I read the entire book the day before the 2007 movie came out in theaters. I was way excited to go and see it, even though I cried through both. I've never seen the one from 1985 and I don't own the book or either movie, though i will when I find them on sale one day.

Haven't read the book (although I've been meaning to for awhile).
Haven't seen the '85.

I have seen the newer version, and I really liked it. It is one of the two movies that have made me tear up, the other was Pixar's Up. I originally thought it would be more fantasyish, but I loved it anyway. The ending was sooo bittersweet; I feel sad just thinking about it.

Edit: oh, cool. 500th post!

To make this short: read the book, seen both movies. First movie was decent for what it was. The newer movie was great, capturing much of the book's feel in every way, especially with the ending, which arguably brought me more to tears than Leslie's death did (I'm guessing this isn't really a spoiler by now).

But yeah, it's definitely not for the weak-hearted or those who want their stories to be all sunshines and rainbows. It is a very honest book, dealing with very relatable feelings of loss and the questions that come up afterwards, some of which don't have easy answers.

Those who remember the story probably know which particular question I'm referring to. If the book (and consequently the movie) didn't give a particularly "good" answer, it's because there really isn't a good answer to that question. At least, since the story is fiction, if you really want to, then you can come up with a way to justify that, yes, Jess will reunite with Leslie in Heaven. But when this sort of thing happens in the real world, the question is much harder to answer.

Oh, and the ending. As I said before, it was the ending, particularly the way the movie portrayed it, that really struck me. There's just something about how Jess changes from seeing May Belle as just his annoying little sister to his fellow "queen" and ruler of Terabithia.

I did not read the book nor seen the old version, just the new one with Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb. They did an excellent job. I like it because it showed that with imagination you can go anywhere...very powerful.

It was sad when she died....I cried a little. Need to read the book!

I haven't read the book yet, I plan to. I'm meaning to go and see if the 80's version is on a legal site to watch.

I love Bridge To Terabithia, it's a great story of friendship, loss, and learning that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. It's just so sad
but very worth watching with your true best friend.

Bridge To Terabithia is, for me, almost personal. I have never had a friend my age die, but I have friends and ex-friends who were and are like Leslie. and some of them moved away and I have not seen them since. the story is nostalgic for me in many ways and I love it. the movie (the new one) was awesome!

greenbird37 read the book! it's awesome!

Have you read the book and do you own it? Yes and yes. I automatically loved the book because it mentions Narnia positively. But I also loved it because of the depth and deep beauty of the characters and story. Leslie is a lot like the girl I was when I first read the book, so that really appealed to me. The one thing that bothered me was the Christianity, but I managed to just change that in my own mind to make it satisfactory.

Have you seen the 1985 version of the movie? Nope.

Have you seen the newer version of the movie? Yes, it is one of the two non-Narnian or Sherwood Pictures movies that I have seen in the theater. It was good and I really enjoyed it, but I had such a strong picture of the book, characters, and land that the movie seemed very wrong to me because of the changes. It was very well done, though, and the casting was close to perfect. I was especially struck by how Jess-like Jess was. And it certainly captured the emotions of the book, like everyone else is saying.

I lost a friend like Leslie. I had family in Mississippi and I made friends with their neighbor. There was this creek we used to go to along with my cousins as well all the time when I visited. There was a storm that overflowed the creek and the next day my friend slipped and fell in (I wasn't there when this happened). She was found alive but had too much water in her and died. It was sad for me to watch this movie at first because it brought back those memories but it made me appreciate the friends that I got.

Have you read the book and do you own it? I read the book forever ago and didn't think much of it (but somehow ended up with my own copy anyway. A horrific-looking first British edition).

Have you seen the 1985 version of the movie? I saw some clips on Youtube. I laughed.

Have you seen the newer version of the movie? I watched it a month ago and liked it so much that I reread the book, and suddenly liked the book a lot better too. And I noticed some of the symbolism and such that flew over my head a few years ago, which made me appreciate the story a lot more. She really is a good writer! I think it was the 70s-and-redneck-ness of the book that turned me off, both of which the movie removed, so.

I love the movie though. There are so, so many small subtle things that I missed the first time, and only noticed later, or after someone else pointed them out--like the keys, or the blonde girl at Leslie's

, or the foreshadowing in Leslie's essay. It was odd, I've never identified with characters that much before (mainly Jess)...I've not experienced anything like what he does by the end, but I suppose the theme of being an outsider is something I can relate to very easily.

Actually I first watched it on Youtube, then got the DVD from the library for the special features, but while I was away for three weeks my family found the DVD and watched it expecting a happy fantasy film. I was very, very sorry not to be around to witness their dropping jaws. My dad emailed me and said it was the biggest cinematic shock of his life and asked why had I brought THAT home and then said he didn't want to talk about it again.

The worldview issues used to bother me, but not so much any more. I'm not sure why. Reading The Invisible Child (a collection of Katherine Paterson's speeches and essays about writing for children. Very good. Read it. ) helped, as she talks about her faith and how she works it into her stories. And I don't think she means to present the theology in BTT as necessarily correct, only as what certain flawed characters believe. The story isn't anti-Christianity, it just shows people who are looking for truth and haven't quite found it yet.

I've seen it once, and read it briefly.

I had previously seen the book on library shelves but the blurb didn't attract me - seemed like someone getting attention by copying Narnia.

In early 2006 I heard about the film that was to be made in NZ (same studios as LWW), because I was asked if I was available to be a stand-in for one of the child actors (I am very short). I said yes, found the text on line and read it very swiftly. But I didn't get the work, and that was it.

Eventually I saw the film and thought it was quite well done. I have since seen snippets of the earlier film, and felt it was a bit better - the 2007 actors seemed to be too old for the ages written in the book.

From what I've read about it, this is a very popular book for kids to read or be read in school, and I can see why it's really enjoyed.

Have you read the book and do you own it? Yes to both questions. I'd definitely consider myself a Paterson fan, and I think this is probably her best book. I actually went to hear her speak at a conference once, and I meant to bring a copy for her to sign, but I forgot it. So I ended up buying a copy of Jacob Have I Loved and having her sign that instead.

Have you seen the 1985 version of the movie? Yes, once when I was a child, and once after I read the book a few years back. I must admit, I don't remember it very well. It's sort of like the old BBC Narnia in that you have to be able to embrace old TV-quality videotape, etc., in order to enjoy it, and give up the CGI in return. For me, that isn't really an issue.

Have you seen the newer version of the movie? Yes, and it really didn't do anything for me. Showing their imaginings was a mistake. Updating the story was also a mistake. It didn't have any of the nostalgic feel that makes the book so beautiful. Would you update To Kill a Mockingbird? I didn't think so.

Have you read the book and do you own it? Yes, I've read it. Two or three times maybe? Maybe only once... No, I don't own a copy.

Have you seen the 1985 version of the movie? Nope.

Have you seen the newer version of the movie? Yep. It was way after I read the book, so it was really close to what I remembered of the book. I enjoyed it. I'm not sure I'd run out to watch it again, but I enjoyed it.

While I don't necessarily agree with lys's conclusion that showing the imaginings was a mistake, I do think the best part of the film is when they're not actively imagining being in Terebithia... for example, the scene where they're swinging on the rope is utterly beautiful.

Reading The Invisible Child (a collection of Katherine Paterson's speeches and essays about writing for children. Very good. Read it. )...

Ditto, ditto, ditto!

I lost a friend like Leslie. I had family in Mississippi and I made friends with their neighbor. There was this creek we used to go to along with my cousins as well all the time when I visited. There was a storm that overflowed the creek and the next day my friend slipped and fell in (I wasn't there when this happened). She was found alive but had too much water in her and died. It was sad for me to watch this movie at first because it brought back those memories but it made me appreciate the friends that I got.

wow. that must have been spooky to see almost the same turn of events in the movie. I'm sorry for your loss.....

There is a girl that used to live next door to me who was like the girl version of Jess. we used to play together every day and do everything together. then one day she had to move away and while that's not as bad as dying, it hurt me deeply. I haven't seen her since. so when I read the book, I was amazed to see the friendship between Jess and Leslie being so much like my friend and I. when I read the book or see the movie (mostly the movie now) I feel like she's back.

I read the book and watched the movie. Yup, the book was read for my Children's Literature class. And yes, I did catch the Narnia reference very quickly.

I just read the book over again - and cried my eyes out again! I will probably cry every time!