Bridge to Terabithia

Lam Dang

Andrew Eichel

English 121 - Section # 3

November 23, 2012

Bridge to Dreamland

People might think that a children’s movie just has certain standards that are probably for kids only. However, if they actually watch Bridge to Terabithia, they will think differently and recognize the values of humanity it conveys to viewers. Bridge to Terabithia draws a vivid picture and sends a meaningful message to everyone who is seeking “a dreamland” in their lives through imagination.

Bridge to Terabithia was adapted for film by David Lord Paterson and Jeff Stockwell from the book of the same name written by Katherine Paterson. In the Uniuted States, this movie was released on February 16, 2007 and shown in United Kingdom cinemas on May 4, 2007. The plot is about the friendship between Jesse Aaron (Josh Hutcherson)—a ten-year-old boy in five-child family—and Leslie Bucker (AnnaSophia Robb)—his new classmate and also neighbor. Being the only boy living in a family with four other sisters makes Jesse feel oppressed. In addition to this, his father works far away from home. Luckily, with his talented ability, he frames his life in pictures in which he spends almost of his time. However, his pictures become more colorful once he meets Leslie. She opens his thinking through imagination. Day by day, after every class, Leslie and Jesse swing on the rope as a bridge into Terabithia—the name of an imaginary “kingdom”—but actually it is the forest behind their house. One day, his music teacher, Miss Edmunds, invites him to tour the art galleries in Washington. He has a perfect day except for the sadness he experiences when he is told that Leslie drowned in the creek when he got home. This event leads him to build a real bridge into Terabithia and on the bridge he declares his younger sister—May Belle (Bailee Madison)—as a princess.

It is inevitable that when a movie is adapted from a book sometimes the result cannot convey every plot aspect....