Fans of the Disney animated classic “The Jungle Book” rejoiced after the release of the live-action adaptation on April 15.
Based off of the Rudyard Kipling stories, the movie follows Mowgli, played by newcomer Neel Sethi, an orphaned boy who is literally raised by wolves. Mowgli was found by Bagheera the panther (played by Ben Kingsley, “Self/less”) and given to Raksha, a loving mother wolf with cubs of her own, played by Lupita Nyong’o (“Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens”), to raise. When the dry season is upon the jungle, Shere Khan, a tiger with a taste for revenge, played by Idris Elba (“Zootopia”), warns the wolves that keeping Mowlgi as one of their pack would have fatal consequences.
While the wolves deliberate, Mowgli takes it upon himself to leave before anyone can get hurt. During his adventure, he meets a con-artist bear named Baloo, played by Bill Murray (“St. Vincent”), a hungry reticulated python called Kaa, played by Scarlett Johansson (“The Avengers: Age of Ulton”) and a giant, king orangutan named King Louie, played by Christopher Walken (“Peter Pan Live!”).
While fans of Disney’s 1967 animated classic flocked to the theater, they found that it is very, very different from the original. Rather than a lovable lug upon the first meeting, Baloo uses Mowgli to get the honey he craves. Later on in the film, Baloo becomes the bear that fans know and love, however it was disheartening to see such a beloved character reduced to con-artistry right from the start.
Other changes included Mowgli using “tricks,” inventions he created to help himself in the jungle, the wolves have a much larger role than they originally did and a darker, deeper story line than the film’s predecessor.
One area this film excelled in was the animation. The animals, for the most part, were blown up in size to exaggerate their features. This was done beautifully. They look like the animals that would be seen walking around the local zoo.
The acting was phenomenal. This being Sethi’s first film, he owned the roll of Mowgli. Being the only live-action character on screen provided its challenges already and Sethi performed perfectly. His performance gives the audience a reason to believe these characters are real and could be wandering around the jungles.
Kingsley as Bagheera was by far the best choice. Not only does Kingsley sound like the original Bagheera, who was voiced by Sebastian Cabot (“Miracle on 34 Street”), but his voice also carries the power needed for such an important character. The same goes for Elba as Shere Khan. Both actors have very powerful and demanding voices that command power. Both great choices for these big cats.
Walken as King Louie was a questionable choice for an actor. Not only was the oversized orangutan’s face modeled after the famed actor, his hand gestures were similar to Walken’s. It might as well be King Louie playing Walken.
However, because the film is so enthralling, no one cares. All the actors play their parts extraordinarily well and audiences are captivated by the artistry.
The music that is heard throughout the film will send fans back to the classic. Even the background music is the same as the original, providing a nostalgic and exotic sound for such a film.
The plot of the film is played out very well and that’s due partly to the acting, but mostly the directing. Director John Favreau (“Chef”) had his hands full with turning a beloved animated classic into a live-action flick. He more than exceeded expectations.
Overall, “The Jungle Book” is filled to the brim with great animation, even better acting and the nostalgia audiences crave. The adaptation introduces younger generations to the wonder that is Disney classics and will keep doing so for years to come.
