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Reviews
Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)
Zathura lives up to the hype.
I had read and heard a lot of good things about this film. I was confused by the comparisons to Jumanji and then the commercials boasting it as "original." How can a sequel be original? Isn't the definition of a sequel, in fact, a story that is a continuation of an earlier chapter?
In the case of Zathura, the term "original" applies. Zathura is not a sequel at all. It does however share a common type of plot motivation. Here, like Jumanji, the game is the thing from which all emanates. They both have a spooky mis en scene. They both offer lessons of life. Zathura just does it a bit better than the first.
The kids are great, though they do tend to get a bit too real at times for a family movie. I liked the sister quite a bit. The music is also very inspired. I was surprised to see that it was not Williams. I was sure it had been.
All in all the film was quite good. I don't know that I would put it in the same league as ET, but it's certainly better than anything I've seen for families in a long time. I predict a sleeper hit.
Dinner for Five (2001)
IFC has a gem
Favreau is the center square every week on this Hollywood non-talkshow. How refreshing to watch "them" talking like "we" do. Whatever. The show is as good as any on TV and it benefits from never appearing to try too hard. It's the best reality show on TV while never pandering for ratings or demographics. Tell your TiVo you want a season pass.