Jumanji

Cast: Robin Williams, Jonathan Hyde, Bradley Peirce, Kirsten Dunst and Bonnie Hunt.

Director: Joe Johnston

Release Date: 1995

Running Time: 1hr 39 minutes

Genre: Adventure

Rating: PG

Synopsis:

When two kids find and play a magical board game, they release a man trapped for decades in it and a host of dangers that can only be stopped by finishing the game.

Jumanji was always a movie that I cherished watching as a child, something that has thankfully followed me into adulthood. Still to this day, it goes down as one of my all time favourites films. The story begins in 1969 on the outskirts of a construction site in New Hampshire, New England. Young Alan Parish is on his way home from school when he quickly realises he is being hunted down by a bunch of school bullies, quick to escape he finds sanctuary in his father's shoe factory. On returning home he hears the sounds of drums, curious he comes across an old board game buried in a construction site. Eager to play, Alan and his friend Sarah begin Jumanji. Nothing could quite prepare them for what comes next, when Alan is suddenly sucked into the game. The journey that continues from that moment on is truly captivating.

The storyline dives into time travel, parallel universes and physical transformations. You constantly find yourself questioning what you are watching. Is Alan dreaming? Is it all a fragment of his imagination, where he tries to come to term with his strained relationship with his dad, who is desperate for him to go to boarding school. The storyline also focuses on death, love and friendship. It really is up to you as the audience to decide how you interpret it. I believe they are living in a fantasy world where magic board games exist and did exist as early as 1869 (two brothers are seen desperately trying to bury it at the beginning of the film) and as the story continues it lands in the hands of Alan Parish and Sarah Whittle in 1969.

Robin Williams stars as grown up Alan Parish, having spent twenty-six years trapped inside Jumanji, he finds himself rescued when Judy (Dunst) and Peter (Pearce) play the game in 1995. Robin Williams is truly magnificent and really brings a child-like quality to his role. You really get a sense of what life was like for him in the jungle all of those years, how it shaped him into the man that he is now. The friendship that he shares with Sarah Whittle (Hunt) feels very real and emotional. Bonnie Hunt portrays grown up Sarah Whittle beautifully. Hunt is fantastic at expressing what she went through in those twenty-six years when Alan dissapeared. The struggle becomes real when they both realise they have to play to finish the game. Judy and Peter find themselves thrust along for the ride when they, too understand they must play the game to help finish it.

Is it time-travel? A parallel Universe? Or simply twenty-six years into the future? Although some characters begin to make sense the more the story goes on, others really have you questioning what you are actually seeing. Alan's dad for example is now a notorious killer named Van Pelt. Jonathan Hyde proves that he is capable of playing an emotional loving father and an evil figure that has it in for Alan Parish. One can only imagine that this is someone that Alan came into contact with whilst he was stuck inside the game. Or is it a figment of Alan's imagination? Is Van Pelt an alter-ego of his father? Kirsten Dunst and Bradley Peace both give tremendous performances as brother and sister Judy and Peter.

The special effects deserve a superb amount of praise. The extensive detail that is shown in each and every scene is gorgeous. The beautiful detail on the board game, from the instructions to the pieces themselves. The way Alan's home looks after it has been hit by a monsoon. You really are led to believe that it's real. The set design is magical, enchanting and mysterious. A library that makes you want to look at all of the sleeves on the books, an attic full of junk including other board games, a fully fledged working shoe factory. The list goes on. It's an enchanting story that will have you tugging on your heart strings and wanting more. Emotional, funny and action packed. This is an absolute must watch!

5/5

The Beach

Cast: Leonardo Dicaprio, Robert Carlyle, Guillaume Canet, Virginie Ledoyen and Tilda Swinton.

Director: Danny Boyle

Release Date: 2000

Running Time: 1hr 59 minutes

Genre: Adventure/Thriller

Rating: 15

Synopsis:

Backpacker Richard travels to Thailand and finds himself in possession of a strange map. Rumours state that it leads to a solitary beach paradise, a tropical bliss. Excited and intrigued, he sets out to find it.

Based on the best-selling novel by Alex Garland. Director Danny Boyle takes us all the way to paradise in this magnificent film adaptation. Phi Phi Leh Island is approximately 53.9km from Phuket. A place that is now completely off limits to the public until 2021. Breathtakingly beautiful, you can't blame author Alex Garland for choosing such a tranquil location to set his story. Backpacker Richard (Dicaprio) embarks on a journey to Phuket Thailand in search of something different. Richard's wish is granted when he's handed a map to a secluded island. Paradise. Hoping for a bit of company on his trip he invites French couple Francois (Ledoyen) and Etienne (Canet) along for the ride.

As far as book adaptations goes this is relatively impressive. Beautiful, thrilling and exciting, Danny Boyle certainly made sure to capture the essence of the story. Although not as violent as the novel, audiences get an idea of how secluded Richard, Francois and Etienne are. It's haunting to believe any of us could be naive enough to follow a map to a secret location and believe it to be too good to be true. In an attempt to keep it secret, it's inhabitants will do just about anything to keep it a secret. Leonardo Dicaprio delivers a tremendous performance as backpacker Richard. Young and naive, he has no idea what is in store for him, until it is too late and he realises he must leave paradise behind.

The inhabitants of Maya Beach have been brainwashed into thinking that the outside world is trouble and something now to be forgotten. Unaware themselves of the dangers that rest upon the island. Tilda Swinton delivers a fantastic performance as camp leader Sal. Refusing to let go, Sal is too passionate to ever leave the beach. The more we see of her character, the more it beautifully unfolds. The changes that were made for the film adaptation are primarily character relationships. In some cases characters are even left out all together, this however doesn't prevent the story from being understood or enjoyed. What has led all of these people to live on a remote island. This is never answered in the film or the book, it would have been excellent to have known their backstories and what originally led them to the beach.

Set on Phi Phi Leh Island in Thailand. A closed National Park in reality that is protected by locals. Danny Boyle was incredibly lucky to get the location when he did. At the time the island was relatively unknown to the public, it has become such a problem with tourists damaging the island that it is now banned the public from entering. A decision that personally should have been made after the shooting of this film. There's no doubt that the location is breathtakingly beautiful. One of the many wonders of the world that should be left alone for it's pure beauty. The ending of the film is somewhat romantic, but it works. The novel borderlines being a horror rather than an adventure story about three backpackers stranded on a secret beach.

Danny Boyle's movies are renowned for their excellent soundtracks. Fitting for each and every scene in which a song is used, they manage to tell a story purely by themselves. Moby, Leftfield, Faithless and All Saints to name a few that allow this beautiful story to be retold on the big screen. A highly underrated movie. Excellent.

5/5 stars

The Addams Family

Cast: Raul Julia, Anjelica Houstan, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci and Jimmy Workman.

Director: Barry Sonnenfeld

Release Date: 1991

Running Time: 1hr 39 minutes

Genre: Family

Rating: PG

Synopsis:

Con artists plan to fleece an eccentric family using an accomplice who claims to be their long lost uncle.

I have a confession. I may or may have not seen this film a ridiculous amount of times. I may have even seen the stage show. One things for sure. It's a favourite. Based on the cartoons by Charles Addams and the hit TV show of the same name. Barry Sonnenfeld delivers his directorial debut in this magnificent film adaptation. Fester Addams dissapeared twenty-five years ago. The Addams's have been running an annual seance ever since in the hope that he will return. Their wish is granted when on their twenty-fifth seance, Fester turns up. Gomez however is not convinced believing the man claiming to be his long lost brother is a con artist just out to steal his wealth.

Adapting a cartoon and a TV show into a film can be challenging. A couple of changes have been made. The Addams mansion was originally set in a street. The idea to have it set in the suburbs away from neighbours gives the story an element of surprise and mystery. Lurch used to talk and play the organ in the show. Although he is seen playing the organ at the beginning of the film, he doesn't speak once. Pugsley and Wednesday Addams were younger in the show, however the idea to have them older in the movie works and allows for character development. Although these changes were made, an awful lot has kept in to keep in tone and remembrance with the show and cartoon.

The actors deliver remarkable characterisation through-out the film. Christopher Lloyd delivers a tremendous performance as Uncle Fester Addams. Originally his character in the show was Morticia's uncle. The idea to have him as Gomez's brother in the film works, it adds an element of mystery to his character and allows the role to be adapted to film. Gomez is performed beautifully by Raul Julia. Gomez is thought to be a multi-billionaire who's parenting tactics aren't always on point. In the show he didn't seem to care much that his children were not in school or that they should even be attending. Laidback and rich, he always did have an infinite love for trains. It's fantastic that this was incorporated into the film from the show.

The production designers deserve the highest praise for the set design on this film. There are so many intricate details in each and every scene. You really believe what you are seeing with this film. Very rarely do you watch a film and notice something different everytime. Director Barry Sonnenfeld deserves a lot of praise for how much effort and work he put into this film to make it as authentic as possible. The TV show was surprisingly light-hearted. The cinematography sets the film for a dark tone. It adds a lot of authenticity to the characters and their background. Cousin It sadly wasn't seen very much throughout the original show. I loved that Barry Sonnenfeld chose to incorporate his character a lot more into the movies. This is a fantastic family film that is suitable for all ages. Creative and fun.

5/5 stars

Aladdin: Live Action

Cast: Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Marwan Kenzari and Navid Negahban.

Director: Guy Ritchie

Release Date: 2019

Running Time: 2hrs 8 minutes

Genre: Family/Adventure

Rating: PG

Synopsis:

A kind-hearted street urchin and a power-hungry Grand Vizier vie for a magic lamp that has the power to make their deepest wishes come true.

It seems it's very trendy for film-makers these days to re-make old movies. Some movies I do believe should be left alone. Not only is it not very original for a filmmaker to re-make a classic, it also doesn't allow audiences to see something different or new. It's recycled. Disney animations are no exception, however they are somewhat different, in the sense that they are made into live action rather than recycled for the directors own glory. I was surprised to learn when "Aladdin" was in production that actor Guy Ritchie was down to direct. It seems director Jon Favreau is the one grabbing all of the Disney classics to re-make, so it was nice to see someone else behind the camera this time.

Aladdin was always cheeky and charming in the animation. Does Mena Massoud live up to that role? Yes and no. Massoud is wonderfully charming, he fits into the role of Aladdin nicely. He certainly looks the part. Naomi Campbell is perfect as Princess Jasmine. I honestly couldn't think of anyone else filling her shoes. Campbell's musical numbers are excellent, there was certainly no wrong doing when it came to her casting. It can be exceptionally hard to fill someone else shoes, especially when you are filling the shoes of the late Robin Williams. Williams was truly incredible as the genie. Will Smith however did an excellent job at filling those shoes in his own way with no disrespect to Robin Williams at all. The only performance I was dissapointed with was that of Marwan Kenzari who played Jafar. I personally thought his characterisation should have been far more threatening. Jafar was exceedingly controlling in the original animation. Sadly his performance is quite wooden.

Director of photography Alan Stewart deserves the utmost praise for his in this film. The cinematography is absolutely stunning. It's everything you imagined and so much more, the attention to detail in Agra Bra is magnificent. The cave of wonders is stunning and matches the original footage of the animation perfectly. Costume designer Michael Wilkinson also deserves praise for his work in designing stunning pieces, especially for Niomi as Princess Jasmine. Her costumes are what really allow her character to come to life. Stunning and authentic. Unfortunately there have been a few changes to the storyline, whether or not this matches the original book, I couldn't say.

The musical numbers are very hit and miss unfortunately. The strongest songs being "Friend like me" and "A whole new world", both sequences match the original animation beautifully. The opening musical number "One jump" has been dramatically slowed down. I'd imagine this was put into place in order to keep up with the live action sequences. Audiences were even introduced to a new number "Speechless", although never shown in the original animation, it fits into the film perfectly and allows Princess Jasmine to show more of her character. Most certainly this is one of the better Disney live actions out there and definitely worth a watch.

4/5 stars