Bridge to Terabithia (Review)
Michael Scott
When you talk about classic children's "coming of age" films, a few titles get tossed around.
The Outsiders, Stand by Me, The Breakfast Club, The Goonies and if you're being generous Sixteen Candles.
While Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club are classics with Candles specifically being an achievement in both comedy and young adult fiction. These two should get their own review.
The Goonies is an unmitigated disaster of a film, with poor special effects, hugely annoying characters and a plot completely devoid of any originality. "Indiana Jones" for kids, you might as well just watch Indiana Jones.
Stand By Me is a "You can only watch it one time" kind of a movie, and at a certain point in your life. Plus the fact that it's exclusively a "boys movie" with little to no ability to relate to girls.
And lastly The Outsiders, which is a better book than a movie, but it's really just middling. No serious complaints, but is completely missable.
This is where Bridge to Teribithia fits nicely. It perfectly fills the void left open by the too-stupid-to-live Goonies, and the slightly-too-racy John Hughes flicks.
If you haven't seen it, I recommend you watch it before you read the rest of the review, because I will be spoiling the movie, however, it's worth a watch even after it is spoiled.
While I haven't read the book since, I think 4th grade, its one of the few stories that has stuck with me all these years.
Jess, a poor boy from a family of all girls love to run. He has been practicing a lot and is going to race the other kids at school when a new girl shows up and wins the race. At first he's mad, but quickly comes to realize Leslie Burke is exactly the friend he needs.
I don't need to walk you through the beats of the movie, but I will cover the climax briefly.
Through the movie the two grow closer, as close as platonic friends can be, and at that age where feelings are brand new anything past platonic may be intangible. They play make-believe in the woods behind their houses and even furnish an old treehouse they find there. They get revenge on bullies, meet eachother's families, and grow as individuals.
At the beginning of the third act, Leslie is found dead. The book and the movie slightly deviate here, but the message remains the same. In the book, Jess is so broken by the news of her passing that he doesn't actually acknowledge her death until a week or so after the funeral. In the movie time is condensed and he is quicker to realize.
This scene also gives him a chance to open up to his dad, whom he has been hiding his feelings from for a long time due to the family's money issues.
It may not be the best movie ever made, but when it comes to dealing with death in a realistic way, it excels. It's earnest, honest, and down to earth. It doesn't seem cheesey or slapstick like in Nickelodeon shows and the adults aren't exaggerated wicked villains, like in the also overrated Matilda.
The film has a distinct sense of justice, and the stark moment where Leslie is suddenly never seen again is hollowing. Anyone who has had a friend or relative pass away without warning will know the feeling.
Being tragic, isn't what makes Bridge to Teribithia great. Being tragic is what gives it the ability to be great.
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