Based on the widely acclaimed 1977 young adult novel by Katherine Paterson, Bridge to Terabithia is that rarest of films aimed at adolescents. It neither condescends to nor patronizes its target audience, giving us characters who are interesting, complex and easily relatable.

Despite the film's fantasy-tinged storyline, the lives of its preteens ring with authenticity. Jesse Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) is a quiet, sensitive boy whose fifth-grade experience is neither sanitized nor nightmarish, falling somewhere short of Lord of the Flies. Friendless at school, he retreats to drawing on his sketchpad, feeding a talent that he feels compelled to hide from classmates and family.

Jesse's home life is little comfort. He is overshadowed by his four sisters, especially 7-year-old May Belle (Bailee Madison), on whom his father (Robert Patrick) dotes. The family is poor and stretched thin financially. Consequently, his folks don't do much smiling.

Jesse's life changes forever with the arrival of a new student, Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb). In some respects, the girl is Jesse's polar opposite. She is fearless and free-spirited; her parents, both of whom are fiction writers, are wealthy and demonstrative. But both Jesse and Leslie are outcasts and artistic, and they endure the harassment of bullies at school. In spite of some initial hesitation on Jesse's part, the two become fast friends.

And together they discover secluded woods across a nearby creek. Leslie, who loves tales of fantasy, conjures up a mythology around it. "Just close your eyes and keep your mind wide open," she instructs Jesse. The girl christens the land Terabithia, a magical kingdom where the two kids reign as king and queen.

Disney's marketing campaign for Bridge to Terabithia did the film a disservice during its theatrical release. Devotees of the Newbury Medal-winning book certainly knew better, but the uninitiated were devastated to discover a story that makes a sharp third-act turn into the realm of three-hanky tearjerker.

Why the misdirection? Advertising depicted the movie as fantasy, but the imaginary creatures that Jesse and Leslie encounter in Terabithia are only one element in their decidedly earthbound lives. The special effects (courtesy New Zealand's Weta Workshop) are fine, but the kids' Terabithian adventures lack true splendor. There is no dramatic tension about whether the kingdom is real or imaginary, and so it's difficult to have much of an emotional investment when Jesse and Leslie are being pursued by giants, trolls and the like. Director Gabor Csupo doesn't seem particularly interested in these sequences, either, as he employs run-of-the-mill staging. What matters is how Terabithia impacts Jesse and Leslie's real-world lives.

Csupo (mainly known for his work as the creator and producer of Rugrats) probably telegraphs the story's tragedy a bit more than he needs to, but it does not diminish Bridge to Terabithia's considerable emotional power. And the young cast is superb. Hutcherson gives a smart and subtle performance, but the standout is Robb's captivating turn as Leslie. With a glint in her eye and a palpable screen presence, this young actress is destined for big things in movies.

Ultimately, the film won me over for its sensitivity and straightforward depiction of adolescence. There is some pretty weighty stuff here -- child abuse, tolerance, death -- but screenwriters Jeff Stockwell and David Paterson (son of the book's author) don't pussyfoot around with clichés or platitudes. One example: There is a remarkable exchange after Leslie attends church for the first time with Jesse and his family. Leslie says she is fascinated by the story of Christ, but skeptical that God would subject nonbelievers to eternal damnation. "I really do not think God goes around damning people to hell," Leslie says as she gestures toward the countryside rushing past the pickup truck in which they're riding. "He's too busy running all this." It's an eye-opening sentiment for a family-friendly flick -- especially one produced by Walden Media, which is owned by devout Christian billionaire Philip Anshutz.

Perhaps most impressive, the picture has faith in the depth of its characters. Jesse and Leslie have our rooting interest, but they are not idealized. Jesse, in particular, is occasionally sullen and petty -- just like, oh, everyone. Similarly, we are allowed to glimpse the humanity in Jesse' dour father and Janice Avery (Lauren Clinton), the female bully who terrorizes Leslie.

The anamorphic widescreen is a beautiful print transfer with no defects such as pixilation or smearing. Aspect ratio is 1.85:1.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is wonderful -- clear, dramatic and making inventive use of sound separation. Audio tracks and subtitles are available in English, Spanish and French.

If Disney's marketing campaign for Bridge to Terabithia fell short, its does good by the DVD treatment. There is solid supplemental material here, including two commentaries. First up is Csupo, screenwriter Jeff Stockwell and producer Hal Lieberman. The trio does an excellent job, each bringing a unique perspective to the mix. Less interesting is a second commentary featuring Hutcherson, Robb and producer Lauren Levine. Still, the actors are engaging, likeable and far less giggly than most commentaries featuring young people.

Backstage Disney - Behind the Book: The Themes of Bridge to Terabithia (14:27) includes interviews with classroom teachers and the movie's cast members. It's an agreeable Cliff Notes version of the book, but it is really worth the price of admission for its insights from novelist Katherine Paterson. The story was partially inspired by the death of an 8-year-old girl who was a childhood friend of her son, David.

The five-minute, 56-second Digital Animation: Bringing Terabithia to Life touches on the movie's special effects by the Weta Workshop, based in New Zealand, where the movie was shot.

Also included is a music video of AnnaSophia Robb performing "Keep Your Mind Wide Open."

Bridge to Terabithia is melancholy, triumphant and altogether memorable, a family-oriented movie that is likely to impact parents and children alike. Just be prepared to dole out the Kleenex.