Western Courier

Issue date: 12/2/05 Section: The Edge

Zathura
Grade: C+


For most kids, space travel is only make-believe, but for the two stars of "Zathura" it becomes all too real. The story is based on the children's book by successful author Chris Van Allsburg, who also wrote "Jumanji."

Six-year-old Danny (Jonah Bobo) gets into an argument with his older brother, Walter (Josh Hutcherson) and is thrown into the basement while their dad (Tim Robbins) is away at work. While exploring the old dusty basement, Danny discovers Zathura, a space adventure board game. Walter yells at Danny about how board games are for babies and says he doesn't want to play. Danny decides to play by himself and the journey through space begins.

"Zathura" is directed by the up-and-coming director and supporting actor Jon Favreau. With only one directing credit under his belt from the hit "Elf," Favreau was faced with a quite a challenge. He had to turn a 32-page children's story into a full-length feature film with no real star power because Robbins is only in the first 10 minutes of the movie. However, Favreau pulls off the seemingly impossible task with flying colors, taking the audience through meteor showers, brawls with dysfunctional robots and fending off the alien Zorgons. The most famous actor throughout the movie, Dax Shepard, formerly of "Punk'd" and "Without a Paddle," plays a lost astronaut who never completed the game.

The special effects are definitely worth mentioning. The meteors looked like they actually came from the sky but two scenes really stuck out. The first is when the boys open the front door to reveal Saturn with its ring of asteroids. The second is the giant star the house passes. The scenes were truly jaw dropping but had this film been made when "Jumanji" hit theaters, "Zathura" would have flopped because of bad special effects.

"Zathura" is an all-around family film, getting laughs every now and then.

"Zathura" is not meant to be educational, but to be entertaining and the only lessons learned are of family. So, to all the kids in spirit or at heart, adventure is waiting in "Zathura."

-Dave Hodge
Edge staff





Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
Grade: A


Dragons, Death Eaters and doom lay in wait for both the heroic adolescent wizard Harry Potter and moviegoers in the fourth installment of the multimillion-dollar blockbuster Harry Potter film franchise.

The 160 minute "Harry Potter And The Goblet of Fire" is crafted from the wildly imaginative and near epic 734-page novel by J.K. Rowling. Although it shares the same name, limitations of the big screen forces the producers to pick which parts of the book to cover - an abridgement that will probably upset hardcore fans. Yet the film captures essentially all of the most necessary and important features of the book to continue Harry's heralding saga against the forces of evil, particularly the insidious dark Lord Voldemort.

Reprising their roles as Harry, Hermione and Ron, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint each showed a sense of maturation and a higher-tuned deftness for their characters' emotions and actions. The movie effectively shows the turmoil of puberty and hormones as the trio begin to journey into uncharted territory involving the opposite sex. The subtle hints of sexual tension between Ron and Hermione are played out in full during the Yule Ball; no, the film is not short on teenage drama.

As for the premise, Hogwarts has been selected to hold the Tri-Wizard Tournament, a series of challenges meant to crown one 7th-year student from three schools champion. Hogwarts hosts the Germanic Durmstrang, the French Beauxbatons and the challenges begin. Under suspicious circumstances, Harry's name is drawn to participate in the tournament alongside the two other contestants.

A rift forms between Harry and Ron as Ron feels that he'll always be in the shadow of Harry, and Harry will always feels obligated to be the hero. However, Harry did not put his name in the running for champion and after a near-death experience involving a particularly vicious dragon, Ron comes to realize no sane person would willingly join the tournament. The two friends make amends.

All of this is occurring amidst a shadowy plot to raise Voldemort back to full fruition. A menacing and slightly off-kilter magical defense teacher, Mad-Eye Moody, is an ominous presence and helps Harry along in his tasks to win the tournament.

The culminating confrontation between Harry and the resurrected Voldemort is drawn directly from the novel, and the scene is disturbing, dark and intense with the skeletal villain toying with Harry before his ultimate attempt to do away with the boy who brought about his fall.

Despite the film's length, it moves along at a furious pace and encourages those unfamiliar with the books to unravel the auspicious events. The film continues to depart from the Disneyfied first few movies, delving into more mature content and allowing the key actors to grow in their roles.

- Daniel O'Donnell
Edge senior writer


Chicken Little
Grade: C-

Another remake hits the box office and "Chicken Little," for one reason or another has climbed the ladder to No. 1.

The film is based on the story of a propaganda short film produced by Disney during World War II (1943). The story of Chicken Little, however, goes back for centuries. The 2005 version is somewhat loosely based on this story. Everyone has heard the story of Chicken Little and the falling sky, but Disney's 2005 "Chicken Little" takes this concept too far.

The old "Chicken Little" story is set on a poultry farm and a fox named Foxy Loxy is hungry for a chicken dinner. After reading a psychology book, Foxy Loxy realizes he can lead all the chickens to their doom by persuading the least intelligent chicken (Chicken Little) the sky is falling. Chicken Little then spreads the rumor, which leads to the undoing of the chickens.

Walt Disney Pictures decided to update this old folk tale into a computer-animated feature film. The idea seemed good in the commercials, but the expectations outdid its true performance. The story takes place in the town of Oakey Oaks, where everyone is an animal. Foxy Loxy is not a big character, but merely a bully in the film.

Chicken Little (Zach Braff) believes the sky has fallen because an octagon of blue fell out of the sky and landed on his head. He is found under a tree and everyone thinks an acorn hit his head and not a piece of the sky. His father (Gary Marshall) is embarrassed about his son's claims and apologizes for him. After that, Chicken Little has a horrible reputation with the whole town.

Throughout the film, Chicken Little wants to prove to his father he can be trusted. With the help of his friends Runt (Steve Zahn) and Abby (Joan Cusack), he eventually pulls it off. Big surprise.

The message seems kind of irrelevant to children, even though it is a children's film. The storyline is weak and the plot is bland and has an unexpected, but horrible twist in the middle.

The film did have a very good cast with famous actors, such as Patrick Stewart and the infamous voice of Batman, Adam West.

The film had some funny jokes for the older generation, but the kids probably won't understand them. It seems Disney concentrates on adult-oriented humor rather than getting through to its intended audience.

- Khaled Okla
Edge staff

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