Bridge to Terabithia (Fantasy)

Cast: Anna Sophia Robb, Josh Hutcherson, Zooey Deschanel, Lauren Clinton and Bailee Madison

Direction: Gabor Csupo

Showing at Kumari Cinema

Kathmandu:

With an open mind you can create a kingdom of your own. Or perhaps, even a different world. But imagination here fails to create a magical world onscreen. So, if you’re looking for a magnificent mumbo-jumbo and the magical world of Terabithia with all its CGI and special effects, this one fails to match up to any other Disney fare, let alone the magnificence and splendour of Narnia.

You even wonder if you will ever get to see the much ballyhooed ‘bridge’ to the world that’s called Terabithia.

An adaptation of Katherine Paterson’s 1977 Newsberry Award Winner Brigde To Terabithia, the film flirts with the fairytale world of children even as it tries to hit hard on the reality that rules the roost.

Jess (Josh Hutcherson) and Leslie (AnnaSophia Robb) two five graders, create a world in the woods to break away from world-weariness. The two children from different backgrounds are linked together as their avocation finds a confluence even as they explore the world of imagination that provides a transient relief from the ruggedness of life.

As much as the flick fails to supply a convincing argument that reality bites, even imaginary antics don’t provide much of a solace. The end result — it fails to grip the audience’s interest as the protagonists hop across the symbolic creek that divides the real from the imaginary.

What further strips the story of its coherence is the lacklustre screenplay and almost obscure characters that further spoil the scheme.

Nevertheless, there are moments to relish — the distant but spectacular view of Terabithia and battles between dragonflies and the tear-jerking stroke to the sloppy story. But it’s too late by this time to lift the drooping spirits.