I went into this movie expecting something somewhere along the lines of Narnia, Spiderwick, or Harry Potter. Young kids discover a world of their own, and have adventures there. I was right and I was totally wrong. The magical world is not the center here, it's the characters. This is an incredibly enjoyable and emotional movie that treats all its characters like real people dealing with real problems, particularly treating its kids like real kids with real problems and solutions, or lack thereof.
Jesse (Josh Hutcherson) lives on a farm with his Dad, four older sisters and one younger sister. They often encounter financial difficulties, meaning Jesse is commonly making do with his sisters' hand-me-downs and the stigma of being a "farmboy" at school. He really doesn't have any friends at school, so he settles for being the fastest kid there. He draws in his spare time. One day, a new girl comes to the school, Leslie (AnnaSophia Robb). Her parents are writers and they don't watch TV, and she doesn't hide any of this. Furthermore, she can outrun Jesse.
Jesse and Leslie grow together as outcasts, and Leslie's imagination leads him to go along with her and create an imaginary world to escape life's problems in the woods near his house. This world is somewhat Calvin&Hobbbesian by nature, in that it's only real to them, but as we see it from their perspective it becomes real for us as well. This world of Terabithia is limited only by your imagination.
The story develops from there, I won't say much more. I will note that serious events take place, the world is not perfect. But before parents start thinking this is not the movie for their children, allow me to say something more. This is a movie about growing up and finding your way in the world. It does not leave you sad, but tells you to keep moving, even after the unthinkable.
Above all else, this is a movie for anyone and everyone who can still remember what it felt like to be a kid and escape into a world of your own creation. I give this movie a full 10 stars for bringing me back to that.
Jesse (Josh Hutcherson) lives on a farm with his Dad, four older sisters and one younger sister. They often encounter financial difficulties, meaning Jesse is commonly making do with his sisters' hand-me-downs and the stigma of being a "farmboy" at school. He really doesn't have any friends at school, so he settles for being the fastest kid there. He draws in his spare time. One day, a new girl comes to the school, Leslie (AnnaSophia Robb). Her parents are writers and they don't watch TV, and she doesn't hide any of this. Furthermore, she can outrun Jesse.
Jesse and Leslie grow together as outcasts, and Leslie's imagination leads him to go along with her and create an imaginary world to escape life's problems in the woods near his house. This world is somewhat Calvin&Hobbbesian by nature, in that it's only real to them, but as we see it from their perspective it becomes real for us as well. This world of Terabithia is limited only by your imagination.
The story develops from there, I won't say much more. I will note that serious events take place, the world is not perfect. But before parents start thinking this is not the movie for their children, allow me to say something more. This is a movie about growing up and finding your way in the world. It does not leave you sad, but tells you to keep moving, even after the unthinkable.
Above all else, this is a movie for anyone and everyone who can still remember what it felt like to be a kid and escape into a world of your own creation. I give this movie a full 10 stars for bringing me back to that.