Zathura lacks the undercurrents of archetypal menace and genuine emotion that informed The Polar Express. But it works gloriously as space opera.
Comment
11/10/05
Zathura (2005)
76
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
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... [More]
Starring: Josh Hutcherson, Jonah Bobo, Dax Shepard, Kristen Stewart
Director: Jon Favreau
Reviews for Zathura
121 - 140 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Top CriticThe best that can be said for Zathura is that it meets expectations, which is becoming more and more rare at the movies.
11/10/05
An extraterrestrial fantasy, based on a children's book by Chris Van Allsburg, that feels both real and unreal, like a dream you could shake off at any moment.
11/10/05
Top CriticGripping adventure with real stakes that keeps building and building. That's more than we can say for most grown-up action movies.
11/10/05
A film experience to treasure. It is difficult to imagine any person of any age going to see Zathura and not being swept away in the sheer spectacle of it all.
11/10/05
Well directed, acted, and written, and is bolstered by a light tone which emphasizes wonder and amazement over shock and awe.
11/10/05
The movie has just the right amount of scariness, just the right amount of humor and just the right amount of magic.
11/10/05
It's not nearly as good as Jumanji.
11/10/05
Zathura is welcome late-year fun for all ages -- a pleasant contrast to the nauseating dreck that normally masquerades as family-friendly science fiction. (Clockstoppers, Thunderbirds… need I go on?).
11/10/05
The movie is so well-paced for much of its run that you barely notice how efficient it is at balancing the all-too human with the otherworldly exotica.
11/10/05
Isn't space the place where no one can hear you fuss?
11/10/05
The special effects never overshadow the story, which is just down-to-earth enough to resonate with younger viewers.
11/10/05
After the screening, a preteen next to this critic asked his mom, "Why did you think I wouldn't like this?" There's your endorsement.
11/10/05
For a kid-aimed PG-rated fantasy you could do worse than Zathura: A Space Adventure. Now there's a ringing endorsement. You could do worse.
11/10/05
Although it too predictably stays the course of its predecessor, it's enough of a blast to provide a thrill ride for the kids and be an entertaining (and inevitable) journey for parents.
11/10/05
As great as the effects are, Favreau remembers that they need to be serving something else.
11/10/05
The result is a glorious low-tech pleasure that may be the most lyrical, phantasmagoric boys' adventure story since Joe Dante’s Explorers.
11/10/05
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.
11/10/05
Manages to entertain on various levels, excelling as an intense visceral thrill ride, as well as a small-scale drama with emotional punch, all peppered with smart humor.
11/10/05
Pay attention, Disney: This is how you do a family film right.
11/10/05
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