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According to Drew Dietsch
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Controversial claim: science fiction shouldn’t be just for adults. Kids love science fiction and should get plenty of movies and TV shows that explore and celebrate the genre without trivializing it because of the age of the intended audience. Back in 2000, a film attempted this, but it flopped at the box office and still doesn’t get the full appreciation it deserves. We hope to change that.
Zathura: A Space Adventure it was almost doomed from the start. Based on the book by Jumanji author Chris Van Allsburg, sci-fi director Jon Favreau’s “board game comes to life” concept has worked against so much. It never got a fair shake, was immediately buried at the box office and mostly forgotten.
Twenty years later, it’s time to admire this clever children’s film for what it is: a fantastic adventure story that not only stands as the best entry on Jumanji franchise, but as a stellar film in its own right.
How Zathura: A Space Adventure Was Made
Jon Favreau was based on the success of the family Christmas comedy Elf. With a film intended for all audiences, he showed how stylish and sharp he can be. His decision to make Zathura was an attempt to show how he could once again handle all-ages material with his signature wit and charm. This time, he would elevate the special effects and genre storytelling to an even higher level.
Zathura it excels in these elements. Favreau insisted on using as many practical effects as possible. He employed Stan Winston Studios – who would also work on Favreau’s next small film, Iron Man – create the lizard antagonists, the Zorgons. These creatures are simply amazing.
As CG became the norm for creature creation, Favreau committed to creating real effects that actors could interact with and react to. Bless him and the many artists who brought the Zorgons to life. They are a big highlight of the movie.
This mentality extends to the entire production side Zathura. The story primarily takes place in one location (a house) and Favreau has to turn it into a floating spaceship. It breaks down and takes it apart throughout the film, and the design behind these aesthetic decisions gives the structure real character. Favreau shot actual models of the house for use in the film.
Add to all that art the amazing 1950s sci-fi style that informs the film’s design decisions, and you have a film with a very specific visual approach. Favreau knows how to polish the effects and make sure everything is on point. It’s a masterful touch.
Zathura’s Script And Score Do So Much Right
Zathura is not just a technical pleasure. The screenplay by David Koepp and John Kamps does so much right. It pulls the story down to a much simpler structure than the original Jumanji by minimizing the number of necessary characters. It also focuses better on the young protagonists and their relationships. Drama may be simple, but it is extremely effective. And when we learn more about the mysterious astronaut character (Dax Shepard) who shows up later, it all pays off with a very clever first act setup.
Zathura it also features a truly underrated score by composer John Debney. The opening credits and main theme capture the mood and intent of the film in the very first seconds. There is 100% commitment to the grandiose adventure tone in Debney’s score.
It takes what could be perceived as a small film (given the location of one house) and makes it feel epic. “Underrated” is too much, but it might actually refer to the work Debney puts in Zathura.
Zathura’s perfect cast includes Kristen Stewart
Zathura he knows it has to be an intimate film because of its scale. While Lisa’s (Kristen Stewart) attraction to the astronaut implies a goofy little romance, the real emotional drama of the film is the relationship between the two brothers (Josh Hutcherson and Jonah Bobo). Their conflict is simplistic, but it is handled with seriousness.
It helps that the entire cast plays everything perfectly. There is no weak link in the file chain.
Zathura is a children’s film that does not demean its target audience, either in story, characters or film production. This is a solid grade A experience for young viewers and kids at heart.
Why one group didn’t support Jon Favreau’s family sci-fi film
When we talk about how a movie “failed,” we’re often somehow referring to its general reception. When it comes down to it critical reception, Zathura he didn’t fail at all. As of this recording, it’s tied up Rotten tomatoes with Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle for the highest rated post in the entire Jumanji franchise and Zathura definitely holds up better than the film.
It wasn’t the critics who disliked or ignored the film. It was the audience.
Zathura it opened in second place on its opening weekend, beaten by Disney’s Small chicken in its second weekend at #1. Yes, Zack Braff, as a panicked CG chicken in a low-level Disney effort, beat out a film from one of the key architects behind Miracle Cinematic Universe a The Mandalorian.
Adding more fuel to a burning fire Zathura at the checkout, Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire released the following weekend and Zathura fell by almost 62% to position no. 5. This magician took any potential target group Zathura he could hope.
Creative conflict leads to bad marketing
It didn’t help that there was a creative clash over how to market the film. Allsburg and Favreau stated that while the overall premise was similar, Zathura was not the same kind of film as Jumanji.
Unfortunately, the studio wanted to use it Jumanji a name that will help market this film. This made people confused or resistant to what just seemed like “Jumanji in space.” Even now, this very article contributes to the binding Zathura its story really has nothing to do with the other movie.
That is unfair. Zathura he doesn’t deserve to be suffocated Jumanjishadow. That movie has a lot of generational nostalgia thanks to the inclusion Robin Williamsand this attachment could obscure how lovers Jumanji view Favreau’s solo triumph. It definitely made an impact Zathura by the time the audience saw it Jumanji name attached, but with no on-screen involvement of Robin Williams, leading to a disconnect and lack of interest in the film.
Zathura they should not be left gathering dust in the basement. It needs to be taken out and played. Yes, some things may seem familiar, but they are exciting and dangerous in a whole new way. Soar into the unknown, space cadet. There is danger, glory and majesty in the depths of space. Zathura is waiting
Zathura: A Space Adventure is currently available to stream via rental or purchase on Amazon Prime Video.
