It’s the classic collection of Rudyard Kipling stories that was later transcribed into a Disney masterpiece about a young Indian boy who spent his days in the jungle being manipulated, abused and borderline sexually harassed by all manner of animals. Now putting those thoughts aside, it’s undeniable that Disney’s 1967 version of The Jungle Book is a right of passage for anyone growing up on Disney. I guess the big question is, why create a live-action version of something that many think is a near-perfect classic? Money. Well, also because they can, but the money aspect certainly seems to be an incentive. Thankfully though, Jon Favreau’s delve into the jungle is worth, well, all your money.
If you read the books, or seen the animated film, then you know the story: Little man-cub Mowgli is forced to seek out his own kind after an anthrophobic, pyrophobic tiger known as Shere Khan makes it his personal mission to skin the young orphan Indian boy alive. Along the way he meets a whole barrage of colourful characters including a con-artist bear, a creepy hypnotic snake with the voice of Scarlet Johansson and some gangster/jazz-loving apes just to name a few.
The film itself, although completely unnecessary, works on every level.You have photo-realistic talking animals that just populate the scenery in every shot with special effects that would put Life of Pi to shame. Favreau has also just composed every shot to look like it was ripped straight from the novel itself, you could literally take a screenshot from any scene in this film and hang it up on your wall. However close your eyes, and the film is equally as beautiful thanks to an absolutely stellar voice cast that includes Bill Murray as the ever-lovably Baloo, Ben Kingsley as the noble black panther Bagheera, a sultry Scarlet Johansson as the slithery Kaa (full disclosure, I suffer from a major case of Ophiophobia, but knowing that it’s Johansson, makes it a creepily arousing fear - inside voice Chris dammit!) The standout voice actor is of course Idris Elba as Shere Khan who just does villain so well it should be illegal. Of course, the most impressive casting has to go to young Neel Sethi, who plays the young Mowgli, his interaction with the animals (who weren’t really on set) looks and feels so authentic and this kid will make you believe when he’s scared, will make you smile when he’s having fun, and will make you tear up - no matter how old you are.
Now if there was going to be one complaint about this film, and I wouldn't really call it a complaint, more like a little niggle; is that the film does have two musical numbers ripped straight from the Disney classic. There’s nothing wrong with these songs, they just feel a little out of place considering the rest of the film doesn’t seem to be committed to being a musical. It doesn’t detract from the film, it just takes you out of the film for a brief moment and reminds you that this is replicating the animated classic when it should function as it’s own beast.
Overall, The Jungle Book is a fantastic family matinee film with beautiful visuals, comforting voices, clever humour and tense action sequences that everyone should enjoy - although if I put my parent-hat on for just a moment, I will admit that there are a few scenes that the really little ones might find a little frightening if for no other reason than for just how real and raw everything looks in this film.
The Jungle Book gets Four and a Half out of Five Stars (or Four and a Half confusingly sexy snake scenes that really conflicts with my intense fear of snakes - inside voice Gooch!!)
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