Zathura

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Zathura is wildly fun. It is a space/life adventure of a very unexpected and scary kind, combining effective animated monsters and low tech, nostalgic-styled space ships, with a good story mixed with plenty of laughs. There are very few “adult� or off color jokes. The characters are realistic in an obvious fantasy of their own making.

I must say I enjoyed this movie as much as any I’ve seen lately. I may be even specially qualified to review this movie as I’ve never seen Jumanji. Always wanted to but it looked a little scary. The special effects of Zathura are done well but do not detract from the story. They are done artistically as though they were painted, not computerized. The characters don't appear to be pasted onto an existing tech fest.

The dialogue is fresh and clever. The editing made this picture a masterpiece as well. There is a lot of humor and just plain funny comments by the kids. The comedic timing was frankly refreshing.

I sat next to a 15-year-old and his little sister of about 9. They both howled and started in synch. Both seemed to thoroughly enjoy the movie. Whoops and applause followed the last scene, which I find kind of weird—unless someone in the cast was in the theatre at the time.

Besides the intense and realistic action, the writers seem to have mastered the art of scripting dialogue for young people. The lines are perfectly suited to the ages of the characters—no surreal sense of 1000 year old wisdom from 6-year-olds, though the situation these three kids find themselves in is unbelievably stressful.

The premise of Zathura is two brothers and one sister (who could or should have been left out of the script without any damage to the story) who fight constantly. As the movie progresses we realize that the eldest brother, Walter (Josh Hucherson) is the future jock and big-man-on-campus type. He hates his little brother because he’s dumb and no good at anything. The little brother Danny, played by Jonah Bobo, is insecure and desperate to measure up. He is aware of his weaknesses but not his strengths. He is also about the cutest character I’ve ever seen in the movies.

Danny is banished to the basement by his older brother when he finds an old board game called "Zathura." The game itself is a combination of 1940’s vintage stamped steel game board, mechanical marvel and crystal ball. (The 1000-year-old sage is a board game instead of a 6-year-old kid). As they take their turns at the game it doesn’t take too long to realize that this is more than just a game. It is an adventure and intense life lesson to both. Each turn of the game leads them further into the unpredictable adventure and way further from home. (Out the front window, instead of Sycamore lane you see Saturn.) These two hapless lads find they have no defense against any of the onslaught other than to play the game. They are unable to find super-human strength or latent battle skills due to years of video games. They simply act as kids in a very stressful situation. As they move through the layers of their private “Inferno� they discover the real reason they have been brought to this place. I won’t tell you what it is. But it is a good lesson and one that most kids should learn. Quickly, too, before they become adults, wherein the effect of missing the lesson lessens the adult life.

For the lesson alluded to I’d take my kids to see this movie. For the action and sheer enjoyment of the ride I’d bring my friends. And for the chance to see a movie that doesn’t require more than a modicum of fakey computerized special effects, I’d bring George Lucas.

The two young actors made this film. The editing was first rate. And my compliments to Tim Robbins as Dad, who didn’t need to fill every scene in order to make his character a presence throughout the movie.

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