JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL (12)
HHHHH ACTION-PACKED sequel to director Jake Kasdan’s 2017 rumble in the jungle.
Spencer (Alex Wolff) tinkers with the Jumanji video game cartridge and is magically transported back to the jungle. Former classmate Bethany (Madison Iseman) encourages Fridge (Ser’darius Blain) and Martha (Morgan Turner) to rally to Spencer’s aid, however, before the teenagers can select their familiar avatars, Spencer’s crotchety grandfather Eddie (Danny Devito) and estranged pal Milo (Danny Glover) are sucked into the game.
The old timers adopt the guises of strapping archaeologist Dr Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson, pictured) and scaredy-cat zoologist Franklin Finbar (Kevin Hart) respectively.
Fridge inhabits cartographer Professor Shelly Oberon (Jack Black) while Martha revisits acrobatic warrior Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan).
Aided by a “small and crafty” avatar called Ming (Awkwafina), the discombobulated players must locate Spencer and Bethany and then steal a priceless jewel to secure their freedom.
■ Available from April 4 on Amazon Video/bt TV Store/itunes/sky Store/talktalk TV Store and other download and streaming services, available from April 13 on Dvd/blu-ray.
WRITER Nathaniel Halpern’s meditative eight-part sci-fi drama poses tantalising questions about mortality and our heavy reliance on technology.
Russ Willard (Jonathan Pryce) oversees an experimental research facility known as The Loop, which looms large over a nearby town and its residents.
He wages war against a life-threatening illness, which could deny him precious years with grandson Cole (Duncan Joiner). Russ’s daughter-in-law Loretta (Rebecca Hall) becomes embroiled in the mysterious disappearance of a fellow scientist that could be linked to other strange occurrences. As secrets within the community are exhumed, we discover a little more about what happens behind the facility’s closed doors. ■ Eight episodes, streaming from April 3 exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.