Jumanji (1995)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Joe Johnston

Writers (WGA):

Jonathan Hensleigh (screenplay) and
Greg Taylor (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

15 December 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Thriller

Tagline:

Roll the dice and unleash the excitement!

Plot:

When two kids play an old magic board-game they found, they release a man trapped for decades in it and a host of dangers that can only be stopped by finishing the game.

Plot Keywords:

Board Game | Jungle | Magic | Tail | Zebra

Awards:

3 wins & 8 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Nov. 17

12:30 PM

AMC

Cast

Robin Williams	...	Alan Parrish
Jonathan Hyde	...	Van Pelt / Sam Parrish
Kirsten Dunst	...	Judy Shepherd
Bradley Pierce	...	Peter Shepherd
Bonnie Hunt	...	Sarah
Bebe Neuwirth	...	Nora Shepherd
David Alan Grier	...	Bentley
Patricia Clarkson	...	Carol Parrish
Adam Hann-Byrd	...	Young Alan
Laura Bell Bundy	...	Young Sarah
James Handy	...	Exterminator
Gillian Barber	...	Mrs. Thomas
Brandon Obray	...	Benjamin
Cyrus Thiedeke	...	Caleb
Gary Joseph Thorup	...	Billy Jessup

MPAA:

Rated PG for menacing fantasy action and some mild language.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby SR

Certification:

Canada:PG (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:10 | Iceland:12 (video rating) | USA:PG (No. 33723) | Ireland:PG | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-10 | France:U | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/6 | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Company:

TriStar Pictures

Trivia:

In the film, the role of Alan Parrish's father and that of the merciless hunter Van Pelt are played by the same actor (Jonathan Hyde). This may be a reference to Peter Pan, since (in theatre and movie versions) the parts of Captain Hook and Wendy's father are traditionally played by the same actor.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When the game is played in the attic Judy tells Sarah that she can win if she rolls a twelve, but she only rolls a three. On her next turn Allen says she can win with a seven, however 12 minus 3 means she would have needed a nine.

Quotes:

Alan Parrish: [warning Judy and Peter about how much more complicated the Jumanji game is than they thought it to be] You think that mosquitos, monkeys, and lions are bad? That is just the beginning. I've seen things you've only seen in your nightmares. Things you can't even imagine. Things you can't even see. There are things that hunt you in the night. Then something screams. Then you hear them eating, and you hope to God that you're not dessert. Afraid? You don't even know what afraid is. You would not last five minutes without me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Welcome to Hollywood (1998)

Soundtrack:

Serenade in D, Op.44

Maybe The Best Ever For Just Pure Entertainment

Among the thousands of films I have viewed, this movie would rank near the top for sheer entertainment. That's not saying it's the best-made or most intelligent or scariest or funniest or features the best effects, etc. etc. But combine all those and you have a film that's tough to beat when you're looking for 100 minutes of escapist fun.

The film features some wild computer-enhanced special effects that were new to its day, but now about 10 years later, it's no big deal. In fact, some of it, such as the lion, look pretty hokey compared to the stuff that's out there now. To me, it was story that was the lure, anyway, not the special effects.

Because it's so much fun, this is one of the fastest-moving films I've ever viewed. The time flies by. It's not to be analyzed or given much thought, because it's so ludicrous. You just go along for the wild ride in this fantasy-adventure and get a bunch of laughs and thrills along the way. That's one of the big attractions of this of film: the excellent combination of adventure and comedy.

Are there annoying things in this movie? Sure. To me, it was Bonnie Hunt's occult beliefs and too many OMGs and the overdone character of the hunter (Jonathan Hyde). Other than that, I loved the film the first I saw it and every time afterward. I've probably viewed this movie as much as any, simply because it was so entertaining.

Robin Williams, David Alan Grier and the two kids, Kristen Dunst and Bradley Pierce, were all great people to watch and share this adventure with.

Now THIS is entertainment!