Ugh!

[fenchurch]

I don't know how I missed this, but apparently Disney has made a movie from a book I despise with the passion of a thousand burning suns: Bridge to Terabithia.

Seriously, there aren't words enough to describe my complete hatred of that book... and unless they've massively changed things for the movie (at which point, why bother calling it "Bridge to Terabithia"? I know, I know... it's Disney. The same people who brought us the travesty that is "The Jungle Book") there are going to be a whole freakin' lot of children absolutely devastated after seeing it, made even worse by how horribly misleading the trailers are. *shudder*

Comments

[allisnow.livejournal.com]

I never read BtT... lest I inflict it on my students, what makes it so awful?

[tomte.livejournal.com]

Without getting too spoilery, there is a death in the book, and it is devastating.

Actually, I plan on not seeing this movie for precisely the opposite reason--I was very moved by the book as a child, and from what I can tell of the trailers, the movie will be an utter travesty.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

I think the biggest problem I had with the book was that it was presented to me in a sort of bait and switch. Our local librarian was constantly trying to get me to read young adult books (I'm not sure what bothered her so much about the fact that I read adult-level books at a young age) and, knowing I loved SF&F, pushed that book on me.

Essentially, I went in expecting the sort of story being portrayed by the trailer for the movie and got what was basically a "real life issues" book that was, as Tomte so aptly put it, devestating.

Maybe if I'd gone into it with a different mindset I wouldn't hate it as much... but for me it really was a bait and switch and not a good one.

[elisi]

The same people who brought us the travesty that is "The Jungle Book"
Not to mention what they did to Winnie The Pooh... *shudders*

[tomte.livejournal.com]

Amen! Preach it sister! *snap snap*

[cathyteach2.livejournal.com]

I love the book right up until you-know-what happens. I think I mostly like it from a nostalgia-perspective since it's about kids growing up exactly when *I* was. The sad part is awful, of course, but the rest of the story is lovely. I'm planning to avoid the Disney version because I can't imagine they will do it well. Plus, I bet they will update it and have it set in current times and I will always picture it in the more innocent childhood days of the 1970's. Anyway, so I don't hate the book like you but I hate that Disney is doing it.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

For me, it really was a problem with how the book was presented to me... it became a really nasty bait and switch scenario, where I was led to expect one thing and got something completely different (and rather devestating). Mostly, I'm a bit worried that's exactly what's going on with the trailers for this movie... that they'll be pulling people in expecting to see one thing and giving them something entirely different.

[meyerlemon.livejournal.com]

OMG!

There was... I think there was a TV-movie based on it, from the 70s or 80s? Maybe? Am I making this up?

In any case, that book is what a friend of mine calls a "hidden cancer movie"-- where you go in thinking it's about one thing and then WHAM THE MAIN CHARACTER DIES OF LEUKEMIA AND YOUR HEART BREAKS.

It's a really disturbing story. I hated it.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Yep, there was one of those Saturday Morning or Afternoon Specials made from the book. And you've put your finger on exactly why I hated it so much... it leads you to believe it's going to be one thing and then turns out to be one of those Real Life Issues books. Ugh.

Whaddya mean UGH?

[spacebumby.livejournal.com]

I loved the book. I saw the trailer and I have to say, that movie WILL be a travesty. Unless I somehow forgot that there were real fairies and walking trees in it....

Re: Whaddya mean UGH?

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Heh. Well, for me, it really was a problem with how the book was presented... it became a really nasty bait and switch scenario, where I was led to expect one thing and got something completely different and rather devestating. (I had a local librarian who kept trying to get me to read YA fiction and gave it to me knowing I loved SF&F and sort of leading me to believe that's what it was going to be, rather than one of those Real Life Issues sort of books.)

Mostly, I'm a bit worried that's exactly what's going on with the trailers for this movie... that they'll be pulling people in expecting to see one thing and giving them something entirely different.

Re: Whaddya mean UGH?

[spacebumby.livejournal.com]

See, to me, this means you can't really say you loathed the book, because you didn't actually read it. I loved it because I knew what it was supposed to be about and thus couldn't feel betrayed by it. So the problem isn't the book, it's the expectations of the reader--and I'd hate to blame the book for that. :) I say, if you were a child reader who hated it, read it again as an adult and see what happens. You may still hate it, but it will be a reasonable hatred.

I had a couple of kids check Terabithia out yesterday because of the upcoming movie. I made a point of telling them that 1) the book is NOTHING like the movie and 2) something really sad happens in this book, so don't say you weren't warned. I don't think they paid attention, but at least my conscience is clear.

[queenofattolia.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this is sort of like me and the upcoming travesty that will be The Dark is Rising.

And I knew BtT was a dog the second I saw the fairies and pterodactyls and dragons or whatever those were flying around in the trailer. I believe the kids only imagined such things in the book, right? "BOR-ING!" said the wise folks at Disney. "What good is all that if it's not literal and we can use CGI?!" Very wise. I'll also bet that there isn't a death at all, only the threat of one, which will be averted through the intervention of the kids' magical new friends! Who can cheat death! Yeah, that's the ticket!

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Yep. And since my problem with the book stems from having been misled about its nature when I started reading it... well... that's the reason I got a bit riled up about the trailers. Unless they've completely changed the book, they're doing the same thing that was done to me: leading the audience to believe it's one type of story, when it's really something entirely different (and fairly emotionally devestating).

[hollywdliz.livejournal.com]

I barely remember this book (though I do remember the WHAM! moment at the end) and don't think I hated it, but I could be wrong, because I tended to "hate" books with sad endings when I was a kid (even "The Velveteen Rabbit," and that ending was supposed to be happy!).

On another note, this is Phil Anschutz's production company, the same one responsible for "Narnia." Interesting choice for them.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Some interesting choices all around.

And I find myself in the odd position of almost hoping that they've completely changed the story from the book... because my problems with is stem from having the book presented to me in one way, only to have it turn out to be something completely different (it was given to me by a, hopefully, well-meaning librarian because I was into SF&F... I was NOT expecting a book about Real Life Issues), and I'd hate for the same thing to happen to a whole new audience.

[jerusha]

I remember reading the book, or thinking that I should perhaps, because it didn't make much of an impression on me. I don't remember being devastated by it, although I seem to recall the you-know-what that happens. Of course, I read so many books as a child, it's not surprising that I wouldn't remember that one.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

I had a librarian who pushed it on me, ostensibly because I loved SF&F novels so much... she kept trying to get me to read YA books (I'm not sure what her problem was with me reading adult novels). As a result, I waded into it fully expecting a completely different type of story... it was a bit like a bait and switch, which made the ending all the more devestating.

So, I'm almost hoping they've changed the story completely for the movie, otherwise they're just doing the same thing that was done to me... promising one thing and delivering something entirely different.

[nmissi.livejournal.com]

I suppose I've always enjoyed a good tragedy; I loved the book. And the movie is likely to be a complete and utter travesty. Hey, I should have made this response into a poem. ;)

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

LOL!

Well, as I've been replying to everyone, my real issues with the book are rooted in how it was presented to me... in a very misleading way which made the "Real Life Issues" aspect all the more devestating.

I'm actually almost hoping they've changed the story completely, because otherwise they're just doing the same thing that was done to me... reeling people in with promises of one type of story and giving the something else entirely.

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

Apropos of nothing in your post, I noticed this (http://www.amazon.com/Apocalypse-Chow-Well-When-Power/dp/1416908242/sr=11-1/qid=1167238407/ref=sr_11_1/104-2171244-7610320) today and although I remember that you have a gas stove, perhaps your neighbors might be interested in this.

And yes, BtT isn't a big favorite with lots of people.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Ooo... I think I may have to pick up a copy of that cookbook for myself!!