Bridge to Terabithia tells the heartwarming story of two unlikely friends that find each other in a world unlike any other. This brilliant children’s fantasy is a faithful adaption of the book by the same name written by Katherine Paterson. The movie was directed Gábor Csupó and written by Peterson’s son David L. Paterson. Bridge to Terabithia was nominated for seven awards and won five at the Young Artist Awards, including "Best Family Feature Film (Fantasy or Musical)” and "Best Performance in a Feature Film – Young Ensemble Cast.”
The movie begins with Jess Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) coming home from a run to a full and hectic house where he must do a long list of chores before going to school. He has four sisters and is used to getting their hand-me-downs, including pink running shoes. All he can look forward to is winning the big race at school that day. The one thing he has over all the bullies at school is being the fastest. But when the big race finally comes the new girl wants to race. Jess doesn’t think anything of it but when Leslie Burke (Annasophia Robb) crosses the finish line a step before him he realizes he was wrong.
Jess decides to just avoid Leslie, but when he discovers his new classmate has moved in right next door he gives up. The two ten-year-olds quickly strike up a friendship, both having no friends and used to the constant bullying at school. Jess and Leslie discover a rope that would allow them to cross the river to the other side of the forest by their houses. Once there Leslie begins to dream up a world full of giants and ogres and anything else the pair can think of. They name this secret world Terabithia. Here they can fight and conquer all the bullies they face at school. With the combined creativity and art skills of Leslie and Jess, Terabithia begins to grow. The two find themselves spending every free moment in Terabithia to escape everything they face at home and school. And slowly the two become the best friends neither of them has ever had.
However, Jess wants nothing more than to avoid the bullies, but his little sister May Belle just wants him to defend her and all the other little kids. May Belle (Bailee Madison) idolizes her older brother but Jess doesn’t want much to do with her. And since he became lost in the world of Terabithia he ignores her even more. He hates when she gets involved in his business and doodles in his art notebooks. With the help of Leslie, though, Jess begins to stand up for himself, only enforcing May Belle’s admiration of Jess. However, when tragedy strikes Jess’s life he must learn to open up to May Belle and let her in. In time Jess begins to understand how much his sister needs him and opens up the world of Terabithia to her too.
This beautifully crafted story truly is one of the best children’s movies ever made. Bridge to Terabithia combines amazing fantasy and special effects, important in any children’s movie, with important life lessons that anyone, old or young can relate too. This movie will leave you in tears but better aware of the importance and meaning of family and friendship. With amazing and heart felt performances by both Hutcherson and Robb, along with Zooey Deschanel, who play the children’s inspiring music teacher, Bridge to Terabithia can truly be labeled one of the best children’s movies ever made.
You did a good job establishing ethos through stating the awards the movie has one and the actors in the movie. Also, the detailed summary of the plot allowed me to understand the movie better, and learn a lot. However, I think you could have added a little more about why this movie was a good movie instead of just one paragraph, though that paragraph was persuasive. You did mention the characteristics that made Bridge to Terabithia a great children's movie, however you could have expanded to enhance your use of logos. Overall, it was a good review, that convinced me this was an imaginative story and I should go watch it.
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