Review of The Jungle Book (2016) by James S — 27 Feb 2017

While I have fond memories of watching the animated Jungle Book film, it has not aged well. I am happy to report that good nostalgia is not a prerequisite for enjoying this excellently-made film.

Man-cub Mowgli has been literally raised by wolves; supervised under the watchful eye of the panther Bagheera. The wolves (and the rest of the jungle) must contend with Shere Khan, a ferocious tiger who would see Mowgli dead. Along the way, they are helped by the carefree bear Baloo.

What the plot summary cannot tell you is how utterly breathtaking this movie is. The computer effects are stunning, and the animals are incredibly realistic. Incredibly, the performance of Neel Sethi elevates the film further; this is no bratty kid, but a strong and confident lead.

The voice cast is also excellent. Ben Kingsley strikes a great balance between Bagheera's obedience and compassion. Bill Murray similarly does very well with Baloo's carefree nature. Idris Elba is very menacing as Shere Khan.

It is simply marvelous that animals could have such realism and expressiveness. This is the gold standard for CGI going forward.