"Bridge to Terabithia" PARENTAL WARNING! SPOILERS!

Personal Viewing | Friday February 16, 2007 | Milwaukee_Guy

[JB in Whitefish]

" an exceptionally -good- movie but my goodness IT IS DEPRESSING! "

I see.


Depressing = Exceptional


How many times have you been married...???

[Milwaukee_Guy]

I read the synopsis.

Very very sad movie.

Back on topic, why would Disney bring out a movie about a child's death and pass it off as a child's movie?

[The KG9 Kid]

The Velveteen Rabbit killed me as a kid. I've never recovered.

I think that single story alone is what made me the pitiful wretch I am today.

[Milwaukee_Guy]

Good link, here's an excerpt,

"...Our project has opened up a fair debate about whether children should read books that have such frightening content. C. S. Lewis tackled this issue head-on and offered some good advice that informs how we select our projects:

Those who say that children must not be frightened may mean two things. They may mean (1) that we must not do anything likely to give the child those haunting, disabling, pathological fears against which ordinary courage is helpless: in fact, phobias. His mind must, if possible, be kept clear of things he can’t bear to think of. Or they may mean (2) that we must try to keep out of his mind the knowledge that he is born into a world of death, violence, wounds, adventure, heroism and cowardice, good and evil. If they mean the first I agree with them: but not if they mean the second. The second would indeed be to give children a false impression and feed them on escapism in the bad sense. There is something ludicrous in the idea of so educating a generation which is born to the…atomic bomb. Since it is so likely that they will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker.

In February we release two films. Our first, Bridge to Terabithia, follows our traditional model of a film based on a popular book—in this case Katherine Paterson’s Newbery Award Winner..."

[johnmark7]

I looked it over at Borders and read an essay in another book by the author about the genesis of the story when her son had a friend who drowned and she had to try and explain to him how such things could happen.

Having seen a number of really bad pre-adolescent movies last year (Hoot, How to Eat Fried Worms) I passed on this. But the other critics I know liked it. Now I'll have to wait for the DVD to see if I'll like it or not

[ASOC]

With 3 small kids! I swore after that I would see the movie first or tlk to someone I knew before I took the kids.

Do the same today with the grandkids.

Disney (spits) not a thing like it used to be.

[Tarantulas]

Here's the saddest movie ever made. I cry every time I watch it.

[isom35]

does Leslie come back as a zombie? Now that would be a movie.

[philetus]

Disney (spits) not a thing like it used to be."

Walt would go postal if he was here today.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Wanna really mess up a kid for life ? Take him to see "An Inconvenient Truth." Bwahahahaha !! ;-)

[darkangel82]

Now that would be abuse lol.

[Vroomfondel]

Where in Germany? I have family there.

Stuttgart from '75-'76. Robinson Barracks.

[BigCinBigD]

Disney = Spit!

[CyberAnt]

Well .. recently there was a movie about a horse - can't remember the name. Took my two grandchildren .. was very disappointed. It was white men are bad, Indians were good, and the horse did all sorts of bad things to get even with the eeeeeeevil white people.

My kids were so disappointed .. they didn't like the movie at all.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"Revenge of Mr. Ed" ?

[Caesar Soze]

This book has been required reading at some schools. I missed out on it, but it sounds decent. Nothing wrong with scaring kids or making them cry. And those using this film as evidence that Disney has changed over the years need to take another look at some of the movies made under Walt's leadership -- start with Bambi, move into Sleeping Beauty, finish with the Night Under Bald Mountain segment of Fantasia. Walt understood very well that the easiest and most effective pathos for children is the loss of the parent. He also had a thing for imbuing everything from nature to man and the supernatural with threats and evil whenever it suited the story.

But a kid hasn't been done right and proper until he's seen Brave Little Toaster.

[CyberAnt]

Close! I think the horse was named "Spirit".

[Arthalion]

Here's a suggestion for parents. When you want to take your kids to a movie based on an award winning book, read the book FIRST. If you'd done so, you'd have known what the story was about. Heck, if you've seen the previous version of the movie (released mid-80's), you also wouldn't have been all that surprised.

Bridge to Terabithia is the story of an introverted young boy who meets an equally introverted/loner young girl. The two become friends and help to pull each other out of their respective shells. When the young girl dies, the boy has to move on using the strength and friendship the young girl gave him. Although she dies, her mark on him changes his personality forever.

I haven't seen the Disney version yet, but I assumed they'd toned the emphasis on her death down a bit. If they haven't, I consider it a good thing. I gave the story to my daughter at 10, and to this day she considers it one of her favorites. Is it a sad story? Yes, but the overall theme of the book is a positive one, reminding us that something as simple as friendship can be a powerful force and change lives. It's a story about growing up and facing a tragedy, and realizing the good that comes of all our lives.

OK, that's enough of the sappy review. I loved the book, my kids love the book, and I can't wait to see the movie. I'm sorry that your kid didn't. Just remember that Bambi's mom and Old Yeller died too, so this isn't exactly a new thing. Kids have to learn to deal with grief, and well crafted children's stories like Bridge to Terabithia can be a good way to introduce the subject without injecting any personal trauma. We survived those movies without any lasting harm, and I doubt your kid will suffer from this either. If I were you, I'd take advantage of this and treat it as a chance to discuss a sometimes uncomfortable subject.

[Munson]

I read the book in the 6th grade about 15 years ago and I knew it had a depressing ending. I told my father this, and he thought I was insane and thought Disney would edit that sad part from the film.

[Dick Vomer]

Bambi's mom got shot by the hunter...I wasn't ready for that........

yeah.... and all you have to do is add a little pork, grind her up and make some really great sausage....

4 kids and I explained that it's important to eat what you kill.... and that deer really don't talk...and really aren't like people.

the thing is that giving human qualities to animals is dangerous.... two of my daughters yelled "why did they have to kill the shark?!!!!" when Jaws ended....my son and I turned and said...."THE SHARK ATE A BOAT!!!! And a BUNCH OF PEOPLE!!!....hahahahahaa.... they're older and smarter, but it showed the power of the "media" to give animals...."rights"..