Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)

Film of 2012 #58


The sequel to Jumanji that does not refer to Jumanji or the characters and is simply a new game with a different theme to the Jungle antics of Jumanji. This time it is an adventure in Space and the kids playing the game have to survive meteor showers and alien invasions while learning something about themselves. The kids are played by Jonah Bobo and Josh Hutcherson with Dax Shepard playing the Astronaut and Kirsten Stewart as Lisa, the boys older sister. There is a brief performance from Tim Robbins as the father and the rest of the characters are voices including Frank Oz and it is directed by Jon Favereau. 

This is a family film with a message and it is set in a world where literally anything can and does happen. It is a bit of fluff that is enjoyable and if you like Jumanji then it is worth a watch, it is definitely in the same vain as Jumanji. The performances as few of them as they are, surpass the expectations especially the kids, they have a little to do and what they do is done very well. They are not infuriating like some child actors can be. The grown up roles with Dax Sheperd and Kirsten Stewart are fine, really there is not that much for them to do. 

Overall there is not actually that much happening in this film bit it is enjoyable enough to keep you interested and to see the valuable lesson that they learn. Well worth a 3 star watch and if you are in to family films then worth trying to see it. 

Jumanji (1995)

Film of 2012 #51

So if you found a board game in the dirt and it sounded like it was playing the drums would you play it? This is the basic premise of the family comedy starring Robin William, Bonnie Hunt, Kirsten Dunst and Bradley Pierce. Who all end up playing a game that has disasterous effects and they have to keep playing to reach the end. I do not remember this film coming out and do not know if it was a massive success but it has a small place of family joy in my heart. You have a story of a bullied school boy, Alan who fancies a girl and gets her to come over to his house and they play a game that he finds, there is a nice joke as it is in the 60's that ther must be magnets which in the 90's it is suggested it must be micro chips. Anyway Alan gets sucked into the game and when he comes out he is Robin Williams.

This follows the story as Kirsten Dunst and her younger brother whose parents have died recently find the game and continue where the sixites kids left it. It is a family film with plenty of action some dodgy CGI and a fun fast paced stoyline that makes little sense but is still alot of fun. There is a nice epilogue to the film as well that really brings home the family nature of the film.

This is a film I have seen several times and would re-watch it and I am happy to reccomend it, there are some slightly dark scenes for the younger audience but at the heart it is a coming of age film that gives the main characters a second chance at life. This is a solid three star recommend if you have not seen it yet.

Open Graves (2009)

This was an interesting idea I saw being advertised on the TV so taped it, starring Eliza Dushku and Mike Vogel and it appeared to be a horror version of Jumanji so I was interested. From the off I knew I was probably going to be disappointed, terrible acting and dodgy loose plot and early on i was actually tempted to switch it off. But anyway the play this game that they are given by a strange man in a wheelchair. Now they appeared to be on a surfing holiday and were interested in weed and beer so why they played a game they had never heard of? But these things must happen for the story to progress.

So the game gives out death cards and the players will die how the card describes it, now the holes start to appear in the story and the film. The effects are that funny they are not even funny, the crabs are terrible and so unbelievable. And the first person dies before the game is finished and then you are at his funeral and nobody else has died and straight away you are like what. So it progresses with some more terrible effects the snakes form nowhere are shocking. You are really just hoping for some cool depths and thinking well there must be a cool twist at the end? The ending is predictable and laughable and really badly thought out as the surfer proves himself to be a dude. The side story of the cop is pointless as well and not that well explored.

So this film is not worth seeing on any level, it is disappointing to see them spend the money on something like this, again it is an interesting idea and in the right hands could have been awesome instead it is a disjointed waste of time, please do not see this 1 star drivel.