The Jungle Book (2016)
2016
PG
106 Minutes
An orphan boy is raised in the Jungle with the help of a pack of wolves, a bear and a black panther.
User Review
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WHAT I LIKED: A modern-day "live action" 'Jungle Book,' may sound like a ridiculous idea, but what the visual realism in Jon Favreau's remake does is to ground the story and give us a tangible sense of what it would be like for man to live amongst the wild. That's obviously something that was never truly unlocked in previous incarnations and it definitely gives this remake validity, but it's only so successful because of the standard of the animation on display as every animal looks breathtakingly real. Couple that with this timeless story of man and beast and what you've got is an interesting modern adaptation of a properly classic tale.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: The only issue however with a live action Jungle Book is that it demands a child to act against a bunch of imaginary creatures, and frankly Mowgli in this incarnation falls far short and actually winds up extremely irritating. That may not have been such an issue if this realistic take wasn't so serious, but the script here lacks levity - or indeed the songs of the far-superior 1994 movie.
VERDICT: A more grounded 'Jungle Book,' that gives us a genuine sense of what man living with beast would really look like, Jon Favreau's remake earns its place - it's just a shame that kid is so goddamn annoying.0 member like this review.
