Bridge to Terabithia DVD Review

Adaptation of Award-Winning Children’s Novel Arrives on DVD

Winner of the Newbery Award as the best children’s book of 1978, Bridge to Terabithia is a bittersweet, if ultimately uplifting, coming-of-age tale touching on a litany of themes, including fantasy, friendship and family. This faithful Disney adaptation of the Katherine Paterson best seller stars Josh Hutcherson, as Jesse, a shy ten year-old fed up with being teased at school. To garner a modicum of respect, he’s been in training all summer to be the fastest kid in the fifth grade.

In the forest of Terabithia.
In the forest of Terabithia.

AnnaSophia Robb co-stars as Leslie, a rough-and-tumble tomboy the same age who has just moved to town from the city. After she humiliates Josh by beating him in a boys-only foot race, he grudgingly accepts her overture of friendship. Gradually, the two hit it off, sharing ideas about dealing with bullies, and exploring darting into the woods behind their homes.

In the forest, they discover a rope swing across a river which leads to a tree house where they find Terabithia, a magical land that’s a product of their mutual imaginations. Unfortunately, tragedy eventually strikes, as the codeword ‘bittersweet’ often implies, and the ensuing grief provides the empathetic survivor a growth opportunity, and both an emotional and physical bridge to adult sensibilities.

Though only rated PG, the mature subject matter might prove to be too upsetting for younger tykes accustomed to happily-ever-after fare. Otherwise, this well-acted, CGI-driven drama is recommended as an optimistic, sensitive saga about mourning and renewal.

AnnaSophia Robb and Josh Hutcherson in Bridge to Terabithia.
AnnaSophia Robb and Josh Hutcherson in Bridge to Terabithia.

Bridge to Terabithia

Very Good (3 stars)

Rated PG for scenes of peril, mature themes including bullying and mild epithets.

Running time: 94 minutes

Distributor: Walt Disney Home Entertainment

DVD Extras: Audio commentary by the director, the producer and the scriptwriter, another commentary by a different producer and co-stars AnnaSophia Robb and Josh Hutcherson, a music video, a “Behind-the-Scenes” featurette, plus “Digital Imagination: Bringing Terabithia to Life.”

Kam Williams is a popular and top NewsBlaze reviewer, our chief critic. Kam gives his unvarnished opinion on movies, DVDs and books, plus many in-depth and revealing celebrity interviews.

Sadly, Lloyd Kam Williams passed away in 2019, leaving behind a huge body of work focused on America’s black entertainment community. We were as sad to hear of his passing as we were overjoyed to have him as part of our team.