Jumanji Review

The games' market is being flooded with computer games that approximate the real-life experience. Well, if something like Jumanji exists, then none of them can beat it. Of course, it doesn't.

The movie starts with a couple of guys disposing off a game, which they find overwhelming for some reason. That is an understatement as we find out that it brings to life one's worst nightmares. Alan Parrish (Adam Hann) is the son of the owner of a big shoe company, who happens to discover that game, exactly a century later. He starts playing the game with his friend Sarah (Laura Bell) and soon discovers the irreversible consequences - a modern day Pandora's Box. Alan gets sucked into the board itself and Sarah takes to her heels.

Twenty-six years later, a family buys the house that Alan played the game in, and the game is still lying in the attic. The two kids in the family, Judy (Kirsten Dunst) and Peter (Bradley Pierce) get hold of it and start playing it. Before too long, Alan, this time Robin Williams, comes out of the board. Not much of good news this, as he is after a lion that makes it before him. Before Alan could get over the fact that he is back, he realizes that he has to continue playing the game before all the consequences could be undone. He traces Sarah (Bonnie Hyde) and forces her to join the game.

The ride starts all over again and it appears as if the whole jungle has made it to the town. We have monkeys like we have never seen before - I'm talking of their scale of mischief. Now, if you have animals, we need to have a hunter too, and we do. Unfortunately, he is out to hunt Alan instead of the animals. So, the game goes on till one of the four make it home.

The movie is a typical Hollywood fun-ride and there is nothing much to be said, except for the special effects, which are remarkable. There is enough here to hold the kids, or for that matter anyone who is watching.