Jumanji / Zathura

Captain Jean-Luc Picard · June 19, 2007, 12:00:37 PM

Have you seen Jumanji or Zathura? They are fantastic movies about a magical board game that comes to life. Jumanji features a jungle-themed game where as Zathura features a space-themed game. Zathura is a thematic sequel to Jumanji, it does not feature any of the characters nor the board game. Jumanji is an epic (compared to Zathura), but Zathura has a greater sense of danger.

I have both movies on DVD. They're not deep by any means, but they're good, fun movies to watch on a rainy day. :biggrin

JoSpiv · June 20, 2007, 01:51:58 AM

Jumanji is a very good movie. Zarthura is similar, but i don't think it's as cool. The story is simplier. However, the effects in Zarthura are absolutly incredible. Jumanji looks good, but some of the animals look a little to fake.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard · June 20, 2007, 11:02:22 AM

The animals in Jumanji are CGI effects. The Zorgons and crazy robot in Zathura are on-set practical effects. That's why they look better. I prefer on-set practical effects and feel CGI should only be used when it'd be impossible or too expensive to use practical effects. :biggrin

Duffster · June 20, 2007, 11:08:17 AM

To be honest, I didn't expect too much out of Zathura after hearing some of the feedback from people that had seen it. I was very pleasantly surprised!! My kids and I all had a great time watching it. I actually think I like it better then Jumanji, maybe that's because I didn't expect much from it.

Anyway I think there both fun movies, especially for families.

Duffster

Locutus · June 20, 2007, 02:22:39 PM

I had issues with the effects in Jumanji - the CGI animals looked like they just weren't "there" - bad integration. hat said, I did enjoy the movie, and if they were to redo the cgi with the tech we have these days, I would probably love it.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard · June 28, 2007, 08:55:04 PM

I don't care if the special effects are lame so long as it's the best they could do. The story and acting is what counts.

Did anyone see the plot twist coming at the end of Zathura? I didn't, so it was a fantastic surprise for me. :biggrin

Locutus · June 29, 2007, 09:20:28 AM

Quote from: Captain Jean-Luc Picard on June 28, 2007, 08:55:04 PM
I don't care if the special effects are lame so long as it's the best they could do. The story and acting is what counts.

Even though this is an incredibly dismissive comment, I will clarify.

While story, plot, and acting are all part of a film, if there are special effects incorporated into the final piece, they must, if at all possible, not detract from the film, but add to the overall wonder. The shading of the animals in Jumanji did not match what else was on the screen. They looked like they were not really there, which detracted from the film working as a whole. As I mentioned above, I enjoyed the movie, but if they fixed the CGI shading, I would love the movie, since as it stands, it just looks too fake.

Your opinions are welcome here, but you need to understand they are opinions. You also need to respect that others have them as well. Stating your case as fact does nothing to engender you to the rest of the group, CJLP. There is a difference between being assertive and being aggressive - you tend towards the latter. Take a few minutes and look up conversation techniques, and look at this link for some idea on the difference between asserting yourself, and being an aggressor.

http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Depression/suicide/asserting_ourselves.asp#aggress

Bryancd · June 29, 2007, 10:05:25 AM

I thought Jumanji was average at best. I never saw Zathura. I agree Locutus as well, the effects just didn't seem to work that well and as I was watching that kept me out of the story.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard · June 29, 2007, 10:41:26 AM

Quote from: Locutus on June 29, 2007, 09:20:28 AM
While story, plot, and acting are all part of a film, if there are special effects incorporated into the final piece, they must, if at all possible, not detract from the film, but add to the overall wonder. The shading of the animals in Jumanji did not match what else was on the screen. They looked like they were not really there, which detracted from the film working as a whole. As I mentioned above, I enjoyed the movie, but if they fixed the CGI shading, I would love the movie, since as it stands, it just looks too fake.

I understand and agree with you. However, the movie came out in 1995. I believe that is the best they could do with CGI in 1995. Sometimes I watch old movies from the 1960's that have laughable special effects, but I don't let that detract from the story. I just accept that the technology of the time had limitations. They could change the special effects, but... why? The movie's fine as it is.

QuoteYour opinions are welcome here, but you need to understand they are opinions. You also need to respect that others have them as well. Stating your case as fact does nothing to engender you to the rest of the group, CJLP.

Excuse me? We have both shared opinions. Respecting your opinion does not mean I have to agree with it. I have not stating my case as fact. I stated an opinion.

QuoteI don't care if the special effects are lame so long as it's the best they could do. The story and acting is what counts.

How on Earth can this be interpreted as anything other than opinion? :confused

QuoteThere is a difference between being assertive and being aggressive - you tend towards the latter. Take a few minutes and look up conversation techniques, and look at this link for some idea on the difference between asserting yourself, and being an aggressor.

I read your link. Being expressive, emotionally honest, and direct is being agressive? I'm always like that! It's who I am! :confused

Bryancd · June 29, 2007, 10:47:22 AM

So the CGI in 1995 was the best they could do, so that makes it OK but the guy in the rubber Godzilla suit was the best they could do in the '50 and '60's but that to you is unwatchable?

I agree, we accept the limitations of the time and our enjoymenty of the film can and should be based on how it resonates with us as individuals. I just didn't care for Jumanji that much and thought they maybe relied too much on the effects. It was an interesting story, for sure.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard · June 29, 2007, 11:01:08 AM

Quote from: Bryancd on June 29, 2007, 10:47:22 AM
So the CGI in 1995 was the best they could do, so that makes it OK but the guy in the rubber Godzilla suit was the best they could do in the '50 and '60's but that to you is unwatchable?

Yes. Why? The CGI animals in Jumanji are not the central focus of the movie, so it is acceptable to me if they look a little fake. The Godzilla monster in the Japenese Godzilla movies is the central focus of each movie, so when I see this guy running around in a rubber suit... I don't see a monster, I see a guy in a rubber suit. In conclussion, I find the CGI animals in Jumanji realistic enough. When I watch the movie, I see wild animals, not special effects. I don't know what else to say...

QuoteI just didn't care for Jumanji that much and thought they maybe relied too much on the effects. It was an interesting story, for sure.

It did rely a lot on special effects. It is a fantasy movie afterall. Were there too many special effects? I think that answer will vary from viewer to viewer. For me, not at all.

Bryancd · June 29, 2007, 11:09:29 AM

Well, the CGI animals were a pretty integral part of that story and I didn't care for them just like you didn't like old school Godzilla, just 2 different opinions, that's all you have to say. :)

Trekkygeek · June 29, 2007, 12:29:56 PM

Jumanji was okay, it has been said here that the CGI animals were not the main focus of the film. I beg to differ. Back then, this sort of thing had not been done before, it was state of the art and the only reason the film did so well was because of the new affects.
As for comparing old films to new, I have to say that although the original 1933 King Kong is inferior in terms of SFX, I would rather watch this great classic than Jumanji, story-wise, Jumanji is already forgotten about, whereas King Kong will live forever.

wso32 · June 29, 2007, 01:58:01 PM

I've never seen either but sounds like they may be worth checking out. I remember hearing about Jumanji but the only thing I remember about Zathura was from the TV show The Apprentice when they had to design some Zathura themed floats for a parade.

Ktrek · June 29, 2007, 02:26:24 PM

Quote from: trekkygeek on June 29, 2007, 12:29:56 PM
As for comparing old films to new, I have to say that although the original 1933 King Kong is inferior in terms of SFX, I would rather watch this great classic than Jumanji, story-wise, Jumanji is already forgotten about, whereas King Kong will live forever.

All I can say is...Amen to that!

Kevin