Bridge to Terabithia

TV Movie
1985
Not Rated
1h

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

When Leslie Burke moves in next door to Jess Aarons, Jess finds a friend in Leslie. Over time, they discover a secret place in the forest across a fallen pine tree, and over a creek, they ca... Read allWhen Leslie Burke moves in next door to Jess Aarons, Jess finds a friend in Leslie. Over time, they discover a secret place in the forest across a fallen pine tree, and over a creek, they call Terabithia, a place where memories are sacred.When Leslie Burke moves in next door to Jess Aarons, Jess finds a friend in Leslie. Over time, they discover a secret place in the forest across a fallen pine tree, and over a creek, they call Terabithia, a place where memories are sacred.

Director
- Eric Till
Writers
- Katherine Paterson
- Nancy Sackett
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.9/10

810

YOUR RATING

Director
- Eric Till
Writers
- Katherine Paterson
- Nancy Sackett
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos2

User reviews13

5.9810

Featured reviews

3fuzzy-joe

less that superb acting

The acting is generally pretty weak. The dialog was also apparently dubbed in after the filming, so it just doesn't come across well. What do you want for a TV movie?

Annette O'toole was OK; there were a few strong lines from the parent of the queen.

Otherwise, these kids weren't quite up to it. Didn't impress my kids either.

On the upside, it is only an hour long. Considering that, it got through plot and character development in a creditable fashion. The settings and cinematography are OK too.

Some other viewers may like it for sentimental reasons.

Kirpianuscus

more than beautiful

the flavor of book. this is the basic virtue of a film about refuges and friendship and solitude and need to be yourself. a simple and nuanced performance from each actor. the air of an age who reminds the atmosphere, the sparkles, dreams and expectations of the universe of the viewer at the same age. the sensitivity reflected in a story who gives nothing new. but it reminds essential truths. and, sure, the young actors. each of them - perfect choice for his role. short - a touching and lovely and useful adaptation. and this is more than a good point. it is a start point for reflect about the precious hours of an unique age.

3Simba4

Average made-for-TV movie

I am a fifth grade language arts teacher, and after we read this book (which the students loved), then we watched the movie. They laughed out loud! Unfortunately, it's NOT a comedy! The acting was so awful, I felt like I was watching a bunch of kids in the neighborhood putting on a play. My students were mimicking the lines and making fun off and on the whole way through. I have to agree with them, at times, it was pretty bad. Still, I would show it to students again, just for fun, and to compare the film with the book. We did a Venn Diagram (teachers know what that is) afterward, to show what was the same in both and what were the differences, so there is an educational value in showing it. I noticed that another adaptation is being filmed for 2005 so we can only hope the acting will be better!

patrick_dunne

The book was better

I'm sorry, but I can't help to be biased.

Our whole class loved the book (We stayed in at recess to finish it.) but the movie was not as good!

The acting wasn't very good either. The movie was unable to capture the power of the book. (My teacher usually cries when reading it.)Instead, it ended up looking a bit corny. I didn't like The Outsiders movie either! (They were both a bit similar.) I guess we are just used to seeing a superb first-rate book-movie, instead of another movie that looks like it was home-made.

I loved the book. Read it.

Feel free to send me a Private Message regarding this comment.

6SnoopyStyle

inferior except in one important way

Leslie Burke is the new girl in school. She moves to the farm next to Jess Aarons and soon becomes his best friend. Her parents are city folks trying to reassess their values. Miss Edmunds (Annette O'Toole) is their teacher.

This is the Canadian TV movie predecessor to the Hollywood big budget movie in 2007. The kids seem to be mostly amateurs. I wouldn't be surprised if they simply grabbed a bunch of child performers out of the local theaters. The only big name is O'Toole who has a supporting role. This is inferior in every way to the 2007 film except for one important aspect. It is the important aspect which caused some controversy when it came out. Parents were shocked by the twist and complained about scarring their little kids. The 2007 film was sold as a magical fun kiddie journey so complaining about the shocking twist is not unwarranted. That's not happening in this movie. The low budget darker production is setting up the expectation of the PBS viewers. The twist is unforeseeable but the audience is more willing to accept the kiddies learning an adult lesson when it's done this way.

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
David Paterson, who was the real-life inspiration for the character of Jess Aarons, the son of Katherine Paterson (author of the original book), and producer and screenwriter for the remake Le Secret de Térabithia (2007), referred to this version as being "like the crazy cousin that nobody talks about" and went on to say that "no one on our side was either involved with it or happy with the final product".

Goofs
Though one user pointed out that no bridge is ever seen or mentioned, the fallen pine tree over the creek serves as the titular "bridge" that the children cross to get to the shed (or "castle") they have built in the woods, where their imaginary world of Terabithia also takes place.

Quotes
[first lines]
Jesse Oliver Aarons, Jr.: On your mark. Get set. Go!

Alternate versions
The two DVD releases represent an original and an alternate version of this feature. The 2003 release by Bonneville Worldwide Entertainment has a total running time of 57:31 (including 02:21 of production clips) and is the original version broadcast on the PBS series "Wonderworks", including the Wonderworks opening and closing production clips. The 2007 release by Allumination Filmworks has a total running time of 50:03 (including 00:30 of production clips) and was probably shortened for release on commercial television in an hour long time slot. Both DVDs list a running time of "approximately 60 minutes". The Allumination version was created by cutting 05:51 out of the Bonneville feature; the longest cut (02:42) begins in the "Twinkie" scene when Jess promises May Belle that he will get even with Janice Avery for eating May Belle's Twinkie, continuing through Leslie and Jess forging a letter to Janice from Willard Hughes, through Jess putting the letter in Janice's desk, through Jess seeing puppies being given away for free, through Leslie telling Jess that Janice is in the bathroom crying, and stopping just before Leslie tells Jess why Janice is crying. The shortest of the 13 cuts is 4 seconds. Noticeable cuts include: (after May Belle tells Jess she followed him and Leslie) Jess threatening May Belle ("I catch you following me and your life ain't worth nothin'." and "I'll tell Billie Jean Edwards you still wet your bed."); after Jess enters Miss Edmunds' red sports car and Miss Edmunds says "I'm so glad your mom let you come today", Jess' response, "Oh! I forgot to call ... oh, never mind"; Jess and Miss Edmunds looking at abstract paintings in the art museum; (while Jess is at the museum with Miss Edmunds) Bill telling Leslie they could go to town for dinner and a show in the evening; (after Mr. Aarons catches Jess in his arms) the exchange [Jess] "I hate her. I hate her. I wish I'd never seen her in my whole life." [Mr. Aarons] It's not your fault. [Jess] "It's all my fault. I was supposed to meet her and I didn't. It wouldn't have happened, Leslie would still be ... [Mr. Aarons] "Hey, Jess -- you can't blame yourself. It's not your fault. [Jess] But I hurt so bad inside, Daddy." [Mr. Aarons] "I know -- I hurt too."; (later) [Jess] "I didn't mean that about hating her." [Mr. Aarons] "I know you didn't, Son."; and (after May Belle says "Boys ain't supposed to cry, are they Mommy?") [Mrs. Aarons] "Shut up, both of you, and get out now. [to Jess] Don't you pay any attention to them, just finish eating."