The Jungle Book (B) Movie Review
The Jungle Book stars Neel Sethi as Mowgli, a young boy who is raised by wolves in the jungle. When a powerful tiger named Shere Khan, played by Idris Elba, threatens his life in the jungle, it is determined by Mowgli's guardians that he must be moved to the "man village."
We all know the story of The Jungle Book. When it comes to the remake, we should be asking ourselves whether the new film will build on the old or reinvent the old. The latter is true in this case. The plot mostly follows that of the 1967 animated Disney film. But there's something about the new adaptation that feels so inexplicably modern while maintaining the same energy and soul of the original. It is truly a Jungle Book for the modern age.
The CGI on display here is so superb in quality, it rivals Avatar. Director Jon Favreau's use of CGI animals is not only technically impressive but may be revolutionary in terms of digital filmmaking. The world that Favreau crafts strictly on the computer is fantastical, unbelievable, and so painfully realistic. The CGI success of The Jungle Book is a creative success for the filmmaking industry.
And the voices behind these exotic animals are no less marvelous. Bill Murray is the only person that could've been Baloo as far as I'm concerned and he might be my favorite part of any movie so far in 2016 (Black Phillip from The Witch is his only real competition), and Christopher Walken's King Louis, a giant ape that kidnaps Mowgli at one point, is gleefully absurd. Lupita Nyong'o is heartbreaking as Raksha, a wolf and mother figure to Mowgli. There's a scene early on in the film in which Raksha must say goodbye to Mowgli that's particularly, and unexpectedly, poignant. Scarlett Johansson lends her recognizable, raspy voice to Kaa, the devilish snake who attempts to eat Mowgli at another point. As well as being a perfect casting choice, Johansson wears the role well.
But perhaps the most spectacular acting achievement of the entire film is that of Neel Sethi, the twelve-year-old boy portraying Mowgli. It's a difficult role to be the sole human in the entire film (save a flashback or two) and Sethi carries it well. Somehow, he managed to act as if he'd formed real bonds with these computer-generated creatures. He's no Jacob Tremblay but the kid has a lot of skill.
With all these unique characters and performances, it's easy to get invested in Mowgli's venture through the Indian jungle. But the film lacks a much needed intensity, urgency, and momentum. It's not that the stakes surrounding Mowgli's character aren't established, but Shere Khan is never a completely menacing villain. Idris Elba lends his voice to the role with excellent results but it seems that Jon Favreau doesn't quite know what to do with him.
It's a good thing that Favreau understands the key themes that justify this remake's existence, though. At the beating heart of the film is a struggle between man and nature. The two's relationship has always been complicated and Favreau understands that. But what Mowgli learns throughout the run time of the film is something that may be more topical and relevant than it was in the 1960s. With deforestation an ever present threat, the understanding that man and nature can coexist peacefully is one that carries a profound weight. It's important to instill in our children and fortunately, The Jungle Book does it stylishly and with songs.
FINAL GRADE: B
MPAA RATING: PG for some sequences of scary action and peril
We all know the story of The Jungle Book. When it comes to the remake, we should be asking ourselves whether the new film will build on the old or reinvent the old. The latter is true in this case. The plot mostly follows that of the 1967 animated Disney film. But there's something about the new adaptation that feels so inexplicably modern while maintaining the same energy and soul of the original. It is truly a Jungle Book for the modern age.
The CGI on display here is so superb in quality, it rivals Avatar. Director Jon Favreau's use of CGI animals is not only technically impressive but may be revolutionary in terms of digital filmmaking. The world that Favreau crafts strictly on the computer is fantastical, unbelievable, and so painfully realistic. The CGI success of The Jungle Book is a creative success for the filmmaking industry.
And the voices behind these exotic animals are no less marvelous. Bill Murray is the only person that could've been Baloo as far as I'm concerned and he might be my favorite part of any movie so far in 2016 (Black Phillip from The Witch is his only real competition), and Christopher Walken's King Louis, a giant ape that kidnaps Mowgli at one point, is gleefully absurd. Lupita Nyong'o is heartbreaking as Raksha, a wolf and mother figure to Mowgli. There's a scene early on in the film in which Raksha must say goodbye to Mowgli that's particularly, and unexpectedly, poignant. Scarlett Johansson lends her recognizable, raspy voice to Kaa, the devilish snake who attempts to eat Mowgli at another point. As well as being a perfect casting choice, Johansson wears the role well.
But perhaps the most spectacular acting achievement of the entire film is that of Neel Sethi, the twelve-year-old boy portraying Mowgli. It's a difficult role to be the sole human in the entire film (save a flashback or two) and Sethi carries it well. Somehow, he managed to act as if he'd formed real bonds with these computer-generated creatures. He's no Jacob Tremblay but the kid has a lot of skill.
With all these unique characters and performances, it's easy to get invested in Mowgli's venture through the Indian jungle. But the film lacks a much needed intensity, urgency, and momentum. It's not that the stakes surrounding Mowgli's character aren't established, but Shere Khan is never a completely menacing villain. Idris Elba lends his voice to the role with excellent results but it seems that Jon Favreau doesn't quite know what to do with him.
It's a good thing that Favreau understands the key themes that justify this remake's existence, though. At the beating heart of the film is a struggle between man and nature. The two's relationship has always been complicated and Favreau understands that. But what Mowgli learns throughout the run time of the film is something that may be more topical and relevant than it was in the 1960s. With deforestation an ever present threat, the understanding that man and nature can coexist peacefully is one that carries a profound weight. It's important to instill in our children and fortunately, The Jungle Book does it stylishly and with songs.
FINAL GRADE: B
MPAA RATING: PG for some sequences of scary action and peril