The Jungle Book
Go! Mowgli's majestic modern makeover.
Hunted mancub's quest for identity.
Say The Jungle Book to most people you’ll probably get a jaunty but out-of-tune rendition of “The Bare Necessities” in response. Disney’s 1967 cartoon is a familiar classic, but every time the tape is slotted into the VHS Player, little Mowgli looks ever more dated. Time, then, for a large-scale remake. This year, The Jungle Book is dusted off by Iron Man director Jon Favreau and converted into an e-book, with “real boy” Neel Sethi as Mowgli surrounded by an abundance of computer generated beasts for him to run with and away from.
Modernised, yes, but like Cher, the story still looks more or less the same as it did in ’67. Having been raised by Raksha (Lupita N’yongo, Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and her pack of indoctrinated wolves, mancub Mowgli’s life is under threat from Shere Khan, a hotly vindictive South London tiger (Idris Elba, Zootropolis). Along with posh-panther-pal Bagheera (Ben Kingsley, Iron Man 3) Mowgli leaves his jungle home to find his own kind. On the way he meets bodacious Baloo the Bear (Bill Murray, St Vincent), who (following his Oscar #nommed role in The Revenant) befriends the Behr Grillsian Mowgli in return for some honey (not a euphemism). He helps our hairless-hero-in-the-high-waisted-red-nappy-and-the-hey-hey-we’re-the-monkees-hairdo to first overcome Kaa the snake (Scarlet Johansson, Avengers: Age of Ultron) and then King Louis (Christopher Walken, Eddie the Eagle) – a Gigantopithecus monkey who wants Mowgli to give him the red flower (not a euphemism, just the jungle name for fire).
Modernised, yes, but like Cher, the story still looks more or less the same as it did in ’67. Having been raised by Raksha (Lupita N’yongo, Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and her pack of indoctrinated wolves, mancub Mowgli’s life is under threat from Shere Khan, a hotly vindictive South London tiger (Idris Elba, Zootropolis). Along with posh-panther-pal Bagheera (Ben Kingsley, Iron Man 3) Mowgli leaves his jungle home to find his own kind. On the way he meets bodacious Baloo the Bear (Bill Murray, St Vincent), who (following his Oscar #nommed role in The Revenant) befriends the Behr Grillsian Mowgli in return for some honey (not a euphemism). He helps our hairless-hero-in-the-high-waisted-red-nappy-and-the-hey-hey-we’re-the-monkees-hairdo to first overcome Kaa the snake (Scarlet Johansson, Avengers: Age of Ultron) and then King Louis (Christopher Walken, Eddie the Eagle) – a Gigantopithecus monkey who wants Mowgli to give him the red flower (not a euphemism, just the jungle name for fire).
Mowgli refuses (Stranger = Danger etc.), but upon reaching the man-village – which looks like a bunch of dudes at pub in Reading - the precocious 10-year old understandably has a change of heart. Brazen and hubristic after stealing a fiery torch to use as a weapon, he sensibly decides to face the enraged, 300kg tiger head on. Everything culminates in an epic battle between Mowgli’s jungle brethren and Shere Khan, in front of a forest fire that Mowgli accidentally started. Ultimately, Mowgli kills his nemesis and everyone is happy, despite his destroying half an ecosystem and reducing the endangered Bengal tiger population by one in the process. Ah, classic Mowgs.
The story may be the same, but, like Cher, it’s had a lot of work done; making The Jungle Book’s re-animated re-imagination truly spectacular. Disney’s CGI team has beautifully realised all of the tale's animals – from a mouse’s whisker to an elephant’s hide, the level of detail is incredible. The scenery is equally as magnificent, which is confirmed by the sweeping orchestral score as the camera pans across the treetops, mountains and plains. As gorgeous as it might be, Favreau skilfully turns it into far more than a mere work of cinematic landscaping. It is dramatic, thrilling and at times much darker than you might expect, with muscular fights between ferocious felines and perilous high-speed chase scenes that burst from the screen in well-used 3D. Actually it is likely that younger children might find a giant monkey chasing a nearly naked boy around a poorly lit, crumbling temple quite traumatising. I didn't, of course, because I'm a grown man. Look, I've said I’m fine. Let’s just move on.
The story may be the same, but, like Cher, it’s had a lot of work done; making The Jungle Book’s re-animated re-imagination truly spectacular. Disney’s CGI team has beautifully realised all of the tale's animals – from a mouse’s whisker to an elephant’s hide, the level of detail is incredible. The scenery is equally as magnificent, which is confirmed by the sweeping orchestral score as the camera pans across the treetops, mountains and plains. As gorgeous as it might be, Favreau skilfully turns it into far more than a mere work of cinematic landscaping. It is dramatic, thrilling and at times much darker than you might expect, with muscular fights between ferocious felines and perilous high-speed chase scenes that burst from the screen in well-used 3D. Actually it is likely that younger children might find a giant monkey chasing a nearly naked boy around a poorly lit, crumbling temple quite traumatising. I didn't, of course, because I'm a grown man. Look, I've said I’m fine. Let’s just move on.
From Scarlet Johansssssson’s seductive snake (definitely not a euphemism) to Elba’s resonant predator, the voices are all cleverly cast and expertly delivered. Perhaps most titillating is Walken’s wise-guy King Louis, who confirms that a song is always more persuasive than any well-reasoned argument with an enjoyable reprise of “I Wanna Be Like You”. The script behind the voices is intelligent and humorous, while avoiding the clichéd pitfalls that blight so many animal-based movies. It even finds the space to draw strongly on the themes of identity and morality, which take it much closer in spirit to Rudyard Kipling’s original collection of 19th century fables than the jolly 1960s incarnation. As it comes to a close with a delightful little animal diorama under the credits, you’ll be hard-pressed not to find a smile on your face as well as those around you.
So go. Visually splendid and vocally charming, Disney’s new Jungle Book is a grand improvement on a 40-year-old institution that will impress little and large creatures alike.
So go. Visually splendid and vocally charming, Disney’s new Jungle Book is a grand improvement on a 40-year-old institution that will impress little and large creatures alike.
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