Keep Your Mind Wide Open

There's this poll in web forum that I visited frequently that asked the users to list their top ten movies for 2007. The lists, predictably has the usual suspects, Bourne Ultimatum, Transformers, all the blockbuster. My list, admittedly, is quite similar to others.

However, after I watched Bridge to Terabithia(2007) last night, I feel obliged to include this movie, which hasn't appear on anyone else. This movie has slipped my radar for a long time because based on the trailers, I thought this would be similar to Chronicles of Narnia. It's not that I don't like Narnia, but I don't like a movie that feels like copying another movie.

So when I popped the DVD into my player last night, I was expecting to be only mildly entertained by the movie. However, after I finished, I couldn't be more wrong. This movie would easily walked in my top ten movie any day of the week. Despite the fantasy elements of the movie, I can't think similar movies which deals with more realistic themes as better as this one.

Shy and quiet 12 year old Jesse Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) was having problems both at home and school. His parents (played by Robert Patrick of Terminator 2 fame, and Kate Butler) financial problems means they have little money and time for him, and he was constantly bullied at school. The only source of solace came from the drawing he made in his sketchbook. When he met Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb), the new girl in school beat him on sprint race on the school athletic day. Hence, he didn't take her to heart at first despite her early efforts to become friends. But after a while he realize despite being very different, they both have a lot in common. Like him, Leslie is also an artist. She's an aspiring writer, just like her parents. Unfortunately, also like him, her parents also paid little attention to her when they're busy finishing their books, and she's also the target of the school bullies. Brought closer by these, they soon forged a friendship.

Their friendship took another leap when they discovered an unoccupied land just across the river, in the woods near their houses. They decided to call it their own and named it Terabithia, a magical kingdom where they can be everything they want and forget all the crap they have to face at school and home. Here, Jess and Leslie creativity and imagination took off. They created and fought creatures, monsters, dragonfly-sized winged warriors, trolls and made themselves king and queen of this kingdom. Terabithia become their fortress and refuge from the real world and helped them to face it better. Leslie lively spirit and outgoing nature managed to bring Jess out of his shell. His days were becoming much more bearable with her at his side.

This is where I stop because it's very difficult to continue reviewing this movie without giving away the ending, so the best I can do is summarize it: Bridge to Terabithia is a story about love, friendship, loss and how to deal with them. And the movie told it beautifully, as poignant and moving as the novel it was based on (Yes, I know how silly my initial thought was thinking this is a Narnia imitation). The fantasy element in this movie serves as a vehicle to Jess and Leslie imagination, and it worked. We can feel the sense of wonder they had when they make things up, but still managed to keep the realistic tone of the movie.

Josh Hutcherson again excelled as Jess. He managed to portray the changes his character went through, from the shy and introvert kid to a more outgoing person he become after meeting Leslie. AnnaSophia Robb though was even better. With less screen time she managed to made the viewers fall in love with her, portraying Leslie free spirit with such panache and freshness.

The only bad thing I can said about this movie is the marketing department of Disney who choose to sell this movie as the Narnia type of movie. It's not. It's definitely better than that. I reckon many children (and parents) feel cheated after they watched the movie. However, I also hoped most of them finished watching this feeling that they got a lot more than they hoped for, cause I certainly did.

Or as Leslie said to Jess when they see Terabithia for the first time : "Keep your mind wide open".

PS: I would definitely recommend to keep your Kleenex near by when watching this movie.