Jumanji (1995)
Jumanji (1995)
Often it seems the case is that some of the most beloved films from our childhood, are actually not well received by the critics, even if they were successful in the box office. One of those such film is Jumanji from 1995, which I remember when it came out it was hugely popular with all of the kids I went to school with, myself included. In 1995 I was 14, one year older than one of the stars of the film, Kirsten Dunst, who played one of the main characters, and I feel like with kids my age this film was really popular, but I have talked to my friends who were '90s kids and they also seemed to have fond memories of this film growing up, opposed to what Roger Ebert said about the film is his review where he says that it would be traumatic for young children, and that they would struggle to sit through this, well as a kid, and with younger friends who were kids when it came out, I can definitely say that he was wrong about that. Jumanji is a classic family film, that I still find as enjoyable to watch to day as I did as a kid, and honestly I even love the rudimentary CGI effects that the film was overflowing with, it works for this film. But the real reason I am talking about Jumanji today, is because it was partially filmed right here in Maine!
Jumanji is set in the fictional town of Brantford New Hampshire, which is a combination of Keene New Hampshire, North Berwick Maine, and with shots done in Vancouver British Columbia as well. The Parrish shoe factor was shot at the Olde Woolen Mill in North Berwick Maine, which is in the southern part of the state. The film has a strong New England feel to it, and it makes me happy that some of the film was shot just south of where I live.
Jumanji was directed by Joe Johnston, with a screenplay by Jonathan Hensleigh, Greg Taylor, and Jim Strain. The film is based on the 1981 children's picture book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg. Jumanji was produced by TriStar Pictures, Interscope Communications, and Teitler Film, and was distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing in 1995. The film was a huge success in the box office grossing $263.8 million against its budget of $65 million, however it wasn't very well received by the critics, and even now still holds a low score on film review sites like Rotten Tomatoes, showing that a film can be a great classic and not a critical success, which also shows how the critics sometimes just don't understand what makes a film great.
Jumanji stars Robin Williams as Alan Parrish (Adam Hann-Byrd plays young Alan), Bonnie Hunt as Sarah Whittle (Laura Bell Bundy as young Sarah), Kirsten Dunst plays Judy Shepherd, Bradley Pierce plays Peter Shepherd, David Alan Grier plays Carl Bentley, Jonathan Hyde plays Alan's father Samuel Parrish as well as the hunter from the game Van Pelt, Patricia Clarkson plays Alan's mother Carol Parrish, and Bebe Neuwirth plays the kid's aunt Nora Shepherd. This film has a great cast, you can never go wrong with Robin Williams who always brings a great energy to films, his style of physical comedy worked so perfectly for the role of Alan Parrish. Also I absolutely adore Kirsten Dunst, she was 13 in this film playing the elder of the Shepherd kids, her character has an issue with compulsive lying, which worked to the characters' benefit at one point in the film, she plays the character really well. I also thought that Bonnie Hunt was great as Sarah Whittle, who has gotten a quite neurotic over the years trying to convince herself that what happened to Alan didn't really happen, because of the trauma of the experience.
Jumanji was an adventure, and a lot of fun both as a kid and as an adult, the effects team that worked on the film is the same team that did Jurassic Park, and used CGI with a mix of practical effects to bring the film to life. The CGI is a bit rudimentary, and some of it definitely looks dated, but for this film it is effective and it works really well. Some of the effects are just beautifully done as well. Even when the effects aren't the best, they still work for this film, especially when coupled with the great cast. Jumanji has a 90's film look to it, and that is okay, it is exactly that, I do however think it is sad that the critics didn't get why this film was so great. For 80's and 90's kids this film was fun and exciting, and exactly what we wanted when it came out, it was in the right time and the right place. To this day it is a great nostalgic film to watch, it is fun, and exciting, and has a great cast, and an ok story, what is there not to love. I recently watched this film with some folks who were in their 20's and they had the same love for the film that I had, so I feel like this is a film that transcends generations, and can be enjoyed as much by families today as it was when it came out.
If you haven't experienced Jumanji, I highly recommend checking it out. I would say that Jumanji is a must-see family film, and one that can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. Also it is so great seeing Robin Williams at the top of his career, doing the fun physical comedy that he is known best for, he was a man that could always bring a smile to your face, and an actor who was also talented enough to be able to play a dark and terrifying character like he did in One Hour Photo and Insomnia, he was definitely a great actor, and from what I understand a great person, and it is nice watching a film like this and celebrating him. So, if it's been a while, it is always a good time to revisit Jumanji. I do know that there are two more films in the franchise, and technically there was a science fiction film that ties into it, but I haven't seen those yet, and haven't really had a desire to see the newer films, but I am sure at some point I will check them out. But one thing I want you to remember, it is okay to love a film, even if stuffy film critics say that it isn't good, what makes a film good or bad, is you, and how much you enjoy it, and that includes me, a critic is doing nothing but stating their own personal opinion, even when they research the film, and study films, we are still just stating our own opinions, so use us as a guide, but to disagree is also okay. Many critics hated Jumanji, I think it is a great film that I am very fond of, and you are allowed to think whatever you think, and no one can tell you that you are wrong, I just want to let you know that, your own opinions are valid my dear readers.
Jumanji is set in the fictional town of Brantford New Hampshire, which is a combination of Keene New Hampshire, North Berwick Maine, and with shots done in Vancouver British Columbia as well. The Parrish shoe factor was shot at the Olde Woolen Mill in North Berwick Maine, which is in the southern part of the state. The film has a strong New England feel to it, and it makes me happy that some of the film was shot just south of where I live.
Jumanji was directed by Joe Johnston, with a screenplay by Jonathan Hensleigh, Greg Taylor, and Jim Strain. The film is based on the 1981 children's picture book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg. Jumanji was produced by TriStar Pictures, Interscope Communications, and Teitler Film, and was distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing in 1995. The film was a huge success in the box office grossing $263.8 million against its budget of $65 million, however it wasn't very well received by the critics, and even now still holds a low score on film review sites like Rotten Tomatoes, showing that a film can be a great classic and not a critical success, which also shows how the critics sometimes just don't understand what makes a film great.
Jumanji stars Robin Williams as Alan Parrish (Adam Hann-Byrd plays young Alan), Bonnie Hunt as Sarah Whittle (Laura Bell Bundy as young Sarah), Kirsten Dunst plays Judy Shepherd, Bradley Pierce plays Peter Shepherd, David Alan Grier plays Carl Bentley, Jonathan Hyde plays Alan's father Samuel Parrish as well as the hunter from the game Van Pelt, Patricia Clarkson plays Alan's mother Carol Parrish, and Bebe Neuwirth plays the kid's aunt Nora Shepherd. This film has a great cast, you can never go wrong with Robin Williams who always brings a great energy to films, his style of physical comedy worked so perfectly for the role of Alan Parrish. Also I absolutely adore Kirsten Dunst, she was 13 in this film playing the elder of the Shepherd kids, her character has an issue with compulsive lying, which worked to the characters' benefit at one point in the film, she plays the character really well. I also thought that Bonnie Hunt was great as Sarah Whittle, who has gotten a quite neurotic over the years trying to convince herself that what happened to Alan didn't really happen, because of the trauma of the experience.
Jumanji was an adventure, and a lot of fun both as a kid and as an adult, the effects team that worked on the film is the same team that did Jurassic Park, and used CGI with a mix of practical effects to bring the film to life. The CGI is a bit rudimentary, and some of it definitely looks dated, but for this film it is effective and it works really well. Some of the effects are just beautifully done as well. Even when the effects aren't the best, they still work for this film, especially when coupled with the great cast. Jumanji has a 90's film look to it, and that is okay, it is exactly that, I do however think it is sad that the critics didn't get why this film was so great. For 80's and 90's kids this film was fun and exciting, and exactly what we wanted when it came out, it was in the right time and the right place. To this day it is a great nostalgic film to watch, it is fun, and exciting, and has a great cast, and an ok story, what is there not to love. I recently watched this film with some folks who were in their 20's and they had the same love for the film that I had, so I feel like this is a film that transcends generations, and can be enjoyed as much by families today as it was when it came out.
If you haven't experienced Jumanji, I highly recommend checking it out. I would say that Jumanji is a must-see family film, and one that can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. Also it is so great seeing Robin Williams at the top of his career, doing the fun physical comedy that he is known best for, he was a man that could always bring a smile to your face, and an actor who was also talented enough to be able to play a dark and terrifying character like he did in One Hour Photo and Insomnia, he was definitely a great actor, and from what I understand a great person, and it is nice watching a film like this and celebrating him. So, if it's been a while, it is always a good time to revisit Jumanji. I do know that there are two more films in the franchise, and technically there was a science fiction film that ties into it, but I haven't seen those yet, and haven't really had a desire to see the newer films, but I am sure at some point I will check them out. But one thing I want you to remember, it is okay to love a film, even if stuffy film critics say that it isn't good, what makes a film good or bad, is you, and how much you enjoy it, and that includes me, a critic is doing nothing but stating their own personal opinion, even when they research the film, and study films, we are still just stating our own opinions, so use us as a guide, but to disagree is also okay. Many critics hated Jumanji, I think it is a great film that I am very fond of, and you are allowed to think whatever you think, and no one can tell you that you are wrong, I just want to let you know that, your own opinions are valid my dear readers.
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