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Movies / On DVD / 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.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for fantasy action and peril, and some language.

Runtime: 1 hr 53 mins

Genre: Childrens

Theatrical Release:Nov 11, 2005 Wide

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

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Feb 14, 2006

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Reviews for Zathura

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121 - 140 (sorted by date)
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Zathura lacks the undercurrents of archetypal menace and genuine emotion that informed The Polar Express. But it works gloriously as space opera.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
11/10/05
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
11/10/05
Stephen Holden
Stephen Holden
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Gripping adventure with real stakes that keeps building and building. That's more than we can say for most grown-up action movies.

Full Review Source: About.com | comment Comment
11/10/05
Fred Topel
Fred Topel
About.com

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.

Full Review Source: DustinPutman.com | comment Comment
11/10/05
Dustin Putman
Dustin Putman
DustinPutman.com

Well directed, acted, and written, and is bolstered by a light tone which emphasizes wonder and amazement over shock and awe.

Full Review Source: IGN Movies | comment Comment
11/10/05
Shawn Adler
Shawn Adler
IGN Movies

The movie has just the right amount of scariness, just the right amount of humor and just the right amount of magic.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
11/10/05
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

It's not nearly as good as Jumanji.

Full Review Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel | comment Comment
11/10/05
Tracy Allerton
Tracy Allerton
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

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?).

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
11/10/05
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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.

Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
11/10/05
Gene Seymour
Gene Seymour
Newsday
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Isn't space the place where no one can hear you fuss?

Full Review Source: Orlando Weekly | comment Comment
11/10/05
Steve Schneider
Steve Schneider
Orlando Weekly

The special effects never overshadow the story, which is just down-to-earth enough to resonate with younger viewers.

Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
11/10/05
Colin Covert
Colin Covert
Minneapolis Star Tribune

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.

Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor | comment Comment
11/10/05
M. K. Terrell
M. K. Terrell
Christian Science Monitor

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.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
11/10/05
Michael Phillips
Michael Phillips
Chicago Tribune
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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.

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
11/10/05
Melinda Ennis
Melinda Ennis
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

As great as the effects are, Favreau remembers that they need to be serving something else.

Full Review Source: CHUD | comment Comment
11/10/05
Devin Faraci
Devin Faraci
CHUD

The result is a glorious low-tech pleasure that may be the most lyrical, phantasmagoric boys' adventure story since Joe Dante’s Explorers.

Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | comment Comment
11/10/05
Scott Foundas
Scott Foundas
L.A. Weekly

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

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.

Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star | comment Comment
11/10/05
Phil Villarreal
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star

Pay attention, Disney: This is how you do a family film right.

Full Review Source: New Times | comment Comment
11/10/05
Luke Y. Thompson
Luke Y. Thompson
New Times
 
 
121 - 140 (sorted by date)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
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