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Bridge To Terabithia (merged) - Discussion

post #1 of 57
12/6/06 at 7:41pm
Thread Starter 
I don't know how I missed this, but I just learned that Disney and Walden Media are making Bridge to Terabithia for 2007! This is one of my favorite books, written by Katherine Paterson and winner of the Newbury Medal. It was for me, my adult introduction to children's literature; and I've taken as many friends as I can Terabithia.

I've found the official website and watched a snippet of the trailer. It seems at least adequate. But I'm still anxious -- as LOTR fans worried over those movies, and as I wondered about The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, now I wonder if my favorite book will be revealed on screen, or mocked with mediocrity.

Anyone else know about the movie? Or even familar with the book?

[EDIT]
I watched the entire trailer. Oh. It's all wrong. This is not good. I'm not sure what story is being told, but it doesn't seem to be the book I read. I hope I'm wrong, but this is not at all how I'd expect the movie to go.
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post #2 of 57
12/6/06 at 10:02pm

Re: Bridge to Terabitha

One thing I don't understand is how (book spoiler) Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
Leslie's death will play given they've literalized all of Jesse and Leslie's imaginings. To go from CG faeries and monsters to a girl dying in a creek when an old rope snaps seems like it will be rather thematically jarring. I can only hope they're playing up the fantasy elements for the trailer, since so much of the books took place in reality, however you measure it.
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post #3 of 57
12/7/06 at 8:34am
Thread Starter 

Re: Bridge to Terabitha

Adam, I share your concerns. The book is set in the real world, and is not fanciful. Even the descriptions of Terabithia are modest, not involving wholesale adventures.

To sell the movie as a The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe tale (children entering a fantasy world via a personal portal) suggests a core misunderstanding of the story.

Even using a muted A Beautiful Mind approach, to visually show the childrens' imaginings is something I'd disagree with. The story is the relationship of Jess and Leslie, not their particular visions of Terabithia.

I hope the trailer misrepresents the movie. I so want this to do the book right.
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post #4 of 57
12/7/06 at 10:57am

Re: Bridge to Terabitha

I imagine they couldn't get financing unless they 'showed' Terabithia. My hope is that we've seen about fifty percent of the Terabithia footage in the trailer, and if you're going to sell a movie, sell the fantasy, it's hot right now.

I can't imagine them changing the ending of the book. the made for tv version was such a literal interpretation of the book I'll be interested in seeing how this one pans out.
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post #5 of 57
12/7/06 at 2:47pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Bridge to Terabitha

Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam_S
I imagine they couldn't get financing unless they 'showed' Terabithia. My hope is that we've seen about fifty percent of the Terabithia footage in the trailer, and if you're going to sell a movie, sell the fantasy, it's hot right now.

I can't imagine them changing the ending of the book. the made for tv version was such a literal interpretation of the book I'll be interested in seeing how this one pans out.
I had no idea there was a TV version!

I hope that ultimately it follows the mold of Holes which was a successful book to movie translation. It kept the magic of the book, without involving excessive special effects silliness, or invented subplots.
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post #6 of 57
12/7/06 at 9:52pm

Re: Bridge to Terabitha

Noooo!

I can't really add more than that.

Where can one find this made for tv version eh?
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post #7 of 57
12/11/06 at 1:08pm

Re: Bridge to Terabitha

you can find the made for tv version on netflix.
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post #8 of 57
2/6/07 at 7:26am

Bridge To Terabithia (merged)

Is anybody planning to see this one when it opens next week? I had never read the book until I took a class in children's lit, but oh, I loved it so much - I must have cried for an hour when I finished it. What a lovely friendship story, I just adored it. The trailer makes me all sorts of happily nostalgic. (Even if I did have to write a paper on the book.)
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post #9 of 57
2/6/07 at 9:02am

Re: Bridge To Terabithia

I know absolutely nothing about this story, but the trailer looks great.

I hope to see the film in the theater.

JC
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post #10 of 57
2/6/07 at 4:00pm

Re: Bridge To Terabithia

I remember reading the book at school, remember liking it, but don't really remember much about it - except for the ending, which I faintly remember.

I am interested in seeing it, out of curiosity.
Plus, I think a friend of mine at Weta Digital may have worked on it - I must check with him.
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post #11 of 57
2/6/07 at 5:48pm

Re: Bridge To Terabithia

Thread already started here:
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/...d.php?t=247283

Doesn't really look anything like the book, but the early reviews have been promising.
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post #12 of 57
2/8/07 at 2:46pm

Re: Bridge To Terabithia (merged)

I don't think the story will veer too far away from the book - I read in an aritcle that Daniel Paterson wrote it (the son of the author) and I think the story is based on something that happened to him in his childhood. I'm thinking it'll be pretty faithful, and pretty good.

The creatures, etc. in the trailer look really neat to me, so I'm interested in seeing the other effects and stuff, because WETA does such amazing work. (I am a fan for life after LOTR.)
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post #13 of 57
2/8/07 at 4:48pm

Re: Bridge To Terabithia (merged)

Well - you never know - but Walden Media are the same folks who made Holes, which I thought was very nicely done. They're also the folks behind Amazing Grace, which I have seen, and is quite good.

I never trust trailers anymore. So I wouldn't panic over what the marketing department has cooked up to sell the movie.

BtoT might be just fine. I'm reserving judgement until I can see for myself.
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post #14 of 57
2/8/07 at 7:32pm

Re: Bridge To Terabithia (merged)

i'm not familiar with the book. never heard of it.
the trailer, to me, look like a cash in on the chronicles of narnia.
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post #15 of 57
2/10/07 at 10:05am
Thread Starter 

Re: Bridge To Terabithia (merged)

The new trailers on TV look very bad. My one hope is that the previews show the full extent of the digital scenery, and fully misrepresent the actual content of the movie. The face of the giant suggests connection back to the core story, so perhaps this is the case

I hope my fears are misplaced; that Terabithia the movie is every bit as wonderful as the book.
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post #16 of 57
2/10/07 at 7:11pm

Re: Bridge To Terabithia (merged)

Looks like the previews ARE misleading to what the actual film is about. This is from Scifiwire.com

"The filmmakers behind Disney's upcoming fantasy film Bridge to Terabithia disavowed any connection with the movie's ad campaign, which they told SCI FI Wire was deliberately misleading. The ads show a boy and girl entering a fantasy world; the scene actually takes place at the end of the movie.

"I believe it's a stretch, and it's a very difficult decision on Disney's part, but we the filmmakers had nothing to do with that promotion," said director Gabor Csupo (The Wild Thornberrys). "We don't really think that it's an appropriate way of selling the movie, but they're convinced that that's the way to get kids interested, and hopefully they will be positively surprised. If they are anticipating a Harry Potter movie, then we are in trouble. It is not a Harry Potter kind of a movie."

The film is based on a book by Katherine Paterson, which tells the story of a friendship of a boy and girl who are bullied at school and escape into their own fantasy world of Terabithia. The book was published 30 years ago, and it took 17 years for Paterson's son, David, to co-write the screenplay and produce the project. Director Csupo said the novelist was happy with his vision: "She was very pleased from the beginning, because we did not want to turn the movie around or do a movie like the ad campaign is suggesting. We didn't want to do a movie like that."

David Paterson, who also serves as one of four producers credited for the film, said: "As a producer I can explain it in simple monetary terms: If you need honey, get a bear. And I can tell you if everyone who read the book brought three friends, then it would still lose money."

David Paterson added: "Although there is a generation that is very familiar with 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.'"

When the younger Paterson first saw the trailer, he wasn't thrilled. "The lights came up, and all these suits were very happy, and I said, 'Well, my mom is going to hate it.' And they said, 'What do you mean?' And I said, 'I don't remember that from the book.'"

Katherine Paterson then accompanied her son to another meeting. "When they brought the lights up after showing me the trailer, I said, 'Well, I'm glad I had a talk with David beforehand,'" she said.

The writers do say they are happy with the outcome of the overall film, starring Josh Hutcherson (Zathura), AnnaSophia Robb (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Zooey Deschanel (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) and Robert Patrick (Terminator 2: Judgment Day). It opens nationwide on Feb. 16."
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post #17 of 57
2/11/07 at 8:23am
Thread Starter 

Re: Bridge To Terabithia (merged)

Thanks for the article, DavidPla. It disappointing, if true, that the marketing department has so little respect for the source material that they're selling a different movie than what's being made.

But it's much more exciting, as a fan, that Katherine Paterson and her son are involved and committed to overseeing a faithful adaptation of the book! I hope the filmmakers succeed in creating the wonderful movie I expect.
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post #18 of 57
2/11/07 at 12:27pm

Re: Bridge To Terabithia (merged)

That is exactly what I expected.
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post #19 of 57
2/12/07 at 12:31pm

Re: Bridge To Terabithia (merged)

Thanks for that review Abby. I am really looking forward to opening weekend. Sounds like a great one for the kids and for us to enjoy.

JC
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post #20 of 57
2/14/07 at 10:24am

Re: Bridge To Terabithia (merged)

Looks like James Berardinelli really liked it too. 3.5/4....

Quote:
Bridge to Terabithia is an example of a movie that does not deliver what the marketing campaign promises. Instead, it delivers something richer and more meaningful. Disney, in its infinite wisdom, is trying to make the film look like a watered down Harry Potter or Chronicles of Narnia. While there are elements of fantasy within the story, they exist to support Bridge to Terabithia's themes, not as a legitimate entity in and of themselves. This is a movie about imagination and friendship, not about swords and sorcery. Those who are familiar with Katherine Paterson's Newberry Award winning children's book will be aware of this. Those who are familiar only with the film's trailer will not.

Quote:
Despite what Disney is promising, Bridge to Terabithia is not filled with special effects. When employed, the CGI works, but it's not used often. Terebithia is a land of imagination and, for the most part, Csupo keeps it that way. The movie is magical but not in the same sense that The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is. Bridge to Terabithia touches the heart without pulling too hard at the strings, and it reminds us that creativity should be encouraged in children, if only to give them a temporary refuge into which they can retreat when the colors of reality turn gray. This is easily the best family feature of the early year

Looking forward to seeing this.
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post #21 of 57
2/17/07 at 7:12pm

Re: Bridge To Terabithia (merged) - Discussion

For non-spoiler reviews, please post here.

Since the film is out, spoilers can be discussed in this thread, so be warned of such discourse here.
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post #22 of 57
2/17/07 at 7:17pm

Re: Bridge To Terabithia (merged) - Discussion

Okay...seriously, spoilers below:

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----


---


Okay, I'll admit it, I was fighting back some tears, and failed miserably. The film got me in the last act.

It is a shame that the marketing of this film undermines a wonderful story, perhaps it was needed to put butts in the seats, but I didn't think so. All it did was make you wonder, "when will we see all the stuff from the commercials/trailers?"
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post #23 of 57
2/17/07 at 9:09pm

Re: Bridge To Terabithia (merged) - Discussion

This movie absolutely floored me. It was so much better than I was expecting.

Emotionally resonant, excellent performances, nice use of effects. This could be a new famuly classic.
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post #24 of 57
2/18/07 at 4:04am

Re: Bridge To Terabithia (merged) - Discussion

If I recall correctly, this book has been tearing up readers (and entire classes) ever since it was published, certainly did so to me as a kid.

I would strongly suggest people who like the movie and never read the book to also check out Katharine Patterson's other books, in particular, The Great Gilly Hopkins--my fourth grade teacher read that aloud to us uncensored and it was the first time any of us had ever heard a teacher swear (Gilly if found of using damn). It's perhaps even better than Bridge.

Of course both books pale in comparison to The Giver, which is one of the finest books written in the past fifty years, regardless of whom it was written for. Luckily, Walden is also planning on making the Giver as well. I just wonder if they'll try to hide aspects of that book as well in the marketing.

The positive response makes me so thrilled that the same company is making The Dark is Rising
Quote:
When the dark comes rising
six shall turn it back
three from the circle, three from the trek
wood, bronze, iron; water, fire, stone
five will return and one go alone

Iron for the birthday, bronze carried long
wood from the burning, stone out of song
fire in the candlering, water from the thaw
six signs the circle, and the grail gone before

Fire on the mountain, shall find the harp of gold
played to wake the sleepers, oldest of the old
Power from the greenwitch, lost beneath the sea
all shall find the light at last, silver on the tree.

Still sends shivers down my back, fourteen years after I first read it.
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post #25 of 57
2/18/07 at 7:25am

Re: Bridge To Terabithia (merged) - Discussion

I'm glad I knew nothing about this movie going into it. I was expecting something different, and was happy that the movie wasn't at all what I was expecting after the credits started to roll.

The movie 100% "real life", despite it's label of fiction. It covers topics that every family deals with, and hits home with tremendous punch. It was so incredibly powerful and touching, that I was doing all I could to hold back the tears welling up in my eyes.

Excellent film, and I can almost guarantee it will be on my top 10 (probably top 5) for 2007.

9.5/10 (very very close to a 10/10, and it might get there after a second viewing)

JC
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post #26 of 57
2/18/07 at 7:01pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Bridge To Terabithia (merged) - Discussion

Despite the changes made from the book, the movie still carried the emotional power -- it was difficult in the movie to not break down sobbing As I've said, this is one of my favorite books and it's satisfying seeing such a strong movie translation.

I was just flipping through my book, reminded of some of the scenes and seeing the similarities and differences. I'd forgotten that Jess punched May Belle in the face in the book -- they actually softened that scene for the movie.

What I miss most, though, was the dialog between Jess and his father at the end. In the book, Jess' father sees him hurl his paints and papers into the stream. His father bluntly comments, "That was a damn fool thing to do." That line has always captured for me so much of the flavor of the book. I can understand its removal, yet I missed it and consider that a mistake.

The movie is true to the moment, though it softens the father. He's more brusque still in the book.

But as I flip through the book, I'm more impressed with the movie. The book has a great deal of internal dialog from Jess. The movie did a good job of externalizing that through its dialog, action, and invented scenes.

One that was of particular interest to me was Leslie's reading of her SCUBA essay. In the book, as Jess listens, he is engrossed in her story so much becomes claustrophic. And he chastises himself for being a coward, in comparison to Leslie. The movie used the imagined bubbles and sounds to depict how engaged Jess was, how powerful Leslie's imagery was to him. It perhaps missed some of his internal timidity, but that came out through other scenes.

And I was very impressed with the transition of Jess, the happy, even jubiliant Terebithian outside to Jess the dour, guarded son at home.
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post #27 of 57
2/18/07 at 10:45pm

Re: Bridge To Terabithia (merged) - Discussion

I went in expecting what the trailers had to offer. That trailer was the inspiration for my wife seeing the film. My family came away not liking the movie.

I loved it.

I believe that my comments are probably going to summarize the response of people seeing this film especially those not familiar with the book.
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post #28 of 57
2/19/07 at 1:03pm

Re: Bridge To Terabithia (merged) - Discussion

I'm really surprised there hasn't been more discussion on this movie after a Great opening weekend.

Where's all the chatter?

JC
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post #29 of 57
2/20/07 at 5:24am
Thread Starter 

Re: Bridge To Terabithia (merged) - Discussion

Quote:
Of course both books pale in comparison to The Giver, which is one of the finest books written in the past fifty years, regardless of whom it was written for. Luckily, Walden is also planning on making the Giver as well. I just wonder if they'll try to hide aspects of that book as well in the marketing.
Adam, that will be very interesting. I loved The Giver...until the end. At which point if fell apart into an incoherent conclusion. At least to my eyes.

There are some wonderful children's books out, new and old. As I noted in another thread, I was surprised to learn that The Tale of Despereaux is being made as an animated feature. Kate DiCamillo is a wonderful author.

My current new-favorite of the past five years would also seem to be perfect for film adaptation: The City of Ember.


Back to Terabithia: Patrick, your comments about the preview were realized in the recent Entertainment Weekly review. The reviewer based his review on the movie's failure to fulfill the preview's setup. It was frustrating to me, as it showed a complete inability to understand a movie on its own terms. The unfortunate conclusion is that a wonderful movie was given a C- because the marketing department wanted to sell some other story (and because of incompetent reviewing).
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post #30 of 57
2/20/07 at 11:52am

Re: Bridge To Terabithia (merged) - Discussion

Quote:
At which point if fell apart into an incoherent conclusion. At least to my eyes.
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
Jonas slowly goes crazy from malnutrition and he and the baby die as Jonas freezes to death, but Jonas chose it and found love, devotion, sacrifice, and the value of free will.
Alternatively, some think Jonas did reach a new community and managed to find happiness, I always thought thematically that didn't make sense, though the book is written in an open-ended manner, which probably accounts for the incoherence.
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