by GOPMOM

Created on: February 18, 2007   Last Updated: May 09, 2007

Disclaimer If you have not yet seen this movie and plan to, be forewarned, I give away a lot of the storyline. Also, as I refuse to shell out another eight bucks to see the movie again, please understand that I am trying to convey the mood of the picture, not quote it verbatim.

I am getting old at least that is how it feels. It's getting so I can't even go to the movies without getting all hot and bothered. The latest offense "A Bridge to Terabithia". On the outset, it seemed pretty harmless. A boy being bullied at school makes friends with the new girl. Standard pre-teen drama. Then, they imagine/invent a make believe world, where they feel free to face their tormentors. And of course, they prevail. (Oh, and there is the really sad part where one kid dies.)

I did some research ahead of time and decided that the movie would be OK for my daughter to see. (I even vaguely remember reading the book.) Plus, I love going to the movies, especially on a cold snowy afternoon, when everyone is still at work or school. So, we went.

What did I find so offensive? How about the scene where the kids are riding home from church and discussing the fate of the eternally damned. Let's ignore the fact that this conversation is totally implausible, as it takes place between two 12-year olds and a six year old. What I find offensive is that the answer to the question of what happens if you don't believe the Bible, according to the six year old, is you get "damnation to hell". Now, I've known quite a few six year olds, and I've never heard one say that. The twelve year old boy has little to offer. He seems quite unclear on the fate of non-Christians which is surprisingly accurate for a twelve year old. He quietly defers to his sister. The twelve year old girl finds her answer unbelievable and questions the validity of the statement. At this point, the filmmaker has the six year old repeat her earlier claim of damnation to hell, while zooming in on her tiny, sweet, cherubic face. (It's actually quite disturbing to watch.)

Well, it takes about 60 seconds for the implications of this exchange to sink in. But it does, and the entire storyline becomes suspect. As you mentally review the film, many questionable issues come to mind. Like how the family of the girl that doesn't attend church or believe in the Bible is the more affluent of the two families. They are well educated, artistic types, with a single child, who celebrate the completion of a book by painting the walls of their living

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