The Jungle Book

By: John Delia

I’m not sure if this is exactly what Rudyard Kipling would have wanted his children’s book to be like on the big screen, but Director/producer Jon Favreau turns family viewing up a notch with a bolder version of the 1997 animated The Jungle Book. Using live action with a copious amounts of computer generated images, Favreau takes the classic into the 21^st century with realism beyond belief. Adding a lot of scary to his film, the movie becomes more of a jungle battle than an innocent romp in the trees and vegetation while coming in contact with some comical characters.

Most everyone over the age of three knows the story of the young Indian boy named Mowgli (Neel Sethi) who grew up as a member of a wolf family. The boy became abandoned after his father had a run-in with the fierce tiger Shere Khan (Idris Elba). Burnt on the left side of his face by what animals call the “red flower,” Khan wants revenge by killing Mowgli. Protected by the wolves’ leader Akela (Giancarlo Esposito), cared for by his wife Raksha (Lupita Nyong’o) and his savior the cool panther Bagheera (Ben Kingsley), Mowgli lives a rousing life in the vast Indian jungle. But as Khan moves closer to the wolf pack, Mowgli’s life becomes endangered.

The Jungle Book offers a lot of meaning about friendship, helping others, bravery and family as the story plays out as a great adventure. Director/producer Jon Favreau, who’s no stranger to directing action films like the Iron Man series, kicks the story up a notch or two providing a bolder version of the child’s fable. The animals are very malicious at times, but it is the jungle. Creating the film any other way in the 21^st century would make the story more “child’s play” than a daring adventure. And the film being more dangerous, it brings a wider older audience into play with its compelling story line. Favreau has it right and a tip of the hat to the very brave entrepreneur.

Brilliant at developing characters like Iron Man’s Tony Stark played by Robert Downey, Jr, Favreau knows what he needs from his first time actor Neel Sethi. He wants Mowgli to be a courageous hero in the eyes of both youngsters and adults. Not the ordinary character s from the animated feature, but one that has lived a harsh life in an unforgiving jungle. Showing the scars on his body from his runs through the brush and scraps with other young cubs, Sethi conveys the reality of growing up with wolves. And Sethi has the ability to put Mowgli through the necessary paces to make the film work, showing he’s that wily kid that can run with the all the animals.

All of the animals in the film were computer generated making it a difficult task to interact with them on the sets for such a young boy. Being the only human in the film, the youngster Neel Sethi had the task of making it all look real. Needless to say, he did an amazing job.

The cast of voice characters show some very cunning choices. Recognizable voices like Bill Murray as Baloo, he’s the clever bear who gets Mowgli to bring him a tasty meal. Also, providing the comedy and misadventure, Baloo helps Mowgli to learn how to use his human ways. Then there’s Bagheera the protective black panther voiced by Ben Kingsley. Keeping Mowgli safe, he risks his own life to help the boy survive. Christopher Walken lends his voice to the very domineering King Louie an orangutan who towers over his ape followers. He wants to capture Mowgli for Shere Kahn, but that becomes no easy task.

Idris Elba has the job of proving the voice for the very scary tiger Shere Kahn. Disfigured by a torch during a clash with an Indian man protecting his infant son, Kahn still feels the flames. His search for revenge that takes him into the mountains of the wolves who have raised Mowgli since a baby. Much like the lion Scar in the animated feature The Lion King, he’s crafty and dangerous.

The Jungle Book has been rated PG by the MPAA for some sequences of scary action and peril. While most kids 5 and up should have no problem with the attacks between animals and the chase through fire between Shere Kahn and Mowgli, young ones my get a bit frightened so make sure they are close by for a comforting hug.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A very cool production of a classic story. (A)