Also positively appealing was the experience I had watching the Special Edition DVD release of Zathura and checking out its satisfying compliment of bonus features and extras. While a little intense for the youngest of youngsters (my five year old may think he’s worldly wise, but he’s never encountered anything like those scaly Zorgons), this tale of sibling rivalry has more than enough twists and turns to keep all but the most jaded adult moviegoers occupied as well.
And the DVD’s extras are very complete and satisfying, too. Commentary by Jon Favreau (director) and Peter Billingsley (co-producer) is spot on and very informative, and the various featurettes cover nearly every aspect of the making of the film worth knowing and move along at a clip nearly as rapid fire as the film itself. The behind the scenes segments are especially insightful as they explore the many layers of veneer that, when combined, help make Zathura into the visual delicacy that it is. There is also a wonderful interview with Zathura author Chris Van Allsburg (Jumanji, The Polar Express, etc.) that delves into how he got started in children’s fiction, his creative process, and his relationship with Hollywood creators who adapt his books for the big screen.
The only way that Zathura might have been better, and this is pretty ticky-tacky, would have been adding in a concept art gallery showing how the main set pieces came together. These would have included, but not have been limited to, the design of the craftsman-style house where most of the action takes place, individual sections of the house that were designed so they could be systematically destroyed by cannons from the Zorgon's ships, the Zathura game board, the Zorgon space ships (and the Zorgon’s themselves), and the extremely cool robot.
In all other ways, however, Zathura: Special Edition demonstrates that a DVD that is about a game doesn’t have to be out to play games with your wallet. Check it out at an outlet (online or otherwise) near you.
