Jumanji

I have watched this a couple times. it has hints of comedy but for the most part it is an action movie. good cast and script. not the best effects but pretty good for the age of movie.

EDIT: 4/28/2020I apparently posted the review for Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle here by mistake instead of a review of the original film. I've left my original review intact here, but I'm now going to fix it and give this product the correct review.Jumanji is a classic film and one of Robin William's finer outings that did one of the better jobs and blending his comedic skills with his ability to be dramatic and serious. And Jumanji IS a dramatic film. It tells a story that embraces healing, self worth, acceptance of past mistakes and the desires to correct them, and the effects that negative emotions can have on your life.I'm going into full movie summary here so for a TLDR: Jumanji is an excellent movie that focuses on how running from your problems will just lead to negative consequences down the road. IT stares a fantastic cast with great and memorable characters and some great action sequences. Jumanji is a fully realized film that had a lasting impact on Hollywood, and fiction in general from many filmmakers and writers copying it and it's concepts and was later revisited in the spiritual sequel "Zathura" and then twice more with two sequels "Jumanji Welcome to the Jungle and "Jumanji: The Next Level"Really the only thing bad about this film is that it drags a little near the end, when the novelty of the film's creatures and rampages starts to wear thin, and the CGI having aged, though watching this in 2020 some of the CGI still holds up remarkably well. Peter and Judy are somewhat annoying characters, though Kirsten Dunst does a fantastic job, just showing how great of an actress she is, even at such a young age. The story does have some level of awkwardness to it at some points, and watching it now there's just a level of cringe at how primitive stuff looks, but I suppose that's inherent with a film set in the late 90s.I cannot recommend this film enough. While it has aged and Robin Williams is sadly no longer among us, it is a true modern classic that gives us a thrilling adventure while having a much deeper meaning behind it's madness.___Jumanji: Welcome To the Jungle is almost a perfect sequel. It modernizes the premise, being completely faithful to the original film while introducing brand new elements to the lore and universe. I absolutely loved how they weaved actual video game mechanics into the story, not just for generic action sequences but as actual story points, and I loved how the world FELT like a video game, with non-player characters acting out their roles like they would.I just really loved how the movie expanded upon the old and evolved with the new. I had been expecting just a cash grab and I was so pleasantly surprised that it wasn't thanks to tight writing and a cast of incredibly charismatic actors that really fit the roles they are given. The only real flaw in this film would have to be the final act, which felt a bit rushed.

There are few children's movies that I particularly enjoyed – I can recount The Borrowers, Labyrinth and The Neverending Story. Jumanji, however takes a new place among children's films – in fact, it may seem that initially, Jumanji is about simplistic story about kids playing a board game. Based on a gorgeous picture book story of the same name by Chris Van Allsberg, this movie takes a beautiful magical adventure and makes it into a thrill ride that defies all natural laws.Time travel, physical transformations, perceptual distortions and multiple universes are just a few of the things that Jumanji toys with. The most evident phenomena is that the characters run in two different and parallel universes, one where Jumanji exists, and the other where it is just a dream. The life of Judy and Peter as orphans exists in a different world from the one where Jumanji doesn't exist – in other words, Jumanji is a catalyst of fate, an evil entity that does not bring about awe as it did in Allsberg's book, but fear. The world that Allen Parrish is doomed to be incarcerated in the jungles of Jumanji is another one, but that period of time is nonexistent in the world he will eventually live in. This is the beauty of the movie; that these characters can only allow their trauma and epiphanies to cross worlds. With each roll of the dice, the characters grow and change.The ending with 'Jumanji' is mark of the end of that universe – everything that the jungle world had yielded, from the colonist-hunter Van Pelt to the roaring stampede and the monkeys had to return, to be sealed into the game and the universe. The game controls life; but it is merciful when played to the end without cheating.The mental agony and pain must have been tremendous for the Parrishes. Presumably, Alan spent his twenty six years in the jungle, but returned to his old self only to again relive his life as if it never happened. The temporal distortion must have presumably had an effect on his parents, although only Sarah seems to notice. (She was playing the game – and only those playing are directly affected, but in the game universe of Judy and Peter we see a problem in the movie's understanding of temporal change)The power of fate in deciding the endgame was critical in the film. It seems that the game was in itself a game of a game; it was all planned out and ready to go. In fact, it also seems that no matter how crazy or perilous the situation is, the characters cannot be killed. Even Van Pelt says at the Sir Sav A Lot that "I am hunting only Alan. I won't kill you, since you didn't roll" He too is bound to the rules of the game, no matter how much of a colonialist he is. The game instills a high level of fear without death, in order for the game to continue, all the characters must be present. So in one way, no one need be scared of anything in the game. Instead, the game builds resilience in the characters.It was natural that in the end the end was initiated by the future; or more appropriately the past. At the end, both Sarah and Alan make up for the trouble they have caused and have a life bond from the experience. The jumping between 1994 and 1964 is a critical aspect where we see that the horrors of the game have allowed Judy and Peter's parents to not die in the ski accident. They are oddly willing to put an end to their vacation when they hardly know the Parrishes…"In the jungle, you must wait, until you roll a five or eight" – Jumanji "Roll a two, roll a four, but never ask for more" – Gautam

Great movie

Fun movie to watch with the whole family

4K releases pre-2000'ish are a bit hit and miss in definition quality as many have no doubt found, however, am delighted to say this movie-gem of 1995 is in my view, pretty good on 4K, not perfect, but, far better than the earlier Blu-ray release.The story tells of how a young boy Alan Parish (young Adam Hann-Byrd - older The Legendary talent Robin Williams) running from bullies finds a box buried 100 years ago (1869) by two boys, it's a game called Jumanji.After an argument with his father at home, Alan had decided to run away, however, friend Sarah Whittle (young Laura Bell Bundy - older Bonnie Hunt) brings back his bike the bullies had taken, Alan invites Sarah to play the game he'd found.....the game eerie from the word go, strange sounds and messages, even the pieces move when the dice is rolled....scarily Alan is pulled into the crystal, he's disappeared.Twenty-Six years have passed, Alan's parents had died in a skiing accident, the house is sold, Judy (Kirsten Dunst) and Peter (Bradley Pierce) move in with their Aunt.Very soon they hear drum-like noises, Judy and Jack investigate, they find Jumanji and decide to play the game, eerily with strange noises and messages creatures begin to come forth from the board, mosquitoes followed by numerous mischievous monkeys, though scared, the game insists that it has to be played until complete when everything will return to normal, the next throw a bearded Alan along with a Lion springs out.Alan, of course, doesn't know what has happened during the years he's been missing presumed dead.Well, Alan realises they need old-friend Sarah to join the game to have any chance of completing it, Sarah all this time on is reluctant with vivid memories of seeing Alan pulled into the game 26 years ago, but does.Well mayhem follows as the Jungle and its creatures come to town (Brantford)Will the four complete the game and send the Jungle and its creatures back to where they come from?This is certainly a fun ride that'll both hold your attention and amuse as the film unfolds.Unlike the newer films where the key-characters are pulled into the Jungle, the Jungle comes to them.For me, the film so much better than what has followed....certainly worth a re-visit or indeed first viewing.....enjoy.

I absolutely love this film. Although I am 38 I missed it the first time round and have only just seen it with my children. It is sooo good. It has everything: tears, laughter, scary moments. Brilliant acting. The concept of a board game coming to life is perfect for my children's ages (5 and 7). They were not at all scared by this film (although it is a PG). I have seen scarier U's. It should be noted that the new Jumanji is a 12 so I would need to check that out first. This film uses computer graphics well- it must have been in its infancy but they are high quality. It has such a good plot. Lots of heart. Love stories from family to friends and love interests. All the different threads get tied up in such a satisfying way that I feel it is a screenwriting masterpiece! Great acting by all and lovely to see Robin Williams again. He is great as always. I really enjoyed this. Definitely fun for all the family.

Great family film for a trip down memory lane starring the late, great Robin Williams. I haven't watched the versions with Mr Johnson so can't compare. The early CGI shows but isn't bad and doesn't distract from the film in any way. For a fun adventure film, this really takes its time to develop the characters before all the shenanigans start which is rare these days.

I seen this for sale on Blu-ray and I wanted it straight away.This was one of my favourite films as a child.I always owned it on VHS but I had to to add to my Blu-ray collection.The picture is great and it fills out the entire screen which I love. Although, I do think it could have been better. The picture seemed to lack contrast for me. The colour just wasn't as prominent and the picture wasn't as crisp as Blu-rays of older movies usually make them.That's not to say the quality was bad, it was great! But I've seen better.Also, I love the interactive Jumanji game you can play in the special features. The Jumanji game could have been slightly better but I really did enjoy it even though my brother hated it.So overall this is a great Blu-ray to add in your collection but don't be expecting something phenomenal. And for €5, you can't beat that price.

What ever you do, do not open the game and start playing it. This is one hysterically funny film. Everything is going wrong when it should do. Watch for the monkey's in the kitchen, on the motorbike and the giant spider's. A fabulous film to watch. Realise that the dog, is the only real animal in this film. The elephant's and rhino are brilliant to watch. I give it ten out of ten. Sit down, start the film and watch. Remember, do not open this game, as when you start it, you have to finnish it. PC. 15. 12. 2017. By the way, the special affect's are brilliant.