Movieman Madness: Cinema Spotlight VI - Jon Favreau (Part 4): "Zathura"

You can't discuss Zathura without discussing Chris Vans Allsburg. Writer and illustrator for many children books such as The Garden of Abdul Gasazi, Ben’s Dream and The Widow's Broom. His most popular work are Jumanji and The Polar Express, both having been adapted into feature films. In 2002, Allsburg published Zathura, serving as the long-awaited sequel to Jumanji, published back in 1981; this time, the game takes the players into outer space.

The Ludwig Brothers: Walter (Jonah Bobo) and Danny( Josh Hutcherson).

Brothers Walter (Josh Hutcherson) and Danny (Jonah Bob) can't a have a moment without getting on each other's nerves. Their father (Tim Robbins) steps out for a few hours, while their older sister Lisa (Kristen Stewart) "watches" over them. Danny finds an old board game in the basement called Zathura. The box reads: Attention space-adventurers, Zathura awaits. Do you have what it takes to navigate the galaxy? It's not for the faint of heart, for once you embark upon your journey there's no turning back until Zathura's reached. Pieces reset at the end of each game. Play again and again for different adventures. Directions the players read only after meteors pelt the living room, the house floating in deep space and Lisa frozen in a cryogenic sleep.

Taking cover in the chimney.

With a bigger budget than Elf, Favreau approached Zathura by combining old-fashioned film-making. Everything from the house, robot, explosions, debris, and the alien Zorgons had practical effects utilized; real fire was lit, a robot suit was built, real Zorgon harpoons were created and later fired, and puppetry brought the Zorgons to life. Digital effects and green screen were still used but in small dosages like with scenes in outer space, the black hole, and 20% on both the robot and Zorgons. Favreau felt that a lot of movies relied too much on CGI that it made the it look more like a video game than a movie. Audiences should be taken in by the illusion instead if quickly catching on how fake it all looks. A major contribution came from Stan Winston (legendary special effects and make-up artist who created the look and design of the Predator, the Terminator and the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park) who was more than happy to bring Allsburg's illustrations to life.

Danny and Walter finding Lisa (Kristen Stewart) frozen.

Like the previous Allsburg adaptations, a deeper theme runs in the movie that kids can relate that's pretty gutsy. Zathura goes with Jumaji's feelings of loss and abandonment. The sadness and bitterness it brings with Danny and Walter parents being divorced. Both pine for dad's attention, and don't like the idea of one weekend with mom and another weekend with him. In a scene that's especially harsh is Walter lashing out at his little brother for activating the game and blaming him for mom and dad's divorce. The movie spends so much time on this angst and very little on them connecting like brothers, even with the introduction of the Astronaut (Dax Shepard) who like Alan Parish from Jumanji, is a fellow player who's been trapped in the game for a long time.

The house approaching a star.

The closest we get is a scene where Walter has to retrieve the game from the Zorgons and Danny assuring him that it will be alright. It's cute but not enough on showing they regret what they said to each other or even embrace to prove that deep down, they do care for each other. When all is back to normal, it doesn't go the Jumanji route on resetting everything and give the characters another chance to make amends. Walter and Danny still have to face the harsh reality but what is a little assuring is that no matter what happens, they have each other's back.

Walter floating due to zero gravity.

Zathura opened on November 8, 2005. Despite mostly positive feedback from critics, the movie performed poorly at the box-office, becoming Favreau's first box-office bomb. I can only guess that audiences were expecting this to be a sequel to 1995 Jumanji movie despite being marketed as a stand-alone movie and more of a spiritual successor to the original.

The Zorgons about the attack the unsuspecting brohters.

With his first financial dud, Favreau's next project was to adapt Edgar Rice Burrough's John Carter of Mars, but decided to turn it down. Acting kept him afloat, appearing in small roles like The Break-Up, Wimbledon and Daredevil. The latter of which he met Ari Avid, a producer who worked on countless Marvel movies and TV shows. Avid reached out to Favreau to discuss a big project that was being worked on. An Avenger initiative of some kind...

The brothers and the astronaut (Dax Shepard) looking on

Trademarks:

Opening Credits: Like Elf, Zathura pays homage to a specific genre in its opening credits, in the case being old space adventure movies like Flash Gordon, complete with animation. Opening sequence was done by Kyle Cooper. The music by John Debney and edited by Dan Lebental; both men have also worked on Elf.

Fatherhood: Also like in Elf, its lead character, or should I say its two lead characters want to spend time with their dad despite unfortunate circumstances

Tim Robbins as Danny and Walter's dad.

References:

1964 Mercury Comet. The same car but with a different paint job
that Jon Favreau drives in Swingers.

Ralphie bobble-head from A Christmas Story.
Peter Billingsley who played Ralphie collaborates
with Favreau for a second round as co-producer.

Second Christmas story reference: The Leg-Lamp right at the movie's big climax.

Steve McQueen movie poster among the debris.

A white bull terrier can be spotted in most of Chris Van Allsburg's books and movie adaptations.
In Zathura it can be spotted on a shelf during the movie's pivotal scene.

Foreshadowing:

Iron Man:

Inspiration for Tony Stark and Obadiah Stane's iron work?

Inspiration for the suit design and flight mechanic's?

Western

Standoff between a visitor from outer space...

......and an earthling.

Chef

Walter trying to make macaroni but only gets as far as boiling the water.

Behind-the-scenes:

Jonah Bobo, Kristen Stewart, and Josh Hutcherson
The voice of Austin from The Backyardigans, Bella Swan from Twilight and Peeta Malark from The Hunger Games.