Review of Jungle Book (1942) by Michael Y — 06 Apr 2011

It's a 1942 children's movie that still has it's charm. Jungle Book is an old fashioned adventure movie with lots of talking wild animals, FIRE, and some adult moral themes that keep this movie cool.

Deep in the jungles of India a small baby boy wonders off, but by a miracle he is raised by a family of wolves and is called Mowgli. He spends his life learning the ways of the jungle and grows up to kill his nemisis, Shere Khan the Tiger. But when he discorvers the villiage of Man and lives with them, he begins to learn that people do not follow the rules of the jungle, that they are greedy and not to be trusted. Oh but don't worry, the movie ain't all that gloom. Jungle Book really is quite a wonderful adventure movie with many characters, lots of action, some comedy, but is still mature enough to still be enjoyed by older audiences. With a great performance by Indian child star, Sabu, and a well written adaptation of the cinema, this movie becomes a classic and enjoyable movie.

Made with, back then, kick ass technicolor, Jungle Book is a movie of great sights and sounds. With a beautifully created jungle backdrop, this story comes alive and with wonderful detail. There's some good costumes and props through the movie as well. And even though the movie mainly films real animals, there are some cases where they use fake ones, which though look silly, it's a movie for kids anyways, and it's campyness is just another detail to love about this movie. With some good camera angles and some good directing, this movie earned 4 Oscar nominations, including best music score.

It might be campy, but this campy adventure movie is still a wonderful movie to watch after all these years, and definitely one that kids can still enjoy too. Jungle Book is a trip back in time in an exotic land where our inner child can still enjoy fake talking snakes and closeups of animals. It's appeal comes from the fun way it was made, and it'll still be fun for years.