So basically you're getting bits that you will probably recognise taken straight outta the Disney classic, and bits that have been taken from the original stories that were left out of the Disney classic. We'll see classics like The Lion King, Mulan and others roll into this 'live-action' genre soon enough, but if they can match what The Jungle Book did aesthetically pound for pound, we'll be in for a treat.ĭespite the familiar title this movie is actually a blend of the classic 1967 Jungle Book movie from Disney, and Rudyard Kipling's collective works based around the adventures of Mowgli. The Jungle Book has opened up a new phase of remakes in Hollywood. His interaction with each beast, whether it's hugging or stroking or bumping into, makes you wonder if he really did this with actual animals! The short run time also keeps us from fully developing certain characters from the books like Kaa (Scarlett Johansson) or King Louie (Christopher Walken), but we get a ton of fun with Baloo (Bill Murray), Bagheera (Ben Kingsley) and one of the best animal/human villains, Shere Khan (Idris Elba). It really is like watching an animated movie come to life. Most of our time is spent with Neel Sethi as Mowgli while he traverses the jungle on two feet while his "brethren" paw around on all fours. So while the eye is trained on marveling at the wonderful graphics like the ruffles of feathers or individual strands of hair or oddly accurate mouth movement for the animals who speak, all that together makes for one expensive show.Īt just over 90 minutes, The Jungle Book is a short-lived wonder. It should set a standard for future films in the industry that are interested in following the same lines as this one did. Go, relive this timeless tale.Right off the top, The Jungle Book is a visually-stunning, CGI-infused masterpiece. The Jungle Book is a must watch on the big screen, with your entire family. Christopher Walken is superb as King Louie. I liked Johansson's version of Kaa, much better than the '67 incarnation of the sneaky snake. Nyong'o gives an emotional & layered performance, as the voice of Mowgli's adoptive mother. Elba's voice-over of the predatory antagonist, is menacing & flawless. Murray & Sethi's rendition of The Bare Necessities, is as good as the 1967 version of the same song. Bill Murray is hilarious & adorable as Baloo. Sethi doesn't just play Mowgli, he embodies the character.
Newcomer Neel Sethi is outstanding as Mowgli. The 3D provides immersion & there are quite a few scenes, that will make you duck in your seats. The set pieces of the movie, are its highlight.
Favreau adds many new elements to the film, that will keep you guessing right till the end. This film is not a carbon copy of the Disney animated original. Kudos to the visual effects team, for making a live-action adaptation of a movie like The Jungle Book. Director Jon Favreau & the rest of the crew, have maintained the soul of the 1967 animated movie of the same name. The forest the movie is set in, looks breathtaking. The animals are also CGI & yet, they look extremely lifelike. What's extremely fascinating is that, the whole environment in the film is CGI. It is the most gorgeous movie, I have ever seen. Now, it is up to Bagheera & Baloo to take Mowgli to the man village, safe & sound. While on their journey, Mowgli & Bagheera receive help from a grizzly bear, named Baloo(Bill Murray).
When the treacherous tiger Shere Khan(Idris Elba), opposes to Mowgli staying in the jungle, Bagheera has to return the man-cub to the man village. He has an ally & a friend, in a panther named Bagheera(Ben Kingsley). A wolf named Raksha(Lupita Nyong'o), is the only mother he has ever known. In the jungle, he is raised by a pack of wolves, led by Akela(Giancarlo Esposito). Mowgli(Neel Sethi) has lived in the jungle, for as long as he can remember. It is also based on Rudyard Kipling's novel of the same name. The Jungle Book is a live-action adaptation of Disney's famous animated film, The Jungle Book(1967).