Movie Reviews
Zathura
Rated PG for fantasy action and peril, and some language.
reviewed by Kevin D. Hendricks
Two feuding brothers settle their differences over a magical space game that comes to life, trapping them inside. It's Jumanji in space, without the facial contortions of Robin Williams.
The Story
Ten-year-old Walter and his six-year-old--excuse me, six-and-three-quarters-year-old--brother Danny are typical siblings. They fight. All the time. Danny wants to play a game, but Walter doesn't want to play. Danny wants to watch “SpongeBob;” Walter wants to watch “SportsCenter.”
And then Danny finds Zathura. It's a 1950s tin board game that you wind up, spin, move your spaceship, and get a card each turn. But when the card says "Meteor Shower: Take evasive action," it means it. Meteors start crashing through the house and Walter and Danny discover they and the entire house are floating through space, trapped in the game. And there’s no way to make it stop until someone wins and all the pieces are restored.
Their older sister is frozen in cryogenic sleep, a robot malfunctions, and meat-eating Zargons invade ("Dude, you're meat."). But the biggest threat in the galaxy will prove to be their sibling rivalry.
The Verdict (What we thought of the movie on its own)
If you're up for an imaginative space adventure, “Zathura” works. But it's also effective as a story about deeper family conflicts, like divorce and getting along with your siblings, even if that part of the story is a little heavy handed in the beginning. Still, the brotherly bickering is dead on, especially the little brother's instant apologies while trying to escape the older brother's retribution. Any pair of siblings will instantly recognize those moments.
Once the mystery and wonder of playing the game kicks in, things get more exciting. And the requisite quips and gags serve to cut the tension. But it’s all a little predictable.
“Zanthura” gets a PG for fantasy action and some language, including a couple of really crude words that don’t seem to fit the tone of the rest of the movie.
Worldview (How the film’s take on life compares to a biblical perspective)
“Zanthura” champions the values of brotherly love and family unity. It comes down to putting the needs of others before your own needs. That was exactly the problem between Walter and Danny. They both start out serving their own needs, and they just end up fighting. Pretty normal sibling behavior, but that doesn’t make it okay.
When we react in anger, we can often respond in ways we later regret. Danny does that when he throws the ball at Walter's face, and Walter responds badly to the emotion when he lowers Danny into the basement on the dumbwaiter. Walter makes another angry decision he regrets, though he doesn't realize it right away. The story proves the point that anger is a lousy decision-making tool.
In fact, unchecked anger can be dangerous. The Bible tells us, "Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry." (Ephesians 4:26) If we have a conflict with someone, we should solve it rather than letting the anger fester. It's okay to feel angry; the emotion itself is not sinful. The Bible never says to pretend we don’t feel it. We’re just told, “In your anger do not sin.” (same verse) It's what we do with that anger that's important. We can wait until our anger is under control to make a wise choice, or we can use anger to fuel really bad decisions. When it comes to living with and loving (sometimes annoying) siblings, anger-control becomes essential.
If you see the movie, questions you can discuss with friends,
parents, or just think about on your own:
• Do you have siblings or friends you constantly fight with? How do you keep the peace?
• Do you think it would be fun to get trapped in a game like “Zathura” (assuming everyone came out okay in the end)?
• Have you ever wished for something that if it came true you probably would have regretted later?
• How do you deal with your anger?
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