Disney’s The Jungle Book is hands down the best movie I’ve seen so far this year! I’m not just saying that either because I’m a mom. Even if we hadn’t brought our daughter Addison and her two friends, Libby and Katie, to see The Jungle Book with us, my husband Mike and I agreed that we would have still thoroughly enjoyed it.
If you’ve seen Disney’s timeless animated movie The Jungle Book, which was made in 1967, you’ll love this new live-action version even more. The movie features the same beloved characters Mowgli, Bagheera, and Baloo, and even features the same animal villains, Shere Khan, Kaa, and King Louie. If you’ve never seen the animated version, however, don’t worry because Disney’s latest version of The Jungle Book is exceptional without any prior knowledge about the characters, who are based on the book The Jungle Book by author Rudyard Kipling.
The story is engaging from the beginning, and the scenery is downright stunning. I don’t know how Disney went about creating this movie, but seeing such majestic animals onscreen was even better than going to the San Diego Zoo! There were plenty of scenes that startled me, points that made me laugh, and even a poignant moment that brought a tear to my eye. The special effects were breathtaking and unbelievable.
Ten year old Neel Sethi, who plays the lead character Mowgli, did a superb job acting. The animals are voiced by some incredibly talented actors, including Sir Ben Kingsley, Scarlett Johannson, Bill Murray, and Idris Elba to name a few. If you think the only thing missing from the movie is “more cowbell,” don’t worry because Christopher Walken delivers in his role as King Louie.
The soundtrack, while maybe a little more mellow than the original animated film, is still just as catchy. How can you not fall in love with Bill Murray’s rendition of “The Bare Necessities,” which is sung by his character Baloo?
When I asked my daughter, her friends, and my husband what they thought about the movie, they gave it a collective eight thumbs up. I asked all of them to tell me in just one word what they thought about the film. Mike said the movie was “Amazing!” Addison said in an enthusiastic sing-song voice with the added visual of jazz hands, “Awesome!” Libby answered the same question with the word, “Funny!” She then added, “There were some parts that were scary, but they weren’t that scary.” Katie said it was “Okay,” but then she explained how she in general doesn’t necessarily enjoy startling moments that make her jump out of her seat for a moment. She followed it up with, “I liked most of it though, and I loved it when Baloo and Mowgli were in the river.”
Whether you are young or old, this live-action version of The Jungle Book will prove to be just as much of a classic someday because it is just that good. Stick around for the credits! They too are just as enjoyable as the rest of the film.
“Forget about your worries and your strife,” and take your little man-cubs to see The Jungle Book!
For movie times click here.
Genre: Fantasy/Drama
Director: Jon Favreau
Actors: Neel Sethi, Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray, Idris Elba, Ben Kingsley, Lupita Nyong’o, Christopher Walken, Giancarlo Esposito
Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hour 51 minutes
