Starring: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba
Directed By: Jon Favreau
Running Time: 105 Minutes
BBFC Certificate: PG
UK Release Date: 15th April 2016
As Disney continues to remake their animated classics it’s now time for The Jungle Book to be retold to a new audience as a live action film. Although the term ‘live action’ should be used loosely as the majority of this film is CGI, although its photo realistic and never off putting or distracting.
Based on Rudyard Kipling’s classic children’s book, this is the story of Mowgli (Neel Sethi), a human ‘man cub’ who was found alone by a panther named Bagheera (Ben Kingsley) and entrusted to be raised by a family of wolves. Villainous tiger Shere Khan (Idirs Elba) knows that he will grow up to be a man and bring fire and destruction to the jungle and wants him dead. Mowgli ventures on a journey to the man village where he encounters a host of loveable and fierce animals in this enjoyable yet all too familiar tale.
If you grew up on this film and its soundtrack then you are in safe hands. Although being very good it didn’t completely win me over compared to other recent live action Disney films. At points I was waiting for events to happen and for characters to turn up, and to be fair the film kicks up a notch when Baloo (Bill Murray) turns up.
It’s visually stunning and as I’ve mentioned, the CGI is great. The animators have given each of the animals their own characteristics and even the eyes of those voicing them (Scarlett Johansson’s Kaa being a notable exception). Each voice actor is superb at bringing the spirit of these characters alive with Bill Murray being excellent as everyone’s favourite bear Baloo and Christopher Walken lending his gangster like authority to King Louie.
But the most important element of this film is the performance of Neel Sethi as Mowgli. He looks the part but the way he interacts with the talking animals is totally believable and natural. This is important as he is the protagonist that can make or break this world for the audience and it can’t be an easy task acting to nothing in front of a green screen.
As with all Disney films it has a moral message at its centre, and the moral of this story is finding ones place in the greater world, a world that fears what you may become but full of characters who love you for who you are.
It retains the adventure and heart of the story about Mowgli’s journey and the different characters he meets along the way. The ending is different from the animated version but fits more into the moral message and overall theme of the film. We have the best songs from the original which are welcome, and the opening Disney logo is a pure homage to the classic Disney of yester year.
Although some scenes are full of suspense I found it was lacking some standout moments of the original and played it safe for the younger audience. And that’s who this film was made for, not to fulfil the expectations of the adults but to thrill and entertain children.
Overall it has all you would expect from a remake: great CGI and charismatic animals, a sense of adventure, a few thrills and laughs but misses the emotion of key scenes in the original. The filmmakers have created a vast and stunning world for us to explore, full of dark and light characters and is ultimately the heart-warming Disney adventure you know and love.
Overall Verdict: The remake train continues and Disney has done well due to the characters and a central performance from Neel Sethi. Although it lacks a lot from the original, this is a heart-warming and enjoyable new beast.
Reviewer: George Elcombe
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