Director Jon Favreau
Genre Adventure | Drama | Family
Cast Neel Sethi, Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba, Bill Murray
Rating PG
Release Date April 15th, 2016
“The man-cub Mowgli flees the jungle after a threat from the tiger Shere Khan. Guided by Bagheera the panther and the bear Baloo, Mowgli embarks on a journey of self-discovery, though he also meets creatures who don’t have his best interests at heart.”
The Jungle Book originally released in movie format in 1967 and became an instant classic. It began in 1894 as a collection of stories written by English author Rudyard Kipling. Fast forward to 2016 and we have the new and technologically superior version of The Jungle Book brought to us by director Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Cowboys & Aliens). The film has a stellar cast of voice actors including Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Christopher Walken, and Scarlett Johansson. The Jungle Book is a live-action adaptation of the 1967 film, but the filmmakers decided to adapt elements from the novel to make it more adventurous and dangerous.
The Jungle Book is incredibly entertaining, immersive, hilarious, and to be quite honest one of the more genuinely satisfying experiences I have had at the movie theater in quite a while. I made sure not to leave any stone unturned as I went to see it in IMAX 3D and boy was it worth the extra $5. Right away I was in awe of the world that was created for the audience and honestly I still have a difficult time believing the film is essentially 100% CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) and green screen. The Jungle Book sets a new standard for what CGI is capable of and it has me extremely excited for the future. The animals were very realistic in their movements and on-screen presence and I read that they were created using actual animal behavior, which was then re-created by the actors using motion-capture VFX.
The voice acting in The Jungle Book is absolutely top notch and I would be lying if I didn’t say that Bill Murray stole the show as the voice of Baloo the bear. I wouldn’t go as far as to agree with the older couple exiting the theater who stated, “Bill Murray made the movie,” but he certainly had quite an impact. I felt like they did a great job casting Neel Sethi as Mowgli who was the only actual human actor in the film. As an actor he delivered a genuine feel for his authentic presence and somewhat of a fish out of water appeal in the beginning. He gracefully transitioned into a resourceful and very determined little boy who above all knew exactly what he wanted out of life and where he felt he should call home. Idris Elba was the perfect choice for dreaded nemesis Shere Khan (the tiger), as he possesses an authoritative and very frightening tone to his voice. I certainly wouldn’t cross him as a real-life human being or voice actor.
The live-action adaptation of The Jungle Book is an amazing experience and one that should not be missed. The more I think about it the more I realize the fact that this film appeals to everyone. Whether you are able to achieve a nostalgic sense of your childhood or enter as a newcomer with sky-high expectations for an experience like no other, The Jungle Book will not disappoint. Granted IMAX 3D will probably break the bank if you take the entire family out to see it, sacrifices must be made and this is one that will be worth it in the end, I promise you that. Jon Favreau’s The Jungle Book gets the Ted Takes stamp of approval. The Jungle Book 2 has already been announced, you’re welcome in advance.
