The Jungle Book (2016)
Disney gives director Jon Favreau (Iron Man) the keys to Rudyard Kipling’s classic tale. His live-action/CGI hybrid adaptation follows young Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi) as he grows up in a jungle filled with friends – Bagheera the black panther (Ben Kingsley) and Baloo the bear (Bill Murray) – and ghastly foes – Kaa the python (Scarlett Johansson), King Louie the orangutan (Christopher Walken), and Shere Khan the tiger (Idris Elba).
As the adopted cub in a pack of wolves, the jungle is the only home Mowgli has known. But when the greatly-feared Shere Khan expresses his deadly desires to end the boy’s life, the pack is put in danger, prompting Mowgli to divert the threat away from his family and to search for a new home with human civilisation. Aided by the loyal Bagheera, Mowgli’s journey becomes wrought with danger and rich with friendships, revealing what he truly wants for his life and the jungle he calls home.
While the film stays truer to the tones of Kipling’s original story, Favreau also infuses his vision with shades of the original Disney animated movie.
- Director:
- Jon Favreau ('Chef', 'Iron Man', 'Cowboys & Aliens', 'Elf')
- Writer:
- Justin Marks
- Cast:
- Neel SethiScarlett JohanssonBill MurrayIdris ElbaBen KingsleyGiancarlo EspositoChristopher Walken
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Liam Maguren
flicksOnce again, Iron Man director Jon Favreau has magically pulled out another incredibly fun blockbuster from behind Disney’s circular ear. While it tips its hat to the 1967 animated film, this fantastical retelling of Rudyard Kipling’s classic tale moves to its own vibrant drum beat with a visual razzle dazzle that takes the tiger from Life of Pi and multiplies it by a whole jungle.
Faithful
This is a really well-made live-action adaptation of a great story. There are so many ways in which this could have gone awry but it stands shoulder to shoulder with the original in all facets and in some ways (animation and added thematic depth) goes beyond the 1967 film. Neel Sethi is surely on the way now to more good things.
King of the Jungle...
Fun film, looks stunning although I think it is geared towards 3D... Mowgli is well reresented as my 6 year old son was immediately drawn to his character and Baloo as well who was voiced with the right amount of fun and heart by Bill Murray- actually all the animals were beautifully rendered and voiced by the actors chosen, but my personal favourite was...
Amliya Concept Bags
ADD Homeschool Math A Success Story
Get lost in the Jungle.
Jon Favreau’s The Jungle Book is a great example of keeping the spirit of the original intact while bringing it own flavour and style. The characters are great and I love how it is quite dark, something I would not take a young child to perhaps. This movie is gorgeous and I could use 50 more adjectives to talk about how amazing the film looks. You forget...
Variety
pressMaintaining the buoyant heartbeat beneath all the digital flash, Favreau never loses sight of the fact that he’s making an adventure story for children.
Total Film
pressDisney's return to the jungle is lovingly executed, emotional and exciting, with eye-boggling effects and fully engaged voice-work. Bears and original Book-lovers can rest at ease.
The Telegraph
pressA sincere and full-hearted adaptation that returns to Kipling for fresh inspiration...
The New York Times
pressStudios are in the recycling business... lightly diverting, it is also disappointing, partly because it feels like a pumped-up version of Disney's 1967 animated film, with more action and less sweetness.
The Guardian
pressA terrifically enjoyable piece of old-fashioned storytelling and a beautiful-looking film: spectacular, exciting, funny and fun.
Sydney Morning Herald
pressThe film itself is technically innovative while also being thoroughly, satisfyingly traditional.
Stuff
pressFavreau has made great use of the cutting-edge CGI to create an immersive environment and three-dimensional characters.
Hollywood Reporter
pressThe exceptional visual quality and lifelike animal renditions remain stunning throughout.
Empire Magazine
pressWonderful to look at, this is a more adult, more complex affair than its animated, and more entertaining, forebear. Still, it’s Disney’s best live-action adaptation yet.
Flicks, Liam Maguren
flicksOnce again, Iron Man director Jon Favreau has magically pulled out another incredibly fun blockbuster from behind Disney’s circular ear. While it tips its hat to the 1967 animated film, this fantastical retelling of Rudyard Kipling’s classic tale moves to its own vibrant drum beat with a visual razzle dazzle that takes the tiger from Life of Pi and multiplies it by a whole jungle.
Variety
pressMaintaining the buoyant heartbeat beneath all the digital flash, Favreau never loses sight of the fact that he’s making an adventure story for children.
Total Film
pressDisney's return to the jungle is lovingly executed, emotional and exciting, with eye-boggling effects and fully engaged voice-work. Bears and original Book-lovers can rest at ease.
The Telegraph
pressA sincere and full-hearted adaptation that returns to Kipling for fresh inspiration...
The New York Times
pressStudios are in the recycling business... lightly diverting, it is also disappointing, partly because it feels like a pumped-up version of Disney's 1967 animated film, with more action and less sweetness.
The Guardian
pressA terrifically enjoyable piece of old-fashioned storytelling and a beautiful-looking film: spectacular, exciting, funny and fun.
Sydney Morning Herald
pressThe film itself is technically innovative while also being thoroughly, satisfyingly traditional.
Stuff
pressFavreau has made great use of the cutting-edge CGI to create an immersive environment and three-dimensional characters.
Hollywood Reporter
pressThe exceptional visual quality and lifelike animal renditions remain stunning throughout.
Empire Magazine
pressWonderful to look at, this is a more adult, more complex affair than its animated, and more entertaining, forebear. Still, it’s Disney’s best live-action adaptation yet.
Faithful
This is a really well-made live-action adaptation of a great story. There are so many ways in which this could have gone awry but it stands shoulder to shoulder with the original in all facets and in some ways (animation and added thematic depth) goes beyond the 1967 film. Neel Sethi is surely on the way now to more good things.
King of the Jungle...
Fun film, looks stunning although I think it is geared towards 3D... Mowgli is well reresented as my 6 year old son was immediately drawn to his character and Baloo as well who was voiced with the right amount of fun and heart by Bill Murray- actually all the animals were beautifully rendered and voiced by the actors chosen, but my personal favourite was...
Amliya Concept Bags
ADD Homeschool Math A Success Story
Get lost in the Jungle.
Jon Favreau’s The Jungle Book is a great example of keeping the spirit of the original intact while bringing it own flavour and style. The characters are great and I love how it is quite dark, something I would not take a young child to perhaps. This movie is gorgeous and I could use 50 more adjectives to talk about how amazing the film looks. You...
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