Zathura: A New Adventure From the World of Jumanji

Theatrical Release Date: 2005 11 11 (USA)

UPC: 043396134751

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

MPAA Rating: PG   Contains:[Watch With Your Kids, Scary Moments]

Summary: An old and forgotten game develops magical powers in this fantasy for the whole family. Twelve-year-old Walter Budwing (Josh Hutcherson) and his younger brother, Danny (Jonah Bobo), figure they're going to be in for a boring time when their father (Tim Robbins), who was supposed to spend the day with them, is suddenly called away on business, and gives them strict orders not to leave the house. Walter, who doesn't have much use for Danny, is motivated by boredom more than anything else when he agrees to play a board game Danny has found in the basement during a round of hide-and-seek. However, the boys quickly discover the space-themed game Zathura has some unusual qualities -- a roll of the dice unexpectedly launches the Budwing home into outer space, and Walter and Danny are suddenly fending off menacing robots, angry aliens, and showers of interstellar debris outside the Earth's atmosphere. As the boys try to figure out a way back home, they get some unexpected help from an earthling astronaut (Dax Shepard) who has also lost his way. Based on the book by children's author Chris Van Allsburg -- who also wrote The Polar Express and Jumanji -- Zathura was directed by Jon Favreau, the actor-turned-filmmaker who enjoyed a breakthrough success with Elf. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Category: Children's/Family

Features: ccJon Favreau and Peter Billingsley commentary
The Right Moves - The Making of Zathura
Race to the Black Planet: A visual effects documentary
The Cast of Zathura
Zorgons, Robots and "Frozen Lisa"
Making the game
Miniatures and the World of Zathura
The World of Chris Van Allsburg

Zathura: A New Adventure From the World of Jumanji

Format: DVD

Release Date: 02/14/2006

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Theatre Wide-Screen

Audio: DDS2.0 Dolby Digital w/ 4 channels, DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1

Runtime: 101 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French

Subtitles: English,French

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Disc #1 -- Zathura: A New Adventure From the World of Jumanji
1. Start [2:43]
2. Competing for Attention [3:27]
3. The Last Straw [3:34]
4. "You're Dead!" [4:04]
5. Banished to the Basement [3:25]
6. Take Evasive Action [6:39]
7. Cryonic Sleep Chamber [3:54]
8. Defective Robot [5:22]
9. Gravity-Field Strength [3:28]
10. Promoted to Fleet Admiral [3:09]
11. The Zorgons' Visit [4:50]
12. Stranded Astronaut [10:48]
13. Caught Cheating [5:35]
14. Shooting Star Wish [4:45]
15. "They're Back." [12:27]
16. The Game and the Ship [4:03]
17. Reprogram Card Played [1:53]
18. Another Wish [2:04]
19. "You Won the Game." [4:38]
20. Back Home [1:32]

Jeremy Wheeler

Channeling the awe and splendor of Spielberg's early Amblin films, Jon Favreau splendidly expands Chris Van Allsburg's children's tale into a timeless adventure that the whole family can enjoy. More joyful than Jumanji, while less roller-coaster freakish than Polar Express, this adaptation nails the wonderment that both previous films missed out on, while still delivering the thrills and spills that are integral to pulpy space operas. Lizard monsters and '50s-era rockets populate this fantastical world, but the visuals would not be complete if not for the small, tight cast that holds it together. Jonah Bobo is downright adorable as wide-eyed youngest brother Danny, while Dax Shepard has a subtle charm that makes him immediately likable throughout. For his third feature, Favreau proves that he can pull off extravagant action scenes while still keeping the heart of the story intact. The director's humor shines through in various superb ways -- the best being his gleeful approach to demolishing J. Michael Riva's glorious set inch by inch. Despite its lackluster box office and a "believe it or not" reveal in the third act, Zathura taps into an imaginative world that is as wildly charming as it is exciting -- a rare feat for live-action kids' flicks in this day and age. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Jon Favreau  Director 
Michael De Luca  Producer 
John Debney  Composer (Music Score) 
Ted Field  Executive Producer 
David Koepp  Screenwriter 
Scott Kroopf  Producer 
John Kamps  Screenwriter 
Louis D'Esposito  Executive Producer 
William Teitler  Producer 
Jonah Bobo  Actor 
Josh Hutcherson  Actor 
Dax Shepard  Actor 
Kristen Stewart  Actor 
Tim Robbins  Actor 
Frank Oz  Actor 

Country: USA