Jumanji - Welcome to the Jungle is a film directed by Jake Kasdan. I am not particularly a fan of the 1995 film but I would still say that I had a good time watching the film. The announcement of this film quite astonished me and the trailers for the film seemed OK. I was actually surprised as to how much I liked the film.Plot: Spencer, Martha, Bethany and Anthony are all sucked into the video game Jumanji where their only way to survive is to finish the game.Story and direction: Sony is mostly famous for taking something that is famous and turning it so commercial that the profit is earned but the quality is very bad. But this film understands that it has to deliver, quality wise. I wouldn't say the story has groundbreaking elements or things that we haven't seen before, but the film manages to entertain. I liked the way we have troubled characters that are sucked into one situation and their only way out is if they work with one another. Also very nicely incorporated is the video game aspect of Jumanji. WE have a life bar, character strengths and weaknesses, non player characters, exposition that helps us understand what the game is. This entire world of Jumanji seems very much believable (because of it being a video game world). The action sequences were good and nicely done. However, there were one or two places where horrible VFX (or green screen) has been used to execute the action sequences. The score by Henry Jackman also adapts to the situation and adds something refreshing to the film. My other problem with the film is that certain scenes are not explained very properly. They seemed to have just let that go for the sake of it. Performances: Dwayne Johnson is good what he does. Kevin Hart did add his touch of comedy to the film. Karen Gillian's character was different and I liked it. I didn't understand the casting of Nick Jonas since he wasn't acting at all. Jack Black was the surprise package. I know he is good, but in here he is the highlight of the film. Rhys Darby, Rohan Chand and Bobby Cannavale did provide good supporting roles. Even the teenagers in the real world delivered compelling performances.Favorite Scene: It would be the one where Bethany (in Sheldon Oberon's body) teaches Martha (in Ruby Roundhouse's body) how to flirt with someone. I can seriously say that I laughed so hard in the scene because of its awkwardness and absurdity.Verdict: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE is a good follow-up to the 1995 film. I was highly entertained by the film and had a very good time. I don't know what the sequel in 2019 will consist of as no room was left for a third instalment.I am going with an 8/10.

This is an entirely new movie, so do not compare it to the last one- which was great. Jumanji the Board game "comes up with a newer version of itself" to fit the times, and so does this movie. The actors do a great job of poking fun at themselves, keeping it light but very intense. It is a funny, kind of inspiring movie full of "personal growth", which does get a little "teen angsty" at times, but is worth the watch. Underrated.

I can barely remember the original Jumanji, but what I do revolves mostly about the performance of Robin Williams and the somewhat scary parts of it. In the sequel (well, the sequel is Zathura, but you know what I mean) the focus is on the players and less on the "lost guy in the game" while the dark elements are kept to a minimum. The movie has been updated to 2017, with a girl obsessing over her body and smartphone who has to play the game as Jack Black, but her character felt really artificial and the jokes related to her were the most cringe worthy. The other three characters are more timeless: two opposite sex geeks and a football player (the American sort). Together they must overcome the challenges of the game to end the movie. Now, the story you know, so the details of the plot is what is important and I thought they were OK, however I must say that the game itself made little sense, with a pointless villain and a "curse" that affected literally no one. The actors did a good job, their chemistry, as noted by some, worked. Yet it seemed like a waste of Rock in this movie while Karen Gillan made more entertaining just by appearing. Overall a fun movie, but never more than what it was intended to be.I wonder how no one touched on the implications of entering a game then returning into a world that has changed dramatically from what you remembered going in. I mean, just telling Alex to buy stock in Bitcoin would have added a whole new layer to the Jumanji usage :)

I watched it 2 more times and laughed every time! Great writing, directing and acting. Loved that each character got to "walk in someone else's shoes".