jumanji 1995 movie review

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"Jumanji" is being promoted as a jolly holiday season entertainment, with ads that show Robin Williams with a twinkle in his eye. The movie itself is likely to send younger children fleeing from the theater, or hiding in their parents' arms. Those who do sit all the way through it are likely to toss and turn with nightmares inspired by its frightening images.

Whoever thought this was a family movie (the MPAA rates it PG - not even PG-13!) must think kids are made of stern stuff. The film is a gloomy special-effects extravaganza filled with grotesque images, generating fear and despair. Even for older audiences, there are few redeeming factors, because what little story there is serves as a coathook for the f/x sequences, which come out of nowhere and evaporate into the same place.

The film opens in 1869, as a sturdy chest is buried in the woods. "What if someone digs this up?" a shadowy worker asks. "God help them!" he's told.

We flash forward to 1969, as a little boy named Alan finds the chest in a construction site and opens it to discover a board game named "Jumanji." He rolls the dice and is instantly fascinated with the game's supernatural powers. The pieces on the board move themselves. The game communicates with ghostly messages that float into focus in a cloudy lens. And Alan is attacked by a cloud of bats.

Another flash-forward, this time to the present, as two other kids find the game in an old mansion that has been abandoned for years. This is none other than Alan's childhood home, and when the kids begin playing the game, Alan materializes. He has been in limbo all of this time, growing to manhood, and is now played by Robin Williams. His first words: "Where's my mom and dad?" Ah, but there's no time for sentimentality now. He makes friends with the children, Judy ( Kirsten Dunst ) and Peter ( Bradley Pierce ), and together they begin to explore the world of Jumanji, which contains jungle terrors. They will be attacked by lions, monkeys, rhinos, elephants, giant insects, poison darts, plants that strangle them and other plants that eat things, snakes, birds, mosquitoes, thunder and lightning, and (it goes without saying) spiders. They will wrestle with a crocodile and Alan will almost be gobbled up by a pool of quicksand that appears in the middle of the mansion's floor.

Other characters make their appearances. There's Van Pelt ( Jonathan Hyde ), a big-game hunter who has also been captured by the game; Aunt Nora ( Bebe Neuwirth ), who has adopted little Judy and Peter (somehow it is inevitable that they are orphans), and Sarah ( Bonnie Hunt ), who was the little girl who played Jumanji with young Alan on that fateful day in 1969, and now has grown up to become a reclusive fortune-teller. The town shunned her because she insisted on telling the truth about her experience with the board game.

The basic notion of the film (two kids have lots of scary adventures with Robin Williams) must have sounded good on paper. But the technicians have filled the screen with special effects, both conventional and animated, in such a way that the movie is now about as appropriate for smaller children as, say, " Jaws ." It's not bad enough that the film's young heroes have to endure an unremitting series of terrifying dangers; at one point, little Peter gets converted into a monkey that looks like a Wolf Man, and goes through the film like a miniature Lon Chaney, with a hairy snout and wicked jaws. This image alone is likely to be disturbing to small children. To me, it looked like gratuitous cruelty on the part of the filmmakers toward the harmless young character.

The underlying structure of the film seems inspired by - or limited by - interactive video games. There is little attempt to construct a coherent story. Instead, the characters face one threat after another, as new and grotesque dangers jump at them. It's like those video games where you achieve one level after another by killing and not getting killed. The ultimate level for young viewers will be being able to sit all the way through the movie.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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Jumanji (1995)

Rated PG For Menacing Fantasy Action and Some Mild Language

100 minutes

Jonathan Hyde as Sam Parrish

Robin Williams as Alan Parrish

Kirsten Dunst as Judy

Bradley Pierce as Peter

Directed by

• Joe Johnston
• Jonathan Hensleigh
• Greg Taylor

Based On The Book by

• Chris Van Allsburg

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Common sense media reviewers.

Some thrills, but may be too much for little ones.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

A distinctly unfriendly community is the setting,

The main characters support each other and help ea

Much-threatened and occasionally carried out, in t

"Damn" here and there.

Parents need to know that Jumanji has lots of thrills and perils but little joy, as monstrous jungle predators pour out of an enchanted board game to overwhelm hapless kids and adults in a depressed New England town. It may be too intense for some kids, although young viewers who aren't nightmare-prone will…

Positive Messages

A distinctly unfriendly community is the setting, with kids who defy and mouth off to adults and pull pranks (though everything comes out right at the end thanks to their intervention).

Positive Role Models

The main characters support each other and help each other survive.

Violence & Scariness

Much-threatened and occasionally carried out, in the form of beatings, bitings, stingings, and stompings mostly by nastied-up members of the animal kingdom. Shooting also threatened by a maniacal hunter.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Jumanji has lots of thrills and perils but little joy, as monstrous jungle predators pour out of an enchanted board game to overwhelm hapless kids and adults in a depressed New England town. It may be too intense for some kids, although young viewers who aren't nightmare-prone will be diverted by the creatures, computer-generated by the same Hollywood whizzes who brought to life the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park . To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Community Reviews

• Parents say (38)
• Kids say (80)

Based on 38 parent reviews

All time favorite, but you guys didn't include some key notes!

Entertaining all the way through, but can be a bit scary., what's the story.

JUMANJI begins with a 19th century expedition to bury a board game of unexplained origin. In 1969, young Alan happens to dig up the game and plays it. The relic materializes multitudes of hostile African animals, and Alan gets sucked into the jungle-world of the game. More than 25 years later two orphans (Bradley Pierce, Kirsten Dunst ) move into Alan's old house, find the game, and start playing, unleashing a fresh rampage of vicious beasts and Alan (Robin Williams ). Alan is now a full-grown semi-wild man, being tracked by Van Pelt (Jonathan Hyde), a crazed, implacable, old-school safari hunter. The only way to return everything to normal is for the kids to continue playing the game to the end, even though each roll of the dice unleashes more attacking animals, from demonic bats to man-eating plants to a ghastly herd of giant spiders.

Is It Any Good?

There's no sense of wonder, really, just one scare after another, and the fact that the killer Van Pelt is played by the same actor who embodied Alan's snooty father adds another dark note. Young viewers who aren't nightmare-prone might be diverted a little by the computer-generated beasts, which all have a slightly livid, unreal glaze that's fitting for how lurid engravings and drawings of the late 1800s might portray exotic beasts.

But Jumanji' s script is weak, and Williams pretty much plays it straight as the time-displaced, long-marooned Alan. The young actors are good, but there's a heavy undercurrent of continual peril, death, and morbidity, with no breathing room. The ending, in which history is rewritten for all the characters even better than It's a Wonderful Life , seems a little forced, to say the least, and doesn't dispel the general unpleasantness.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about what they think makes for a good fantasy adventure film. Was Jumanji funny, or more on the darker side?

If you were going to make this movie, is there anything you'd change, and if so, what?

Which game would you like to see come alive?

Movie Details

• In theaters : December 15, 1995
• On DVD or streaming : September 2, 2000
• Cast : Bonnie Hunt , Kirsten Dunst , Robin Williams
• Director : Joe Johnston
• Inclusion Information : Female actors
• Studio : Columbia Tristar
• Genre : Drama
• Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Wild Animals
• Run time : 104 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• MPAA explanation : violence and scariness
• Last updated : January 26, 2024

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Jumanji Reviews

If board games are your bag, I submit a hot night of Parcheesi might be more fun.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 20, 2023

The technology both overwhelms the human cast and stalls the narrative drive. Even Williams's manic energy finally flags.

Full Review | Apr 20, 2022

With plenty of laughs, action-packed excitement, great music (by James Horner), spectacular sets, and inspirational themes, this film is an absolutely winning adventure.

Full Review | Original Score: 9/10 | Sep 14, 2020

It was totally one of those 90's movies specifically made for 90's kids.

Full Review | Feb 20, 2018

Filmmaker Joe Johnston has infused Jumanji with an appreciatively old-school feel that's reflected in its many attributes...

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jan 26, 2018

The joy of Jumanji is in how sparingly director Joe Johnston deploys his arsenal of computers, making the tricks and shocks the more real.

Full Review | Dec 7, 2017

The humans are wooden, the computer-animals have that floating, jerky gait of animated fauna.

Full Review | Aug 19, 2015

The filmmakers... re-create safari beasts with wizardly finesse but can’t think of anything to do with them but zap you.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Sep 7, 2011

Some thrills, but may be too much for little ones.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 15, 2010

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Aug 21, 2010

As he did with Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, director Joe Johnston successfully juggles frenetic special-effects action with gentle character moments.

Full Review | Jul 6, 2010

What’s missing is a soul for this mechanical marvel.

Full Review | Jan 2, 2009

Hollow, but very spectacular.

Full Review | Jun 24, 2006

Like the rest of Johnston's oeuvre, Jumanji puts vivid characters through paces that will quicken any child's pulse.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Nov 23, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 13, 2005

This smart, scary film, is still a favorite to dust off and take from the "vhs" bin

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 13, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jan 19, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jan 2, 2005

All the effects in the world can't disguise the thin plot.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Dec 8, 2004

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jan 18, 2004

• TriStar Pictures

Summary When young Alan Parrish discovers a mysterious board game, he doesn't realize its unimaginable powers, until he is magically transported before the startled eyes of his friend, Sarah, into the untamed jungles of Jumanji. There he remains for 26 years until he is freed from the game's spell by two unsuspecting children. [Sony]

Directed By : Joe Johnston

Written By : Jonathan Hensleigh, Greg Taylor, Jim Strain, Chris Van Allsburg

Where to Watch

Robin Williams

Alan parrish.

Kirsten Dunst

Judy shepherd.

Bonnie Hunt

Sarah whittle.

Jonathan Hyde

Van pelt, sam parrish.

Bradley Pierce

Peter shepherd.

Bebe Neuwirth

Nora shepherd.

David Alan Grier

Patricia Clarkson

Carol parrish, adam hann-byrd.

Laura Bell Bundy

Young sarah, james handy, exterminator, gillian barber, mrs. thomas, brandon obray, cyrus thiedeke, gary joseph thorup, billy jessup, leonard zola, lloyd berry, malcolm stewart, jim shepherd, annabel kershaw, martha shepherd, darryl henriques, gun salesman, critic reviews.

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Relying on some tried-and-true horror conventions, "Jumanji" may prove to be more frightening than thrilling for the young crowd that is its intended audience. A grim fairy tale about a board game with supernatural powers, the film unleashes an arsenal of special effects that are dazzling to the eye but often a shock to the senses.

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Relying on some tried-and-true horror conventions, “Jumanji” may prove to be more frightening than thrilling for the young crowd that is its intended audience. A grim fairy tale about a board game with supernatural powers, the film unleashes an arsenal of special effects that are dazzling to the eye but often a shock to the senses. A simple story, breathtaking visuals and name cast will provide an initial draw, but the picture falls short of achieving the magic necessary to transform it into a tale with enduring appeal or propel the film to blockbuster status.

Opening in a quiet New England town in 1969, the tale unfolds when young Alan Parrish (Adam Hann-Byrd), the scion of a shoe manufacturer, discovers a buried game on a construction site. He and a friend begin to play Jumanji, a jungle-themed adventure.

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From the first roll of the dice, it’s evident that this is no ordinary amusement. Its board markers move by their own volition , and cryptic messages appear from its crystal ball-like centerpiece. The first toss evokes a bevy of African bats, and after Alan flings the cubes, he disappears, sucked into the vortex of the tiled diversion.

The scene abruptly shifts to the present. Nora (Bebe Neuwirth) has bought the now run-down Parrish estate and moves in with Judy (Kirsten Dunst) and Peter (Bradley Pierce), her orphaned niece and nephew. The restless drums of Jumanji literally beckon, and the two youngsters dust off the seemingly innocent trifle and begin to play. They summon a clutch of giant mosquitoes, a man-eating lion and a jungle wild man who turns out to be the long-absent Alan (Robin Williams).

The opening section is an anxiety-raiser, as the young pair are thrust into mortal danger without a safety net. Unlike the characters in “Indiana Jones” sagas — which are an obvious inspiration –“Jumanji’s” protagonists are untutored survivalists pitted against a vengeful Mother Nature.

Williams emerges as a leavening agent for the proceedings. A captive of the jungle game, Alan has survived physically, but emotionally is a sort of wild child. The trio realize that the only way to undo the havoc is to complete the game. That means tracking down the adult Sarah Whittle (Bonnie Hunt), the girl who went batty with young Alan back in 1969.

With each roll of the dice, an elaborate set piece is initiated, involving a bygone big-game hunter, an animal stampede, lethal plants, natural catastrophes and the like. They are inventive and gripping.

What’s missing is a soul for this mechanical marvel. The script, based on a kid lit book by Chris Van Allsburg, cozies around the primacy of the family without developing that theme. So one’s left with the not very inspiring credo “Always finish the game” or, “Never leave undone what you have started.” The sentiment is dwarfed beside the computer-generated wonder of charging rhinos, elephants and zebras, monkeys that drive motorcycles and a monsoon and flood that envelop the decaying Parrish manse.

Though it doesn’t quite reach the level of chaotic fun or develop more than a perfunctory story, “Jumanji” is blessed with a winning cast. In addition to Williams’ heartfelt, vulnerable performance, Hunt elicits humor and pathos as a wounded soul. Dunst and Pierce are an engaging pair who sidestep the saccharine abyss young performers are too often forced to inhabit.

Director Joe Johnston has an adroit style that well serves the demands of a saga constructed in the fashion of a Rube Goldberg creation. The screenplay, however, denies the film a solid foundation. “Jumanji” is diverting in a splashy , eye-catching manner, but is about as substantive and durable as filigree.

• Production: A Sony Pictures Entertainment release of a TriStar pictures presentation of an Interscope Communications/Teitler Film production. Produced by Scott Kroopf, William Teitler. Executive producers, Ted Field, Robert Cort, Larry J. Franco. Directed by Joe Johnston. Screenplay, Jonathan Hensleigh, Greg Taylor, Jim Strain; screen story, Taylor, Strain, Chris Van Allsburg, based on the book by Van Allsburg.
• Crew: Camera (Technicolor), Thomas Ackerman; editor, Robert Dalva; music , James Horner; production design, James Bissell; art directors, David Willson, Glen Pearson; costume design, Martha Wynne Snetsinger; visual effects supervisors, Stephen L. Price, Ken Ralston; animaltronics effects/special makeup design, Tom Woodruff Jr., Alec Gillis; sound (SDDS), Rob Young; assistant director, Betsy Magruder; casting, Nancy Foy. Reviewed at UA Westwood theater, Dec. 5, 1994. MPAA Rating: PG. Running time: 104 MIN.
• With: Alan Parrish - Robin Williams Sarah Whittle - Bonnie Hunt Judy Shepherd - Kirsten Dunst Peter Shepherd - Bradley Pierce Nora - Bebe Neuwirth Van Pelt/Sam Parrish - Jonathan Hyde Carl Bentley - David Alan Grier Carol Parrish - Patricia Clarkson Young Alan - Adam Hann-Byrd

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‘Jumanji’ (1995) Maintains its Magic Over 25 Years Later (Review)

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For anyone who grew up in the ’90s and early 2000s, no other movie could ever replace “Jumanji” (1995) as the best fantasy adventure film. Directed by Joe Johnston, the first-ever installment of “Jumanji” follows the story of siblings Judy and Peter Shepherd who find a mysterious board game that bears the same name as the film. Taken by the mysterious object, the two decide to play it and throw the dice. At every turn, the game summons a variety of creatures the siblings must overcome — from giant mosquitoes and a swarm of monkeys, to a roaring lion and even an adult named Alan Parrish.

As it turns out, Alan Parrish was a kid who got sucked into the game 26 years earlier. In the hopes of finishing the game and restoring everything to normal, the three set out to find Sarah Whittle — the other person who initially played the board game alongside Alan. With each turn spewing enormous and devastating organisms, such as carnivorous vines and herds of animals, the town and house where the siblings just moved in are eventually devastated and overrun by jungle wildlife. The movie ends with Alan dropping the dice, getting the right number, and winning the game.

About a quarter of a century later, the original Jumanji film continues to be a favorite among cinephiles. First and foremost, the film’s plot is incredibly engaging, heartfelt, adventurous, and triumphant. Not only does the film tackle the effects of a family tragedy on children. “Jumanji” also highlights the emotional dissonance that typically takes place between fathers and their sons.

Secondly, many of the effects that made Jumanji pop during its launch were groundbreaking in 1995, to say the least. A large portion of the effects were made through the combination of full-scale animatronics by Amalgamated Dynamics and miniatures by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) — and yet, all the animals that Jumanji released felt and looked real. According to an article by  Screenrant , ILM raised the bar by investing new tools that enabled animators to develop extensive libraries of convincing facial expressions for each animal in the film.

Thirdly, the story was truly brought to life by bright and effective actors.  Robin Williams , who played the adult Alan Parrish, was nominated for Best Actor by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films. Kirsten Dunst and Bradley Pierce, who played Judy Shepherd and Peter Shepherd, respectively, were also nominated for the Best Performance by a Younger Actor Award.

Lastly, the reason Jumanji still holds up even after all these years is because of its significant influence over pop culture. The original Jumanji film inspired a generation of wide-eyed viewers to, as the game’s iconic line goes,  find a way to leave their world behind . The Jumanji franchise kept the magic going by generating three more  film installments  in “Zathura: A Space Adventure” (2005), “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” (2017), and most recently, “Jumanji: The Next Level” (2019).

A fourth film is reportedly in the works, and even outside the world of film, fans have been treated to a three-season run of the “Jumanji” TV series, as well as similarly titled video games for the PlayStation, XBox, as well as Android and iOS apps. A post on  ‘The Movies That Inspired the Slots’ by Gala Spins  adds that gaming giant NetEnt also recently paid tribute to the film with a reel inspired by the eponymous board game, allowing players to roll the dice and move across the board to win rewards. The film has even made its way to a Pachinko game, a type of mechanical game popular in Japan, which further highlights the franchise’s impact across genres and borders.

All this just goes to show how a film can be a  timeless work of art  that lives on from generation to generation. With an outstanding cast, a dedicated special effects and animations team, and a compelling and cleverly conveyed plot, it isn’t surprising that Jumanji is able to stay as one of our favorite movies to this day.

This post may contain affiliate links. We are a participant in affiliate programs such as the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. However, all products are thoroughly tested and reviews are honest and unbiased.

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Young Alan Parrish lives in a postcard '60s American town. One day, he and his only friend Sarah find a Victorian jungle-based board-game, 'Jumanji'. That night, as they play, the jungle comes to life. Her throw of the dice brings bats swooping through the lounge; his takes him into the game, whence he can return only if an opponent throws a seven. Unfortunately, a terrified Sarah runs off into the night, leaving Alan trapped in 'Jumanji'. Cut to the depressed '90s. Two young orphans move into the now decrepit Parrish house and find the game in the attic. They start to play, bringing into being a marauding lion, monkeys and an older Alan (Williams), presumed murdered for over 20 years. To reverse the effects of the game, Parrish knows they must play to the end. Subsequent throws produce a psychotic Victorian hunter (Hyde, excellent), earthquakes, floods and, best of all, a herd of rhinos, zebras and elephants stampeding through the town. This is an sfx movie par excellence. Although leading actors Williams and Hunt (as the older Sarah) give competent performances, script, direction and story are all subservient to Industrial Light and Magic's extraordinary computer-generated animals and effects. Hollow, but very spectacular.

Release Details

• Duration: 104 mins

Cast and crew

• Director: Joe Johnston
• Screenwriter: Greg Taylor, Jim Strain, Jonathan Hensleigh
• Bebe Neuwirth
• Bonnie Hunt
• Bradley Pierce
• Jonathan Hyde
• Robin Williams
• Kirsten Dunst

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Jumanji 1995

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The Cinema Critic

Jumanji (1995) Review

Time: 104 MinutesCast:Robin Williams as Alan ParrishKirsten Dunst as Judy ShepherdDavid Alan Grier as Carl BentleyBonnie Hunt as Sarah WhittleBebe Neuwirth as Nora ShepherdDirector: Joe Johnston A magical board game unleashes a world of adventure on siblings Peter (Bradley Pierce) and Judy Shepherd (Kirsten Dunst). While exploring an old mansion, the youngsters find a curious,…

Time: 104 Minutes Cast: Robin Williams as Alan Parrish Kirsten Dunst as Judy Shepherd David Alan Grier as Carl Bentley Bonnie Hunt as Sarah Whittle Bebe Neuwirth as Nora Shepherd Director: Joe Johnston

A magical board game unleashes a world of adventure on siblings Peter (Bradley Pierce) and Judy Shepherd (Kirsten Dunst). While exploring an old mansion, the youngsters find a curious, jungle-themed game called Jumanji in the attic. When they start playing, they free Alan Parrish (Robin Williams), who’s been stuck in the game’s inner world for decades. If they win Jumanji, the kids can free Alan for good — but that means braving giant bugs, ill-mannered monkeys and even stampeding rhinos!

I remember watching the first Jumanji many years ago. I decided to revisit it, and I think that it is still quite good today.

Jumanji is a bit silly by today’s standards, but overall it is still solid. It’s a fun adventure which adds in escalating twists and challenges for the main characters as they try to complete the game. There’s a surprising emotional core to it, and the heartfelt and sincerity added a lot to the film. It even gets darker and scarier than you’d expect it to. That said, Jumanji doesn’t take itself too seriously. Most of the comedic moments work, and it’s entertaining throughout, helped by a brisk runtime and pace.

There’s a cast of great and sincere performances, especially with the 4 main leads in Kirsten Dunst, Bonnie Hunt, Robin Williams, and Bradley Pierce. As expected, Robin Williams is the standout. Of course, he does well with the comedy but is more dramatic than you’d expect. He’s still very entertaining and gives his performance a lot of energy, however he still plays his part fairly straight, and does convey being someone who was trapped for over 2 decades in Jumanji suddenly returning to the real world.

Joe Johnston directed this really well. The effects are cheesy and at times glaringly fake, yet they are fun to watch. The practical effects however are still impressive. There are definitely some visuals and moments that will scare young children, and the movie isn’t afraid of leaning into that at times.  

Jumanji is a highly enjoyable fantasy adventure movie, with good humour and a great cast. It’s far from the best adventure movie you’ll see but is definitely worth checking out if you haven’t already.

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  CINE-MANIAC  MOVIE REVIEWS

• goasummit0011
• Apr 16, 2023

Roll the Dice, Unleash the Wild: A Review of the Classic Adventure, Jumanji (1995)

Jumanji, released in 1995, is a classic adventure movie directed by Joe Johnston and starring Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, and Bonnie Hunt. The film is based on the children's book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg.

The story follows two kids, Judy and Peter, who discover a mysterious board game called Jumanji. When they start playing the game, they unwittingly release a man named Alan Parrish (Robin Williams), who has been trapped inside the game for 26 years. With the help of Judy and Peter, Alan must finish the game to restore order and escape from Jumanji.

The film's plot is exciting and full of twists and turns. The special effects used to bring the game's dangers to life are impressive, particularly considering the movie was made in 1995. The film's humor also adds an enjoyable element to the overall experience, with Robin Williams delivering a particularly funny and endearing performance - his portrayal of Alan Parrish is particularly memorable, as he expertly captures the character's mix of humor and vulnerability.

Overall, Jumanji is a classic adventure movie that appeals to both children and adults, and its blend of action, humor, and heart makes it a must-see and one that you can watch again.

I rate it 3.75 out of 5.

Direction Rating: 0.75/1

Cinematography Rating: 0.75/1

Story Rating: 0.75/1

Acting Rating: 0.75/1

Film Score Rating: 0.75/1

IMDB Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113497/

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veszTagaXik

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• Cast & crew
• User reviews

• When two kids find and play a magical board game, they release a man trapped in it for decades - and a host of dangers that can only be stopped by finishing the game.
• Jumanji, one of the most unique--and dangerous--board games ever, falls into the hands of the curious teen, Alan Parrish, in 1969. Mysterious and magical, the game strands the unsuspecting boy in the lush, savage forests of a mythical realm. Nearly three decades later, the game releases him before the awed eyes of the young orphaned siblings, Judy and Peter Shepherd. Now, the wild and incessant beat of the jungle's tribal drums is calling for the now-adult Alan and the other hesitant players, as the one who rolls the dice must never leave undone what the roll has started. Has anyone ever escaped from the game and Jumanji's formidable foes? — Nick Riganas
• Four people begin to play a dangerous board game that has all different kinds of horrors. In order to escape the dangers, they must do everything that they can to finish the board game while trying to survive the danger that hunts them down. — RECB3
• Alan Parrish is constantly bullied by Billy Jessup and his friends after being seen with his crush, Sarah Whittle and his only friend is Carl Bentley, a factory worker at his father's shoe company. Alan is also the son of Sam and Carol Parrish, but he gets into an argument with his father one day after he plans on sending him to a private school. Alan decides to run away from his family, but he plays with a mysterious board game he has found earlier after being beat up by Billy and his friends. Sarah arrives at his home to return his bike and she plays the game with Alan. During the game, Alan ends up inside Jumanji and Sarah flees in terror after a flock of bats chase her. Twenty-six years later, Judy and Peter Shepard move into Parrish mansion with their Aunt Nora. Judy and Peter discover the Jumanji board game in the attic, but Alan is set free by Peter and he realizes that everything has changed since he was absent. In order to finish the game, Alan, Judy, and Peter must enlist Sarah's help in order to end the chaos that has endured. But the four of them must put up with a stampede of animals, giant insects, mischievous monkeys, a hungry lion, dangerous exotic plants, and a big game hunter who wants Alan's head. — dawsonpersi
• In 1969, young Alan Parrish discovers a mysterious board game called Jumanji while hiding from a gang of bullies. When he rolls the dice during his turn, he unwittingly gets sucked into the board game, thus leading everyone to conclude that he has disappeared. 25 years later, Peter and Judy Shephard play the same game and discover a grown up Alan who has been saved from the game's wildlife. Now they must work together to fight the evil forces of the jungle in order to finish the game and save themselves from mass chaos. — Blazer346
• The film begins in 1869 in the town of Brantford, New Hampshire. Two boys are seen breathlessly running with a box, which they proceed to bury in the woods. The film then cuts to a century later in Brantford. A young boy named Alan Parrish is chased by a gang of bullies and seeks refuge in his father's shoe factory. Alan encounters one of his father's employees named Carl, who has created a prototype sneaker which he feels is the future of Parrish Shoes. Alan carelessly places the prototype on a conveyor belt as he is discovered by his father. Sam Parrish chastises his son for being bullied and claims that Alan needs to stand up for himself. As Alan leaves a grinding noise is heard from one of the factory's machines. The conveyor belt upon which Alan placed the prototype sent the shoe into the machine, damaging the machine along with Carl's prototype. Sam demands to know who is responsible for the incident, and Carl takes the blame for Alan. Outside the factory, Alan is accosted by the bullies. One of them demands that Alan stay away from his girlfriend. Alan claims that he and the bully's girlfriend are 'just friends,' but this just leads to them beating up Alan and taking his bike. As Alan recovers, a strange drum beat catches his ear, and he is drawn to a construction site. Wedged in a section of ground is the box the two boys had buried a century before. Alan pulls it out, opens it up, and finds a wooden board game inside named, 'Jumanji.' That evening, Alan's parents are going out to an event. Alan's mother has told his father that there are multiple bullies and Alan's father tells Alan that he is proud of him for standing up to them as he did. However, Alan's face soon falls when his father proclaims they are sending him to a boarding school for boys. Alan grows indignant at being forced into doing something he doesn't want to do and he and his father part ways for the night in anger. Once Alan's parents leave, he attempts to pack a suitcase and run away from home. As Alan is about to walk out the front door, a knock is heard and he opens the door to find Sarah Whittle (the bully's girlfriend), who has come to return Alan's bike. The drum sounds are heard again and lead the two to the Jumanji board game. Alan sets the game up for the two of them to play but Sarah claims she's too old for board games and playfully throws down the dice. After she does so, a piece on the board moves on its own, and strange sounds are heard from the fireplace. Sarah becomes scared and tells Alan to not take his turn. Ignoring her, he rolls the dice and receives the following message: "In the jungle you must wait, until the dice read five or eight." Sarah recoils in horror as Alan is literally sucked into the game, following which scores of large bats swarm down the chimney and out through the fireplace. Sarah runs screaming from the house, slamming the door behind her. Twenty-six years later, Nora Shepherd moves into the now-vacant Parrish mansion with her niece and nephew, Judy and Peter. The children have been entrusted into Nora's care since their parents were killed while on a skiing trip. Judy has developed a penchant for concocting ridiculous lies while Peter has coped by becoming quiet and withdrawn. Judy and Peter explore the house and soon make their way to the attic, where they are spooked by a bat. This brings an exterminator to inspect the house but nothing else turns up. When Judy is shown pictures of various bats, she points out a picture of an African fruit bat. The exterminator says that a girl in the 60's claimed to have seen the same kind of bat. Before he leaves, the exterminator tells the kids a story that he believes the owner of the house murdered his son Alan, dismembered his body and hid the remains in the walls of the mansion. The next day, while Nora is out, Peter and Judy hear the tribal drum sounds, and come across the Jumanji board game in the attic. Opening it up, two game pieces magically lock into place for them. The first roll of the dice by Judy spawns giant mosquitoes, which soon fly out an open window in the attic. Peter rolls snake-eyes, which unleashes a horde of crazed monkeys in the kitchen. It is after this that Judy reads a message on the game board which states that everything will revert to normal once the game is finished. As Peter has rolled 'doubles,' he takes another turn. Peter rolls a '5,' and the two are soon shocked to find a lion in their house. Their shock soon doubles when Alan appears, now a forty-year-old man in jungle garb. Alan corrals the lion in a bedroom before thanking Judy and Peter for freeing him. When Alan asks where his parents are, Judy informs him that it is 1995 and that she, Peter and their Aunt Nora are the new owners of the house. Alan rushes outside, where he encounters Carl in a police cruiser. While Carl demands to know who Alan is, the monkeys from the kitchen hijack Carl's car and drive off in it, with Carl running behind in pursuit. Alan then rushes off, intent to find his family. Alan soon finds the Parrish Shoe Factory has been shuttered. Entering the factory, Alan comes across a homeless man who tells the group that after Alan went missing, Sam used all his time, energy and wealth to find him. When Alan asks to know where the two elder Parish's are, the homeless man directs Alan to the nearby cemetery. After visiting his parents' graves, Alan and the kids return to the mansion, where the kids attempt to get Alan to help them finish the game. However, they soon find that the game has to be played in the order of who is next. As Alan was the second person to roll the dice, followed by Judy and Peter, that means that Sarah has to roll the dice for the game to advance. Unsure where to go, the three go to the house where Sarah lived as a girl only to find psychic living there. They ask the psychic for help finding Sarah, only to find the psychic IS Sarah. After Sarah faints at the sight of Alan, Alan and the kids take her back to the mansion. Upon seeing the game board Sarah freaks out, claiming that what she 'thought' she saw (Alan being sucked into the game) was a hallucination, and that Alan's father had killed him and dismembered his body, hiding it in the walls of the mansion. Alan manages to trick Sarah into taking her turn, which unleashes a number of carnivorous plants. The group then retreats to another part of the house, where Alan takes his turn. Alan's turn summons the game's most deadly aspect--a big-game hunter from the game named Van Pelt, who has been chasing Alan for some time within the game of Jumanji. It is only when Van Pelt runs out of ammunition does he give up, going off to get more. We can tell that Jumanji has created Van Pelt by patterning him after Alan's father, Sam Parrish. He seems only interesting in hunting Alan to death and screams at him for being "a sniveling, yellow coward" for not facing Van Pelt and his gun. Once again, an exaggerated nightmare conjuring of Sam Parrish. The group next goes to the library in the mansion, where Judy's turn results in a massive stampede of animals bursting forth from the bookcase behind them. In the ensuing chaos, a large white pelican grabs the game in its beak and flies off. Alan chases after it, with the group in tow. Alan finds the pelican by a river, catches a fish and tosses it to the bird, causing it to knock the game into the river. Peter manages to retrieve the game and everyone returns to the house. However, Carl appears and takes Alan away. Once Alan is gone, Peter reveals that he has attempted to cheat by attempting to drop the dice so that he would get the number he needed to reach the end. As a result, Peter begins to morph into a monkey. In the police cruiser, Alan finally tells Carl who he is and Carl attempts to get Alan back to Judy, Peter and Sarah. Meanwhile, the three have been found again by Van Pelt (now having acquired a Daewoo USAS-12 (automatic shotgun). The chase leads the group into the heart of the town where the animal stampede almost kills Peter. Van Pelt finds Peter trapped in a crushed car and wrestles the game away from him, then heads for a discount store. Van Pelt intends to trap Sarah and use her as bait along with the game to lure Alan to him. Alan and Carl eventually do find them at the store. Carl's vehicle crashes through the front of the store, burying Van Pelt in an avalanche of paint cans. The group returns to the house, only to find the carnivorous plants have taken over the interior. The next turn causes a monsoon to flood the main floor of the house and the group to be chased by a large crocodile. Everyone heads for the attic, where Sarah takes her turn, and the floor turns to quicksand, almost swallowing Alan. Judy rolls the dice, freezing the floor, saving Alan from being swallowed up by the floor. Peter rolls next and some large spiders suddenly appear. Judy attempts to fight them off, but accidentally finds one of the plants, which shoots her with a poisonous barb. Sarah takes her turn, resulting in an earthquake that splits the Parrish house in two. Alan is freed and falls through the floor, along with the game. Alan manages to recover the game and is about to take his turn when Van Pelt appears. Alan drops the dice. Van Pelt encourages Alan to run, but Alan declares that he won't run anymore and will face his fears. As he says this, the dice finish their roll and Alan's piece reaches the center of the board. Van Pelt asks Alan for his last words. After Alan calls out the name of the game, all the creatures and animals are sucked back into the game (including Van Pelt himself), as Alan and Sarah embrace each other and close their eyes. When they open them again, they find themselves back in the parlor of Alan's house in 1969. A sound is heard nearby as Sam Parrish returns to get a forgotten speech. Alan quickly rushes to hug his father and apologizes for what he said before his father left. Sam apologizes as well and decides not to send him away. He also takes responsibility for Carl's prototype sneaker becoming lodged in the factory machine. After Sam leaves, Alan panics about Judy and Peter. Sarah reminds him that they don't yet exist. The two then take the game, weight it down, and toss it into a nearby river. Sarah then tells Alan that it feels like the memories of their adventure are waning and decides to kiss him for the bravery he showed. The epilogue of the film returns us to the year 1995. Alan and Sarah have married and are expecting their first child. A Christmas party is being held at the Parrish mansion, and Alan is speaking by phone to his father as he and Alan's mother are away on a vacation. Carl is present at the party. Alan and Sarah have also invited Judy and Peter and their parents to the party (though the kids have no idea of the previous adventures). Alan and Sarah are eager to provide Judy and Peter's father with an advertising position with the Parrish Shoe company. However both of the parents feel they should wait to accept until after they take a planned skiing trip in the Canadian Rockies. Alan and Sarah, in unison, shriek, "NO!" The film ends with a pair of French girls walking along a beach, wondering about a strange drum beat they both hear. Buried in the sand several yards in front of them is the Jumanji board game, preparing to claim its next players.

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Jumanji (1995) 4K UHD Review

• January 3, 2018

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Family Game Night

The Jumanji board game, with unexplained mystical powers to call the jungle into reality when played, acts as a conduit. Jumanji is never about the game – it’s about forcing players to reconcile with their grief, their loss, and fears. Although Jumanji places players in danger and sends a small American town reeling, action lets everyone playing deal with their emotions.

Jumanji does go too far. Robin Williams in the lead role adds his erratic style, placed into a film already primed for a plethora hyper-activity. Jumanji set a pace for future family cinema, establishing the urgency for visual effects. The eagerness to jump into hyper kinetic action and frivolous visual effects saps the intended emotional core. Monkeys run rampant, elephants trample cars, Williams tackles a crocodile; Jumanji hates to slow down.

That’s a show of enthusiasm though too. Jumanji goes berserk as to not lose the target audience. There’s still time to envelop the story with thematic weight. Kirsten Dunst and Bradley Pierce act beyond their years as two kids left orphaned after a tragedy. To them, Jumanji is an exciting escape, even as their dice rolls bring lions, killer mosquitoes, and rampaging monkeys into their attic. They’ve found magic, pulling them away from their defensive shells.

Robin Williams and Bonnie Hunt follow that pattern too, Williams trapped inside the game for near 30 years, Hunt traumatized for the same number of years after witnessing the capture. Whatever their hesitations, they share equal footing with those kids. On an emotional level, everyone in Jumanji is an equal. Never does Jumanji speak down to kids, rather creating a narrative parallel to keep pre-teens (and their problems) unprejudiced. Young or old, life draws everyone into the same problems. It so happens Jumanji (along with mystical qualities) is the jumping point to seeing so.

In 20 years since release, Jumanji’s once heralded visual effects do dampen the scenery. All of the excitement and thrills fall off with modern eyes. Computer generated monkeys bounce around unnaturally, with crummy fur and ghastly faces. Stampedes fare better. Their hyper-active movement hides plenty, even if their shadowy appearance never rises above artificial. A number of animatronics give life to lions and plants though. They remain sensational.

Plus, there’s Robin Williams, glowing, affectionate, and ever learning. He’s a kid in a man’s body, and a year later took that to a logical extreme in Jack . This test run offers fish-out-of-water humor and moments of unending energy. Williams is the anchor. Without him, Jumanji pales.

Sony debuts Jumanji on UHD with a rather dazzling 4K master. Perky, natural grain hangs over the images, cleanly resolved without issue. Consistency helps. The source print – free of debris or damage – remains steady.

Although Jumanji’s transition shots incur a hit to sharpness (as do those involving the low resolution computer effects), the rest maintains beautiful fidelity. Close-ups reveal extensive facial definition. Outside, the camera catches a number of fine details. Trees and grass show off their finest qualities. As Williams walks through the crowded downtown scene, window chalk shows texture, even in the mid-range.

Using subtle HDR effects, boosts occur with exterior lighting coming in from the windows. Those highlights give Jumanji pop. Pure, rich black levels add to the image density. Wait until the lion first peers from the shadows to see that effect. Generally pure color brings natural flesh tones forward, also excelling in primaries. First walking into the home, Bebe Neuwirth is swept up in warm tones. It’s a gorgeous scene, and this is a gorgeous transfer.

A sensational Dolby Atmos offering favors the rear channels, arguably too much so. Even the score bleeds aggressively into the back. That said, the nuance and precision of this track is pure spectacle. It’s “on” from the start with wolves howling in the distance and kids on bikes panning through the soundfield. Bats swirl around and the dynamic drums of Jumanji’s call fill in the rears. A few drop offs in dialog fidelity warrant mention, if no concern.

Better still is LFE support, hammering the low-end with judicious power. Stampedes feel appropriate to the camera shake and the gunshots of Van Pelt stun as each bullet fires. Of course, the location of those shots is preserved in the positional channels as needed. What a joy.

The included Blu-ray houses all of the extras and it’s a shame the effects crew commentary track can’t be listened to on the 4K disc. New to this edition is a gag reel, pure gold with Robin Williams on set. Two deleted scenes offer different takes on the ending. Vintage featurettes include a 20-minute making of, effects featurettes, and a look inside the home’s production design. Some episodes of the Jumanji animated series, various art galleries, a motion comic, and animal facts round things off.

Jumanji features a number of grand (even tiring) action scenes, but its story of loss, grief, and fear peer through the special effects.

User Review

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Matt Paprocki

Matt Paprocki has critiqued home media and video games for 20 years across outlets like Washington Post, Variety, Rolling Stone, Forbes, IGN, Playboy, Polygon, Ars, and others. His current passion project is the technically minded DoBlu.com . You can read Matt's body of work via his personal WordPress blog, and follow him on Twitter @Matt_Paprocki .

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First View Movie Review – Jumanji (1995)

Adoring as I do Jumanji 2: Welcome to the Jungle — my favorite film of 2017 — I looked forward to finally watching the original Jumanji with Robin Williams. My understanding was the game updates itself for its era, meaning the 1995  game would be a vintage style board game — with an actual ‘board’ and dice. The kind of game where you move little pieces around, and the winner is the one who gets to the end first. (Warning: spoilers follow for Jumanji 1 &2.)

Problems with the Jumanji Board Game

What I didn’t expect was…well, several things. It doesn’t take place in the Jumanji world — a fantasy element I loved in Welcome to the Jungle. Instead, the jungle elements come to Earth, but only in an’ immersive’ way at the climax.

Second, I didn’t expect the original game to be so ludicrous and mean-spirited. The board game makes no sense. NONE. You have to randomly survive each roll of the dice, and it doesn’t seem like either skill or chance is involved.

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In a typical board game, some turns reward the player. In this Jumanji sequel, every single die roll is a nightmare. Some player results are merely bad; others are downright demonic. I guess that fits in with the opening scene in historical times, where the sentient game is actually implied to be evil.

In Jumanji 2, it became an interesting video game, with lots of cool clues for each gamer. I like clues, especially ones the viewer can follow along and guess at. J2 didn’t cheat, although misdirection was in play. But the game didn’t seem sinister.

And lastly, there’s the reset-button ending. This isn’t how the game ends in J2, which confused me. If that was true, then none of the kids in Jumanji 2 would still have been around at the end. (J2 is a direct sequel, not a reboot.)

Back to Jumanji the First

To be fair, Jumanji 1 had some incredible set-pieces. The CGI looks as bad as one would expect of the time, but you get swept away (and the characters literally do get swept away) by the creative sequences. I think the indoor lagoon was my favorite, but also loved the lion in the bed, and the vicious man-eating vine plant scenes. It killed me when the vines crunched the police car.

And the monkey scenes? Meant as comic relief, they totally tanked. They looked bad, acted like Gremlins on speed (and that’s saying a lot)…and maybe were hilarious at the time? The mosquitoes were much, much more cool.

Robin Williams (and the Rest)

Unfortunately, Williams wasn’t exactly funny in this film. I’d say he was even subdued, and I wonder if this part of his life was more about his internal demons than creative work. The younger version of his character had more life to him.

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I get that 26 years in a alternate world will change you, but I don’t think that’s what happened here. Normally Williams brings nuance and a sparkle to any role, but even his ‘silly’ Jumanji scenes felt off.

Knowing in hindsight Williams was deeply unhappy makes watching this 1995 movie painful, but he seemed to enjoy roles like The Genie in Aladdin (1992) and Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) so much more. Maybe the subsequent years took their toll on him.

Of the other actors, the little boy was often delightful, and the movie was much better for it. A young Kirsten Dunst was…fine. Her best scene involved swatting giant mosquitoes with a tennis racket, but she seemed to just screech her way through the rest of the film.

Altogether, I was surprisingly bored by Jumanji 1, since it was mostly a series of wild set-pieces barely stitched together with dysfunctional plot-lines and nonsensical game rules. I expected more fun. Maybe you had to grow up with this Jumanji to appreciate it.

I did like the coda, implying that you can’t get rid of the game, and Jumanji 2 picks right up on the beach where it leaves off.  And the drum sounds are used to great effect. If you listen through the credits, you can softly hear them right there. That was a nice stinger in an era where after-credit extras were barely a thing.

Movie Grade: C+

Movie review : Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

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Don’t miss your favorite movie moments because you have to pee or need a snack. Use the RunPee app ( Android or iPhone ) when you go to the movies. We have Peetimes for all wide release films every week, including The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Civil War, Monkey Man and coming soon Fall Guy, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, IF, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga  and many others. We have literally thousands of Peetimes—from classic movies through today’s blockbusters. You can also keep up with movie news and reviews on our blog, or by following us on Twitter @RunPee . If there’s a new film out there, we’ve got your bladder covered.

Co-Creator of RunPee, Chief of Operations, Content Director, and Managing Editor. RunPee Jilly likes galaxy-spanning sci fi, superhero sagas, fantasy films, YA dystopians, action thrillers, chick flicks, and zany comedies, in that order…and possesses an inspiringly small bladder. In fact, that little bladder sparked the creation of RunPee. (Good thing she’s learned to hold it.)

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