While much of the story has been greatly condensed (the BBC mini-series covers the book verbatim) for the screen, there are expanses of deliciously witty exchanges that are mostly simple and straightforward, yet occasionally revealing of one’s character between the lines. For example, in a bedroom chat with her eldest sister, Jane (Rosamund Pike), Lizzie offers a telling criticism…
I think I should get this out of the way first… Is “Zathura,” based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg, a retread of “Jumanji,” also based on a book by Van Allsburg? Yes. Will kids care? Probably not. “Jumanji” is now ten years old, and few in the target audience for this film will have been barely able to remember its predecessor, if they were even born yet. Even if they were, kids have a propensity to adore recycled themes…