Bridge to Terabithia (2007 film)

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For the novel, see Bridge to Terabithia (novel).
For the movie adaptation of 1985, see Bridge to Terabithia (1985 film).
Bridge to Terabithia

Theatrical poster
Directed by Gábor Csupó
Produced by David Paterson
Lauren Levine
Hal Lieberman
Written by Katherine Paterson
David L. Paterson
Jeff Stockwell
Starring Josh Hutcherson
AnnaSophia Robb
Robert Patrick
Zooey Deschanel
Bailee Madison
Music by Aaron Zigman
Cinematography Michael Chapman
Editing by John Gilbert
Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures (USA)
Walden Media (non-USA through Summit Entertainment)
Paramount Pictures (Latin America)
Release date(s) February 16, 2007
Running time 96 min.
Country United States
New Zealand
Language English
Gross revenue $133,887,109
Official website
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

Bridge to Terabithia is a 2007 film directed by Gábor Csupó (co-founder of Klasky-Csupo) for Disney and Walden Medi, based on the Katherine Paterson novel of the same name. The film was released on February 16, 2007 in the U.S. and Canada, and June 16, 2007 in New Zealand and was number two at the box office in the U.S. and Canada over its opening weekend. It was rated PG for thematic elements including bullying, some peril and mild language by the MPAA.

Contents

[edit] Plot

A 12-year-old boy named Jesse "Jess" Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) is an aspiring artist and elementary school boy living in a financially-struggling family and 12-year-old Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb) is the new girl full of joy and wonder with a vast imagination, at Jess' school, just moving to Lark Creek (Jess' small town). She enters a running event which she wins with ease, despite her classmates calling it a "boys only" race. Jess is, at first, quite sour about this and wants nothing to do with Leslie, but Leslie's persistence in meeting him soon pays off, and soon the two become very close friends. Their friendship starts when Leslie offers Jess a piece of gum on the bus, and he accepts. Jess shares his secret love of drawing with Leslie. Together they venture into the woods, where they swing across a creek on a rope and find an abandoned tree house on the other side. Here, the two friends invent a new world they call Terabithia, and it comes to life through their eyes as they explore together. Jess and Leslie base and name the creatures of Terabithia on the people that bulley them at school and other people close to them. For example the 'Dark Master' is based on Jess' father, who Jess is always trying to gain approval from.

Back in the "real" world, they both plot against bullies at their school. Leslie gives Jess an unexpected birthday present, an art kit, and he gives Leslie a dog (Prince Terrien) in return, much to both of the children's happiness. Leslie thanks Jess by hugging him. On the next trip to Terabithia later that day, it is noted that the river beneath the rope has begun to swell, there is increasing tension as Leslie and then Jess swing across the creek, their feet brushing across the water.

At the end of a particular visit to Terabithia, Jess watches Leslie run back to her house, (the same way he would watch his music teacher) suddenly realizing that he loves her. Early the next morning, Jess' music teacher, Ms. Edmunds (Zooey Deschanel), who has noticed Jess' artistic interests, calls to invite him on a field trip to an art museum. He makes an effort to ask his mother's permission; she is half-asleep and doesn't actually say anything, but he is so eager to go that he assumes she agreed. He has an unspoken crush on the beautiful and personable teacher and does not want to share the trip with Leslie; he merely looks at her home as they drive by.

When he returns, his father (Robert Patrick) and mother are worried sick, not knowing where he has been all day. He hears the horrific news that Leslie has died trying to swing across the rain-swellen creek. The rope snapped and she fell in, drowning after hitting her head on something, possibly a rock, which knocked her unconscious. Jess suffers much grief, and he and his parents visit the Burke family home to "pay their respects".

Jess feels overwhelming guilt for Leslie's death, but his father consoles him to keep their intense friendship alive for her sake. So, Jess re-imagines Terabithia and builds a bridge across the river to welcome a new ruler. He invites his sister, May Belle Aarons (Bailee Madison) to be that new ruler, who is delighted after being previously denied any opportunity to enter the land. She and Jess bring back Terabithia in even greater splendor; Jess the king and his sister the princess, and they rule together .[1][2]

[edit] Background and production

The filmmakers have disavowed the advertisement campaign for the film saying that the advertising is deliberately misleading; making the film seem to be about or occurring in a fantasy world like that of Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, or His Dark Materials[3]. David L. Paterson in the SCI FI Wire article was surprised by the trailer, but understood the marketing reasoning behind it saying:

“ Although there is a generation that is very familiar with the book, if you are over 40, then you probably haven't, and we need to reach them. [...] Everyone who read the book and sees the trailer says, 'What is this? This is nothing like the book. What are you doing, Dave?' And I say, 'You know what you're seeing is 15 seconds of a 90-minute film. Give me a little leeway and respect. Go see it, and then tell me what you think.[3] ”

David Lord Paterson is one of the producers and screenwriters[4] for Bridge to Terabithia. His name appears on the dedication page in his mother's novel Bridge to Terabithia. The story was based on his real life friend, Lisa Hill, who was struck by lightning and killed when they were eight years old.[5][6] Paterson, an alumnus of the The Catholic University of America,[7] held a special advance screening of the film for members of the CUA community at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland on February 1, 2007.

The film has also been a recipient of the F.I.L.M. award (Finding Inspiration in Literature and Movies). It was Cinematographer Michael Chapman's final film before his self-imposed retirement.

[edit] Filming locations

The main filming locations were around Auckland, New Zealand with soundstage work at the Hobsonville Aerodrome, Hobsonville and outside work at Woodhill Forest, Woodhill. The Walden Media website reports that Bridge to Terabithia "was filmed for 10 weeks on location in West Auckland, New Zealand, including the rural forest areas of Riverhead and Puhoi. The Puhoi church was used in the church scene. Principal photography wrapped in early April, 2006."[8]

[edit] Cast

[edit] Distribution

[edit] Release dates

[edit] DVD and blu-ray disc release

The DVD[9] and Blu-ray Disc (high definition version)[10] were released on June 19, 2007 in the United States. Both DVD and high definition Blu-ray version shared the same special features; including: "Digital Imagination: Bringing Terabithia to Life", "Behind the Book: The Themes of Bridge to Terabithia","Keep Your Mind Wide Open" music video by AnnaSophia Robb, and an audio commentary with director Gabor Csupo, writer Jeff Stockwell, and producer Hal Lieberman, and a second audio commentary with producer Lauren Levine and actors Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb and Selina Delgado and Bryanna Edmerson also Katina Talamantes

[edit] Reception

[edit] Box office performance

In an analysis by Boxofficeprophets.com, Bridge to Terabithia had a strong second place domestic opening over the President's Day weekend, grossing "a higher-than-expected $28,536,717 from only 2,284 screens: $9,885 per screen average".[11] The opening Friday box office was $6.3 million.[12]

As of April 6, 2007, Bridge to Terabithia has a worldwide gross of $120 million US, taking in $80 million in the United States and Canada alone.[13]

[edit] Reviews

The film received an overwhelmingly positive international reaction, earning an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Times gave it four stars, and said it was “truly a spectacle of epic filmmaking." Chuck Siegel of the New York Times wrote “Bridge to Terabithia touches the spirit and heart of the spectator, and may very well go down as one of the greatest fantasy films of all time.” Ron Seaward of Entertainment Today wrote “Terabithia is a monumental cinematic achievement that’s technical and artistic grandeur deserves to be compared to such films as Gone with the Wind, Lawrence of Arabia, Titanic, and Lord of the Rings.” Nancy Marlinton of US Today wrote “Bridge to Terabithia is the greatest cinematic achievement of the twenty-fiRst centaury.” Aside from positive critical reviews, Katherine Patterson praised the film herself and said that it truly lived up to her expectations of the book.

[edit] Soundtrack

The soundtrack of Bridge to Terabithia has three elements: orchestral music, pop songs, and songs sung by children at school. The songs sung by the children at school were not included on the separately released CD soundtrack of the film.

See also: Music from and Inspired By Bridge to Terabithia.

Alison Krauss was originally slated to score the movie, but had to back out due to time constraints. Scoring duties were then given to Aaron Zigman, and the orchestral music was composed and conducted by him:

  • "Seeing Terabithia"
  • "Into the Forest"
  • "The Battle"
  • "Jesse's Bridge"

The pop songs are sung by a variety of artists.

  • "I Learned from You" performed by Miley Cyrus. Written by Matthew Gerrard and Steve Diamond.
    The song "I Learned from You", which is on the Hannah Montana season 1 soundtrack, is featured during the credits. This song is a different version from the one in the soundtrack. This version is only performed by Miley Cyrus, and doesn't feature her father Billy Ray Cyrus as did the original track. The lyrics are also different.
  • "Try" performed by Hayden Panettiere. Written by Matthew Gerrard, Robbie Nevil and Mike Krompass.
  • "Keep Your Mind Wide Open" performed by AnnaSophia Robb. Written by Dave Bassett and Michelle Featherstone.
    The song "Keep Your Mind Wide Open" from the film soundtrack, sung by AnnaSophia Robb, is heard on the radio early in the film, during Jess's birthday.
  • "A Place for Us" performed by Leigh Nash and Tyler James. Written by Bryan Adams, Eliot Kennedy, and Aaron Zigman.
  • "Another Layer" performed by Jon McLaughlin. Written by McLaughlin and Jamie Houston.
    "Another Layer" is the music played when Jess and Leslie's family paint the room.
  • "Shine" performed by The Skies of America. Written by Rob Bonfiglio.
  • "Look Through My Eyes" performed by Everlife.

The children in the music class sing three songs:

In the theatrical trailer, the song, "The Poseidon" by Klaus Badelt is used. This song is from the 2006 film, Poseidon.

[edit] Differences between film and book

The book has several noticeable differences from the theatrical film; commonly noticed ones are Leslie's appearance and the switch of roles at certain parts of the story.

  • Jess waves to Janice when he gets off the bus, in the film it's Leslie.
  • Jess's parents are wary about him hanging around with a girl, in the film his mother is pleased.
  • Leslie introduces herself to Jess at the fence between their homes before school starts. In the film, they first meet when she is placed in his class.


Leslie Burke's character has gone through a big change from book to film, examples include:

  • In the book Jess has trouble figuring out her gender on their first meeting, in the film she is clearly a girl.
  • In the book her character is an agnostic atheist where as in the film she just lacks Jess's Christian beliefs.
  • In the film she is a slightly different character and thus handles situations differently. She runs away when Jess confronts her after she tells the class she has no television, while in the film she withdraws it all. In the book there are different instances where she raises her voice or pulled stern looks, in the film there is none.


Other common differences during the film and the book are shown.

  • Jess goes to the grove of pines (not present in the film) with a wreath, instead of making a boat like in the film.


Bullying is another subject of change from the book to the film with Jess and Leslie shown scared of the bullies on the big screen. In the film the bullying is both physical and verbal with Hoager and Fulcher pushing Jess to the floor and insulting both him and Leslie along with Janice Avery making threats and bullying them on the school bus. In the book the only real bully is Janice Avery, Gary Fulcher wasn't much, if anything, less than a friend to Jess and at one point Jess stamps on his toe when Fulcher tries to see his doodling in class and argues with him on the school field, showing a lack of the fear he has towards him in the film.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Official website (the plot synopsis is listed in the "About the Movie" section, under the heading "Story")
  2. ^ Bridge to Terabithia movie stays true says author Retrieved February 15, 2007
  3. ^ a b Terabithia Ads Mislead?, SCI FI Wire, February 7, 2007
  4. ^ David Paterson at IMDb Retrieved February 12, 2007
  5. ^ Question & Answer from Katherine Paterson's official website Retrieved March 11, 2007
  6. ^ Internet Archive version of June 2005 story Lisa Hill and the Bridge to Terabithia. Retrieved March 11, 2007
  7. ^ Catholic University of America Alumni magazine profile Spring 2006 Retrieved 15 February 2007
  8. ^ Walden Media Retrieved 24 February 2007.
  9. ^ Bridge to Terabithia (2007) - DVD details for
  10. ^ Blu-ray.com - Bridge to Terabithia (Blu-ray)
  11. ^ Weekend Box Office Wrap-Up for February 16 to February 18, 2007 by John Hamann Retrieved 19 February 2007
  12. ^ "Friday Box Office Analysis" by Tim Briody February 17, 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2007
  13. ^ "Box Office Mojo: Bridge to Terabithia" April 6, 2007. Retrieved April 6, 2007

[edit] External links

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