family movie review zathura

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Zathura: a space adventure, common sense media reviewers.

Sci-fi adventure has salty language, peril, violence.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Movie attempts to address sibling rivalry: Despite

The two brothers learn to appreciate and look out

Spaceships are armed with guns and futuristic miss

Teenaged sister wears a tight top in preparation f

Minor language, including kids' use of "d---k," "s

Parents need to know that Zathura; A Space Adventure is a 2005 movie in which an old board game found in the basement of a newly occupied house leads to fierce space battles and extreme peril from lizard-like aliens with a taste for human flesh. The movie begins with typical tensions, resentments, and…

Positive Messages

Movie attempts to address sibling rivalry: Despite how the two brothers are constantly at each other's throats, they learn they should treat each other much better and look out for each other.

Positive Role Models

The two brothers learn to appreciate and look out for each other. The teen girl is a stereotype: She sleeps in and refuses to be woken up by anyone else in her family, is boy-crazy, sullen, and doesn't undergo any significant character development over the course of the movie.

Violence & Scariness

Spaceships are armed with guns and futuristic missiles; lizardish space aliens are menacing; crazed robot attacks boys; meteors and space weapons blow up the boys' house/spaceship. Frequent explosions, peril. Three siblings are constantly fighting -- a teen sister punches her younger brother in the face; two brothers are constantly chasing each other, tackling each other, calling each other names.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Teenaged sister wears a tight top in preparation for her night out; she develops a crush on a character who turns out to be her younger brother at a later age and remarks, "And I wanted to ... " when she discovers the truth.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Minor language, including kids' use of "d---k," "screwed," "ass," and "bee-yatch." An astronaut makes reference to passing through a "time sphincter." A teen girl develops a crush on an older astronaut; when it's revealed that the astronaut comes from the future and is her younger brother, she remarks, "And I wanted to ... " without articulating the clear sexual insinuation.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Zathura; A Space Adventure is a 2005 movie in which an old board game found in the basement of a newly occupied house leads to fierce space battles and extreme peril from lizard-like aliens with a taste for human flesh. The movie begins with typical tensions, resentments, and competitions between two brothers, age 6 and 10. Their father is divorced, and their teenaged sister is distracted by her interest in boys and parties. The film includes scary music, scary sound effects (crashes, explosions, alien-monster growls), and some images of space aliens and a big robot attacking the boys that might be frightening for younger viewers. Boys use some obnoxious language ("d--k," "screwed") and violence against the aliens to save themselves. The teen girl develops a crush on an older astronaut; when he's revealed to be her brother from the future, her first response is, "And I wanted to ... ." The movie does attempt to address sibling rivalries, the self-esteem issues that can develop, and the importance of two brothers learning to look out for each other. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say (29)
• Kids say (54)

Based on 29 parent reviews

Language, inappropriate innuendos, rudeness

Fun adventure movie, what's the story.

Six-year-old Danny ( Jonah Bobo ) is feeling rather shut out by his older brother, Walter ( Josh Hutcherson ), who in turn feels besieged by the demands of a sibling who dotes on him. Older and wiser and increasingly impatient, Walter just wants to be left alone, especially as he's also feeling abandoned by his dad ( Tim Robbins ), who's working overtime to pay for two homes and is recently divorced. The boys find distraction in Zathura, a circa-1950s board game they find in the basement when Dad goes to the office and leaves them in the care of their teenaged sister, Lisa ( Kristen Stewart ). The game essentially turns their house into a spaceship, floating through the starry sky somewhere near Saturn, buffeted by the occasional meteor shower or malevolent alien. Once they begin the game, the rules assert, Danny and Walter are unable to stop until they "finish," meaning that they need to find the reason they're playing, and, of course, reconcile with each other.

Is It Any Good?

ZATHURA: A SPACE ADVENTURE is a movie most likely to appeal to older kids. Like the game in Jumanji , another movie based on a children's book by Chris Van Allsburg (also the literary source for Polar Express ), this one helps the siblings to work out their conflicts "metaphorically," here by encounters with hostile monsters, a deranged robot, and a "stranded astronaut" ( Dax Shepard ).

Their adventures are as episodic as the board game scenario suggests: Each boy takes his turn. But as Jon Favreau 's movie is most interested in the boys' relationship, Lisa is best described as plot device, convenient witness, and occasional instigator for their realizations and efforts. In this, she's aided by the astronaut, who shows up during Danny's turn (he's instructed to rescue this stranger and then is attached to the astronaut, who identifies Danny as the one who "spun me"). This provides the younger boy with an eventual conflict, as the astronaut and Walter make different demands. Danny eventually comes to realize that Walter is his brother, no matter how ugly he's been to Danny in the past, and that makes him, as the astronaut observes, "all you have."

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the relationship between the two brothers. How do they learn to appreciate and take care of each other?

What are some of the ways in which sibling rivalry is shown? Does it seem like an accurate reflection of how it is when two brothers are constantly at war?

While some of the violence is sci-fi-related, some of it is rooted in the rivalries between the siblings. How was the violence different, and how did the violence in both serve to either heighten the action or intensify the relationships between the siblings?

Movie Details

• In theaters : November 11, 2005
• On DVD or streaming : February 14, 2006
• Cast : Jonah Bobo , Josh Hutcherson , Tim Robbins
• Director : Jon Favreau
• Studio : Sony Pictures
• Genre : Science Fiction
• Topics : Adventures , Book Characters , Robots , Space and Aliens
• Run time : 113 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• MPAA explanation : fantasy action and peril, and some language.
• Last updated : April 6, 2023

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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Zathura Parent Guide

A game that's out of this world..

Danny (Jonah Bobo) has no idea of the consequences when he talks his older brother Walter (Josh Hutcherson) into playing a mysterious board game. Flinging the squabbling siblings into the far reaches of the universe, the two must work together if they hope to navigate their way home.

Release date November 10, 2005

Run Time: 113 minutes

Get Content Details

The guide to our grades, parent movie review by kerry bennett.

Video games might lose their appeal if toy makers could find a way to make all board games as interactive as Zathura . The antique, metal playing surface, outfitted with a windup key and tiny rocket ships, sends the players literally shooting into space.

Unfortunately, Danny (Jonah Bobo) has no idea what the consequences will be when he finds the game hidden beneath the stairs in the family’s basement.

But when the first card pops out of the game board dispenser, warning the constantly bickering boys of an impending meteorite shower, the brothers know this isn’t going to be your average Monopoly game.

Flung into the far reaches of the universe, the siblings have to navigate their way home by taking turns spinning the controls. While hurtling back through the cosmos, they must side step a gravitational field, withstand an attack by heat-seeking Zorgons and gain an appreciation for one another. Luckily they get some help from a stranded astronaut (Dax Shepard) they find drifting through outer space.

The explosive onslaught from the Zorgons makes for some prolonged, intense moments of peril that may leave younger space travelers squirming in their seats. The script includes other scenes of suspense when a defective robot tries to annihilate the boys and meat-eating aliens clamber into the house looking for dinner—meaning anything human. It also results in an auditory assault on the eardrums.

Parents may have concerns with the kids’ rampant name calling, including the use of some sexual slang. Warning children about the real hazards of soaking the couch in lighter fluid or using a blow torch may also be important for impressionable youngsters.

Yet while the film bogs down in a time warp during part of the journey, the director manages to pick up the pace by the end of the film giving Danny, Walter and many audience members a romping, galactic adventure.

About author

Kerry Bennett

Zathura rating & content info.

Why is Zathura rated PG? Zathura is rated PG by the MPAA for fantasy actions and perils, and some language.

Although the film steers clear of any sexual depictions or drug use, Dad and Lisa have a brief discussion about sexual activity before he heads to the office. Left to baby-sit, Lisa’s patience with the boys’ constant bickering begins to wear thin especially when Walter scares his brother by locking him in a tight, dark space. Once in space, the house is bombarded with meteorites and firebombed by aliens while the boys try and play their way back home.

Page last updated September 22, 2015

Zathura Parents' Guide

What is Danny afraid of in his dad’s old house? How does he overcome that fear?

How does the relationship between Danny and Walter change during their adventures? Why is it sometimes difficult for siblings to get along? What things do you appreciate about your brothers or sisters?

The astronaut warns Walter about acting on ideas when he is angry. Why is it easier to make rash or foolish decisions when you are upset? What did the astronaut learn about making impulsive wishes?

The most recent home video release of Zathura movie is September 22, 2015. Here are some details…

Related home video titles:.

In Jumanji (which is also penned by Zathura’s author—Chris Van Allsburg), a girl (played by a young Kirsten Dunst) and her brother magically unleash a whole jungle of characters when they begin playing a mysterious board game. Space enthusiasts can take an animated intergalactic ride in Treasure Planet . Older viewers may enjoy the quirky adventures of a group of travelers who trek through the cosmos in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy .

Related news about Zathura

Netflix Releases New Movie Line-Up for September

{parents:pull_quote}

"I Am My Brother's Keeper"

What You Need To Know:

(BB, Pa, H, L, V, M) Strong moral worldview with strong positive lessons for children and father is a strong role model, though he is a bit distracted by his work, with pagan and humanist elements where game appears able to manipulate reality or create its own fantasy world and the idea of alternate realities is expressed implicitly; three obscenities (one of which is lovingly rebuked by boy’s father), five light exclamatory profanities such as “My God,” man uses the word “sphincter” in referring to traveling through a black hole in outer space, and man burps; light action violence, such as small and medium meteors crash into house and on floor and objects, scary (for younger children) lizard aliens try to get and grab people to eat them, spaceships fire on flying house and demolish much of it, scary robot tries to kill boy, robot smashes through walls and ceilings, robot falls down stairs, and explosions; no sex, but fourth grader says he has a girlfriend and teenage girl is attracted to older young man but nothing comes of it; no alcohol; no smoking; and, brothers often bicker loudly with one another, teenage sister fails to keep an eye on younger brothers despite father's orders and boy cheats at game but is rebuked.

More Detail:

ZATHURA is a delightful space adventure based on the fantasy worlds of author Chris Van Allsburg (THE POLAR EXPRESS and JUMANJI). Despite some ontological problems with its concept of reality and some brief foul language (one instance which is rebuked), ZATHURA is funny, inventive and otherwise positive.

The movie opens with two brothers, six-year-old Danny and 10-year-old Walter, fighting one another outside their dad’s house. Walter treats Danny terribly, and Danny calls Walter a very bad name. Their father rebukes Danny for saying the bad word and tries to cheer him up, but he and Walter keep fighting.

Their father leaves for work, leaving them in the care of their older sister, Lisa, who ignores her father’s instructions after he leaves and goes back to sleep. Danny and Walter keep bickering until Walter lowers Danny into the dark, scary basement from the dumbwaiter.

In the basement, Danny discovers an old tattered metal board game, “Zathura.” After trying unsuccessfully to get his brother to play, Danny starts to play on his own. A spaceship marker moves by itself, lands on a space, and a card is ejected. “Meteor shower, take evasive action,” it reads. Suddenly, a shower of hot, molten meteors pummels the house. When it’s over, Walter and Danny discover that the house is flying in outer space near Saturn!

So begins an exhilarating, scary, unpredictable adventure with a rampaging robot, monstrous lizard aliens and other dangerous obstacles. Walter and Danny realize they must keep playing the game in order to get home.

The bad news with ZATHURA is that the game manipulates reality and the movie suggests a belief in alternate realities in a science fiction manner, complete with a black hole in outer space. These elements have aspects of paganism and humanism in them, but most people or children probably won’t consciously notice these ideas because they mostly just set up the main story and provide resolutions to a couple plot problems. Furthermore, although the father rebukes one obscenity, he is not there to rebuke two other obscenities.

The good news is that not only is ZATHURA a very entertaining, energetic movie that will enchant many, it also makes a few strong moral points. First, both Danny and Walter learn to stop arguing and take care of one another. Walter also learns to share with other people and sacrifice his desires for the good of others. Finally, Tim Robbins plays a positive, caring father figure who tries to help his sons, even though he is somewhat distracted by a project he is doing for work.

Jonah Bobo and Josh Hutcherson are a hoot as the two bickering brothers, Danny and Walter, respectively. Director Jon Favreau displays a deft hand directing the young boys and the rest of the cast, which also includes Dax Shepard as a mysterious, no-non astronaut and Kristen Stewart as the sister. The actors do a great job of making this well-written, fun script come alive. The special effects are state-of the-art, including Stan Winston’s creation of the lizard aliens, but they are also done in a fun retro style that reflects the 1950s milieu of the mysterious game that Danny discovers.

The good outweighs the bad in ZATHURA, which is surely one of the more entertaining, funny and original family movies of the year. MOVIEGUIDE® suggests a caution for older children, however. Parents who decide to allow their children to see ZATHURA will need a dose of media wisdom to navigate the problem areas, but the positive aspects of the movie will help them concentrate on the good.

Zathura (United States, 2005)

Calling Zathura the "space version of Jumanji " wouldn't be far off. Like the 1995 film, this movie is based on a children's book by celebrated author Chris Van Allsburg in which a group of people plays an amazing board game. (Van Allsburg doesn't always write about games - he also penned The Polar Express .) In Jumanji , each turn brought a new herd of stampeding wild animals into a quiet suburban neighborhood. In Zathura , the participants are blasted into outer space and can only return to terra firma once a winner has been declared.

Admittedly, as was the case with Jumanji , the material is a little thin for a full-length feature. Yet director Jon Favreau and screenwriters David Koepp and John Kamps do a better job making the conversion than the creative team behind Jumanji . There's a lot more energy and excitement here and, although the premise is essentially the same, developments seem less forced. A lot of that has to do with character development. In Jumanji , the players were two-dimensional pawns. In Zathura , they're real people. The dialogue in the film is perfect - this is exactly how brothers interact at a certain age.

Walter Budwing (Josh Hutcherson) and his younger brother, Danny (Jonah Bobo), are typical siblings - rivals in almost everything, including capturing the attention of their father (Tim Robbins), who splits his time between playing catch with the boys and working overtime. One Saturday, Dad goes to the office, leaving Walter and Danny behind under the less-than-watchful-eye of their older sister, Lisa (Kristen Stewart). Her cardinal rule: don't wake me unless the house is burning down. While poking around in the basement, Danny finds an old board game called "Zarutha." He wants to play; Walter wants to watch ESPN. But when Danny starts tinkering with the game, strange things happen. A meteor shower devastates the living room. Lisa ends up in cryogenic sleep. An astronaut appears out of nowhere. And the house is in orbit around Saturn. It's a killer view, but it puts the Budwings in danger from the lizard-like Zorgons. The only way back to normalcy is to win the game… provided the board isn't destroyed in one of numerous freak occurrences.

Zathura will work better for younger viewers than older ones. There's not much plot to absorb and there's plenty of action, so this is the kind of spectacle that will appeal to those without long attention spans. For adults, there are moments of genuine suspense, and a nice twist or two (nothing too fancy). The action is standard-order science fiction stuff, but it's handled well by Favreau, so it never feels too derivative. The visuals are eye-popping - lots of pretty scenery and there's never an instance when the CGI comes across as cheap or silly.

There's also a nostalgia element to Zathura . This is a movie for everyone who remembers playing this sort of old, clunky board game. It's vintage '50s, when "high tech" represented a wind-up gadget. Watching the kids play, I was reminded of some of the "treasures" I found in the recesses of a closet in my grandparents' house. The only difference is that when I started tinkering with one of those games, I did not end up in the middle of an intergalactic war.

At the heart of Zathura is the relationship that deepens between the brothers as the movie develops. For Walter, Danny starts out as a pest, always following him around and cramping his style. On more than one occasion, he wishes Danny hadn't been born. Then, sometime during their intergalactic journey, he discovers things he never suspected about his brother. Lisa's presence (curtailed for a while by her cryogenic nap) adds another element to the sibling interaction.

Unlike Jumanji , Zathura is a complete movie-going experience. And it's suitable for the entire family (although young children may be frightened by the Zorgons, who are scary-looking). The simplicity of the plot is a strength and weakness, but Favreau's sure-handed direction does a good job of obscuring how little meat exists on the bones of the story. 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?)

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Danny (Jonah Bobo), Walter (Josh Hutcherson) and Lisa (Kristen Stewart) have parents who are divorced. They spend part of the time with their father (Tim Robbins) and part with their mother. Danny is nearly seven and feels that Walter is better than him at everything. Walter is 10 and constantly accuses Danny of cheating and refusing to play with him. The two fight all the time.

The boys are left in the care of their older teenage sister for a short while. In the middle of yet another argument, Walter lowers Danny into the basement, which is dark and scary, via the dumb waiter. While Danny is trying to get out of it, he finds the game Zathura: A Space Adventure . All three start to play the game, and they are transported into outer space where they  experience all sorts of exciting things. They are hit by a meteor shower, Lisa is cryogenically frozen, Walter is chased by an angry robot, and the house is attacked by Zorgons. Along the way, they rescue an astronaut (Dax Shepard) who helps them fight the Zorgons. To get home they must finish the game.

None of concern

There are a couple of violent scenes in this movie. For example:

• A big aggressive-looking robot chases Walter and tries to attack him with the intention of killing him.
• When the house goes into outer space, Zorgons shoot at it.

Sexual references

The only mild sexual reference is a small interplay between father and daughter about the term ‘hook-up’. Only young pre-adolescents over 12 would understand this reference.

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

Nudity and sexual activity, product placement.

The astronaut drinks Coke.

Coarse language

This movie contains infrequent, very mild coarse language.

Ideas to discuss with your children

Zathura: A Space Adventure will be enjoyed by both older children and adults. Although it is not aimed at teenagers, they will probably be able to watch it with some interest and not get bored. The acting is good, the special effects are impressive, and the idea of a game coming to life is an exciting one.

The main message in the movie is about positive sibling relationships and being proud of your individual strengths. The movie also presents values of teamwork and cooperation, tolerance, loyalty and trust, and caring for others.

You could talk with your child about these messages and also about how potentially disastrous it can be to blame others, to say or do things before really thinking about the consequences, and to make decisions when angry.

Giddy with imagination and flush with fresh, inviting visuals Zathura flies into theaters. It’s the new movie from Elf director Jon Favreau , who continues exploring the world of family entertainment with his take on evil, magic board games. His movie is based on the book “Zathura”, written by children’s author Chris Van Allsburg. Van Allsburg also wrote the story on which the 1995 movie Jumanji was based, which explains the similarities, though Zathura is not a Jumanji sequel.

The film begins with one of the most creative title sequences of the year. Favreau’s camera zooms in, around, and through the movie’s titular game, racing across the mechanical board like a rocket, and making the metal and cardboard device itself look as though it has come wonderfully alive. Silly and simple though that short bit of credits may be, it’ll make you feel like a kid again.

Zathura then opens on two brothers, fighting and bickering as brothers do. Dad ( Tim Robbins ) has to go to work, and leaves them in the charge of their sleeping sister Lisa ( Kristen Stewart ). In the midst of their bickering, the boys stumble on a strange board game called “Zathura” hidden away in the basement of their father’s newly purchased, old and creaky house. They drag it out and play, only to discover that it’s a little more than a game. Like Jumanji before it, this game turns their spins into reality. Youngest brother Danny (Jonah Bobo) gets a card saying “Meteor shower, take evasive action”, and realizes that evading (or in his case running around in panicky circles) might indeed be a good idea. Their entire home is flung into space, and assaulted by burning, flying rocks. If they want to get back to Earth, they’ll have to play their way through Zathura and win. Look for a lawsuit from Milton-Bradley if they somehow end up dead.

Favreau’s film avoids the crass, cheap jokes that sometimes plague lesser family flicks in an attempt to create something truly timeless. His cast drives the movie, with great performances from child actors Jonah Bobo as the youngest and Josh Hutcherson as his 10-year-old brother Walter. Kristen Stewart players their oldest sibling Lisa, and though her role is relatively minor by comparison, the 15-year-old actress makes a big impression. Expect great things from her in the future. What works best is the dynamic between this family of characters. They fight, they bicker, their big sister is disinterested. The chemistry between them has an authentic feel, even if sometimes their reaction to what’s going on around them doesn’t. More on that in a moment.

The big surprise here is Dax Shepard , as an astronaut brought into their house by the game. His career so far has been littered with crass comedic roles in which he goes for obvious jokes and hangs out with less-than-talented people like Ashton Kutcher . In Zathura , he turns out to be the real spirit of the movie, a gentle guide, mentor, and wise-ass friend to the kids.

Any problems with the film come not from the actors or Favreau’s direction, but from the script which never quite lives up to the energy being brought to it. In between the big, frantic effects moments, some of the story falls flat, and the legitimately funny jokes are too few and far between. Worse is the unrealistic way characters (even kids) react to what’s happening around them. It’s that standard movie reaction, the one where nobody’s really stops to question what’s going on, and as a result the pic does a lousy job of explaining it to the audience. That leaves Zathura at times confusing, particularly the ending where everything is resolved with a sparkling glow that still, after hours of mental re-creation, I can’t figure out.

Luckily for screenwriters David Koepp and John Kamps, the kids watching this movie aren’t likely to stop and question any of that. They’ll be too entranced by the movie’s stunning visuals to trip in all the unexplained nonsense. Favreau has gone out of his way to avoid using CGI for most of his effects, and the result is absolutely eye-popping. The sets and characters have a gorgeous kind of realistic weight that you just can’t get with CGI, a deep authenticity to them that’s warm and exciting. It’s a beautiful film, a return to movie-making craftsmanship that’s gone by the wayside in a wave of cubicle nerds carelessly rendering spaceships on their Apple computers. Favreau’s next movie is a massive sci-fi epic based on the Edgar Rice Burroughs novels “John Carter of Mars”; let’s hope he’ll continue finding ways to use dazzling, computer-free effects.

With the holidays approaching and Harry Potter carrying a PG-13, Zathura could well end up being the big family movie of the fall season. It’s a fun movie, but one that misses greatness by rote of a flawed, confusing narrative. Parents my leave befuddled by the sometimes careless plot, but Zathura will fire up their kids’ imaginations. It’ll never be considered the family classic that Jon Favreau’s Elf already is, but Zathura’s an entertaining way to spend a movie-going weekend.

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10-year old Walter (Josh Hutcherson) is always bickering with his kid brother, six-year-old Danny (Jonah Bobo). Their parents recently divorced and their dad (Tim Robbins) is always working, even on Saturday. When he has to go into the office, instead of paying attention to the boys, Walter takes things to the next level, locking Danny in an old dumbwaiter and sending him down to the dark, scary basement. But, the youngster finds an old board game hidden under the stairs and tries to get Walter to play “Zathura: A Space Adventure.”

Laura's Review: B+

Seven year-old Danny is (Jonah Bobo, "Around the Bend") stranded between a hard working Dad (Tim Robbins, "War of the Worlds") who must mete out his time and older brother Walter (Josh Hutcherson, "American Splendor," "Kicking & Screaming"), who cannot be bothered with his 'baby' brother. When Walt banishes Danny to the scary basement, Danny finds an old board game that will not only fill the brothers' empty afternoon, but unite them with a series of dangerous adventures. Danny is the first to turn the key, advancing his tin spaceship towards "Zathura." Director Jon Favreau ("Elf") looks to have his second holiday hit on his hands with the third of Chris Van Allsburg's children's books ("Jumanji," "The Polar Express") to be adapted for the screen (screenplay by David Koepp, "War of the Worlds" and John Kamps, "The Borrowers"). Far and away more engaging that its predecessor, "Jumanji," "Zathura offers an important lesson for siblings and a more appealing adult game player in Dax Shepard ("Without a Paddle") than "Jumanji's" hyperactive Robin Williams. Space also proves much more fertile ground for an imaginative game than the jungle, especially given the film's superior art direction and special effects. Danny certainly gets Walt's attention when he begins the game and gets a card which announces 'Meteor shower - take evasive action." The boys are startled to find themselves dodging fiery mini-meteors, which make a significant setback to dad's meticulous restoration of his California Craftsman home. At first Walt blames Danny for getting them into the mess they're in, but as their situations worsen, Walt's the one who knows that their only way out is to continue playing the game. Cranky sister Lisa (Kristen Stewart, "Panic Room," "Cold Creek Manor"), left in charge of the boys by dad, is taken out of the action for most of the play by a move that turns the upstairs bathroom into a cryogenic chamber for five long turns, but their rescue of a stranded Astronaut (Shepard) brings some adult assistance back into their orbit. Just in the nick of time, it turns out, to help face down attacking Zorgons - large, cold-blooded, heat-seeking lizards who eat meat. "Zathura," it should be noted, may prove too scary for the littler ones - heck, a huge defective robot frightened the heck out of me - but the scares serve a fundamental purpose in addition to their entertainment value. The story is well fleshed out, with careful attention to detail (dad designs fancy cars, machinery just like the boys are about to be up against) and no pandering to a lowest common denominator (a foreshadowing comment about a piano isn't drummed home with repetition). Favreau gets terrific performances from his young actors. Bobo balances his defensive apologies ('I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry' the terrified pleading he repeats after he messes up) so that Danny never seems like an annoyance but a little boy seeking love and respect from his brother. Hutcherson exudes the self-absorbed coolness ('I'm in the fourth grade. I have a girlfriend. This is what grown up looks like.') of a twelve year-old whose 'tude is justified just enough that he doesn't seem like a total jerk, setting the stage for the compassion that eventually comes to the fore. They're a terrific team. Favreau also manages a huge number of technical challenges with slick results. Wisely, he and production designer J. Michael Riva ("Stealth") favor retro designs and the tin toy design of the game itself as well as the 50's flavored Robot add warmth to the cold, alien environment of outer space. The filmmakers used every technique available, from miniatures, puppetry and gimbals to computer generated imagery and the mix of old and new perfectly complements the same mix in the film's design. The Craftsman house itself is another character in the film, a preservation of craftsmanship and style just like the board game hidden in its basement. Favreau is able to milk both suspense and humor out of his situations, such as his introduction of the Astronaut. We hear an ominous thunk, thunk outside the front door, quickly followed by the friendly ding-dong of the doorbell, sound and editing cleverly switching our emotional responses. In another cute idea, we see a creature internal to that scary robot that does the bot's self repair - it looks like a Muppet and the Robot is voiced by Frank 'Yoda/Miss Piggy' Oz. "Zathura" is a terrific kids' film and an exciting space adventure that may find baby boomer parents nostalgic for the old sci-fi flicks of their childhood.

Robin's Review: B+

Walter, of course, wants nothing to do with Danny or the game so the little guy decides to play by himself. He turns the key on the old tin board game, hits the start button and one of the two tiny spaceships moves, by itself, on its track. Then, a card spews from a slot. It says: “METEOR SHOWER – Take evasive action.” Danny shows the card to his bored older brother when, suddenly, something comes crashing through the ceiling and leaves a smoldering hole in the floor. The whole room erupts as countless burning projectiles rain down upon the boys. They follow the advice on the card and hide in the empty fireplace. The boys look up through the biggest hole in the ceiling and, to their surprise since they know it is daytime, see thousands of stars! They open the front door and, instead of their front yard they look into outer space filled with asteroids. They go back to the game to see if there is any explanation. There is nothing except directions telling they must finish playing to get things back to the way they were. With every turn of the key the tiny rockets make their way across the board and new cards with new instructions keep popping out. Walter and Danny, like it or not, are in the middle of a genuine space adventure. Zathura” is based on the children’s book by Chris Van Allsberg, whose previous adapted works, Jumanji and The Polar Express, were big successes at the box office. But, neither of those film adaptations floated my boat. So, when his latest work came to the screen, I was tempted to just blow it off. I’m very glad that I did not. At first, the bickering brothers, as realistic as they are (I was number two brother in my family so I know), were more annoying than amusing, Then the space adventure kicks in and “Zathura” takes off into a fun, roller coaster ride that combines action, humor, kick-ass F/X, bad-ass hungry monsters (called Zorgons), a stranded astronaut (Dax Shephard) and a robot gone haywire. The introduction of these wild ideas and characters makes this an entertaining family flick that scores on all fronts. Josh Hutcherson and Jonah Bobo grow on you as Zathura” unrolls and the adventure builds. Dax Shephard is a likable addition as the stranded astronaut the boys save and who, in turn, is the catalyst that makes them realize they love each other. Kristen Stewart, too, as the brothers’ teenage sister plays it up right, annoyed at having to deal with her siblings to good affect. The evil Zorgons are scary monsters that will frighten the little kids, but in a good, put-your-hands-over-your-eyes-and-watch-through-the-fingers way. Tim Robbins lends a yeoman’s effort to Walter and Danny’s loving dad. Director Jon Favreau made an auspicious and amusing debut with “Swingers.” He entered the pantheon of big league filmmakers with his mega-success, “Elf.” Now, Favreau rises to the challenge to create a sci-fi fantasy family film and does a first rate job in the process. With a first rate script (by David Koepp and John Kamps) in hand, he and his special effects team does an outstanding job in bringing to life the world of “Zathura.” The house, ripped from its secure place on Earth, is the central focus of the story but it is the setting of asteroids, hostile aliens and their deadly spaceships and a giant roiling planet that make this for-all-ages entertainment. Zathura” is a pleasant surprise that combines action, humor and special F/X in even, balanced portions. There is little slack in the storytelling and the characters are uniformly likable. Mom and dad won’t mind taking the kiddies to this one.

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Reviewed by: Bob Rossiter CONTRIBUTOR

A new adventure from the world of “Jumanji”

O k, I have to admit it. I wasn’t a big fan of “Jumanji”. “Zathura”, on the other hand, is a different story. I disliked the spiritism of “Jumanji”, but that element is gone from the sequel. This is one of the best movie adaptations of a children’s book I’ve seen.

The movie starts off with two brothers, Walter ( Josh Hutcherson ) and Danny (Jonah Bobo), fighting for dad’s attention (played by Tim Robbins ). Both are dealing with security and personal-worth issues because of the divorce of their parents. Walter, the older one, inwardly blames his brother for the divorce, and feels Danny gets more attention. He copes by battling for attention and constantly making “put-down” remarks about, and to, his brother. Danny looks up to his big brother and wants to enjoy time with him, but also feels worthless compared to him. The only way Danny can think of to feel important is to cheat at games with Walter, so he does it regularly.

One of Walter’s acts of meanness is what leads to the discovery of the game. Danny hides from him in a dumbwaiter, but when Walter finds him there, he forcibly lowers Danny to the basement. Danny finds the game and brings it upstairs, wanting Walter to play Zathura with him. Danny starts the game board moving, which places them in space and forces them to work together to get back home. After the game first starts, they realize they are in over their heads, so they wake their sister, Lisa ( Kristen Stewart ). While trying to show her the game, however, she gets placed in cryogenic sleep. They are on their own to find a solution to their predicament.

Walter and Danny don’t know how to work together, so the game places them in deeper and deeper trouble. They rescue a stranded astronaut (Dax Shepard) who seems to have insight into both space and the game. He tries to teach the boys they must love each other and learn to work together if they are to ever win the game and get home.

There are a lot of family pressures revealed in the movie, but due to the important topics being dealt with, I did not feel this overdone. Some discussion with young viewers is recommended, however, on what sibling relationships should be like.

There is a lot of intense action violence as Walter and Danny learn what it really takes to win at the game—and at life. At one point, Danny cheats, so the game ejects Walter from the game (and into space). There is also a scene with lizard-like aliens that some younger children could have a hard time with, but the music is probably more dramatic at that point than the action.

There are about a half-dozen light obscenities and an equal number of times that God’s name is misused. There are also two times when Lisa is shown getting out of bed wearing just short shorts and a tank top. There is no sexual activity or comments other than a statement from Lisa that the astronaut has beautiful eyes. Walter later teases her about liking his eyes.

“Zathura” successfully deals with several difficult topics. One theme is that bad attitudes can crop up between siblings when a tragedy like divorce occurs in a family. The movie then teaches that the poor choices we make effect others. It also shows how important unity is when dealing with a crisis. Because these themes are the primary focus of this movie, I think “Zathura” is acceptable, as long as children are old enough to handle the action. The acting is good and the special effects excellent.

Violence: Heavy / Profanity: Minor / Sex/Nudity: Minor

For a family-friendly film, try ‘Zathura’

Karachi, PAKISTAN – Fans of Jumanji will love this family friendly adventure movie set in a space-version of the classic 1995 movie, with its own special twists.

Zathura: A Space Adventure stars Josh Hutcherson, who plays Walter, and Jonah Bobo, who plays Danny.

The pair are an adorable sibling duo who get sucked into a mysterious board game and must fight their way out.

Kristen Stewart plays the classic exasperated teenage sister, Lisa, who has to deal with her brothers’ shenanigans, all while trying to get ready in time for her date.

The 2005 film starts out as a typical family movie with Walter and Danny arguing constantly until Danny discovers an old board game in their basement.

From here onwards, the movie takes a chaotic turn, with the entire house getting trapped in the game. While dealing with strange threats like meat-eating Zorgons, faulty robots and black holes, the siblings manage to bond.

Dax Shepard plays the mysterious astronaut with a dark past and helps the boys find their way home.

The importance of family is truly showcased through this feel-good comedy. The heartwarming film was nominated for some awards, with Hutcherson winning the 2006 Young Artist Award for Best Performance, and Bobo being nominated.

Zathura brings ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ aesthetics to life with its fun plot and is a must watch for the whole family.

Overall, I really enjoyed it, and would definitely recommend it for a wholesome movie night.

Anya Farooqui is a Junior Reporter with Youth Journalism International.

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• DVD & Streaming

Zathura: A Space Adventure

• Action/Adventure , Drama , Kids , Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Content Caution

In Theaters

• Jonah Bobo as Danny; Josh Hutcherson as Walter; Dax Shepard as the Astronaut; Kristen Stewart as Lisa; Tim Robbins as Dad

Home Release Date

• Jon Favreau

Distributor

• Columbia Pictures

Movie Review

“What’s Zathura?” asks Danny after finding an old space-adventure board game in the basement. It’s a good question. As far as the game is concerned it’s the place you land on to win. As far as this movie is concerned it’s the happy place kids end up at after they finally stop bickering with their siblings long enough to figure out that it makes a whole lot more sense to be best friends, not worst enemies.

Danny and his older brother, Walter (a fourth-grader), can’t stand each other, you see, and the Zathura game seems to know just what they need to shape up and fly right: a trip into outer space. And so it happens. The second Danny winds up the game’s spring-run gears and pushes the “Go” button, his house is uprooted and tossed into an asteroid field somewhere near Saturn. Along for the ride is Walter, of course, and also their teenage sister, Lisa. (But she’s too busy primping for a big date to notice at first.)

Each boy’s turn yields a new challenge or adventure. Asteroids smash through the roof. Aliens attack. A wandering astronaut appears. Aliens attack again. A rampaging robot tries to kill them. Aliens attack. A comet races by. Aliens attack again. So much for Candy Land. This is one board game guaranteed not to be boring!

Positive Elements

Bobby, stop pestering your brother. Tommy, don’t hit your brother. Debbie, stop pushing your sister. Mia, stop taking your brother’s candy. Alex, stop pinching your sister. Boys, take turns! Girls, sit still! If you’re a parent, you know how it goes. And goes. And goes. The antidote? Gentle yet firm correction. And lots of patience. Zathura might actually help, too, since this film’s primary lesson is that siblings should learn to get along, learn to love each other and learn to take care of each other.

The board game that becomes an adventure teaches Danny and Walter that their bickering and fighting is wrong. And by using out-of-this-world danger to drive home the point, it shows them that the only way they’re going to get through childhood and adolescence in one piece is to team up and cut the criticism. The astronaut comes right out and says it. “Don’t be so quick to sell out your brother, kid,” he says, scolding Walter, “he’s all you got.”

Dad does his best to convince them that an overly competitive spirit isn’t the only thing they share. He tries to build each one of them up in the areas he needs it. He tries to keep them from using him as leverage in their power struggle. He plays baseball with them even though he desperately needs to get some work done. And he tries to be as fair as he can with them. Admitting that his divorce from their mother has put them all in a bad spot, he asks them to make the best of it with him, assuring them they will always have a place with him to call home.

Accompanying the message about getting along is one about facing your fears. Danny is scared to go into the house’s basement. But before their adventure is over, he’s gone into much worse places than a dark, dank rectangle of concrete. Also established is the fact that cheating and lying are wrong. And that anger causes you to say and do things you’ll regret (“No matter how good an idea seems while you’re angry, it never is,” the astronaut tells Walter).

Spiritual Elements

The game is magical. But only in an imagination sort of way, not a spiritual one. No basis for the game’s power to transport them into space is ever explored, leaving you to assume that everything happening is happening inside the kids’ heads. The only thing that’s even close to spiritual here is when Walter is told by the game to wish upon a falling star. He does, and his wishes are granted.

Sexual Content

Lisa informs her dad that she’s going to be hooking up with her boyfriend that evening. And while she gives no indication that she means anything more than “meeting,” Dad rightfully expresses concern over her now-sexualized choice of words. Also, Lisa spends the first half of the film wearing a shirt and small boxers. She shows a little cleavage and her midriff. [ Spoiler Warning ] After Lisa learns that she has been mooning over an adult version of her brother Walter (none of them know a time warp of sorts has brought the man to them, and they don’t recognize him), she gasps and trails off, “And I wanted …!” Later, young Walter teases her, asking if she still thinks he has “gorgeous eyes.”

Violent Content

Remember those attacking aliens I mentioned? Allow me to repeat myself. Aliens attack! Only a few minutes have gone by before the house is a royal wreck. And by the time the credits roll, it’s quite literally destroyed. Alien spaceships fire on it over and over again, blowing holes through it and setting parts of it on fire. Small asteroids also rip holes through ceilings and floors. And a robot-on-the-blink crashes heedlessly through doorways, into a fireplace and through walls while chasing the boys.

Scarier than that, actually, are scenes in which Walter and Lisa get sucked out into space. A heavy gravitational pull rips part of the house apart and threatens to put an end to the three siblings. (Danny slams face-first into a window.) A fiery black hole does the same. Lisa is frozen (for five turns). And in that solid state, she falls over and crashes down a flight of stairs. The robot clamps its iron claws around Walter’s neck.

Lizard-men alien beasties board the house and hunt its occupants in a sequence that drags out a bit and will frighten most younger children half to death. The astronaut squirts lighter fluid on the couch and sets it afire to distract the aliens—hopefully something that’s never tried at your home! Also, the two boys and the astronaut break up furniture and build a fire with it in the kitchen.

Non alien-inspired violence involves some roughhousing. Danny accidentally hits Walter with a baseball. Walter responds by chasing him around the house. Lisa smacks Walter to make him go away.

Crude or Profane Language

The movie opens with one brother calling the other a “d–k.” And later, Walter gleefully includes “b–ch” in one of his sentences. That’s inexcusable in a piece of entertainment such as this that’s obviously trying to become a teaching tool parents can use to help their kids mature. I’ll note here, though, that Dad does give Walter a talking to for his name calling. It’s not a stern rebuke, but it’s more than you usually see at the movies when kids swear onscreen. Also, “a–” and “h—” are said once each, and God’s name is misused as an exclamation a half-dozen times.

Drug and Alcohol Content

Other negative elements.

Beyond their typical boyish bad behavior, Walter terrorizes Danny by lowering him (via dumbwaiter) into the basement, knowing his brother is scared. Lisa’s attitude toward her father is one of disrespect and disdain, and he ultimately leaves her alone about it. Walter accuses Danny of messing up his life (“Nobody wants you around”) and even of making their parents split up. Lisa doesn’t live up to her responsibility of babysitting her brothers. Walter uses hairspray and a lighter to make a flamethrower. An indirect nod is given to the R-rated movie Thirteen .

Based on a children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg (as was 2004’s The Polar Express and 1995’s Jumanji ), Zathura is colorful, clever, compelling, and it teaches valuable lessons that are well-suited to its primary audience. “I have two children now,” says director Jon Favreau. “I watch a lot of movies that are geared towards kids and this one really appealed to my sensibility. As a filmmaker, a big part of your job is to put energy into getting a message out into the world that you believe in. I like stories that offer hope and films that have responsible themes. When you’re making a movie for young people, there should be a little aspirin in the applesauce. There should be a nice message at the core.”

Zathura is violent and a bit intense in spots (and parents should consider that), but because the intensity is used so effectively and toward such a good goal—to teach siblings to stop bickering and start cooperating—it’s not what trips me up. My main quibble with Favreau is that he chose to include a mostly extraneous teenage daughter who derisively disrespects her dad, and he injected a couple of insulting crudities—spoken by kids. Those things aren’t necessary. They don’t move the story along. They don’t assist the point that’s being made. And at least one of the words is bad enough that it’s going to generate a ripple of shocked whispers through theaters full of families every time this movie plays. (It certainly did in the theater I was in.) Next time, how ’bout having the boys call each other “nerds” or “meanies”? Wouldn’t that have worked just as well? Just because kids use bad language these days doesn’t make it right to entertain them with it.

Steven Isaac

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An intergalactic world of wonder is waiting just outside your front door in Columbia Pictures' heart-racing sci-fi family film Zathura: A Space Adventure. Zathura: A Space Adventure is the story of two squabbling brothers who are propelled into deepest, darkest space while playing a mysterious game they discovered in the basement of their old house. Now, they must overcome their differences and work together to complete the game or they will be trapped in outer space forever. After their father (Tim Robbins) leaves for work, leaving them in the care of their older sister (Kristen Stewart), six year-old Danny (Jonah Bobo) and ten-year old Walter (Josh Hutcherson) either get on each other’s nerves or are totally bored. When their bickering escalates and Walter starts chasing him, Danny hides in a dumbwaiter. But Walter surprises him, and in retaliation, lowers Danny into their dark, scary basement, where he discovers an old tattered metal board game, “Zathura.” After trying unsuccessfully to get his brother to play the game with him, Danny starts to play on his own. From his first move, Danny realizes this is no ordinary board game. His spaceship marker moves by itself and when it lands on a space, a card is ejected, which reads: “Meteor shower, take evasive action.” The house is immediately pummeled from above by hot, molten meteors. When Danny and Walter look up through the gaping hole in their roof, they discover, to their horror, that they have been propelled into deepest, darkest outer space. And they are not alone. So begins an exhilarating, sometimes frightening, but always unpredictable adventure. Danny and Walter realize that unless they finish the game they’ll be trapped in outer space forever. With every turn, they confront one incredible obstacle after another: They accidentally put their sister Lisa into a deep cryonic sleep, are chased by a crazed, malfunctioning six-foot robot, rescue a stranded astronaut (Dax Shepard) and are besieged by lizard-like, carnivorous creatures called Zorgons. With the help of the astronaut, Danny and Walter begin to put their petty fraternal differences aside, work together to overcome the obstacles they encounter and attempt to finish the game so they can go home. But all their efforts may be in vain when they face their biggest challenge of all -- a battle against an intense gravitational pull into the void of the dark planet Zathura.

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Zathura: A Space Adventure

Short takes

Not recommended under 8, PG to 13 (Scary scenes. Themes)

This topic contains:

• overall comments and recommendations
• details of classification and consumer advice lines for Zathura: A Space Adventure
• a review of Zathura: A Space Adventure completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 10 March 2006 .

Overall comments and recommendations

About the movie

This section contains details about the movie, including its classification by the Australian Government Classification Board and the associated consumer advice lines. Other classification advice (OC) is provided where the Australian film classification is not available.

ACCM review

This review of the movie contains the following information:

• a synopsis of the story
• use of violence
• material that may scare or disturb children
• product placement
• sexual references
• nudity and sexual activity
• use of substances
• coarse language
• the movie’s message

A synopsis of the story

Danny (Jonah Bobo), Walter (Josh Hutcherson) and Lisa (Kristen Stewart), whose parents are divorced, spend part of the time with their father (Tim Robbins) and part with their mother. Danny aged nearly seven, and Walter aged ten, fight all the time, with Danny believing that Walter is better than him at everything, and Walter constantly accusing Danny of cheating and refusing to play with him.

The boys are left in the care of their older teenage sister for a short while and, in the middle of yet another argument, Walter lowers Danny into the basement via the dumb waiter. The basement is dark and scary and while Danny is trying to get out of it, he finds the game Zathura: A Space Adventure. When Danny starts to play the game, they are transported into outer space and all sorts of exciting things happen. They are hit by a meteor shower, Lisa is cryogenically frozen, Walter is chased by an angry robot and the house is attacked by Zorgons. Along the way they rescue an astronaut (Dax Shepard) who helps them fight the Zorgons. To get home they must finish the game.

Use of violence info

Research shows that children are at risk of learning that violence is an acceptable means of conflict resolution when violence is glamourised, performed by an attractive hero, successful, has few real life consequences, is set in a comic context and / or is mostly perpetrated by male characters with female victims, or by one race against another.

Repeated exposure to violent content can reinforce the message that violence is an acceptable means of conflict resolution. Repeated exposure also increases the risks that children will become desensitised to the use of violence in real life or develop an exaggerated view about the prevalence and likelihood of violence in their own world.

There are a couple of violent scenes in this movie, including:

• a big aggressive looking Robot chases Walter and tries to attack him with the intention of killing him.
• once in outer space, the house is shot at by Zorgons.

Material that may scare or disturb children

Under five info.

Children under five are most likely to be frightened by scary visual images, such as monsters, physical transformations.

In addition to the above mentioned violent scenes, there are some scary scenes in this movie including:

• the basement into which Walter lowers Danny is a big dark and creepy place with a ‘monster like’ furnace.
• Lisa is cryogenically frozen. This looks scary, it also worries the boys as she is unable to help them and they are not sure if she is OK.
• there is a short moment where Walter is sucked out into space and the astronaut goes to rescue him, leaving Danny entirely by himself in the house.
• the Zorgons are very scary looking, and portrayed as big meat eating dinosaur type creatures
• the Zorgons board the house in search of the children because they want to eat them.
• Danny goes to the basement and then the Zorgon ship to find the game. The Zorgons chase him.
• everyone except Danny is pulled into a black hole (this resolves itself fairly quickly).
• Young children could also be disturbed by the idea of the house being ‘in space’ with no parent there to look after them.

Aged five to eight info

Children aged five to eight will also be frightened by scary visual images and will also be disturbed by depictions of the death of a parent, a child abandoned or separated from parents, children or animals being hurt or threatened and / or natural disasters.

Children in this age group may also be scared or disturbed by the above-mentioned scenes.

Aged eight to thirteen info

Children aged eight to thirteen are most likely to be frightened by realistic threats and dangers, violence or threat of violence and / or stories in which children are hurt or threatened.

Mostly children aged eight to thirteen will be ok with the scenes in this movie, although some may be worried by the robot chasing Walter with intent to ‘destroy’.

Thirteen and over info

Children over the age of thirteen are most likely to be frightened by realistic physical harm or threats, molestation or sexual assault and / or threats from aliens or the occult.

There is nothing in this movie that would scare children over the age of thirteen.

Product placement

The astronaut drinks Coke.

Sexual references

The only mild sexual reference is a small interplay between father and daughter about the term ‘hook-up’ but only children older than 12 would recognise this.

Nudity and sexual activity

There is no nudity or sexual activity in this movie.

Use of substances

There is no use of substances in this movie.

Coarse language

Danny calls Walter a ‘dick’

In a nutshell

This movie’s main message is about positive sibling relationships. Also that everyone has individual strengths of which they can be proud, rather then trying to be good at everything that other people are.

Values parents may wish to encourage include:

• teamwork and co-operation
• loyalty and trust
• caring for others.

This movie could give parents the opportunity to discuss with their children the potentially disastrous consequences of blaming others, saying or doing things before really thinking about the consequences, and making decisions when angry.

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Zathura is a forgotten movie (spoilers)

Zathura is a children’s picture book by Chris Van Allsburg published in 2002 and was the sequel to the original 1981 jumanji book made by the same author and in 2005 was made into a simple movie based in the same universe as the jumanji movie from 1995. The movie and book is about two brothers (Walter and Danny) who get thrown into space by a magical board game, and must work together to finish their journey to Zathura. The book, while not really in date with the way the visuals look, is still enjoyable for young kids, but the movie gives life to the original story, bringing much needed improvements to things that were needed, such as the robot design, and story changes.

While some changes are probably a little strange to say the least, such as changing the busy mother to a overworking father, or giving the brothers and older sister that’s frozen most of the movie anyway, But other than that the movie is really well done. Directed by Jon Favreau who now works on other Sci Fy movies and tv shows, his most notably being The Mandalorian. The actors are also well know such as Josh Hutcherson (Walter), Jonah Bobo (Danny), Kristen Stewart (Lisa), Dax Shepard (Astronaut) and Tim Robbins (Dad). While not all giving their best performances, they still make the story believable as to their relationships with each-other.

The brothers bickering and arguing sounds real, the annoying sister is, while yes is very stereotypical, seems perfect for the role. And the Dad is played well too, almost completely done with the brothers constantly fighting with each other and just wants the best for his children and for them to get along.

The effects are beautiful to look at, the cgi is just right to give the impression that their really in space, the destruction is done pretty much entirely by practical effects leading to the believability of the whole experience. It gives the feel of kids using their imagination while playing. The robot and zorgons are played by real actors that help to sell the illusion with minimal CGI, it also helps the actors get into character better, giving them something to work off as well.

Overall the director is amazing, the acting is good, the visual effects are great, and the story is improved when in needs to be

Personally, it’s a forgotten cult classic, that needs more Recognition

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Being a fan of the Christian pop duo for KING & COUNTRY or having even the slightest interest in the musical genre probably goes a long way toward making the drama “Unsung Hero” more meaningful. For everyone else, it plays like a blandly well-intentioned tale of triumph over adversity and an earnest celebration of the importance of family. 

And what a family it is. The massive Aussie brood at the film’s center provides both the inspiration for the story and the behind-the-scenes machinery to tell it. Joel Smallbone , half of the singing group with brother Luke, co-wrote and co-directed the film with Richard L. Ramsey. He also stars as his own father, David Smallbone, a music promoter who moved his pregnant wife and their six kids from Sydney to Nashville in the early 1990s with dreams of making it big in the United States. (A younger actor, Diesel La Torraca , plays Joel as a child with a natural yearning to perform.) Stick around for the credits, and you’ll discover how various members of the clan appear in minor supporting roles throughout. 

But this isn’t a music biopic or even an origin story, even though much of the plot centers on whether older sister Rebecca can secure a record contract with her pure, clear voice, which could rescue the family financially. (Spoiler: she does and goes on to become Grammy winner Rebecca St. James; for KING & COUNTRY has won multiple Grammys, as well.) This is, as the title suggests, a tribute to the person who held the family together when everything was falling apart: matriarch Helen Smallbone, played with optimism and authenticity by Daisy Betts . “Unsung Hero” follows the highs and lows of the Smallbones' efforts to stay afloat in a foreign land, but Helen’s resiliency—as well as her faith—provides a consistent through-line. The casting of Kirrilee Berger as Rebecca is particularly effective since she so closely resembles Betts, adding believability to their mother-daughter bond. 

We know these attractive and talented people will be fine even before they set foot in their local church and meet the big-hearted neighbors who will rally around them in times of need. It’s all very affirming to the Christian audience it’s geared toward and somewhat predictable from a narrative standpoint.  

What is surprising, though, is that there are actual moments of raw emotion within the workmanlike direction and episodic script. Things get ugly. Pride takes over. Having dragged his family halfway around the world to an empty rental home, and with job prospects falling through left and right, David feels depressed and resentful. He lashes out at the friendly fellow churchgoer ( Lucas Black ), whom he feels has been too generous alongside his perky wife, played by Hallmark Channel and Great American Family mainstay Candace Cameron Bure . Helen, in a rare show of anger, even explodes at David at one point. 

“Unsung Hero” could have used more of such emotional honesty. But it ultimately must deliver a broad uplift that’s palatable for the whole family, so it tends to skim the surface. And aside from the parents and Rebecca, the characterization is woefully lacking; the other kids are all kind of a perky blur. Joel Smallbone has a solid screen presence in what must have been a challenging role, but his choices behind the camera with Ramsey feel mostly pedestrian.  

The ‘90s costume design is on point, though—so many bad sweaters on display—and the soundtrack of secular pop songs, including Jesus Jones and Seal, is period-specific if a little on-the-nose lyrically. For the most part, “Unsung Hero” does what David Smallbone himself didn’t do: It shies away from taking risks. 

Christy Lemire

Christy Lemire is a longtime film critic who has written for RogerEbert.com since 2013. Before that, she was the film critic for The Associated Press for nearly 15 years and co-hosted the public television series "Ebert Presents At the Movies" opposite Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, with Roger Ebert serving as managing editor. Read her answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

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Unsung Hero (2024)

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‘The Watchers’ Review: Ishana Night Shyamalan’s Debut Is an Elegant Supernatural Horror Movie That Gets Lost in the Woods

David ehrlich.

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If there’s much about her debut that left me wishing the apple had fallen a little further from the tree, there’s also no denying that the “ Unbreakable ” filmmaker’s daughter has the skill to follow in her father’s footsteps, which she does here even when the material is begging her to blaze her own trail. And yet, frustrating as it can be at times, the young Shyamalan’s loyal devotion to the family brand proves strangely appropriate for a story this fraught with parental baggage, parroted behavior, and the life-or-death need to satisfy the expectations of an audience who will tear you apart the minute you turn your back on them.  Related Stories ‘Sacramento’ Review: Michael Cera Freaks Out About Having a Baby with Kristen Stewart in Michael Angarano’s Slight but Satisfying Road Comedy ‘Vulcanizadora’ Review: Joel Potrykus Blows Up Middle Age in Bleak and Shocking Style

In “The Watchers,” that audience has claws big enough to scratch permanent scrape marks into a pane of bullet-proof glass. Those violent grooves are the first thing we notice about the brutalist concrete building where Mina (a sullen but headstrong Dakota Fanning) takes shelter after her car breaks down in an unmarked forest somewhere between Galway — where the downtrodden expat works at a pet store, vaping her pain away during breaks — and Belfast , where she’s been tasked with delivering a golden parrot to a customer.

Don’t go out after dark. Never wander too far into the woods. Stay away from the burrows where the creatures sleep during the daytime, and always do what you can to put on a good show for them at night. Shyamalan’s adaptation is extremely faithful to the plot and tradition of the 2022 A.M. Shine novel on which it’s based, but only in a way that leaves you wondering how much his book might have borrowed from “The Village” in the first place.

Where the elder Shyamalan’s movie adopted the look and language of a 19th-century Pennsylvania commune, Ishana’s decidedly modern take riffs on the panopticon-like voyeurism of reality TV. Mina’s voiceover describes the forest around the Coop as a place that “draws in lost souls like moths to a flame,” and the same could be said of “Love Island” (or the “Love Island” knock-off that Mina is forced to watch over and over again on DVD as her time in the Watchers’ domain stretches on), which similarly encourages people to indulge in their worst selves for a viewing audience that loathes and envies them in equal measure.

Shyamalan is far more interested in exploring the woods than she is in fleshing out any of her characters (Daniel ran away from an abusive dad, Madeline used to be a teacher, Ciara likes to dance… the end), but her film is well-served by playing to its strengths, and “The Watchers” is at its most grippingly tense whenever Mina goes looking for trouble. The mystery of the forest is unraveled with the patience and precision of a storyteller who inherited her father’s belief that what we don’t see is always scarier and more interesting than what we do, and while the nerve-shredding sequences where Mina spelunks through the burrows or stays out of the Coop all night can be overly reliant on jump-scares, those jolts are rooted in a solid foundation of well-earned suspense (and further supported by the inviting flatness of Fanning’s devil-may-care affect). 

But it does. Fast. And with a maddening disregard for why the first half of this movie was intriguing in ways that had nothing to do with its central mystery. After carefully teasing out breadcrumbs of information over the course of an hour, “The Watchers” flies the Coop before it convinces to care about the people caged inside of it — only to waste its stockpile of intrigue on a labored and nonsensical series of info dumps that confirm your worst suspicions at the same time as they deny viewers the chance to entertain any new ones. 

If Shine’s novel suffered from a similar problem, Shyamalan doesn’t make any effort to smooth it out. The sudden onslaught of exposition displaces whatever mild investment this movie has earned in its characters until that point, and the decision to resolve the main conflict after only 75 minutes or so makes it all too obvious that “The Watchers” is saving time for its big twist, blunting its impact even as Shyamalan teases the reveal — and a sequel! — at the expense of fleshing out what any of this could mean for our heroine. 

Warner Bros. will release “The Watchers” in theaters on Friday, June 7.

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'The Garfield Movie' offers a new perspective on a familiar feline

by RYAN PAINTER | KUTV

The Garfield Movie 2.5 out of 5 Stars Director : Mark Dindal Writers: Paul A. Kaplan, Mark Torgove, David Reynolds Starring: Chris Pratt, Hannah Waddingham, Samuel L. Jackson Rated: PG for action/peril and mild thematic elements.

Synopsis: Garfield (voiced by Chris Pratt), the world-famous, Monday-hating, lasagna-loving indoor cat, is about to have a wild outdoor adventure! After an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father – scruffy street cat Vic (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson) – Garfield and his canine friend Odie are forced from their perfectly pampered life into joining Vic in a hilarious, high-stakes heist.

Review: I can’t argue with the success that Jim Davis has had with his character Garfield. The comic strip has been running since 1976, there have been numerous films, and a couple of animated series. I’ve seen or read more than my share and have done so without complaint. “The Garfield Movie” is the first time that I’ve been asked to put a critical lens on the franchise.

Garfield has only ever really had one plot and it tends to take place on a Monday. Garfield is lounging, imagining eating lasagna. There is an obstacle in Garfield’s way that requires Garfield to figure out how to get lasagna. Garfield eats lasagna. Odie, a brown-eared beagle who is Garfield’s best friend, often gets in the way. He’s cute, energetic, not so smart, and the lighthearted comedy relief. Jon’s role as Garfield’s owner is to simply love the cat for what he is.

Screenwriters Paul A. Kaplan, Mark Torgove, and David Reynolds begin the film with a flashback to Garfield as a kitten. A series of events involving a pizza leads to Garfield meeting Jon. Flashforward to Garfield, now grown, ordering lasagna on (presumably) Jon’s smartphone. It is delivered by drone. The modern world is perfectly suited to Garfield’s needs.

And then Garfield is catnapped.

This is a radical departure from what I’m accustomed to seeing from Garfield. Recasting a notoriously fat cat as an action hero could be an interesting choice. Unfortunately, it isn’t nearly as exciting as it must have looked on paper. Not even when the story takes on some emotional weight as it shifts to Garfield searching for his father. Are we witnessing a mid-life crisis?

Despite the introduction of some new character traits (which some will loathe on principle), this version of Garfield doesn’t feel nearly as removed from the classic interpretation that most of us grew up with as you would think. I didn’t feel like I was seeing anything particularly new. That might comfort some. It filled me with the desire to watch “Toy Story.”

I’m also not enamored with the casting of Chris Pratt. I’ve had Pratt fatigue for quite some time now. I do like Hannah Waddingham (except for the song they have her sing over the credits). I don’t think there is a job that Samuel L. Jackson will turn down. He’s fine, doesn’t seem to be phoning it in.

For all the newness, “The Garfield Movie” doesn’t feel particularly fresh. I do think most young people will enjoy it. Adults? Well, there are two needle drops that work well (and are likely to go over the heads of the kids).

All of that said, the children in the audience enjoyed it. I’ve even heard rumors that my niece and nephews thought it was great.

Max: Stream HBO, TV, & Movies 12+

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Max is the one to watch for HBO, hit series, films, reality, sports, and more. It’s all here. Iconic series, award-winning movies, fresh originals, and family favorites, featuring the DC Universe and HBO. Discover the best entertainment for every mood. Max – the one to watch. Subscribe now! With Max you'll get: • Unlimited access to thousands of TV shows and movies. • A deep library of brands and studios like HBO, the Wizarding World, HGTV, TLC, Magnolia Network, Food Network, and Adult Swim. • The largest streaming library of the DC Universe shows and movies. • Hundreds of original series from HBO and Max. • CNN Max, a 24/7 live feed featuring breaking news and coverage of the world’s biggest stories. Now available in beta to all Max subscribers — at no additional cost. • Stream select live games and matches from the NBA, NHL, NCAA March Madness, MLB Postseason, and U.S. Soccer with the B/R Sports Add-On, on us for a limited time.* • Award-winning shows and movies that everyone's talking about like the HBO Original series The Last of Us, Succession, The White Lotus, House of the Dragon, and more. • Iconic favorite TV shows like Friends, South Park, Rick and Morty, 90-Day Fiancé, Fixer Upper, Beat Bobby Flay, House Hunters, Sesame Street, Looney Tunes, and more. • Family-friendly entertainment for the whole household. • Fascinating documentaries and unscripted series. • Enjoy your favorite shows and movies at home or on-the-go. Max is available on TV, web browser, mobile, tablet, and gaming console devices. Features: • Browse or search with ease across HBO, movies, series, genres, and brands. • Download shows and movies you love to watch on-the-go with select plans. (Download limits vary by subscription plan.) • Personalized profiles for the entire family with customizable ratings, profile PIN protection, and kid-proof exit. • Pick up episodes and movies where you left off across your favorite devices. • Keep up with everything you love, all in one place with My Stuff. • Watch on multiple devices at the same time. (Limits vary by subscription plan.) • Stream with high quality video and surround sound on select plans. Content and feature availability on Max may vary by region. Some titles and features shown above may not be available in your country. Your subscription will automatically renew at the then-current price of your plan unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the renewal. Your App Store account will automatically be charged at the same price for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current subscription period. You can manage or cancel your subscription by visiting the App Store app or Subscriptions under Settings on your Apple device after purchase. *Pricing and availability of the B/R Sports Add-On after the promotional period will vary by subscription provider.™/© 2024 MLB Purposes disclosed in the App Privacy label may vary based on features or services that may not be available in all regions. Max is only available in certain territories. Terms of Use: https://max.com/terms-of-use/

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Whether you’re looking for the latest can’t-miss dramas, comedies, or reality hits, Max has something for everyone. Watch HBO Original series like Succession, The Last of Us, The White Lotus, and Love & Death. Revisit classics like Friends, South Park, and The Big Bang Theory. And enjoy unscripted treats from Discovery like Fixer Upper, MythBusters, Dr. Pimple Popper, Deadliest Catch, and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

The new “Max” needs work

As of writing this, a couple days after HBO Max became “Max,” I need to state that this new app / change needs a lot of work. After I launched the app on my cell phone & on my TV, a Roku device, the first issue that appeared was my “Continue Watching” no longer had shows I was watching & listed movies that I had finished watching & removed from my list. When I searched for the show I was watching, it was not appearing but when I searched for them on my Roku device, it read the show was on “Max” & when I selected it, it led me to the show on the streaming service. The inconsistency is the first issue. The second & biggest is the audio is out of sync on my shows. There is at least a 5 second delay with the audio when I was able to begin watching my show. The out of sync is also with the searching & selecting process itself. This new version needs a lot of refining. Update: thank you for the response to my review, I troubleshooted the app on all my devices & followed the link provided & it did fix the issue I was experiencing.

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Hi Rey, we appreciate you taking the time to rate and review. We have some great troubleshooting steps here that should improve your experience: https://help.max.com/troubleshoot. If those don't work, please reach out to us at help.max.com/AppReview for additional support. - Max Support

Phone to TV Casting Flaw

Great options of shows & movies to watch however I have multiple problems when streaming from my phone to my TV. One, once I connect to TV it does not let me operate the rewind & pause from my phone like it typically should. Also it does not let me use subtitles at all when casting to TV which is very frustrating when I am hard of hearing. The tool menu pops up at the bottom of the app but no matter how many times I press subtitles on, or press pause, or rewind, it does not work. Sometimes the tool menu even pops up with no buttons AT ALL & I cannot control the movie. flawed and frustrating. I have no control over the movie or show I am watching, cannot pause, rewind, fast forward, or turn subtitles on. Also once I have streamed no matter how many times I close the app or turn my TV off & on it does not stop streaming, even after the app has been removed from my open & live section on my phone it is some how streaming in the background?? And for HOURS. I played a show around 11am then turned my TV off & removed the app from my open list then at 10pm I turn my tv on & re-open MAX & it immediately streams the same exact movie from 12hours ago?? Why did the movie not close from the lower tool bar & have the app reset like it should. Multiple problems of this app not resetting properly. Very unhappy & horrible change.

Hi, we're happy to help. We have some great troubleshooting steps here that should improve your experience: itsh.bo/troubleshoot-mobile. You also may want to try restarting your network (modem and router) if you haven't yet. If those don't work, please reach out to us at help.max.com for additional support. Thanks! Max Support

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