Bridge to Terabithia (1985 TV Movie) User Reviews (12)

inferior except in one important way

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 1 October 2021]

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.

Remembering the Impact of the Story as a Child

[richardkrausejr · 7/10 · 25 February 2005]

I'm posting in regards to the memory of viewing "Bridge to Terabithia" (1985) when it was released.

I'm 31 years old now, but I remember reading and viewing the film and felt that it was a great story. I have asked other people if they have ever read or watched the film. None of who I had asked ever even heard of the title. I felt disappointed in that because I think the story had a great connecting bond between the two characters and the kingdom they had was similar what I had as a kid growing up in the mid-west. We (as a child in grade school) had to read and watch the film. At the time the film wasn't all that "bad" in acting from what I remember. Twenty years later I was looking up the film to see if I could find it. To my surprise I see that Hollywood is in development for a remake in 2006 which I feel is a very good thing. Kids of today don't really know good story anymore and I hope that some kids that view the remake will help them appreciate the story in todays time.

I would just like to tell the kids out there that this story impacted me when I was in grade school and hope that it touches them in the same way.

Average made-for-TV movie

[Simba4 · 3/10 · 7 November 2004]

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!

Great movie from my childhood

[palandor_alt · 23 May 2003]

I remember watching it as a child of 8 yrs old and it brought a tear to my eye. What a great movie. The acting was wonderful for that time, and I consider it to still be good. The movie was short, but to an 8 yr old, it was just about right. See it if you have the chance. Let your kids watch it if you will.

Thank Goodness they Remade this!

[KittyKat12_03 · 2/10 · 22 February 2007]

I have recently gone to the movie theatres to see the new (2007) version of Bridge to Teribithia. After, I went to the library to rent the older version to see it again without paying again. I must say that I was extremely disappointed! I found the older version to have horrible acting as well as corny lines including Jessie saying, "I know Daddy, but I hurt so much inside" after Leslie dies. It was quite horribly done and the casting was not much better in my opinion. I watched in amazement all the while saying no wonder they remade it. The story is great but trust me spend the money and see the new version, if you just see the old one you may never experience the true magic of Teribithia.

excellent

[eric-144 · 10/10 · 7 April 1999]

Excellent kid's movie about two best friends who make up an imiginary world to help them with their problems. When tragedy strikes one the other must come to terms with what has happened and what the future holds. Good acting, direction and good score as well. Highly recommended. Short movie but excellent.

Pre-teen tear jerker

[konky2000 · 2/10 · 14 March 2004]

I was in 6th grade and this movie aired on PBS during a series called 'Wonderworks.' I distinctly remember sitting on a couch watching the movie with tears running down my face at the end. In the film Jesse, the main character, forms an unusual friendship with a girl named Leslie. Due to a very simple, but careless mistake one of the pair dies. At the time, I found the story very powerful, because the fatal mistake is exactly the type of mistake a kid would make and so any kid watching the film will find it very easy to identify with and feel the emotional weight of the tragedy that ensues.

Last year, I finally tracked down a VHS copy of the show. I probably should have stuck with my memories. Watching the show as an adult I was absolutely shocked by what a horribly made film this was. My girlfriend had a similar memory of the movie as well, and she too was pretty sad about how bad the movie was compared to her memories.

Many adults probably have a good memory of watching this movie when they were kids. I strongly advise that these people leave their memories intact, and avoid seeing this film as an adult.

less that superb acting

[fuzzy-joe · 3/10 · 29 April 2007]

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.

The book was better

[patrick_dunne · 9 December 2005]

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.

Fantastic!

[RosalieBustingMyBowls · 1 October 1999]

I love this movie so much!!! I read the wonderful book back in 5th grade, and then we got to watch the movie and I just fell in love with it!!! Its such a good script with wonderful acting!!! This is a fantastic film to be enjoyed by the whole family!!!

more than beautiful

[Kirpianuscus · 11 December 2016]

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.

The bridge was a tree...

[newslogger44 · 1 August 2022]

Despite criticisms by other commenters, this made-for-TV version is more realistic for the simple reason that because the actors have less film experience and act less precociously than in later versions, they seem more like REAL kids of their age group.

We all know that too many "teen" films and TV series are cast with obvious 20-somethings (such as 90210) which stretches the suspension of disbelief to the maximum and which may even create distorted, unattainable role models for growing adolescents.

Incidentally, one commenter said that there was no actual "bridge" to Terabithia shown in the film, when in fact it was represented by a that had fallen over the gully--the tree shown in the closing scene over which the little sister was helped to cross by her brother.