Title: The Jungle Book
Directed by: Jon Favreau
Screenplay by: Justin Marks
Year: 2016
I watched many Disney films when I was growing up, but The Jungle Book (1967) was not one of them. I actually did not see the film until very recently, and I thought it was alright. It passes the time, but it is nothing too special. My point is, I have no nostalgic value with that version. I did however grow up with The Adventures of Mowgli, the Soviet version of the same story. Personally, I think it is a far superior film. But I am not here to compare these two films; I am here to review the latest incarnation of this classic story. Disney takes a second crack at presenting this adventure; but is it a roaringly wild experience, or a tame telling of this tale?
The man-cub Mowgli, who was raised by the wolf pack, is now in danger from the tiger, Shere Khan, who has marked him for death. Mowgli must now leave the jungle for his own safety and the safety of those he cares about. But can he make it to the man village before Shere Khan gets a hold of him? Based on the collection of stories by Rudyard Kipling.
When the cast for this film was announced, many people lost their minds, myself included. This is such a diverse and incredible group of actors, and they all do a fantastic job. Bill Murray is perfect as Baloo. Baloo is given a significantly different spin this time around and he is such a lovable character. I place myself in the minority by saying that I did not love Baloo in the original film. I thought he was okay, but often found him annoying. Not this version; Murray's Baloo is funny, a con-artist, and a truly endearing character. I love this iteration of the character and Murray's delivery captures the essence of Baloo. Ben Kingsley is perfect as Bagheera. Kingsley's performance is probably my favorite of the film. This Bagheera is similar to the one in the original, only less grumpy. He does not abandon Mowgli out of vexation this time. He makes it his mission to return Mowgli to the man village safely, and Kingsley knocks it out of the park. His striking voice helps make what could have been a boring character one of the best parts of the film.
Idris Elba is perfect as Shere Khan. Elba has such a powerful voice and it is fit for the fearsome tiger. One of the best parts of the original film was George Sanders as Shere Khan. His deep, booming voice was great and he played the part with sophistication. Truth be told, it is a hard act to follow, but Elba is more than up to the task. Shere Khan is not quite the "gentleman" he was in the 1967 version, but he is clever, he is cold, and he is a constant threat. The film successfully delivers an intimidating antagonist. Shere Khan is the type of villain that you love to hate and Elba's line delivery is exceptional. Christopher Walken is perfect as King Louie (do you see a pattern here?). Walken is known for his distinct voice and it matches the gigantopithecus (no, it is not an orangutan). This version of the King of the banderlogs is very interesting. Walken brings a certain charm to him, but the way he is filmed is very much like a monster. King Louie can be quite frightening and I love this take on the character. He also gets a great song sequence that I will delve into later.
And finally, we have Mowgli, played by Neel Sethi. This is Sethi's first film; he is not a professional actor. No matter how good everything else in the movie is, if he did not deliver a good performance, The Jungle Book would have suffered. I can say with great pleasure that Sethi is extremely good in the role. Not only is he a child actor, and not only has he never been in a film before, but he has virtually nothing to work with. Never is there another actor on screen with him. He is interacting with blue screens, puppets, and tennis balls. For him to pull off this good of a performance with all of these factors playing against him is unprecedented.
The story is very detailed and every plot thread is given an appropriate amount of attention. The main story is that Mowgli must be escorted back to the man village before Shere Khan kills him. Along the way however, Mowgli gets involved with several other animals, which essentially makes for a string of vignettes. Disney's original version felt very chopped-up. The story took a backseat in favor of a sequence of segments, which made the plot appear weak. This new movie on the other hand, fixes that issue. The film still has different segments with different animals, but each scene flows into the next and feeds into the plot. Every scene has a purpose, and the plot is stronger for it.
The scenes with Bagheera and Mowgli resemble the Mufasa and Simba relationship from The Lion King. While taking Mowgli to the man village, Bagheera teaches him several things about the jungle, such as the history of the elephants (which is insanely interesting by the way). The scenes with Baloo are highly enjoyable and filled with laughs. The ancient ruins scenes with King Louie and the monkeys are a mix of enjoyment, action, and horror. When I say horror, I mean that the use of shadows on Louie and the way Louie is framed makes him appear frightening. Kaa's scene is very dark and also has a horror vibe to it. Every scene with a specific animal is distinct and recognizable, yet all of these sequences fit perfectly into the film like pieces to a puzzle.
Another great aspect of the film is how Shere Khan is always a constant presence. Even when he is not on screen, he strikes fear in everyone. For instance, Baloo is usually very jovial and dismissive, but once he hears the name Shere Khan, he immediately takes on a more serious tone and I love how this is portrayed. The film also does a great job at presenting Shere Khan as an unstoppable force, especially during the third act.
The Jungle Book seems to cherry-pick the best aspects of its previous incarnations to create the best possible version of the story. For instance, instead of having the militaristic elephants, the film goes with the "pit" scene that is present in the Soviet version. Another thing the film does well is establish the Law of the Jungle. You understand when an animal can and cannot hunt and kill others, when a truce is to be called between all species, it is all done with tremendous detail, which makes the world more immersive.
Speaking of immersive, I think it is time to address the elephant in the room, no pun intended. The filmmakers have touted this film as the most technologically advanced film to date. And that sounds strange; "Really? The Jungle Book is the most technologically advanced movie ever?" Well, I am here to tell you that those are no rumors. This film is visually phenomenal. Keep in mind while watching the film that everything was done on a soundstage and nothing was shot on location in an actual jungle. The jungle feels completely realistic and that goes for the animals too. Everything is so lifelike and nothing at all looks fake. I am positively stunned at how great these effects are. It is truly unfathomable. These are the greatest visual effects I have ever seen in a movie.
The music is also fantastically inspired. Right from the opening, you can hear the notes from the prelude to the original animated film. It is a subtle yet welcome nod to its predecessor. John Debney's score is powerful and fitting for the film, enhancing the environments with underscores and raising the tension of the high-stakes moments. There are also two (and a half) song sequences. We have the "Bare Necessities" which is touched up a bit. This is such a charming scene, with Mowgli riding on Baloo as they float down the river. The other is "I Wanna Be Like You," with Walken singing it. It gets revamped for this version of the character, and it is so much fun and still as catchy as ever. I said two and a half because of the end credits. One of these songs is repeated, which is then followed by Johansson beautifully singing Kaa's "Trust in Me."
The cinematography is incredible in this picture. Shots are well-constructed and highly inventive, and everything is clear. During the action scenes, you know exactly what is going on and where everything is in relation to the center of the action. Jon Favreau's direction is admirable. He tackled the material with love and care, along with creativity and originality. He was able to bring out a great performance from Sethi, even partaking in some scenes with him. He made sure that every detail was approached with great effort and not a single aspect of the picture was overlooked.
The Jungle Book is undoubtedly the best adaptation of Kipling's work that I have seen, and I genuinely find it hard to believe that a better version of it can exist. The cast is impeccable, with several characters being perfectly matched. The visual effects are breathtaking and more than a gigantic leap in advancing technology. I would also recommend seeing it in 3-D as this might just be the best 3-D experience I have ever had. The music is memorable, the story is beyond engaging, the final confrontation with Shere Khan will have you on the edge of your seat, and the film brings out an emotional response from its audience. And just when you think the film cannot get better, the end credits come up. The credits are entirely worth watching. This is such a wonderful adventure, and I cannot fathom how good the quality of this film is. The Jungle Book is the best film of the year so far and I strongly encourage you to check it out immediately. This is a film that should be experienced in the theatre and it is a fiercely fun and engaging time for both children and adults.
Grade: A+
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