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{"id":32442,"date":"2008-02-18T12:03:06","date_gmt":"2008-02-18T19:03:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lookingcloser.wordpress.com\/?p=3140"},"modified":"2013-03-12T15:52:32","modified_gmt":"2013-03-12T21:52:32","slug":"bridge-to-terabithia-and-the-spiderwick-chronicles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/lookingcloser\/2008\/02\/bridge-to-terabithia-and-the-spiderwick-chronicles\/","title":{"rendered":"“Bridge to Terabithia” and “The Spiderwick Chronicles”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Since Peter Jackson\u2019s The Lord of the Rings <\/em>films, fantasy has become (predictably) a disappointing genre at the movies.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s becoming all too familiar\u2026 a director borrows Jackson\u2019s techniques for dazzling audiences, but demonstrates ignorance when it comes to good scripts and character development. Or the filmmakers get so excited about editing their film for maximum excitement that they make mincemeat of their actors\u2019 performances. Pan\u2019s Labyrinth<\/em> is the most impressive exception, but for the most part, Peter Jackson\u2019s achievements look better and better all the time.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why I\u2019m delighted to discover (rather late, I\u2019m afraid) that Walden Media\u2019s Bridge to Terabithia<\/em> is one of the better post-Jackson fantasy efforts, and it\u2019s an unexpected delight from a studio that has been consistently disappointing.<\/p>\n

The special effects are wonderfully whimsical. And the cast is well-chosen. But the film\u2019s real strength is the story by Katherine Paterson. My compliments to the filmmakers who took the story seriously. The film took me into much deeper waters than I\u2019d anticipated.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m inclined to recommend the book, which I\u2019m sure is more rewarding than the film, but for an evening\u2019s entertainment, the DVD is a pleasure. Anne suggested it for last week\u2019s date night, and I thanked her for the idea.<\/p>\n

Annasophia Robb is a little too decorated, and a little too charming.\u00ac\u2020But I\u2019d much rather see her become a big star for Terabithia than that unbearable disaster called The Reaping<\/em>. As the central character, Jesse, Josh Hutcherson dutifully applies himself to some sentimental, touchy-feely scenes, but he\u2019s\u00ac\u2020especially effective in scenes of\u00ac\u2020confrontation with\u00ac\u2020Robert\u00ac\u2020Patrick, who plays Jesse\u2019s temperamental father. The rest of the cast is uniformly impressive, and with the exception of some intrusive, disposable pop songs, there\u2019s none of the pandering that I\u2019ve come to expect from \u201cfamily films.\u201d I was genuinely moved by the conclusion.<\/p>\n

All of this leads me to take interest in the positive buzz going around for The Spiderwick Chronicles<\/em>. Here\u2019s Brandon Fibbs\u2019 review<\/a> at CT Movies. And, for a second opinion, here\u2019s Greg Wright<\/a>, who\u2019s less enthusiastic.<\/p>\n

Thanks to Terabithia<\/em>, I just might have to give this one a chance.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"