Disney at their heyday." Brent Simon FILMSTEW "This is Csupo's feature directorial debut, but as creator, producer, and writer of "Rugrats" and "The Wild Thornberrys", among several other series, he's had a long career in animation, and he handles the CGI setpieces masterfully." Tasha Robinson ONION AV CLUB "Far from a computer generated escapist fantasy, this film is an unpretentious and touching tale of preteen companionship and loss. Director Gabor Csupo of Rugrats "fame" steers clear of cutesy tween stereotypes, but it's Jess's relationship with his father, played by Robert Patrick, that elevates Terabithia from a good kids movie to a classic contender." Jessica Grose VILLAGE VOICE "Robb, so wan and disappointing when she had to carry Because of Winn-Dixie, is maturing into a fiesty, Keira Knightley cute spitfire, at least as she's showcased here. Walden Media's goal, to make transitional movies for young filmgoers aging out of animation and kiddie comedies, is saving movie-going for another generation.A fanciful, emotional and entertaining movie." Roger Moore ORLAND SENTINEL "Bridge to Terabithia is a beautifully written and acted film with a big heart, but also with the uncompromising reality of death. It is impossible not to be charmed and moved by this film." Emily S Mendel CULTUREVULTURE

The Inside Story Making the multiple Newbery Award-winning author, Katherine Paterson's book "Bridge To Terabithia" would present many challenges for the filmmakers. How do you make a film in which the biggest hero is imagination itself? And how could the imaginary world of Terabithia be brought to life on the screen so it would also feel as incredibly real and meaningful as it does to Jess and Leslie? "I admit one of my biggest worries about turning the book into a film was what Terabithia itself would be like. For the past thirty years, readers have been creating Terabithia in their own imaginations, and no two readers will ever have the same vision of the place. I write books because I want the readers’ imaginations to come to life and, although I understand films and books are very different, I hoped that this would somehow be honored in the film," says the authorn. Paterson had originally written the story for her then 11 year old son, David. Published in 1978, the book soon took on a life of its own, becoming the kind of dog-eared favorite parents would pass along to their own kids and that would be read in schools across the country for years to come. Her son would grow up deeply loving his mother’s book. By now he had become devoted to bringing her vision to the screen with complete authenticity. He had also become a father and so had another incentive to pass down this rich family legacy of storytelling to his own children. "I always felt so protective towards this story," he says. "For me, it was never just about making a movie but about really honoring my mother, the life of the book and my best friend Lisa, who started it all. The most important thing of all to me was to keep the spirit of the book alive while finding a way to transform it from a novel that takes place mostly in the characters’ heads to a dynamic visual medium. But, no matter what, it had to be about friendship and imagination." When he approached his mother Katherine about making "Bridge To Terabithia" into a film, she immediately gave him her blessing. "I knew that David was a fine writer, and I also knew how very much this story meant to him," she said. "The story began with him, so I was more than happy to turn it over to him." "I think she trusted me to do right by the story," notes David, "just as I had trusted her 30 years ago to tell the story of my friendship with Lisa. Of course, there’s always a lot of angst involved in anything to do with your own mom, but she really gave me complete freedom, understanding that literature is necessarily quite different from film as a medium. And I knew she would have to be pleased with the results, or else holidays would be awfully difficult!" As fate would have it producer Lauren Levine had discovered the power of Terabithia on her own. She knew it would be a great match for Walden Media, the family-focused production company that has quickly developed a reputation for turning classic children’s literature into equally classic movies. "Having grown up in the UK, I hadn’t really known about the book before, but so many people with kids had told me about this story and then, when I read it, wow, I immediately connected with it," Levine says. "I love that it’s a story that doesn’t pander to kids. It’s straight up about how life is, but it’s also filled with all these wonderful elements of fantasy and storytelling. It’s really a gift to kids who are facing hard times, and that’s why it has been so loved for so long. I was so attached to the story that it led me to David Paterson, who, it turns out, had been trying to get a movie made for years." Walden Media’s CEO, Cary Granat, was just as enthusiastic about "Bridge To Terabithia" noting it "is the quintessential Walden movie. Here was a chance to create a great, high concept film with lots of emotion and, at the same time, to really get the book out there again and explore the many wonderful themes in it as a learning vehicle." Producer and former Universal Pictures production president Hal Lieberman ("Around the World in 80 Days" & "Terminator 3"), who was instantly compelled by Jess and Leslie’s story. "Once I read the initial draft of the script, I was in with both feet," says Lieberman. "It’s the kind of story that is filled with fun and adventure, but your heart is also richer for having experienced it." Lieberman was committed to doing the characters and their journey justice: "The idea was to really honor the integrity, the emotion and the fun of the book. Just as in the book, combining the real and the imaginary was what this movie was all about." Katherine Paterson notes, "In moving from the page to the screen, I know choices have to be made. But I think the filmmakers have made good choices. They were able to tell this intimate story of friendship and imagination so that it makes sense visually and dramatically." In fact the only major change made was moving the story to present time. The biggest question of all was, how to handle Terabithia? "We found out that the world of Terabithia was the one thing everyone remembers who read the book as a kid,"says "I Am David" and Terabithia producer Levine. "So we wanted to find a way to make that world as vivid and visually exciting as it would be in a kid’s imagination." It was important, however, to keep the balance of real life and fantasy in check, and Levine credits editor John Gilbert for that. "John is an amazing storyteller who really knows how to use music, performance and visual effects to great effort. He never let us lose sight of the fact that this is a story about friendship and discovery." David Paterson credits fellow screenwriter Jeff Stockwell ("The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys") with giving Terabithia that dose of magic it needed to come to life on a movie screen: a visual framework. "My focus was on bringing out the emotions of the story, but when it came to Terabithia, I really couldn’t go there because it was too close," says Paterson. "What Jeff was able to do as an outsider who wasn’t so attached to the story was to really let his imagination go free and make up this world in a wonderful way. My mother mentions giants and ogres in Terabithia, but Jeff took her words and created the kind of world that kids create in their dreams. His Terabithia is imaginary but, most importantly, it is also clearly connected to the real world. It’s the place where Jess and Leslie can go to triumph over all the problems of their real lives, together as friends." When it came to animating the film, it was Walden Media President Cary Granat who suggested Gabor Csupo ("The Simpsons", "The Wild Thornberrys" and "Rugrats"). "I knew that inside Gabor is a kid just dying to go on an adventure, and that was the perfect approach for this story, says Granat. Lauren Levine recalls, "When we talked to Gabor about the story, he had such an inspired take on it; a kind of Tim Burton, Terry Gilliam approach to how Terabithia could be manifested in a very fun and alive way. We collectively got very excited about it." "Gabor is such a beautiful and imaginative person. He brought a genuine passion for Terabithia and a conviction to tell the story the right way, as honestly as possible," says Lieberman. "What I really loved about the story is watching these kids’ imaginations start to come alive," says 1996 CableACE award winner Csupo. "I saw a chance to create a visually astounding movie that would also really touch an audience’s heart." While all the cast do a stirling job, the two stars are Josh Hutcherson, the Kentucky born teen who rose to fame in the action packed space adventure "Zathura" and AnnaSophia Robb the star of "Because Of Win-Dixie". AnnaSophia had read Bridge to Terabithia before she auditioned for the film and was already a huge fan. "I remember I would stay up late reading the book and then wake up and start reading again in the morning," she says. "It touched me in a way I hadn’t been touched by a book before. I really loved the characters and all the imagination. I think it reminds me that even though I have to grow up, I don’t ever have to stop pretending and imagining." The rising star says she "especially felt close to Leslie. She’s one of those people who’s just always lit up, who has this glow about her, and no one can bring her down. Leslie’s such a lively and energetic character, it was really fun for me to become her." And Terabithia. "In Terabithia, you just put out your ideas and they happen just like that. It’s about having fun, it’s about friendship, it’s about hope and it’s also about learning to deal with your problems when you go back to the real world." Her co-stars Josh says, "The thing I like about this movie is that it’s a really cool adventure—but at the same time, it’s about how creativity can change your life and about how kids have a lot of feelings and thoughts they need to express. It’s about time movies like this were made." And what the are the authors thoughts on the film? "Honestly, when I first wrote the novel, I never really knew if anyone whose name wasn’t Paterson would understand it, and I never dreamed it would take on the life, even beyond books, that it has," Paterson says. "It’s a magical thing that has happened, perhaps because it is the kind of story that opens itself up for people to bring their own lives to it, in a powerful way, so that the story becomes their story. I really hope it will inspire audiences not only to read books but to see the power of what a story can do, that it can enlarge the human spirit." Synopsis

Jess Aarons is a young outsider on a quest to become the fastest kid in his school. But when the new girl in town, Leslie Burke, leaves Jess and everyone else in her dust, Jess’s frustration with her ultimately leads to them becoming fast friends. At first, it seems Jess and Leslie couldn’t be more different, she’s rich, he’s poor, she’s from the city, he’s from the country, but when Leslie begins to open up the world of imagination to Jess, they find they have something amazing to share. Deep in the woods, far beyond the road, across a stream, lies a secret world only two people on Earth know about. A world brimming with fantastical creatures, glittering palaces, a giant troll and magical forests. This is Terabithia, where the two young friends will discover how to rule their own magical kingdom, fight the forces of darkness and change their lives forever through the power of the imagination.

The Verdict "Who said "Bridge To Terabithia" was made for kids? Don't you believe it. This superbly packaged film crosses all generations. The story-line will, as did the novel, run you through a myriad of emotions, and yes, you will shed a tear or two. I doubt I've ever been so excited about promoting a 'kids' film since, like many of my colleages, I urged everyone to see the critically acclaimed "Mad Hot Ballroom". "Bridge To Terabithia" is grounded around two friends, bullied at school, who escape into their own wonderful world of Terabithia. The cast, lead by rising star AnnaSophia Robb and 2006 Young Artist Award winner Josh Hutcherson are superb. The cinematography is exceptional and the SFX-CGI are never overdone. In the hectic, frantically paced world we all live in, many adults will wish, after seeing this exceptional film, that they too had a Terabithia to retreat into. Suitable for just about everyone aged from eight to eighty eight (some parental guidance may be required for young viewers), "Bridge To Terabithia" is a moving tale of friendship that should not be missed. 4 1/2 STARS." Cast & Crew Bytes "BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA" stars .......
2006 Young Artist Award winner Josh Hutcherson ["Kicking And Screaming", "Zathura: A Space Adventure" and "RV: Runaway Vacation"]; 2003 Mar del Plata Film Festival Best Actress Award winner Zooey Deschanel ["The Good Girl", "All the Real Girls", "Elf" and "The Good Life"]; 2001 Saturn Award winner Robert Patrick ["Ladder 49", "Walk the Line", "Firewall" and "Flags of Our Fathers"]; Bailee Madison ["Lonely Hearts" and "Look"]; Lauren Clinton ["Captain C-Blocker"]; Kate Butler ["Hero", "My Daughter's Tears" and "Erosian"]; 1987 & 1988 New Zealand Film and TV Award winner Judy McIntosh ["Death Warmed Up", "Arriving Tuesday", "Ngati", "The Grasscutter" and "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"] and AnnaSophia Robb ["Because of Winn-Dixie", "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "The Reaping"] as Leslie Burke.
"BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA" was .......
directed by three time EMMY award winner Gabor Csupo ["Dance"]; adapted from "Bridge To Terabithia by 1978 Newbery Medal winner Katherine Paterson ["Jacob Have I Loved" and "Lyddie"]; art direction by two time EMMY Award winner Michael Pangrazio ["Arachnophobia", "Batman Returns", "Malice" and "King Kong"]; costume design by Barbara Darragh ["Came a Hot Friday", "The Other Side Of Heaven" and "River Queen"]; production design by 2006 New Zealand Screen Award winner Robert Gillies ["Other Halves", "Ruby And Rata" and "The Worlds Fastest Indian"]; edited by 2002 Golden Satellite Award winner John Gilbert ["Siren", "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring", "Perfect Strangers" and "The World's Fastest Indian"]; cinematography by 2004 American Society of Cinematographers Lifetime Achievement Award winner Michael Chapman ["Raging Bull", "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid", "Primal Fear" and "Evolution"]; original music by Aaron Zigman ["The Notebook", "Raise Your Voice", "Step Up" and "Flicka"]; casting by Stephanie Corsalini ["The Patriot", "Hannibal", "Love Actually", "Dinner Rush" and "How to Eat Fried Worms"]. Who's Who?

Josh Hutcherson AnnaSophia Robb Zooey Deschanel Robert Patrick Bailee Madison Kate Butler Devon Wood Emma Fenton Grace Brannigan Latham Gaines Judy McIntosh Patricia Aldersley Lauren Clinton Isabelle Rose Kircher Cameron Wakefield Elliot Lawless Carly Owen Jen Wolfe James Gaylyn

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Jesse Aarons Leslie Burke Ms Edmonds Jesse Aarons senior May Belle Aarons Nancy Aarons Brenda Aarons Ellie Aarons Joyce Aarons Bill Burke Judy Burke Grandma Burke Janice Avery Carla Scott Hoager Gary Fulcher Madison Mrs Myers Principal Turner

Run Time 95 minutes Rated PG [AUST] Copyright ©2007 - Walden Media - All Rights Reserved ©2007 All Rights Reserved The Movie Pages - Protected by Australian & International Copyright. Trademark Laws Apply.