Reviews (51)

Welcome to the Jungle
Robin Williams and Kirsten Dunst face bigger-than-life jungle dangers in the engaging family adventure "Jumanji". Young Alan Parrish finds a mysterious board game and is vanished to an imaginable jungle realm. 26 years later, two unsuspected children (Kirsten Dunst & Bradley Pierce) freed the now adult Alan (Robin Williams) and unleash the jungle world of Jumanji upon their quiet town. Based on the best-selling children's book, "Jumanji" is an exciting fast-paced fantasy adventure. Director Joe Johnston combines elements of adventure, fantasy and humor to create an enchanting family spectacle. The clever storyline and characters are certainly amusing. The film contains some great special effects and thrilling scenes but a few effects weren't quite polished. The cast also includes Bonnie Hunt, Bebe Neuwirth, Jonathan Hyde and David Alan Grier.

"Jumanji" Collector Edition is a vast improvement over the previous bare-bones edition. The film is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen format. The DVD contains an impressive video transfer and a clear 5.1 Dolby Digital sound with dynamic surround effects. Among special features, this Collector Series DVD includes multiple behind-the-scenes and FX featurettes, audio commentary with FX supervisor Ken Ralston, theatrical trailers and some great animated menus. Overall, "Jumanji" Collector's Series DVD earns a "B+".

Greaat Movie
This is a great movie!
Its 1969. Alan Parish has troubles with his father. He finds a game named Jumanji at a construction site. He plays with his former friend Sarah Whiddle. They play, and until the game reads 5 or 8, in the jungle he must wait. The game isn't played until 26 years later by a young girl and boy that will be living in the Parish home. Peter, the young boy, rolls a 5, or 8, and he is unleashed. This wild movie is all in one day! It turns out they can not play until Sarah Whiddle joins. They find her and the whole town, including her try to believe it was the father that killed him. I hate to say it, but the ending is sad. Once they finish the game, it should all dissappear. Robin Williams isn't the only one relased from the game. Who else? Go buy it now!

Sorry Robin
Jumanji has its moments, but you might as well tape it off cable. Robin Williams is probably embarrassed about this film, although it's not entirely his fault. The film drags, the characters are stick figures. Almost dreadful.

BUTTOCKS IN THE JUNGLE
DID YOU KNOW THEY HAVE A SPECIAL MACHINE WICH TAKES PANTAS WHICH HAVE BEEN POOPED INTO AND TURNS IT INTO A FILM
THIS IS THE FIRST FILM TO BE PRODUCED IN THIS WAY
UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS SUCCESSFUL SO NOW WE HAVE A LOT MORE (SEE MARIO, SPACE JAM, POPEYE).
THIS HAD ROBIN WILLIAMS FACE SQUASHED INTO THE POO TO GIVE IT A CHARACTERISTIC FLAVOUR, BUT IT IS STILL A POOP IN YOUR PANTAS.

WATCH OUT, THIS ONE MAY SEEP ONTO YOUR FLOOR AND CAUSE YOU TO SLIP AND BREAK YOUR NECK

exellent family film
This film is wonderful, who ever written this must have an amazing imagination, its got all genres, frightning, funny, romantic,weird. This is a beautifully made family film.as good for mum and dad as it is for the kids.Alan Parish life is turned upside down when he discovers the mysterious board game jumanji,in his attic, he plays it with friend sarah until he is sucked into the game to a jungle full of animals,20 years on he escapes and returns to his home to find his parents have died and finds two kids living in his house.peterand judy. they play the game,resulting in a flood, a stampede.....this film is so magical,i havent heard one bad word for it.the acting is exeptional, robin williams best film ever made.i recommend you to try this film out. gather by the television,eat popcorn and put your feet up.one for all the family even grandma and grandpa will like it! ... Read more

Reviews (51)

Welcome to the Jungle
Robin Williams and Kirsten Dunst face bigger-than-life jungle dangers in the engaging family adventure "Jumanji". Young Alan Parrish finds a mysterious board game and is vanished to an imaginable jungle realm. 26 years later, two unsuspected children (Kirsten Dunst & Bradley Pierce) freed the now adult Alan (Robin Williams) and unleash the jungle world of Jumanji upon their quiet town. Based on the best-selling children's book, "Jumanji" is an exciting fast-paced fantasy adventure. Director Joe Johnston combines elements of adventure, fantasy and humor to create an enchanting family spectacle. The clever storyline and characters are certainly amusing. The film contains some great special effects and thrilling scenes but a few effects weren't quite polished. The cast also includes Bonnie Hunt, Bebe Neuwirth, Jonathan Hyde and David Alan Grier.

"Jumanji" Collector Edition is a vast improvement over the previous bare-bones edition. The film is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen format. The DVD contains an impressive video transfer and a clear 5.1 Dolby Digital sound with dynamic surround effects. Among special features, this Collector Series DVD includes multiple behind-the-scenes and FX featurettes, audio commentary with FX supervisor Ken Ralston, theatrical trailers and some great animated menus. Overall, "Jumanji" Collector's Series DVD earns a "B+".

Greaat Movie
This is a great movie!
Its 1969. Alan Parish has troubles with his father. He finds a game named Jumanji at a construction site. He plays with his former friend Sarah Whiddle. They play, and until the game reads 5 or 8, in the jungle he must wait. The game isn't played until 26 years later by a young girl and boy that will be living in the Parish home. Peter, the young boy, rolls a 5, or 8, and he is unleashed. This wild movie is all in one day! It turns out they can not play until Sarah Whiddle joins. They find her and the whole town, including her try to believe it was the father that killed him. I hate to say it, but the ending is sad. Once they finish the game, it should all dissappear. Robin Williams isn't the only one relased from the game. Who else? Go buy it now!

Sorry Robin
Jumanji has its moments, but you might as well tape it off cable. Robin Williams is probably embarrassed about this film, although it's not entirely his fault. The film drags, the characters are stick figures. Almost dreadful.

BUTTOCKS IN THE JUNGLE
DID YOU KNOW THEY HAVE A SPECIAL MACHINE WICH TAKES PANTAS WHICH HAVE BEEN POOPED INTO AND TURNS IT INTO A FILM
THIS IS THE FIRST FILM TO BE PRODUCED IN THIS WAY
UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS SUCCESSFUL SO NOW WE HAVE A LOT MORE (SEE MARIO, SPACE JAM, POPEYE).
THIS HAD ROBIN WILLIAMS FACE SQUASHED INTO THE POO TO GIVE IT A CHARACTERISTIC FLAVOUR, BUT IT IS STILL A POOP IN YOUR PANTAS.

WATCH OUT, THIS ONE MAY SEEP ONTO YOUR FLOOR AND CAUSE YOU TO SLIP AND BREAK YOUR NECK

exellent family film
This film is wonderful, who ever written this must have an amazing imagination, its got all genres, frightning, funny, romantic,weird. This is a beautifully made family film.as good for mum and dad as it is for the kids.Alan Parish life is turned upside down when he discovers the mysterious board game jumanji,in his attic, he plays it with friend sarah until he is sucked into the game to a jungle full of animals,20 years on he escapes and returns to his home to find his parents have died and finds two kids living in his house.peterand judy. they play the game,resulting in a flood, a stampede.....this film is so magical,i havent heard one bad word for it.the acting is exeptional, robin williams best film ever made.i recommend you to try this film out. gather by the television,eat popcorn and put your feet up.one for all the family even grandma and grandpa will like it! ... Read more

Reviews (51)

Welcome to the Jungle
Robin Williams and Kirsten Dunst face bigger-than-life jungle dangers in the engaging family adventure "Jumanji". Young Alan Parrish finds a mysterious board game and is vanished to an imaginable jungle realm. 26 years later, two unsuspected children (Kirsten Dunst & Bradley Pierce) freed the now adult Alan (Robin Williams) and unleash the jungle world of Jumanji upon their quiet town. Based on the best-selling children's book, "Jumanji" is an exciting fast-paced fantasy adventure. Director Joe Johnston combines elements of adventure, fantasy and humor to create an enchanting family spectacle. The clever storyline and characters are certainly amusing. The film contains some great special effects and thrilling scenes but a few effects weren't quite polished. The cast also includes Bonnie Hunt, Bebe Neuwirth, Jonathan Hyde and David Alan Grier.

"Jumanji" Collector Edition is a vast improvement over the previous bare-bones edition. The film is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen format. The DVD contains an impressive video transfer and a clear 5.1 Dolby Digital sound with dynamic surround effects. Among special features, this Collector Series DVD includes multiple behind-the-scenes and FX featurettes, audio commentary with FX supervisor Ken Ralston, theatrical trailers and some great animated menus. Overall, "Jumanji" Collector's Series DVD earns a "B+".

Greaat Movie
This is a great movie!
Its 1969. Alan Parish has troubles with his father. He finds a game named Jumanji at a construction site. He plays with his former friend Sarah Whiddle. They play, and until the game reads 5 or 8, in the jungle he must wait. The game isn't played until 26 years later by a young girl and boy that will be living in the Parish home. Peter, the young boy, rolls a 5, or 8, and he is unleashed. This wild movie is all in one day! It turns out they can not play until Sarah Whiddle joins. They find her and the whole town, including her try to believe it was the father that killed him. I hate to say it, but the ending is sad. Once they finish the game, it should all dissappear. Robin Williams isn't the only one relased from the game. Who else? Go buy it now!

Sorry Robin
Jumanji has its moments, but you might as well tape it off cable. Robin Williams is probably embarrassed about this film, although it's not entirely his fault. The film drags, the characters are stick figures. Almost dreadful.

BUTTOCKS IN THE JUNGLE
DID YOU KNOW THEY HAVE A SPECIAL MACHINE WICH TAKES PANTAS WHICH HAVE BEEN POOPED INTO AND TURNS IT INTO A FILM
THIS IS THE FIRST FILM TO BE PRODUCED IN THIS WAY
UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS SUCCESSFUL SO NOW WE HAVE A LOT MORE (SEE MARIO, SPACE JAM, POPEYE).
THIS HAD ROBIN WILLIAMS FACE SQUASHED INTO THE POO TO GIVE IT A CHARACTERISTIC FLAVOUR, BUT IT IS STILL A POOP IN YOUR PANTAS.

WATCH OUT, THIS ONE MAY SEEP ONTO YOUR FLOOR AND CAUSE YOU TO SLIP AND BREAK YOUR NECK

exellent family film
This film is wonderful, who ever written this must have an amazing imagination, its got all genres, frightning, funny, romantic,weird. This is a beautifully made family film.as good for mum and dad as it is for the kids.Alan Parish life is turned upside down when he discovers the mysterious board game jumanji,in his attic, he plays it with friend sarah until he is sucked into the game to a jungle full of animals,20 years on he escapes and returns to his home to find his parents have died and finds two kids living in his house.peterand judy. they play the game,resulting in a flood, a stampede.....this film is so magical,i havent heard one bad word for it.the acting is exeptional, robin williams best film ever made.i recommend you to try this film out. gather by the television,eat popcorn and put your feet up.one for all the family even grandma and grandpa will like it! ... Read more

Reviews (51)

Welcome to the Jungle
Robin Williams and Kirsten Dunst face bigger-than-life jungle dangers in the engaging family adventure "Jumanji". Young Alan Parrish finds a mysterious board game and is vanished to an imaginable jungle realm. 26 years later, two unsuspected children (Kirsten Dunst & Bradley Pierce) freed the now adult Alan (Robin Williams) and unleash the jungle world of Jumanji upon their quiet town. Based on the best-selling children's book, "Jumanji" is an exciting fast-paced fantasy adventure. Director Joe Johnston combines elements of adventure, fantasy and humor to create an enchanting family spectacle. The clever storyline and characters are certainly amusing. The film contains some great special effects and thrilling scenes but a few effects weren't quite polished. The cast also includes Bonnie Hunt, Bebe Neuwirth, Jonathan Hyde and David Alan Grier.

"Jumanji" Collector Edition is a vast improvement over the previous bare-bones edition. The film is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen format. The DVD contains an impressive video transfer and a clear 5.1 Dolby Digital sound with dynamic surround effects. Among special features, this Collector Series DVD includes multiple behind-the-scenes and FX featurettes, audio commentary with FX supervisor Ken Ralston, theatrical trailers and some great animated menus. Overall, "Jumanji" Collector's Series DVD earns a "B+".

Greaat Movie
This is a great movie!
Its 1969. Alan Parish has troubles with his father. He finds a game named Jumanji at a construction site. He plays with his former friend Sarah Whiddle. They play, and until the game reads 5 or 8, in the jungle he must wait. The game isn't played until 26 years later by a young girl and boy that will be living in the Parish home. Peter, the young boy, rolls a 5, or 8, and he is unleashed. This wild movie is all in one day! It turns out they can not play until Sarah Whiddle joins. They find her and the whole town, including her try to believe it was the father that killed him. I hate to say it, but the ending is sad. Once they finish the game, it should all dissappear. Robin Williams isn't the only one relased from the game. Who else? Go buy it now!

Sorry Robin
Jumanji has its moments, but you might as well tape it off cable. Robin Williams is probably embarrassed about this film, although it's not entirely his fault. The film drags, the characters are stick figures. Almost dreadful.

BUTTOCKS IN THE JUNGLE
DID YOU KNOW THEY HAVE A SPECIAL MACHINE WICH TAKES PANTAS WHICH HAVE BEEN POOPED INTO AND TURNS IT INTO A FILM
THIS IS THE FIRST FILM TO BE PRODUCED IN THIS WAY
UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS SUCCESSFUL SO NOW WE HAVE A LOT MORE (SEE MARIO, SPACE JAM, POPEYE).
THIS HAD ROBIN WILLIAMS FACE SQUASHED INTO THE POO TO GIVE IT A CHARACTERISTIC FLAVOUR, BUT IT IS STILL A POOP IN YOUR PANTAS.

WATCH OUT, THIS ONE MAY SEEP ONTO YOUR FLOOR AND CAUSE YOU TO SLIP AND BREAK YOUR NECK

exellent family film
This film is wonderful, who ever written this must have an amazing imagination, its got all genres, frightning, funny, romantic,weird. This is a beautifully made family film.as good for mum and dad as it is for the kids.Alan Parish life is turned upside down when he discovers the mysterious board game jumanji,in his attic, he plays it with friend sarah until he is sucked into the game to a jungle full of animals,20 years on he escapes and returns to his home to find his parents have died and finds two kids living in his house.peterand judy. they play the game,resulting in a flood, a stampede.....this film is so magical,i havent heard one bad word for it.the acting is exeptional, robin williams best film ever made.i recommend you to try this film out. gather by the television,eat popcorn and put your feet up.one for all the family even grandma and grandpa will like it! ... Read more

Reviews (655)

A heart pumping rollercoaster ride of a movie.
The 3rd installment of the JP franchise is without a doubt that darkest, fastest-moving, heart-pounding, and exciting movie in the film series. Sure the 1st JP is a pure classic and The Lost World tries to recapture the awe of the orginal and The Lost World *tries* to do the same thing but doesn't pull it off very well. Jurassic Park 3 tells you right from the start with a claw ripping through the JP logo that this time the dinosaurs aren't playing around. Sam Neil returns and gives a excellent performance as usual. The supporting cast does well also with William H. Macy and Tea Lenio giving strong performances. The real winners here though are the dinosaurs. As soon as humans once again arrive and disrupt their natural habitat they are just fed up it seems and don't play any games. In the first two films the dinosaurs seem a bit hesitant to eat some good ol' human flesh but, not in this film though. The new bad boy Spinosaurus quickly claims himself as the king of the jungle by taking out one of the legendary actors of the series. (You will seat what I mean) The raptors return badder and smarter. The most immpresive new Dino by far in the flying Pterandons. The special effects are as usual .. amazing. This a perfect addition to any Jurassic Park fan's DVD library.

JPIII
This movie is just pure fun. Thats all it is! The series is going to be if not already classic. See these films! Theyre a blast!

Newer Dinos Means A Fresh Film
Being a lifelong Dinosaur fan, I had to check out JP///. The trailers were making the movie seem really big and fresh with bringing Spinosaurus in to replace Tyrannosaurus as the starring role as super-predator in the JP series. The film moves at a pretty fast rate which can be good and bad. The Dinosaurs in the film are more believable now that the CGI programmers had the ability to make the Dinos' skin wobble when they moved and to have other parts of their body be in sync with the rest of their body.
The characters really don't have much development in the film which is okay considering you came to see Dinosaurs. But there is just enough character development for the moviegoer to understand each character.
My only gripes are with the film that it just seemed like the Dino action seemed to go downhill as the movie progressed. It starts off very well with the Spinosaurus attacking the plane and then eventually battling Tyrannosaurus (which I was hoping wouldn't show up until the final minutes of the film, giving it a climatic ending). After that, the Dinos seemed kinda sparse and the action shorter and shorter. The raptors also kinda got old. Like with T-rex, the filmmakers should have replaced the raptors with other Dinos. Maybe Baryonyxs? Also some science is forgotten in this film. But they had Jack Horner as their Dino supervisor, so it was a given some wrenches would be thrown in the mix. Also, the film seemed really short. With some newer dinos added to the screen that have never been seen before, I was hoping that they would have some pretty nifty Dinosaur battle sequences and Dinosaur-human encounters.
All in all, while JP/// was, somewhat, of a letdown for me, it still provided the goods for the most part.

Redeeming Qualities
Yes, this movie does have some plot holes, and it is not as good as the first movie in the series, but this movie is definitely better than "The Lost World." Somewhat formulaic at this point, but still a decent movie with a simpler and more plausible plot line than the previous movie.

A couple's son is parasailing off the back of a boat off Isla Sorna when something unseen happens to the people driving the boat. The boy's parents, Paul Kirby (William H. Macy) and Amanda Kirby (Téa Leoni), enlist Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) to help get the boy back. However, they have to trick Dr. Malcolm into returning to the island, because he, rightfully, thinks being on that island is a very bad idea.

As it turns out, landing a plane on the island was a very bad idea, and now the erstwhile rescuers are running for their lives. Along the way they find Erik Kirby (Trevor Morgan), and the only remaining task is to escape from the island.

Several new dinosaurs are introduced in this movie, including really cool pteranodons and a spinosaurus. The pteranodons act like giant birds, and are appropriately scary. The spinosaurus shows that the tyrannosaurus was not the king of the world. The encounters with the dinosaurs recall the thrills of the first movie in this series and are interesting and enjoyable.

There are a few plot holes in this movie, but fewer than in the previous movie. By keeping the plot simple and having fewer characters with a simpler motivation the movie avoids the incongruities of the previous movie. This movie was more creative and intriguing and favored adrenaline over depth, as in the first movie. The shorter length of the movie also minimizes opportunities to overly analyze the plot, keeping the focus on the action. A sequel not quite as good as the original, but superior to its predecessor.

Better than the 2nd, not as good as the first
Good movie. It was an improvment over the 2nd. It has a lot more dinosaurs, which makes it entertaining. If you like the first two, i recommend you to see this one.

MPAA: PG-13
Running Time: 93 minutes
Year released: 2001 ... Read more

Reviews (17)

One of Macaulay Culkin's last movies
The Pagemaster is a rare movie, that has both live action and animation. It's about a boy that hates heights (and who couldn't blame him). And is also a rare live action movie that has a G rating. The live action part of the movie was directed by Joe Johnston. And the animation part of the movie was directed by Maurice Hunt. As the movie opens, Ricard Tyler (Macaulay Culkin) is sent to get some nails for the tree house his father is bulding in a tree, Richard refuses to climb. But it starts to rain. So Richard takes shelter in a library, where a man (Christopher Lloyd) who claims that he has a talent for what people need. He ends up with a library card, and asks the man where the phone is. Christopher Lloyd also voices the title character. And when paint starts to fall from a picture of the Pagemaster, Richard tries to find the exit, but can't, and is turned into a cartoon character, and is visited by the Pagemaster, who tells him that he has to get to the exit to get back to a human character, which he is still in the library.

A Wonderful Story!
I first saw this movie with my own Mom when it first came out into the theatres. I am now 14-and I don't care what you think- and I absolutely loved this movie.

I agree with the review by amazon.com which declares the "animation to be middling, but what can you say about a movie that encourages a kid to pick up a book?" That is so true. In a way, this story reminds me of myslef...no, I'm not overprotective of myself or obsessed with statistics...but I do love to read...fantasy for that matter, and this pulls me back into another fantasy realms that I cannot explain.

Only other people who are like me in this way will enjoy this at older ages, but this is a must-see for all young children! They will love this! I personally think that it in itself is much better that some of Disney's stuff. Enjoy!

A terrible waste of talent...
---
...in terms of the actors and energy devoted to a potentially exciting idea, spoiled by lack of true imagination on the part of the writers, producers, and directors of this movie. When anticipating theatrical release, the kids in the family were excited by the trailers, but they were excruciatingly bored by the film itself, which proved to be unimaginative, uninspired, and without the sort of spark to be expected of the collection of voice and acting talents participating therein.

And I could determine in '94 why the movie was bound to suck. Note that the three genres of fiction instantiated in *The Pagemaster* were:

(1) Fantasy

(2) Adventure

(3) Horror

Not a whiff of Science Fiction, kiddies. Of course. Proverbs 29:18 all over the place ("Without a vision, the people perish"). The mark of the mundanes is all over this movie. Ostensible credits notwithstanding, if there was a genuine science fiction fan involved in the production of *The Pagemaster*, he was kept drugged and trussed up in a trunk somewhere on the set so he couldn't interfere with the process of turning perfectly good ingredients like these into a flat, uninteresting, drooling dollop of witlessness.

Beware the mark of the mundanes, my people! In this as in everything else in life, they are walking Black Holes of vapidness, guaranteeing in every spoiled celluloid square of *The Pagemaster* an overwhelming dose of major suckage.
---

A Delightful Fantasy
Macaulay Culkin plays a young man named Richard Tyler, who, thanks to his obsessive calculations of the statistics of accidents caused by anything and everything, is afraid of everything including heights, darkness, fire, etc.,etc. One day, his father (after falling off a short treehouse he made for Richard) assigns him to go and buy some new nails for the completion of the house. Richard protests at first, but eventually, regretfully goes. On his way he encounters kid "bullies" (too bad acting for their own good) and speeds off on his bike through a tunnel, and due to the darkness the storm creates, crashes into a tree. He then seeks shelter in an old, deserted (for the night) library where he meets the head librarian, slightly-mad (as always) Christopher Lloyd. who immediately tries to find a way to get Richard to check out a book. Richard says he doesn't have a card, but Lloyd, like magic, whips up a brand-new library card for him to rent books with. Richard then goes looking around the huge library, almost just to get Lloyd off his back about it, and after getting turned around, slips on a little puddle of rain water, leaking in from the roof of the library. He gets knocked unconscious, and is greeted afterwards by the greatest man in the world of books: the Pagemaster, who explains to him he will have to conquer his greatest fears with the help of 3 types of literature: Fantasy, Adventure, and Horror. When he meets these 3 books he faces each of his fears by conquering over literatures' greatest and darkest characters including Long John Silver, Moby Dick, Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde, and a haunted cemetery. When he awakens from his unconsciousness, he checks out the 3 books that helped him during his adventures and lives without any fears, firstly by sleeping in his new treehouse. A charming, wonderfully crafted, however dull it may be, children's fable that never fails to delight. And will definitely cause any viewers to want to read more.

this is not bad definitly not bad at all
I like the part where tyler gets anamated i recomend this movie for people who like live and anamation. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

One of Macaulay Culkin's last movies
The Pagemaster is a rare movie, that has both live action and animation. It's about a boy that hates heights (and who couldn't blame him). And is also a rare live action movie that has a G rating. The live action part of the movie was directed by Joe Johnston. And the animation part of the movie was directed by Maurice Hunt. As the movie opens, Ricard Tyler (Macaulay Culkin) is sent to get some nails for the tree house his father is bulding in a tree, Richard refuses to climb. But it starts to rain. So Richard takes shelter in a library, where a man (Christopher Lloyd) who claims that he has a talent for what people need. He ends up with a library card, and asks the man where the phone is. Christopher Lloyd also voices the title character. And when paint starts to fall from a picture of the Pagemaster, Richard tries to find the exit, but can't, and is turned into a cartoon character, and is visited by the Pagemaster, who tells him that he has to get to the exit to get back to a human character, which he is still in the library.

A Wonderful Story!
I first saw this movie with my own Mom when it first came out into the theatres. I am now 14-and I don't care what you think- and I absolutely loved this movie.

I agree with the review by amazon.com which declares the "animation to be middling, but what can you say about a movie that encourages a kid to pick up a book?" That is so true. In a way, this story reminds me of myslef...no, I'm not overprotective of myself or obsessed with statistics...but I do love to read...fantasy for that matter, and this pulls me back into another fantasy realms that I cannot explain.

Only other people who are like me in this way will enjoy this at older ages, but this is a must-see for all young children! They will love this! I personally think that it in itself is much better that some of Disney's stuff. Enjoy!

A terrible waste of talent...
---
...in terms of the actors and energy devoted to a potentially exciting idea, spoiled by lack of true imagination on the part of the writers, producers, and directors of this movie. When anticipating theatrical release, the kids in the family were excited by the trailers, but they were excruciatingly bored by the film itself, which proved to be unimaginative, uninspired, and without the sort of spark to be expected of the collection of voice and acting talents participating therein.

And I could determine in '94 why the movie was bound to suck. Note that the three genres of fiction instantiated in *The Pagemaster* were:

(1) Fantasy

(2) Adventure

(3) Horror

Not a whiff of Science Fiction, kiddies. Of course. Proverbs 29:18 all over the place ("Without a vision, the people perish"). The mark of the mundanes is all over this movie. Ostensible credits notwithstanding, if there was a genuine science fiction fan involved in the production of *The Pagemaster*, he was kept drugged and trussed up in a trunk somewhere on the set so he couldn't interfere with the process of turning perfectly good ingredients like these into a flat, uninteresting, drooling dollop of witlessness.

Beware the mark of the mundanes, my people! In this as in everything else in life, they are walking Black Holes of vapidness, guaranteeing in every spoiled celluloid square of *The Pagemaster* an overwhelming dose of major suckage.
---

A Delightful Fantasy
Macaulay Culkin plays a young man named Richard Tyler, who, thanks to his obsessive calculations of the statistics of accidents caused by anything and everything, is afraid of everything including heights, darkness, fire, etc.,etc. One day, his father (after falling off a short treehouse he made for Richard) assigns him to go and buy some new nails for the completion of the house. Richard protests at first, but eventually, regretfully goes. On his way he encounters kid "bullies" (too bad acting for their own good) and speeds off on his bike through a tunnel, and due to the darkness the storm creates, crashes into a tree. He then seeks shelter in an old, deserted (for the night) library where he meets the head librarian, slightly-mad (as always) Christopher Lloyd. who immediately tries to find a way to get Richard to check out a book. Richard says he doesn't have a card, but Lloyd, like magic, whips up a brand-new library card for him to rent books with. Richard then goes looking around the huge library, almost just to get Lloyd off his back about it, and after getting turned around, slips on a little puddle of rain water, leaking in from the roof of the library. He gets knocked unconscious, and is greeted afterwards by the greatest man in the world of books: the Pagemaster, who explains to him he will have to conquer his greatest fears with the help of 3 types of literature: Fantasy, Adventure, and Horror. When he meets these 3 books he faces each of his fears by conquering over literatures' greatest and darkest characters including Long John Silver, Moby Dick, Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde, and a haunted cemetery. When he awakens from his unconsciousness, he checks out the 3 books that helped him during his adventures and lives without any fears, firstly by sleeping in his new treehouse. A charming, wonderfully crafted, however dull it may be, children's fable that never fails to delight. And will definitely cause any viewers to want to read more.

this is not bad definitly not bad at all
I like the part where tyler gets anamated i recomend this movie for people who like live and anamation. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

One of Macaulay Culkin's last movies
The Pagemaster is a rare movie, that has both live action and animation. It's about a boy that hates heights (and who couldn't blame him). And is also a rare live action movie that has a G rating. The live action part of the movie was directed by Joe Johnston. And the animation part of the movie was directed by Maurice Hunt. As the movie opens, Ricard Tyler (Macaulay Culkin) is sent to get some nails for the tree house his father is bulding in a tree, Richard refuses to climb. But it starts to rain. So Richard takes shelter in a library, where a man (Christopher Lloyd) who claims that he has a talent for what people need. He ends up with a library card, and asks the man where the phone is. Christopher Lloyd also voices the title character. And when paint starts to fall from a picture of the Pagemaster, Richard tries to find the exit, but can't, and is turned into a cartoon character, and is visited by the Pagemaster, who tells him that he has to get to the exit to get back to a human character, which he is still in the library.

A Wonderful Story!
I first saw this movie with my own Mom when it first came out into the theatres. I am now 14-and I don't care what you think- and I absolutely loved this movie.

I agree with the review by amazon.com which declares the "animation to be middling, but what can you say about a movie that encourages a kid to pick up a book?" That is so true. In a way, this story reminds me of myslef...no, I'm not overprotective of myself or obsessed with statistics...but I do love to read...fantasy for that matter, and this pulls me back into another fantasy realms that I cannot explain.

Only other people who are like me in this way will enjoy this at older ages, but this is a must-see for all young children! They will love this! I personally think that it in itself is much better that some of Disney's stuff. Enjoy!

A terrible waste of talent...
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...in terms of the actors and energy devoted to a potentially exciting idea, spoiled by lack of true imagination on the part of the writers, producers, and directors of this movie. When anticipating theatrical release, the kids in the family were excited by the trailers, but they were excruciatingly bored by the film itself, which proved to be unimaginative, uninspired, and without the sort of spark to be expected of the collection of voice and acting talents participating therein.

And I could determine in '94 why the movie was bound to suck. Note that the three genres of fiction instantiated in *The Pagemaster* were:

(1) Fantasy

(2) Adventure

(3) Horror

Not a whiff of Science Fiction, kiddies. Of course. Proverbs 29:18 all over the place ("Without a vision, the people perish"). The mark of the mundanes is all over this movie. Ostensible credits notwithstanding, if there was a genuine science fiction fan involved in the production of *The Pagemaster*, he was kept drugged and trussed up in a trunk somewhere on the set so he couldn't interfere with the process of turning perfectly good ingredients like these into a flat, uninteresting, drooling dollop of witlessness.

Beware the mark of the mundanes, my people! In this as in everything else in life, they are walking Black Holes of vapidness, guaranteeing in every spoiled celluloid square of *The Pagemaster* an overwhelming dose of major suckage.
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A Delightful Fantasy
Macaulay Culkin plays a young man named Richard Tyler, who, thanks to his obsessive calculations of the statistics of accidents caused by anything and everything, is afraid of everything including heights, darkness, fire, etc.,etc. One day, his father (after falling off a short treehouse he made for Richard) assigns him to go and buy some new nails for the completion of the house. Richard protests at first, but eventually, regretfully goes. On his way he encounters kid "bullies" (too bad acting for their own good) and speeds off on his bike through a tunnel, and due to the darkness the storm creates, crashes into a tree. He then seeks shelter in an old, deserted (for the night) library where he meets the head librarian, slightly-mad (as always) Christopher Lloyd. who immediately tries to find a way to get Richard to check out a book. Richard says he doesn't have a card, but Lloyd, like magic, whips up a brand-new library card for him to rent books with. Richard then goes looking around the huge library, almost just to get Lloyd off his back about it, and after getting turned around, slips on a little puddle of rain water, leaking in from the roof of the library. He gets knocked unconscious, and is greeted afterwards by the greatest man in the world of books: the Pagemaster, who explains to him he will have to conquer his greatest fears with the help of 3 types of literature: Fantasy, Adventure, and Horror. When he meets these 3 books he faces each of his fears by conquering over literatures' greatest and darkest characters including Long John Silver, Moby Dick, Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde, and a haunted cemetery. When he awakens from his unconsciousness, he checks out the 3 books that helped him during his adventures and lives without any fears, firstly by sleeping in his new treehouse. A charming, wonderfully crafted, however dull it may be, children's fable that never fails to delight. And will definitely cause any viewers to want to read more.

this is not bad definitly not bad at all
I like the part where tyler gets anamated i recomend this movie for people who like live and anamation. ... Read more

Reviews (207)

A brilliant story about perseverance and glory
"October Sky" is a superb show! It's 1957, and Homer Hickman is just a regular high school teen living in a small West Virginia town where his father is the manager of the coal mine that employs, well, everyone. As we meet Homer, he is working, not very successfully, to deal with the usual plagues of youth...how to get the the girl of your dreams, how to be noticed while walking in the shadow of a sports hero older brother, how to gain attention and respect from his father, and so on...just about then it is announced that the Soviets had launched Sputnik!

The space age had arrived!

The specter of Sputnik orbiting overhead has a profound influence on Homer...he is captivated by the idea of space and rocketry. He becomes the heart and soul of a group of four HS students who start to dabble in making model rockets of their own...much to his father's chagrin.

You will sorrow with Homer and his friends in their setbacks, and revel with them in their successes. Laura Dern plays a pivotal role as a teacher who encourages the boys to continue their experiments. Before long the whole town in caught up in their launches.

You'll love the way that Homer explains to the sherrif, in front of his class, why one of his rockets couldn't possibly have been responsible for starting a forest fire in the area...classic!

If you haven't seen this show, watch it! It's well worth your time.

As another reviewer aptly pointed out, this is a great film about teens...the teens look and act like teens. The players all do a great job!

"October Sky" is definitely a top-notch 5-star offering for the whole family!

Have a great day...

Alan Holyoak

An Insperation That Will Live In Your Heart
When released in 1999 this little movie was a movie that i knew nothing about and i was not sure if i wanted to see it. Although on a saturday afternoon i decided to see it and was i glad because this movie is about Homer H. Hickam Jr living in a small town named coalwood in 1957 when the russians launched Sputnik. Since he is destined to work down in the mines like his father he tries to make it out of there. Homer is played by newcomer Jake Gyllenhaal in a stand out performance. Chris Cooper as the gung ho dad about mining coal in a particularly strong performance and Laura Dern as Ms Riley who encourages the boys to go for there dreams or they will be in the mines.

Told with impeccable detail to the sets and the Photography it has the right look and feel to it. Directed by Joe Johnston who is know for such movies as The Rocketter is new and brings this movie to life. The end of the movie is very moving. Guarented you will go out loving this movie. This is one of the best films of 1999 and really deserves to be seen. Truly a movie that will live in your heart forever.

Inspirational top to bottom
This movie is insanely inspirational. If you buy any positive movie for your collection, think about this one. It tells the story of Homer Hickam and the Rocket boys. Just after the USSR launched Sputnik (the first manmade satellite), the US had to play catch-up.

At this time is when a kid (Homer) decides to build a Rocket. The movie is the quest to build a working rocket and get the hell out of the little coal mining community he is stuck in. He has dreams to get to college and work for NASA.

Will he accomplish his dreams??? Hells yea! After he makes it through two science fairs and his father. This is one of those rare movies that will make you a better person for having seen it. Do yourself the favor and get this movie.

One of the best rocket movies ever
As a rocket scientist from a top five university, I am astonished about how much this movie correlates with my own experiences. Not only is this movie a great representation of the glory of flight, it also encompasses the human spirit. This movie is not just for rocket enthusiasts. It is for anybody that has had a dream or a passion and let nothing get in the way of it. This movie is captivating and motivating.

whiz bang!
Homer Hickam is a ordinary coalminer teen.His dad is head of the mine and he raises hell a lot.Homer has a tough time getting close.His biggest sore point is that he detests the mine.He doesn't want to end up under the earth forever.He trys football.Thats the only way any of his friends have gone to collage.He fails in that.He wishes a girl would notice him.He does have two loyal friends.Then everything changes with Sputnik.Seeing it flying over the stars above his head is the moment when he realizes his calling.Soon he starts thinking about rockets.Why not build one? He goes to the poor nerdy boy for help.Soon the four have become allies.Homers first attempt in the science of rockets goes flat(well,the fence goes flat).His dad is angry and tells him to quit this craze.Homer won't do it,so he goes off in the woods and starts testing rockets.Some go nutty,some explode.Nothing works.Finally,when the whole town is there to watch,it happens.The rocket soars high.His teacher tells him to enter his rocket designs in the science fair.It seems like sucess is at hand when Homer's dad gets hurt.Homer must go down in the mine and work to support the family.His dream is shattered.
Does Homer Hickum get a scolarship with his rocket? Watch and see. ... Read more

Reviews (207)

A brilliant story about perseverance and glory
"October Sky" is a superb show! It's 1957, and Homer Hickman is just a regular high school teen living in a small West Virginia town where his father is the manager of the coal mine that employs, well, everyone. As we meet Homer, he is working, not very successfully, to deal with the usual plagues of youth...how to get the the girl of your dreams, how to be noticed while walking in the shadow of a sports hero older brother, how to gain attention and respect from his father, and so on...just about then it is announced that the Soviets had launched Sputnik!

The space age had arrived!

The specter of Sputnik orbiting overhead has a profound influence on Homer...he is captivated by the idea of space and rocketry. He becomes the heart and soul of a group of four HS students who start to dabble in making model rockets of their own...much to his father's chagrin.

You will sorrow with Homer and his friends in their setbacks, and revel with them in their successes. Laura Dern plays a pivotal role as a teacher who encourages the boys to continue their experiments. Before long the whole town in caught up in their launches.

You'll love the way that Homer explains to the sherrif, in front of his class, why one of his rockets couldn't possibly have been responsible for starting a forest fire in the area...classic!

If you haven't seen this show, watch it! It's well worth your time.

As another reviewer aptly pointed out, this is a great film about teens...the teens look and act like teens. The players all do a great job!

"October Sky" is definitely a top-notch 5-star offering for the whole family!

Have a great day...

Alan Holyoak

An Insperation That Will Live In Your Heart
When released in 1999 this little movie was a movie that i knew nothing about and i was not sure if i wanted to see it. Although on a saturday afternoon i decided to see it and was i glad because this movie is about Homer H. Hickam Jr living in a small town named coalwood in 1957 when the russians launched Sputnik. Since he is destined to work down in the mines like his father he tries to make it out of there. Homer is played by newcomer Jake Gyllenhaal in a stand out performance. Chris Cooper as the gung ho dad about mining coal in a particularly strong performance and Laura Dern as Ms Riley who encourages the boys to go for there dreams or they will be in the mines.

Told with impeccable detail to the sets and the Photography it has the right look and feel to it. Directed by Joe Johnston who is know for such movies as The Rocketter is new and brings this movie to life. The end of the movie is very moving. Guarented you will go out loving this movie. This is one of the best films of 1999 and really deserves to be seen. Truly a movie that will live in your heart forever.

Inspirational top to bottom
This movie is insanely inspirational. If you buy any positive movie for your collection, think about this one. It tells the story of Homer Hickam and the Rocket boys. Just after the USSR launched Sputnik (the first manmade satellite), the US had to play catch-up.

At this time is when a kid (Homer) decides to build a Rocket. The movie is the quest to build a working rocket and get the hell out of the little coal mining community he is stuck in. He has dreams to get to college and work for NASA.

Will he accomplish his dreams??? Hells yea! After he makes it through two science fairs and his father. This is one of those rare movies that will make you a better person for having seen it. Do yourself the favor and get this movie.

One of the best rocket movies ever
As a rocket scientist from a top five university, I am astonished about how much this movie correlates with my own experiences. Not only is this movie a great representation of the glory of flight, it also encompasses the human spirit. This movie is not just for rocket enthusiasts. It is for anybody that has had a dream or a passion and let nothing get in the way of it. This movie is captivating and motivating.

whiz bang!
Homer Hickam is a ordinary coalminer teen.His dad is head of the mine and he raises hell a lot.Homer has a tough time getting close.His biggest sore point is that he detests the mine.He doesn't want to end up under the earth forever.He trys football.Thats the only way any of his friends have gone to collage.He fails in that.He wishes a girl would notice him.He does have two loyal friends.Then everything changes with Sputnik.Seeing it flying over the stars above his head is the moment when he realizes his calling.Soon he starts thinking about rockets.Why not build one? He goes to the poor nerdy boy for help.Soon the four have become allies.Homers first attempt in the science of rockets goes flat(well,the fence goes flat).His dad is angry and tells him to quit this craze.Homer won't do it,so he goes off in the woods and starts testing rockets.Some go nutty,some explode.Nothing works.Finally,when the whole town is there to watch,it happens.The rocket soars high.His teacher tells him to enter his rocket designs in the science fair.It seems like sucess is at hand when Homer's dad gets hurt.Homer must go down in the mine and work to support the family.His dream is shattered.
Does Homer Hickum get a scolarship with his rocket? Watch and see. ... Read more