The notion of remakes and sequels of film have been around for a very long time. Often due to constant development and improvement of technology and it's consistent and continual progression of advances. Remaking a film seems to be the easiest and fastest way of attracting an audience as the targeted audience is already set out from the original film. Reasons known for creating a remake in the Hollywood film industry is that they appease to shareholders, it creates an opportunity for new ideas and narrative to be based upon the initial original film, audience is easier to target and attract, it is known that the audience and film critics will pay more attention and that remakes often earn more money than the original if it's created successfully.
Those reasons were gathered from :
In this report I evaluate the film Jumanji and it's remake Zathura. Both films differ greatly but possess a similarity of concept whereby a board game's plots come to life by it's 'magic' clockwork and effect the players till the game is over . Zathura possesses the same board game rules as Jumanji. Another similarity is the idea of a foreign setting. Jumanji incorporated the Jungle as a their threat whereas Zathura was Outerspace. Though specifically their location differs, the concept of having a location seen as threat is the same.
This report is based on my analysis of both film gathered from various sources such as Google, and the websites I credited in accordance to a specific question. Having to watch both films and take notes of similarities, difference and personal gatherings was also a contributing methodology used in this report.
Which country did the funding come from for both films ?
This significant difference in cost is mainly due to props and location of both films. Jumanji was filmed in America and Canada thus costing more in order to cover the cost of traveling and accommodation for everyone involved in the movies production. On top of that, costs also went into certain characters of the film, the animals. Though majority of the animals were animated into the film using green screen,a real animal had to be hired in order to ensure the animation was realistic. Unlike the Jumaji, Zathura cost much less simply because it was much more simpler to film. Majority of Zathura require only the technology of editing program's and a green screen. It was all filmed in one location thus making it unnecessary to pay for anyone's flight and accommodation.
-Research carried out to answer the above question was gathered from the various source/s:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumanji
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zathura
- Are they Hollywood, Bollywood, British or 'developing countries' films?
-Research carried out to answer the above question was gathered from the various source/s:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_co-production
- Is it an international co-production?
A movie is defined as an International Co-Production if it has two or more production companies from a different countries working together. I can confirm that Jumanji can be classified as an internation co-production film as it was produced by three companies - Interscope Communications, Tristar Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. Two out of three of the companies ( Interscope Communications and Amblin Entertainment ) are USA established companies whereas the other (Tristar Pictures) posses monaerely an international relation with USA but is run in Japan.
Though Zathura is a remake of Jumanji, it's production company differs from Jumanji and consists of only one supporting company which is Columbia Pictures, a USA established cooperation disallowing the film to be regarded as an International Co-Production.
-Research carried out to answer the above question was gathered from the various source/s:
- Can either film be considered an 'independant' or 'mainstream' film ?
Both films received a positive outcome from the Hollywood Box Office and had a large budget to produce .
This classifies them as a mainstream film despite Jumanji having a more successful outcome than Zathura.
-Research carried out to answer the above question was gathered from the various source/s:
- Did they receive any funding from 'funding bodies' ?
Neither films received any funding from funding bodies.
-Research carried out to answer the above question was gathered from the various source/s:
No information was found to answer the question.
- What technologies were used in the production?
Jumanji and its remake Zathura made use of highly effective editing and effects in order to create the fantasy and sci-fi theme both films narrative was based upon. Technologies to create the computer generated images audiences saw in the scenes include advanced lighting, editing, graphic, animation, and effects programming on highly advanced computerizing software's run by talented editors and an established company such as Industrial Light And Magic. It is an established American Academy Award-winning motion picture visual effects company.
-Research carried out to answer the above question was gathered from the various source/s:
Who distributed the films in the UK ?
Both films were distributed by their respective production companies with Jumanji being distributed by Tristar Pictures and Zathura by Columbia as well as the British Board of Film Classification.
-Research carried out to answer the above question was gathered from the various source/s:
- What cinemas may have shown the films in the UK ?
Vue,Odeon, Cineworld, Empire,Merlin and many more.
-Research carried out to answer the above question was gathered from the various source/s:
- Do they fit into a particular genre 'cycle' of films ?
Jumanji is classified as a family,adventure and fantasy genre film. The remake, Zathura however falls under the genre Action,Adventure,Comedy and Sci-fi. These classifications are supported on the narative and content of both films.
Jumanji is about a supernatural board game that makes characters in the game such as wild animals and poisonous plants come to life and harm the players.Quests and challenges of the game beacome real and threatening. The main protagonist Allen who is 12 years old unfortunately gets 'captured' and stuck in the game for thirty years.By the time he is 'summoned' to come out of the game by new players 30 years later he is faced with the games challenges all over again, but this time with the two new players,and his opponent from thirty years ago. They must continue the game despite the terrifying circumstances in order for them to be free from the devastating outcomes and for their lives to 'go back to normal'.
Zathura's narrative contains the same concept but with a space theme instead. Events of the game take place in inter-galactic space and instead of wild animals, the threats are of aliens and natural space disasters.
-Research carried out to answer the above question was gathered from the various source/s:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113497/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113497/
Images were sourced from :
http://movie-screencaps.com/
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=jumanji+scenes&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=vuNaU8n-H9DT7AbmooDICw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=643
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=jumanji+scenes&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=vuNaU8n-H9DT7AbmooDICw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=643#q=zathura+scenes&spell=1&tbm=isch
Images were sourced from :
http://movie-screencaps.com/
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=jumanji+scenes&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=vuNaU8n-H9DT7AbmooDICw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=643
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=jumanji+scenes&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=vuNaU8n-H9DT7AbmooDICw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=643#q=zathura+scenes&spell=1&tbm=isch
- Do they have any stars ?
Jumanji has renowned actors and actresses such as Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst and Bonnie Hunt. of
Zathura had the cast of Josh Hutcherson,Kristen Stewart and Dax Shepherd.
-Research carried out to answer the above question was gathered from the various source/s:
What certificate did they receive in the UK and why did they receive that certificate ?
Jumanji received a certificate of PG rating of menacing fantasy action and some mild language. This rating was based by the following criteria's stated below.
Sex & Nudity
Sex & Nudity: 1/10
A kiss between 2 teens.
There is a sign downtown that says XXX adult movies. It is somewhat hard to notice.
Violence & Gore: 5/10
A boy is beaten by several other kids. His nose bleeds.
It is implied that people bitten by giant mosquitos become very ill, and are rushed to hospital.
A lion attacks several people, but no one is injured.
Monkeys destroy a kitchen and throw knives at two young children; they also scare several people, crash a car and damage a shop.
A man shaves and is later shown with many bloody cuts.
A stampede of elephants, rhinos, birds, zebras and other animals run through a town, injuring some people and damaging many things; a young boy is almost crushed to death.
A boy is almost killed by a giant plant.
Giant spiders attack people. A boy tries to kill the spiders with an axe.
Four people almost drown in a monsoon and are then attacked by a crocodile, but no one is injured.
A hunter shoots at several people.
A young girl is hit in the neck by a poisonous plant and is seen lying motionless on the floor (presumably dead).
Dozens of bats chase a young girl down a street.
Other scenes of animals causing damage.
A story of a man cutting up his young son up and hiding him in the walls.
Scenes involving the animals can be intense and scary.
A boy is beaten by several other kids. His nose bleeds.
It is implied that people bitten by giant mosquitos become very ill, and are rushed to hospital.
A lion attacks several people, but no one is injured.
Monkeys destroy a kitchen and throw knives at two young children; they also scare several people, crash a car and damage a shop.
A man shaves and is later shown with many bloody cuts.
A stampede of elephants, rhinos, birds, zebras and other animals run through a town, injuring some people and damaging many things; a young boy is almost crushed to death.
A boy is almost killed by a giant plant.
Giant spiders attack people. A boy tries to kill the spiders with an axe.
Four people almost drown in a monsoon and are then attacked by a crocodile, but no one is injured.
A hunter shoots at several people.
A young girl is hit in the neck by a poisonous plant and is seen lying motionless on the floor (presumably dead).
Dozens of bats chase a young girl down a street.
Other scenes of animals causing damage.
A story of a man cutting up his young son up and hiding him in the walls.
Scenes involving the animals can be intense and scary.
Profanity: 1/10
Infrequent mild language.
Infrequent mild language.
None.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: 6/10
The theme of this movie is very creepy. In an opening sequence,
As the game progresses, things get more and more frightening. Scenes involving the bats, lions, huge mosquitos, monkeys, dangerous flowers, elephants, spiders, an obsessed hunter and crocodiles are pretty scary and intense.
Total Explicit Content: 13/50
Suitable For Children 8 Years And Over
The theme of this movie is very creepy. In an opening sequence,
As the game progresses, things get more and more frightening. Scenes involving the bats, lions, huge mosquitos, monkeys, dangerous flowers, elephants, spiders, an obsessed hunter and crocodiles are pretty scary and intense.
Total Explicit Content: 13/50
Suitable For Children 8 Years And Over
Zathura,like Jumanji is also certified as PG for fantasy action and peril , and some language based on the following critera's stated below.
Note: The number at the beginning of each section refers to how much explicit content of that kind there is in the film on a scale of 1-10. The fraction at the end of the last section is the total sum of the sections over the highest sum possible (50) and is therefore an approximation of about how explicit the film is a whole.
Sex and Nudity: 2
A father learns his daughter is going on a date (she refers to it as "hooking up"), and warns her against sex (though he doesn't say it directly)
Lisa wears tight clothing.
Sex and Nudity: 2
A father learns his daughter is going on a date (she refers to it as "hooking up"), and warns her against sex (though he doesn't say it directly)
Lisa wears tight clothing.
Violence and Gore: 5
Intense Violence, brothers fight, aliens are killed (one crushed by a piano.)
Intense Violence, brothers fight, aliens are killed (one crushed by a piano.)
Profanity: 5
1 use of "d--k", 1 use of "a*s", possibly some mild religious exclamations, and 1 use of "b--ch." It is used in the form of (BEE-ah-ch). GD is also used. 1 use of what the hell. one use of sucks and 'you suck'.
1 use of "d--k", 1 use of "a*s", possibly some mild religious exclamations, and 1 use of "b--ch." It is used in the form of (BEE-ah-ch). GD is also used. 1 use of what the hell. one use of sucks and 'you suck'.
Alcohol, Drugs, Smoking: 0
None
None
Frightening and Intense Scenes: 6
Lots of suspense. There is an intense meteor shower, a robot that is intent on killing two small boys, some of the aliens may frighten kids. We learn that they eat meat (people=meat).
Lots of suspense. There is an intense meteor shower, a robot that is intent on killing two small boys, some of the aliens may frighten kids. We learn that they eat meat (people=meat).
-Research carried out to answer the above question was gathered from the various source/s:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0406375/parentalguide?ref_=tt_stry_pg
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0406375/parentalguide?ref_=tt_stry_pg
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113497/parentalguide
- Are they part of a series of films ?
Jumanji and Zathura are not part of any sequels but are of an original and remake film category.
- Who was the production company ?
The production company that produced Jumanji which was filmed in 1995 are Interscope Communications, Amblin Entertainment and Tristar Pictures. Zathura however was prodcued by a single production comapny, Columbia Pictures.
-Research carried out to answer the above question was gathered from the various source/s:
https://www.google.co.uk/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=ai9dU6OcB6TR8gfHtICICA#q=jumanji+production+company
In summary Jumanji and Zathura are films that suitable for a their targeted audience and certification age. With production aspects of profanity, violence , sex and nudity the films are of equal caliber. Reflecting their unity and relationship as a Original and Remake film. With regards to the production context , I would say the remake is definitely much more subtle compared to Jumanji which incorporated exaggerative and dramatic effects which correlated with it's climatic and expressive narrative. The message of the films narrative was conveyed similarly. Despite the similarity of narrative Jumanji is seemed to be much more popular and preferred to than Zathura. This can be supported by the box office earning. As mentioned earlier, Jumanji earned more earnings than Zathura despite both films having the same equal amount of budgeting of 65 million USD. Jumanji earned $262,797,249 USD while Zathura earned $64,321,501.
In summary Jumanji and Zathura are films that suitable for a their targeted audience and certification age. With production aspects of profanity, violence , sex and nudity the films are of equal caliber. Reflecting their unity and relationship as a Original and Remake film. With regards to the production context , I would say the remake is definitely much more subtle compared to Jumanji which incorporated exaggerative and dramatic effects which correlated with it's climatic and expressive narrative. The message of the films narrative was conveyed similarly. Despite the similarity of narrative Jumanji is seemed to be much more popular and preferred to than Zathura. This can be supported by the box office earning. As mentioned earlier, Jumanji earned more earnings than Zathura despite both films having the same equal amount of budgeting of 65 million USD. Jumanji earned $262,797,249 USD while Zathura earned $64,321,501.
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