The Jungle Book : Reviewed (4 Stars) 

I’m going to tell you a story about a young human “cub” who is left orphaned in the jungle, and rescued by a  good-natured black panther Bagheera and delivers the child into the protection of a local wolf pack. The human cub, named Mowgli, is raised as a member of the den – and the wolves, along with other animals in the jungle, grow to love and accept the boy as one of their own. With his biological family long gone, Mowgli has little interest in leaving the jungle to join a human village and, instead, has come to live by the etiquette and codes of his animal friends – even hiding a talent for crafting inventions and tools in order to fit in. 

Yet, no matter how hard Mowgli bends to embrace life in the jungle, one member of the animal kingdom is unwilling to allow a human to live in his midst. one day, this human cub will become a ruthless and powerful man, Shere Khan, a savage Bengal tiger, commits himself to hunting Mowgli down at any cost. In order to protect his wolf family from Khan’s wrath, Mowgli flees and, on the way, befriends a sloth bear, Baloo, who convinces the human cub to stay in the jungle – rather than return to the world of man. Thanks to Baloo’s laidback lifestyle, Mowgli learns to forget about his worries – until Khan begins terrorizing Mowgli’s adopted family, forcing the human cub to return and save his friends. 

Sounds familiar? Of course it does! 

The 1890s’ Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling, on which Disney developed their iconic 1967 animated film just got a whole new live-action makeover and it also sets a high bar for esteemed cartoon movies-turned-modern live-action features. 

In The Jungle Book, live-action is not a gimmick, it’s a tool – and the director, Jon Favreau masterfully utilizes magic realism to emphasize the most important aspects of his heroes and villains, resulting in a mindblowing viewing experience. 

Shere Khan was always a scary antagonist, even as a hand-drawn figure, but seeing the character brought into a real-world aesthetic as a highly-detailed live-action animal (voiced by Idris Elba), that moves and “acts” like an actual tiger, elevates the bloodthirsty villain into frightening new territory – making the threat he poses to Mowgli and the human cub’s animal protectors all the more terrifying. 

Similarly, where Phil Harris’ Baloo kept children giggling and singing for nearly half-a-century, seeing what appears to be a real sloth bear (voiced by Bill Murray) on screen makes the character’s zany antics, moments of heroism, and honey addiction, especially endearing. In keeping with a bar set by the 1967 animated classic, Baloo is once again the stand out in a film brimming with great characters. 

Thanks to quality characterization and world-building, The Jungle Books shifts between comedy, drama, and even musical numbers. 

Much like the animated film, Mowgli’s journey is limited somewhat by cliches of similar tales of self-discovery, fragile friendships, and man versus nature fable – but there’s too much to enjoy in The Jungle Book for the film to be slowed by its shortcomings. 

Even when Neel Sethi, who portrays Mowgli, occasionally stumbles in bridging the divide between his flesh-and-blood body and CGI animated co-stars, there’s no time to dwell on it – since the young actor gives a brave and lovable turn as The Jungle Book‘s featured human. Ultimately, Sethi succeeds where he is needed most: providing a likable stand-in for the audience, reacting with genuine childlike wonder throughout his various encounters with talking animals along his adventure. 

If you’re a fan of lush visuals and rousing onscreen action then this movie is for you, while it may not be as visually aesthetic as Life of Pi, Avatar, or Hugo, Favreau’s Jungle Book is sure to be praised for its use of the format. 

The Jungle Book is magnificent – honouring its literary and animated roots with thrilling action, groundbreaking effects, and heartwarming drama. Every classic Jungle Book character is made better, more entertaining, and more touching by live-action – paving the way for a stirring story that condemns prejudice, celebrates individuality, and contemplates the power of man and nature. 

While it’s still too early to claim that all of Disney’s planned live-action re imaginings will payoff, The Jungle Book makes a compelling case for adapting certain Walt Disney Animated Classics – and, above all else, proves that a live-action TaleSpin movie needs to happen immediately. 

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What Tweeple think about The Jungle Book 

Asanka Sahabandu  @asankasahabandu 

Best movie this year. I’d give it a 2/10. 

Shemal Jayadundera @shemjay93 

It's not just these character posters but the actors who are voicing the animals are amazing! 

Buzz Killer @KittyofHate 

Jungle Book was amazing, gotta love Christopher Walken singing! 

Dylan Boyle @DylanJBoyle 

Jungle Book is legit. You need to see it, no excuses. It’s a necessity. 

MuffinMonobrow @MuffinMonobrow 

9.5/10 from me for Jungle Book. Top class. 

David Rowdie Deguire @davidROWDIE 

The Jungle Book was fantastic. I felt like a kid again. @Jon_Favreau really knocked it out of the park. 

Ravikiran @scribe_it 

2 hour movie and 200 questions from my 4 year old. 

Aman Kamboj @BeingCriCrazy 

Saw #JungleBook and realised that Mowgli is living a much better life than us. 

Ashish Arora @aaaashishter 

This JungleBook only reminds you that your childhood was awesome and nobody can bring it back to you. #disappointing #poorstoryline #givemychildhoodback

Reviewed by Zeeshan Akram Jabeer