“The Jungle Book” is a live-action and computer animated remake of the 1967 Disney cartoon movie. During Disney’s fourth attempt at taking a cartoon movie and remaking it, they created something that can only be described as brilliant.
“The Jungle Book” was shot entirely on sets in Los Angeles, California, not in real jungles and the animals are completely computer-animated.
That may sound like a turn off to movie-goers. However, at this point it is easy for somebody to tell the difference between what is real and what is fabricated. But the wizards over at Walt Disney Studios and Pixar Animation Studios have created a film where you cannot tell the difference.
The animals, the animations, the lighting, everything that goes into making a scene looks completely real and lived-in, yet it is not. The best kind of effects are those blur the line between fake and reality.
The only real actor is teenager Neel Sethi, who has to interact with imaginary sets and markers that represent what would be the jungle and animals in the final version of the movie. Even adult actors find this difficult because there is very little to react to, but Sethi pulls it off to where you are legitimately convinced that there are real animals acting with him.
Yes, this is a Disney movie, so it is tailor-made to a younger audience, but “The Jungle Book” is ultimately an adventure film for all ages. From the opening shot, the action is intense, well-choreographed, the music is enthralling and Sethi proves his running endurance.
But “The Jungle Book” is not for little kids, as one would think. Shere Khan, the tiger, voiced by Idris Elba, is the antagonist of the story. Every scene involving him has this air of menace and threat. Perhaps it gets a little too intense for younger kids, so I recommend the youngest age to see this is around 9 or 10 years old.
Despite that, “The Jungle Book” is immensely fun. There are times in this movie that you are thrown back to your childhood watching the original cartoon. It is such a joy to see this movie be faithful to not only the '67 cartoon, but also the original Rudyard Kipling stories. There is at least one moment in “The Jungle Book,” that even the most jaded cynic will shed a tear of happiness.
With the superb story, brilliant animation, great sound design and emotional core, it would be surprising if “The Jungle Book” was not nominated for “Best Picture” at The Oscars. This is not just some stand-alone Disney outing. This is an affirmation that Disney's plan to take its old cartoon movies and redo them in a live-action film is a great idea. People are on board for this ambitious plan.
Please do not be fooled. “The Jungle Book” is not a cash-grab. It is an exercise in showing that with a solid story and amazing animation, an audience can derive entertainment and emotion. conclusion, “The Jungle Book” is stunning.
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