The characters, especially those of the two ten-year-old protagonists, ring true and when, just past the midway point, tragedy strikes it's quite devastating.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Dec 5, 2014

Bridge to Terabithia is not only faithful to the novel but also stands to become a beloved family movie.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Dec 5, 2014

This screen adaptation of Katherine Paterson's now-classic novel for young readers tells its story with agreeable simplicity in between computer-generated monsters.

Full Review | Nov 22, 2013

The special effects suggest a Narnia-like romp, but the movie has a darker, more sorrowful landscape to explore and it does so brilliantly, with true nuance and heartfelt sincerity.

| Nov 22, 2013

The film, though, takes us to a world in which imagination comes to life, with lavish CGI special effects giving the magic of Terabithia a palpable presence it never had in the book, even in Jess and Leslie's imaginations.

| Original Score: B- | Oct 29, 2008

It's the sort of movie I admire more in retrospect than I did while watching it.

| Dec 4, 2007

I liked the seriousness with which it has been made, the willingness to grant deep feeling to its young characters, and the way it avoids of a lot of the cliches... but the failure to enchant in the scenes in the woods leaves a hole.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jun 15, 2007

Here's an old-fashioned children's film that should suit the once huge family audience very well.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | May 4, 2007

The invented world is stolid, the logic of its relationship with reality muddled; but what really kills the film is the way it wears its uplift on its sleeve.

| Original Score: 2/5 | May 4, 2007

The kids are good; the effects are appalling.

| May 4, 2007

Narnia fans might find some enjoyment in this children's fantasy adventure.

| Original Score: 2/5 | May 4, 2007

It's shamelessly manipulative, but also deeply moving.

| Original Score: 3/5 | May 4, 2007

A thoroughly pleasing family film with fine performances and honest, affecting real situations mixed with joyful adventure.

| Original Score: 4/5 | May 4, 2007

An affecting inquest into the nature of courage, mortality, grief and the healing power of faith.

| May 3, 2007

This handsomely mounted adaptation of Katherine Paterson's Newberry award-winning novel is an intelligently layered drama of creative inspiration and adolescent friendship.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Feb 28, 2007

[Director Gabor] Csupo doesn't condescend to his audience; the complications of grade-school life are extremely serious business to the people experiencing them.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Feb 25, 2007

It's rendered in a very touching and authentic and beautiful way.

Full Review | Feb 20, 2007

As humane a Hollywood film as we're likely to see all year.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 17, 2007

This is Csupo's feature directorial debut, but as creator, producer, and writer of Rugrats and The Wild Thornberrys, among several other series, he's had a long career in animation, and he handles the CGI setpieces masterfully.

| Original Score: B+ | Feb 16, 2007

A family film that recognizes that there are some interesting, intelligent fifth graders out there who aren't obsessed with fart jokes or potty humor.

Full Review | Feb 16, 2007