Jumanji

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

We can't deny what a success year '95 was for James Horner. 2 Oscar nominated scores Apollo 13 and Braveheart, 2 well respected soundtracks along with it namely Casper and Balto and just 2 flubs. One of them is considered by many to be Jumanji. Why, perhaps that it feels uninspired like, another one could be that I don't like what's coming my way or simply because Horner himself didn't do much with it, which could explain the uninspiring look. In fact, you have the most opposite sides with the movie being too inspiring in its genre (effects and pleasure) and the other being just not the clicker on the CD. It isn't that Jumanji is bad but I hardly listen to it and simply don't risk it when you've got Braveheart, Casper and the other crackers to listen to instead. One of the scores it takes resemblances with is Casper and this is curious since that score maintained its pleasurable status for even a 70 minute score. Jumanji couldn't even do this for a fifty minute release. I know Jumanji will have its fans but if not listening to it with your full approval, then something is wrong with either me or the score.

The score at least does nothing wrong when you compare it with the effectiveness in the movie. It has the wacky, out of control nature, the dangerous attitude or even the light family feel. But together it doesn't hold my interest strong enough. One example of good adventure music is 'The Monsoon' which inspires me more then its follower, the 12 minute '"Jumanji"' which simply flows over me without realizing why. The score also uses a lot of shakuhachi tones (reminding one of Willow) such as in 12 or already from the start of the first track. 'Prologue and Main Title' uses the ethnic flutes, the Casper influence but also the light flute / piano theme that becomes the main theme. 'First Move' is along with 'Monkey Mayhem' the two sides of music representing the animals. You've got either the dissonant look or the wacky style, especially the monkey music suits in a way the movie but it simply feels carnival esque and reminds me of the lesser parts of We're Back: A Dinsosaur's Story. The light Alan Parish theme is more suitable for my liking and appears in 4, 8 or at the end of 12. Still, more themes emerge which makes it the more curious why it is uninteresting, such as the hunter's theme in 'The Hunter' or the danger theme as I call it representing the animals on the move, like 'Stampede!' which probably contains its strongest version.

The last track appropriately entitled 'End Titles' starts with the wacky tunes of the monkeys, before stating the main theme of the movie and a vocal tribal hum. Altogether the circle is complete and the score does offer its unique effectiveness in the movie. But why doesn't it entertain me on disc? Who knows, perhaps the sound or simply the material, the unfortunate wacky control of the music or the uninteresting nature it exhibits. Jumanji is simply a score that is ignored for more then just these reasons and a fact that many probably liked the magic more of efforts such as Casper and Apollo 13. If you are either the biggest Horner fan alive or the man wanting every score on the planet, I guess I can understand you buying it. But that doesn't mean that you will find it entertaining for the casual listen. Even a peep at the movie can set you on the wrong path since this is exactly what I did. While the end of the score does offer the most unique stuff of the entire score, I keep coming to the conclusion that Jumanji is a compilation of several Horner scores without being a rip off, but nonetheless containing the unfortunate effect of boring more then pleasing some.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Prologue And Main Title (3.42)

2. First Move (2.19)

3. Monkey Mayhem (4.41)

4. A New World (2.40)

5. "It's Sarah's Move (2.35)

6. The Hunter (1.56)

7. Rampage Trough Town (2.26)

8. Alan Parrish (4.16)

9. Stampede! (2.11)

10. A Pelican Steals The Game (1.39)

11. The Monsoon (4.46)

12. "Jumanji" (11.45)

13. End Titles (5.56)

Total Length: 51.08

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: James Horner ===