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Movies / Upcoming / Zathura
Zathura

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Zathura (2005)

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Reviews Counted:146

Fresh:111

Rotten:35

Average Rating:6.6/10

Consensus: Dazzling special effects for the kids + well-crafted storytelling for the 'rents = cinematic satisfaction for the whole family.

Runtime: 1 hr 53 mins

Genre: Childrens

US Box Office: $28,045,540

Synopsis: Actor-turned-director Jon Favreau (SWINGERS, ELF) delivers another work of intelligent, charming family fare with this space adventure, based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg (JUMANJI). Older... Actor-turned-director Jon Favreau (SWINGERS, ELF) delivers another work of intelligent, charming family fare with this space adventure, based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg (JUMANJI). Older brother Walter (Josh Hutcherson) and the younger Danny (Jonah Bobo) are constantly at war with one another, bickering over the mediating voice of their long-suffering father (Tim Robbins). When he has to go to the office to replace some papers the boys destroyed in their crossfire, he leaves them in the dubious care of older sister Lisa (Kristen Stewart), who is sleeping upstairs. When Danny discovers an old board game called Zathura stored in the basement, his excitement is lost on Walter, who has no time for such old, boring toys. Soon, however, the game becomes impossible to ignore, as the boys are transported into space, and one of them must win in order to make it home again. Each turn brings a new, often dangerous, surprise, and the boys are faced with a murderous robot, an explosive meteor shower, and lizard-like aliens, while poor Lisa is cryogenically frozen early in the game. The adventure yields some heartwarming, family-friendly life lessons, and Dax Shepard (IDIOCRACY) is unusually subdued in his role as a stranded astronaut. [More]

Starring: Josh Hutcherson, Jonah Bobo, Dax Shepard, Kristen Stewart

Starring: Josh Hutcherson, Jonah Bobo, Dax Shepard, Kristen Stewart, Tim Robbins, Peter Billingsley, Derek Mears

Director: Jon Favreau

Director: Jon Favreau
Producer: Ted Field, Scott Kroopf
Composer: John Debney
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment

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Reviews for Zathura

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1 - 20 (sorted by comments; Australian critics are listed first)
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Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
03/31/06
Sydney Morning Herald
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A flawed but likeable and kid-friendly fantasy with smartly blended effects, Zathura is a throwback to the space adventures of the 1980s.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
01/21/06
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
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a big concept, but not an original one. It is, in point of fact, pretty much a rehashing of a much better film, JUMANJI, which was also based on a book by Chris Van Allsburg.

Full Review Source: Killer Movie Reviews | comment 1 Comment
11/09/05
Andrea Chase
Andrea Chase
Killer Movie Reviews

Far and away more engaging that its predecessor, Jumanji...director Jon Favreau ("Elf") looks to have his second holiday hit on his hands

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment 1 Comment
11/10/05
Laura Clifford
Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews

It's fine for third-grade boys who thrive on action only, but this just ain't whimsical enough for everyone else.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
11/11/05
E! Online
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Some will probably harp on the movie's lack of scientific accuracy, which really is a logical complaint to make about a movie where a board game creates its own alternate reality. Just shut up and roll with it.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
12/06/05
Boston Phoenix
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N/R

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Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
12/06/05
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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N/R

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Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
12/06/05
AV Club
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N/R

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Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
01/17/06
BBC
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Time Out
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
07/01/06
Jam! Movies
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Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
12/30/06
Empire Magazine
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Its world of corporeal creatures and practical FX will allow kids to believe in the movie in a way that many have never believed in a film on the big screen before.

Full Review Source: Juicy Cerebellum | comment Comment
11/05/05
Alex Sandell
Alex Sandell
Juicy Cerebellum

After watching the kids play Zathura in Zathura -- a crackling family adventure in which sibling rivalries play out against a backdrop of Robbie-like robot assaults and devouring gila monsters -- all I can say is, let me at it.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
11/11/05
Amy Biancolli
Amy Biancolli
Houston Chronicle

Most of the film's 101 minutes is an onslaught of explosions, attacks, escapes and infighting.

Full Review Source: Sympatico.ca | comment Comment
11/15/05
Angela Baldassarre
Angela Baldassarre
Sympatico.ca

Thin on plot, skimpy on emotion, big on special effects.

Full Review Source: Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah) | comment Comment
11/21/05
Audrey Rock-Richardson
Audrey Rock-Richardson
Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah)

Although filled with amazing set pieces and a strong sense of adventure, 'Zathura' soon becomes annoying to watch because of almost continuous shouting by its young co-stars.

Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | comment Comment
11/09/05
Betty Jo Tucker
Betty Jo Tucker
ReelTalk Movie Reviews

Jon Favreau has struck again with another entertaining and unique effort, and he's thrust himself to forefront as far as directors for this genre go.

Full Review Source: FromTheBalcony | comment Comment
11/10/05
Bill Clark
Bill Clark
FromTheBalcony

The best that can be said for Zathura is that it meets expectations, which is becoming more and more rare at the movies.

Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
11/10/05
Bill Muller
Bill Muller
Arizona Republic
 
 
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