ZATHURA: A SPACE ADVENTURE
US, 2005, 113 minutes, Colour.
Jonah Bobo, Josh Hutcherson, Dax Shepard, Kristen Stewart, Tim Robbins; Voice: Frank Oz.
Directed by Jon Favreau.
As a name for a film, Zathura does not give much away. They have added an extra, ‘A Space Adventure’.
Sometimes, it is very hard for adults, especially those who are not accompanying children to the cinema, to sit through some of the action movies designed for the young audience. Many more than usual will be able to enjoy Zathura. But, as with so many children’s films (from Nanny Mc Phee to Narnia), we start with children behaving badly. And, not only badly but obnoxiously – bickering constantly and at full screech. However, we know that they are going to be taught a lesson and that they will be better by the end of the film.
In Zathura, the bickering borders on the incessant and even the lost astronaut (later explanations of how he gets into the picture) has to scold the two brothers, one six and one ten, who are at the centre of this adventure. They have a fourteen year old sister who usually communicates with them at the level of ‘shut up’. But, she is asleep or in the bathroom for a lot of the film.
So, what on earth (or in space) is Zathura? It is a board game which the two brothers (Josh Hutcherson as Walter and Jonah as Danny) find on a Saturday afternoon while their father (Tim Robbins) is at a meeting. They not only play it, they live it.
Out into space they go, floating in their house. At first, it is enjoyable as they wind the key which will wind the machine to tell them how many moves they make and produces a card which says what action will be next. When the Zorgons attack, absolute mayhem results with the house smashed and trashed. The only way to get back home is by playing. The lost astronaut, mentioned before, turns up and tries his best to help.
Actually, there is quite a moral in the character of the astronaut and his identity which leads to the boys learning their lesson and a more fraternal future. Directed by actor Jon Favreau, who entertained us with Elf.
1.The appeal of this kind of children’s film? Younger-age audience? Parents and adults?
2.The basis of the film in a board game? Jumanji – and Zathura being a sequel? The popularity of this kind of game? Participation? Winning?
3.The realistic background, the home? The neighbourhood? The contrast with the house spinning through space? The atmosphere of space? Other planets? Interplanetary life? The musical score?
4.The special effects? The game? Space? The robots? The creatures? The stunt work?
5.The presentation of the two brothers, their ages, quarrelling and bickering? Tiresome? Lisa, at puberty, her different perspective on life? Her attitudes towards the brothers? Them to her? Their father, cheerful? His character?
6.The boys, discovering the game, starting to play? The effect of the house going into space? The meteor shower?
7.The playing of the game, the giant robot? Lisa and her being accidentally frozen?
8.The discovery of the stranded astronaut? His friendship, his background, working with the boys? The ship and the hostile Zorgons?
9.The words of the brother, his talking about losing his own brother, playing Zathura? His regrets about what had happened? His warning the older brother about the danger?
10.Lisa, revived, the Zorgons pursuing her, the siege of the house? The mayhem, the game going to the ship?
11.Danny, trying to finish the game, getting aboard the ship to get the game? The robot, Walter reprogramming? The robot defeating the Zorgons?
12.Walter, his wish, his generosity about the astronaut’s brother? The irony that the astronaut turns out to be the older Walter? The brother being Danny? The time travel, travelling in order to save Danny?
13.The finishing of the game, the black hole, finding themselves back on Earth? Everything back to normal? Their father and his return home – a more friendly future, especially between the two brothers?
