6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A team of friends return to Jumanji to rescue one of their own but discover that nothing is as they expect. The players need to brave parts unknown, from arid deserts to snowy mountains, in order to escape the world's most dangerous game.
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, AwkwafinaAdventure | 100% |
Action | 89% |
Family | 48% |
Comedy | 23% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French (Canada): DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
French (Canada): DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
In video game parlance, Jumanji: The Next Level feels more like tacked-on, money grabbing DLC (Downloadable Content) -- content made for an existing product -- rather than a true sequel. Sure the film comes with all of the bells and whistles of an A-list feature and even manages to find a way to make what's old new again, but it comes up short on story, favoring visual spectacle and humor above worthwhile narrative engagement. The movie meanders, quite a bit at times, and never feels at all compelling beyond its momentary laughs or splashes of spectacle.
Jumanji: The Next Level was digitally photographed. The source translates exceptionally well to Blu-ray, which manages the movie's many environmental layers, world details, character accents, and the like with exceptional accuracy. The picture's textural qualities are quite strong. Close-ups fare particularly well, with the various safari outfits amongst the highlights. Each character brings a unique look to the movie, including Ruby's Lara Croft-inspired get-up, Mouse's Boy Scout-inspired threads, Shelly's professor-meets-adventurer attire, and Bravestone's muscle-accentuating button-down. Environments, even with so many of them being digitally created, present with agreeable sharpness near and far alike, while practical support pieces are, well, practically indistinguishable from the digital counterparts around and behind. Facial close-ups are, of course, the meat-and-potato highlights. Colors are expressive and bold but never overplayed. Contrast is never whacky, leaving tonal depth true and tangible. Black levels and flesh tones are nonproblemattc. The image manages noise extremely well and other source or encode issues never arise with any obvious severity. Though the UHD obviously bests the Blu-ray, 1080p-only fans are still in for a treat.
Following Sony's common Blu-ray-UHD practices, Jumanji: The Next Level earns a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack for its 1080p disc release. The results are perfectly acceptable -- excellent, even -- even if lacking the greater fullness and immersion of its DTS:X counterpart. Nicely detailed and adequately deep percussion notes call the players to the game in chapter two, and big, wide engagement powers into the stage as Fridge and Martha -- not Bethany -- are pulled into it from the immediate range and Eddie and Milo from upstairs. Within the game world, there are plenty of moments when the soundtrack shines, expanding to create a sense of openness and spacial inclusion, even with the more limited channel configuration, that along with seamless clarity and attention to detail absolutely draws the listener into the varied worlds and numerous scenarios in which the avatars find themselves. Bass is never lacking, surround extension engages frequently, and lifelike detail remains in abundance. Music, both score and popular, flows from the speakers with strong front stretch and honest surround and subwoofer help. Dialogue is clear and well prioritized from a natural front-center position.
Jumanji: The Next Level includes a gag reel and a bunch of featurettes, most of which are of little substance. A DVD copy of the film and a
Movies Anywhere digital copy code are
included with purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover. Also included is a folded paper map with a QR code that "reveal(s) a hidden
world of Jumanji treasures."
Serviceable all the way but memorable at no point, Jumanji: The Next Level does just enough to keep audiences entertained but goes no further to build its characters or make its world worth visiting for a second watch. A little charm here, a good laugh there, and plenty of visual delights just can't hide a vapid and oftentimes meandering story that struggles to keep up with its characters and grow them all that much, particularly in the game world. The movie saves its best for the real-world bookends, which is fine, but there's little reason to bring the brain into the video game world. Sony's Blu-ray is first-class, delivering high quality video and audio along with a smattering of extra goodies. Worth a look.
IMAX Enhanced
2019
2019
Import | Random Space Media Exclusive
2019
Limited Edition / Reprint
2019
2017
2010
2021
Limited Edition
2008
Collector's Edition
2020
2017
2017
2009
2006
2017
2020
2018
2013
2023
2018
2012
1984
1989
1981
2021