 Although billed as a fantasy film for kids, Bridge to Terabithia has found a warm reception among adult critics. "Consistently smart and delicate as a spider web, Bridge to Terabithia is the kind of children's movie rarely seen nowadays," comments Jeannette Catsoulis in the New York Times. Many of the critics warn parents of the Very Sad Thing that occurs in the story. Claudia Puig in USA Today cautions: "The plot takes a sad turn that could be disturbing to some children." Echoes Melinda Ennis in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The twist may be too upsetting for younger children." Several critics suggest that to describe what it entails would be a spoiler. As Cristy LeMire writes for the Associated Press: "What starts out idyllic and wholesome can be heartbreaking by the end. That's all we'll say. After all, some things are better left to the imagination." Others suggest that the ending will not leave children traumatized. Indeed, writes Elizabeth Weitzman in the New York Daily News: "Everyone involved [in the making of the film] genuinely seems to believe in the power of imagination to enliven -- and enlighten -- the darkest realities, and that's a magic this film captures beautifully." |
