Jumanji: A Childhood Favourite

Jumanji has been a long-time favourite of mine, and I thought it was finally time for it to feature here. It is a beloved adventure fantasy film that blends thrilling escapades with a heartwarming narrative. Based on the children's book by Chris Van Allsburg, the film introduces us to a magical and perilous board game that transports players into a vibrant jungle filled with danger and excitement.

As two kids find and play with a board game, they release a man trapped within it and a series of wild animals, from elephants to monkeys and even a menacing hunter Each roll of the dice brings new challenges that test their courage and resourcefulness. With the help of grown-up Alan Parrish and beloved Robin Williams, who had been trapped in the game for decades, they had to navigate the game's unpredictable twists and turns to win the game and restore order to their lives.

Here are a few of my favorite moments. First off, those drums, oh my god, those drums, when they begin to beat it's so exciting you just know something wild is gonna happen. Next up, Robin Williams, who is honestly so lovable in this film and playful. I love his character’s development from cowardly to brave. Then the dangers they face, I mean killer bugs, mischievous monkeys (those scenes were hilarious), and that jungle stampede. My inner zoologist was so happy with those Nile crocodiles. As they race to fix their town as they play the board game and follow its quests, even leading them to Sarah, Alan’s old girlfriend, I wanted to be those kids so badly as a child. That kind of excitement and fun is just unforgettable. 

There was definitely some stuff going wrong, but I am willing to overlook all that, the bad CGI on the monkey faces and the same actor for both the hunter and the dad, I mean, that just felt lazy with a 65 million-dollar budget. Even making the kids orphans, is such an overplayed angle, but you know what I will let it slide since Aunt Nora’s character was rather fun. Seeing Peter turn into a monkey was so hilarious to me as a kid, but honestly, the way they did it made him look rather wolfy instead. 

This movie felt like one of those interactive games, the characters keep facing threat after threat, almost like level-ups. I wish they had turned into a VR game so I could try it out someday. It feels like it’d be the perfect game for my childhood self.