Jumanji [18]

In this movie, two children discover a jungle themed board game where everything inside it becomes real. The story is based upon an illustrated book by Chris Van Allsburg.

The game had been buried at a shoe factory construction site, with a game already in progress. It turns out that two boys had started playing years ago and one (Alan Parrish) disappeared. One roll of the dice by the children causes and adult Alan Parrish (played by Robin Williams) to appear. Alan has been trapped in a jungle with all sorts of unspeakable horrors for 30 years. In this movie, it is not the man eating lions, huge insects, or murderous natives that Alan is glad to be away from. His biggest delight is using a toilet with toilet paper. We never actually see this hell hole, but some of it comes to the present "reality" if you could call it that.

I enjoyed the movie. It is scary for small children with all the vines and insects. I would recommend seeing this movie if it appears on TV one rainy day.

Note that if I were playing a role playing game, the Jumanji board would rate as an EXTREMELY powerful artifact/relic. What being would have the power to create such a thing, and why build it as a toy? Is there a cosmic being out there with a sense of humor? And why don't we get to meet him or her? Perhaps the game is really only a mind control device and the actual events do not happen. {BB}

Added: October 24th 2005
Reviewer: BB
29 Point Scale Score:    [18]

Related Link (IMDB): IMDB - Jumanji
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Language: english