Zathura (Special Edition)

Customer Reviews:

• Ruined by two foul words: I never write reviews, but how could I resist when this request appeared on my e-mail? My three-year-old son called me a "bi-atch" the other day. I was shocked -- we don't even have TV! After questioning his teachers at school, I gave up on finding the source until I heard this movie play in our van. The first thing Walter says to his robot is, "Get me a juice box, bi-atch." I also have to point out that Sammy screams, "You're such a dick" to his brother in the first 20 minutes of the movie. Now why on earth would they have to ruin such a good movie with two words?
• Half entertaining, half ball-being-dropped: Ever watch a movie that you really enjoyed from a long time ago and even though you have so much issues with it, you almost defend it anyway? One such film was "Jumanji" where the special effects have aged considerably since its release but the charm and even spectacle of it all makes it better even while you might scoff many times. Well essentially we have that movie set in space with this film, a "Jumanji: The Galaxy Edition" if you will, and while the similarities are quite obvious and the effects have gotten better, it still feels to familiar though kids might have a blast with it.
  
  Walter and Danny are 2 brothers dealing with their parent's divorce and father's working. Walter wants attention from his dad to play catch and wants nothing to do with his brother while Danny just wants his brother to play with him. But with dad gone and sister upstairs sleeping, they learn to work together when Danny finds a board game called "Zathura" that brings with it meteor showers and the house flying through space complete with strange and dangerous events every time one takes a turn.
  
  Yeah, you can see the parellels to Jumanji already huh? The board game, reading the next event (off a card instead of a glass center, the dealings with a cheater and someone who escapes from the game because of a roll, sorry...button press) and if you remember what happens when someone wins the board game in the other one well you can tell what's in this one. But aside from the similarities, the problem is the film is kind of - but not all the time - irritating, mainly due to the brother's. They spent so much time bickering and arguing that Tim Robbin's exasperation early on doesn't seem like an overreaction at all. While there's lots to ogle at, the characters themselves just don't have a lot of appeal.
  
  However, the film certainly looks great to look at with an early meteor shower, an encounter to close to a star and the end sequence being highlights. Since a good chunk of it was done without just going straight to the computers was everything is welcome. The acting when it's not being grating, works and looking at Kristen Stewart any chance I can made the film better but the lack of suspense throughout the whole film and just being little mini-episodes till the end hurts and the "villain" doesn't have a real sense of threat Jonathan Hyde brought to Jumanji. But I'm nitpicking and I certainly don't want to seem like I'm making that film to be perfectly awesome but when compared to this one, what it lacks in effects makes up for it in key areas.
  
  I'd recommend Zathura since ultimately it is a family movie and such criticisms tend to get thrown out the door when you watch but when you start really watching, then stuff gets noticed. So it's best to just go along with it.
• WAY better than Jumanji: What a criminally unappreciated gem. My four year old will latch onto a movie and want to watch it dozens of times; this is one of his favorites. The quality of this movie is such that I never miss a chance to sit with him and enjoy the imagination and craft of the story. We've watched it 20 times, and I'll gladly sit with him next Saturday morning to watch it again. The retro design lovingly recalls the pre-WW2 Flash Gordon serials. What's more impressive is that most of the effects are done with physical models; CGI is only used as an embellishment.
  
  This was clearly an excellent primer for Jon Favreau, who went on to direct "Iron Man". Good for Jon for not getting railroaded into doing Elf 2, 3 and 4. He clearly has a love for science fiction adventure.
  
  Watch out, Sam Raimi...
• Good Family Movie: Great movie for bigger kids like 8 and up. It's like a Jumanji in space basically.
• Fun family Sci-fi fantasy movie!: 12 year old Walter (Josh Hutcherson) with his brother Danny (Jonah Bobo) as well their sister Lisa (Kristen Stewart) must take care of the house for the day while their father (Tim Robbins) goes to work. Danny's all board until when he is put down in the basement, he discovers an old board game called "Zathura" as him and his brother decide to play it. Unknown to them it is an enchanted board game as it takes them and their home away into Outer Space where they encounter deadly meteorites, vicious reptilian aliens, one maniacal Robot (voiced by Frank Oz), and a lost astronaut (Dax Shepard) as they must play the game to finish it in order to get back home.
  
  Charming and entertaining Sci-fi fantasy adventure from the author of "Jumanji" Chris Van Alsburg. Jon Favreau who directed the splendid "Elf" in 2003 has made yet another very good family film and is faithful to the book, i personally thought this was better then "Jumanji". If you want a good movie that the whole family can enjoy then i recommend this movie.
  
  This DVD contains good extras like an audio commentary, a behind the scenes documentary, visual effects documentary, cast and crew info, and a few more featurettes including interviews.