Jumanji

Robin Williams is, undoubtedly, a great actor. Good Morning Vietnam, Good Will Hunting, Mrs. Doubtfire, all great films that showcased not only his comedic talent, but also allowed him, in certain scenes, to reveal his serious side, and connect emotionally with the audience. Well another classic film in which we get the Robin Williams Yin and Yang is his mid-nineties supernatural romp Jumanji.

Under the direction of Joe Johnston (Honey, I Shrunk The Kids, Captain America: The First Avenger), Jumanji was released in 1995 and was met with almost perfectly average reviews, but was a box office success. It stars, of course, Robin Williams, alongside, Bonnie Hunt, Kirsten Dunst and Bradley Pierce. The story follows a board game that has serious repercussions on the people who play it and the world around them. It's immersive, well-paced, has an authentic feel, and is a hell of a lot of fun.

The movie opens in 1869, where 2 boys bury a chest, hoping that no one will ever find it. But, would you believe it, exactly a hundred years later the chest is found by a young boy named Alan Parrish, the son of a shoe factory owner. Inside the chest he finds a board game called Jumanji, which he decides to play with his friend Sarah Whittle. They both notice the game's strange behaviour, such as the pieces moving on their own, and cryptic messages appearing after each turn. After Alan's turn, he is pulled into the game, and Sarah flees in terror.

26 years later, 2 kids called Judy (Dunst) and Peter (Pierce) and their Aunt Nora move into the Parrish house. Judy and Peter discover the Jumanji game in the attic and start playing, soon realizing that every move they make unleashes something dangerous into the world. When Peter rolls a 5, Alan is released form the board game, where he been trapped in the jungle for over 2 decades. According to the game, the only way to restore everything is by completing it. Alan is initially reluctant, but is eventually coaxed into co-operating. Unfortunately, 1 more player is required to finish it, Sarah Whittle. Upon seeing the game, she freaks out, stating that it pretty much destroyed her life. But eventually, the four of them unite to complete Jumanji. This leads to riots, monsoons, wild hunters, poisonous plants, killer spiders, crocodiles and earthquakes.

What a film! I don't think there is a single boring moment in it. It keeps you hooked from the opening scene, right up till its climax. With more and more terrors emerging from the game the action and suspence increases exponentially.

Robin Williams gives a great performance as the protagonist forced to confront his greatest fears, and Bonnie Hunt is a great supporting actress, having witnessed Alan being sucked into the game and being forced to complete it to make all the horrors go away. The kids Judy and Peter are great too, mainly because they don't whine and complain like most children do in films like this, and they play an intergral part in the story, they're not just there to look cute.

If, like me, you grew up in the nineties, you would almost certainly have seen this film. If not, you have to. It's funny, exciting, investing and is just as enjoyable every time you see it. Miss at your peril.