Jungle Book proves wild
In light of all the recent Disney films being brought from their beloved, 2-D animated versions into live-action, Alice in Wonderland, Oz the Great and the Powerful, Maleficent and Cinderella, I was worried Disney would eventually go to far and remake a film that just could not hold up.
After watching their newest addition, The Jungle Book, I was more than pleasantly surprised.
Running at one hour and 51 minutes, The Jungle Book keeps you enchanted the entire time with their larger than life shots of an African jungle and CGI-animals so flawlessly created you can almost reach out and touch them. The film has the same wonderful appeal it did to children and adults alike years ago upon its release in 1967, and director Jon Favreau meshes realism and whimsicality effortlessly, creating a movie children still enjoy while keeping their parents and teenagers awake and engaged.
To top of a wonderfully made film is an even better cast. The Jungle Book boasts a star-studded cast full of A-listers including Bill Murray as Baloo the bear, Ben Kingsley as Bagheera the black panther, Scarlett Johansson as Kaa and newcomer Neel Sethi as Mowgli, all of whom give impeccable performances.
One character I was strongly looking forward to seeing, or better yet, hearing, was Idris Elba. One of my favorite actors with amazing credibility from films like Beasts of No Nation and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Elba stole the show with his portrayal of the evil tiger Shere Khan, growling out lines with such ferocity it was hard to believe it was a man and not a beast talking.
The Jungle Book is a film for all ages and holds true to its original 1967 version, keeping a wonderful story intact, while creating something beautiful to behold in a way that words just cannot seem to describe. If you are looking for a fun night out with friends, The Jungle Book is definitely a film to see for anyone who wants to feel like one with the jungle.
