"Jumanji" - SPOILER ALERT

I watched "Jumanji" for the first time before I starting reviewing movies. Although it's more of a Christmastime movie, it also loosely fits with Halloween. So, I decided to put it on my list for this month. I will not be writing reviews for all of the movies I am watching this October because if I do that, I won't have time to watch them all. However, since I already posted a review for "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" (you can read that by clicking here), I knew I had to write one for its predecessor.

In my review for "Welcome to the Jungle", I wrote that I enjoyed that one equally as much as I did the first one. However, now that I have gone back and re-watched the first "Jumanji", I can't say I feel the same. "Jumanji" isn't a terrible movie by any means. Although this time around I felt that the plot was lacking, the movie is still great fun.

Robin Williams was outstanding as the adult Alan Parrish in "Jumanji". The movie would have been very different and probably not as good without him. However, I would like to have seen more of what he went through during his time living inside the game. What made him the way he is? Perhaps a movie just to fill that gap is needed. On the other hand, I'm not sure that can be done without Robin Williams playing the part.

As movies that originate from books often are, the movie "Jumanji" was a bit different. However, I don't think that's a bad thing. In fact, I think in order for it to work as a movie, it had to be different. "Welcome to the Jungle" was an even greater departure from the book, and yet that was even better than the first "Jumanji". It just goes to show that instead of trying to recreate something, often it's better to grow from it. That's what "Jumanji" did from the book and that's what "Welcome to the Jungle" did from the first "Jumanji", yet both still managed to hold on to its roots. One thing I really like more in "Welcome to the Jungle" is that the plot, as it relates to the game itself, is more coherent. "Jumanji" seems more like a series of random events. The plot isn't as strong as it is in "Welcome to the Jungle".

"Jumanji" is still an enjoyable movie, however. The special effects are edge-of-your seat fun and, in my opinion, the movie is appropriate for children and adults alike. Although it wasn't exactly the same, I believe the movie does justice to Chris Van Allsburg's classic children's book.