Bridge to Terabithia

Day 210 - 7/29/09 - Movie #206

BEFORE: It's something of a kid's story, yes, but I'm in a fantasy-film vibe, and I'm trying to make up for lost time.

THE PLOT: A preteen's life is changed after befriending the new girl at school. Together, they create Terabithia, a land of monsters, trolls, ogres, and giants and rule as king and queen.

AFTER: I guess I was expecting something a little more like the Narnia books, or "Alice in Wonderland", where the kids actually go (or seem to go) into a fantasy realm. For this one you have to sort of do what kids do, and imagine the fantasy realm overlaid over the real one. There are special-effects trolls and other creatures, but you're always aware that you're seeing them through the imagination of the young boy and girl.

And just like in "Wizard of Oz", other people they know in the real world manifest themselves as some of the fantasy creatures, and their experiences in imagination-land help them overcome obstacles in the real world. But sometimes, even for kids, tragedy strikes, and no amount of imagination can overcome a real-world death. I'm not sure that this film sends exactly the right message - using the fantasy realm to sort of escape from a real-world tragedy isn't always the best answer.

Still, it's a workable little film that doesn't overdo the special effects (which sometimes makes them less...special) and might encourage kids to face up to bullies (again, well-intentioned but not always the best advice) and dare to dream.

RATING: 5 out of 10 Twinkies