Product: Jumanji [VHS] (1995)
Rating: 3.0
Disappointing Translation
When I first heard Jumanji was in production I was estatic. I went out and bought a new copy of the book -- a book I remembered from childhood. The book had a kind of mystical quality to it from a combination of the incredible illustrations and story. The movie retains little of this. The only mystical quality comes from the discovery of the game itself. The movie pays little attention to the origin of the game. Instead, the characters inadvertantly jump right into the game. This part of the movie, the part with all the visuals, is entertaining to watch but requires you to keep your mind at bay. The story is full of holes, mostly the fact that instead of rushing through the game, they stop and wait to see what happens after each turn (Why?). However, the CGI animation is excellent and some of the action is fun to watch. It is also above par for Robin Williams. But if you're considering getting this for your children, consider the book instead.