When Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle hit theaters in 2017, it breathed new life into the beloved 1995 film Jumanji, offering a bold and exhilarating reimagining that appealed to both fans of the original and a new generation of moviegoers. Directed by Jake Kasdan, this action-packed, comedy-adventure film blends the charm of the original concept with modern, high-energy fun, creating a thrilling cinematic experience that delivers laughs, heart, and excitement from start to finish.

The story follows four high school students—spanning different social groups—who discover an old video game console while cleaning out a school storage room. Upon playing the game, they are unexpectedly sucked into the world of Jumanji, but with a major twist: rather than being transported into the jungle in their own bodies, each student ᴀssumes the idenтιтy of an avatar within the game. The avatars, which reflect their personalities in ironic and humorous ways, are played by some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan. The group of mismatched heroes must now work together to navigate the dangerous jungle, solve puzzles, and survive the numerous perils that the game throws at them in order to return to the real world.

What makes Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle truly enjoyable is its perfect balance of comedy, action, and adventure. The film embraces the absurdity of its premise and never takes itself too seriously, offering a playful sense of fun throughout. The jungle setting is filled with dangers, from wild animals to environmental obstacles, but it’s also full of surprises, puzzles, and moments that keep the audience on the edge of their seats. This sense of danger is balanced with lighthearted humor, making the stakes high but never too intense for younger audiences to enjoy.

The game world itself is beautifully realized, with a vibrant, CGI-enhanced jungle environment that is both lush and dangerous. The film’s visual effects bring the jungle to life, whether the characters are riding a dangerous vehicle, escaping from attacking creatures, or solving riddles. This immersive setting adds to the sense of excitement and wonder that Jumanji is known for, and the action sequences—whether it’s a daring chase or a battle with wild animals—are expertly choreographed and visually stunning.

One of the film’s biggest themes is personal growth and self-discovery. Each of the four students learns something valuable about themselves as they navigate the challenges of the game. Spencer, the shy introvert, learns to embrace leadership and courage, while his friend Anthony (Kevin Hart), who often shied away from responsibility, steps up when needed. Martha (Karen Gillan), who starts the game unsure of herself, finds empowerment in her avatar’s warrior-like persona, and Bethany (Jack Black) learns to appreciate her true self, not just her appearance. The film explores how each character, despite their flaws, can rise to the occasion and become more than they thought possible, offering a subtle but meaningful message about the importance of inner strength and teamwork.

At its core, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is about friendship and collaboration. The characters must put aside their differences and learn to work together in order to succeed. Their journey is filled with comedic missteps, but their bond grows stronger with each challenge they face. This sense of camaraderie is what drives the narrative, making the film both entertaining and emotionally resonant, without ever becoming preachy.

In addition to its engaging story and characters, the film also stands out with its impressive pacing. The adventure moves along at a brisk pace, with enough action to keep the audience entertained, but not so much that it becomes overwhelming. The humor, too, strikes the perfect balance—never too forced, always in tune with the personalities of the characters, making it one of the most genuinely funny action-comedies of its time.

Overall, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle succeeds on multiple fronts. It revitalizes the Jumanji franchise, taking the core concept and transforming it into something fresh and exciting while staying true to the spirit of the original film. The cast’s comedic timing and performances are top-notch, and the action sequences are both thrilling and fun. With heartwarming moments, laughter, and non-stop adventure, this film is a delightful ride for audiences of all ages, proving that the Jumanji world still has plenty of magic to offer. Whether you’re a fan of the original or coming to the jungle for the first time, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a rollicking adventure that’s sure to leave you with a smile on your face and a renewed sense of wonder.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

Hoxne Hoard treasures. Photo by Helen Simonsson CC by SA-2.0

November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.