Arriving today in theaters is the live-action version of The Jungle Book, a beloved Disney classic. The film features an all-star cast and photorealistic computer-generated imagery. Does it measure up to the original? Is it suitable for kids of all ages? Read on. We got you covered.
Last year Disney released a reimagined live-action version of Cinderella. This year they once again go into the Disney vault to revisit another classic, The Jungle Book. Those unfamiliar with the story by Rudyard Kipling should know that it centers on a young boy named Mowgli who is raised in the jungle by a pack of wolves. Mowgli develops a strong bond with numerous animals in the jungle but has a formidable enemy in Shere Khan (more on him later). Driven away from home, Mowgli befriends a lovable bear named Baloo. Adventure awaits the pair on a journey to reconnect Mowgli with his roots, both human and animal.
To remain as faithful as possible to the original source material, the film needed to leverage the latest in CGI. The objective with this technology is for the viewer to become so enveloped in the story that the technology behind it is an afterthought (if considered at all). At the conclusion of the film, I turned to my friend and asked if the animals were indeed real. It was too realistic not to be!
If one considers the animals to be the leading star of the film then the co-headliner is the all-star cast. Bill Murray provides a very nice comedic turn as Baloo the bear. Christopher Walken is fully reimagined as an orangutan-like Gigantopithecus that must be seen to be believed. The filmmakers made a brilliant decision in changing the gender of Kaa, the manipulative Python voiced hypnotically by Scarlett Johansson.
And yet there is one character in the movie that rises above the others in a perfect marriage of voice acting and photorealistic CGI. Idris Elba is deliciously evil as Shere Khan, the ferocious tiger who mauls his way to emerge as the most dominant creature in the jungle. This is one of the best performances of a villain in a Disney picture in quite some time. Shere Khan’s ferocity and Idris Elba’s baritone voice make for such an intense villain that it may prove to be a bit much for some younger kids. Of course parents will have to make this personal choice on their own, but we do hope that you strongly consider bringing your kids to this film, which is rated PG. (Perhaps exploring a few of The Jungle Book free printables ahead of time may help!)
One of the memorable elements of the original 1967 animated classic is the soundtrack. This retelling stops short of being a musical and instead opts for subtle performances. These nods to the original provide a nice contrast to intense moments elsewhere in the film.
So many times studios remake films to appeal to one’s nostalgia but fail to match their predecessors or offer anything new. This is not the case with The Jungle Book which expertly balances between acknowledging its origins while offering a fresh take on a classic. It is an imaginative film that brings together stellar voice acting and the latest in filmmaking technology. Don’t miss out on this one! Be sure to catch Disney’s The Jungle Book, in theaters today, April 15!
An IT professional by day and a theme park addict all day, Ricardo Escobar is proud to call Orlando his home, one of the world’s top vacation destinations. Ricardo applies his passion for attractions by sharing the latest and greatest in family entertainment for modernmami™ readers. Follow Ricardo on his adventures and connect with him via Twitter and Instagram.Disclosure: We were provided a complimentary advance screening of the film to facilitate this post. All thoughts and opinions are our own.
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