Review: Zathura - A Space Adventure

Mostly known as "Space Jumanji", I ignored this film with the belief that it would be inferior, silly and full of ghastly CGI. But how wrong could I be??

Walter and Danny are two young brothers staying with their father after their parents divorced and while there they find an old board game. Upon playing the game, the boys find themselves thrown into outer space and must stop fighting between themselves to survive the wondrous adventure.

Okay, do you want to hear my initial reactions to the film?
"Hm, Jumanji in Space? Not convinced."
"Directed by Jon Favreau?? Now I am interested!"
"Starring Kristen Stewart...?"
"NOooooooooooo!"

Now I have to address this. Amazingly, this is Kristen Stewart's best movie. It is. Seriously. I almost don't want to give anything away, but it's hilarious what they do with this insufferable, obnoxious airhead of a character. If you are like me and don't like Stewart, watch this, I guarantee you will thank me for it.
Zathura is a simple enough premise: it is Jumanji in space, and while some of the designs are simplistic (the board game and creatures are both styled as very 1960s sci-fi anyway) the practical effects got me. I love practical effects, and the late Stan Winston himself worked on the film, so the aliens and robots looked far more amazing than I was expecting. The film was made in 2005, the same year Lucas released Revenge of the Sith, there could have been all sorts of horrific CGI nastiness, but not here!

Sure the two boys take a little time to get used to, the first fifteen minutes feels a little long since... you know... we are expecting them to go into space! But they aren't overly frustrating or too badly written, they are at an acceptable level. I'm sure most boys of similar ages (eight through ten) could relate somewhat. I think Tim Robbin's bit part as their Dad (credited as) goes a long way to keep adult audiences watching. Plus, its Jon Faveau, the director of Iron Man, he knows how to make characters entertaining!

The film itself is relatively harmless and would be good fun for all the family, I think this is something of a buried gem in this regard and should get more appreciation! (whispers: in some respects it could be better than Jumanji... but I'll need to watch that again to be sure...)

If it is ever on TV, or you want something light and silly, give it a try.

Additional Marshmallows: Don't worry, my appreciation of Kristen Stewart in this film is purely driven by the venom I have for her as an... "actress". I find this part of the film hilarious not because she's any good, but because I took it as poking fun at her!

Review: Snow White and the Huntsman

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all? Duh, Charlize Theron, obviously.


The classic Grimm's fairytale gets a Gothic makeover in this atmospheric and wonderfully visual fantasy film. I am a sucker for "atmospheric, visual, Gothic fantasy films", so I really enjoyed this.
As I eluded to in my Mirror, Mirror review, the make-or-break with this film lies with (big sigh) lead actress Kristen Stewart, and while I may have gone in pessimistic, she did nothing to change my opinion in that she's an awful actress.
Luckily she has a great supporting cast (pun fully intended) Chris Hemsworth isn't quite given enough focus but makes good with what he gets, while Charlize Theron easily steals the show as the narcissistic but power-mad Queen Ravenna. I actually had far more sympathy for her character than I did for Snow White, and the film reminded me how much a good villain gives to a story. People respect heroes, but they love villains.


There's a very strong sense of atmosphere and presence in the film's visuals; every shot feels full and designed, from the armoured knights and horses, to magical forests both good and evil. I was reminded of the fantasy films of the 1980s, like Ridley Scott's Legend (a classic, if you've not seen it) with great costume work and even competent CGI. It is dark, sometimes unsettling and always visually interesting.


The only problem is Stewart, she is often a blank space on the screen, so little human reaction to anything, making Snow White merely a plot device for the other characters' emotional resonances. Fortunately though, there are so many good things going on around her, you can distract yourself quite easily.


Very much recommended for all; young will be inspired, older audiences will find it visually intriguing. It gets a very generous: