Review of The Jungle Book (2016) by Thequietgamer — 07 Sep 2016

A stunning live-action adaption of one of Disney's animated classics. I really enjoyed how this version fleshed out additional elements of the story that the first movie did not. Particularly in regards to Mowgli's life with the wolves. It helps the story take on more life and increases the scale of Mowgli's world. His adventure is much bigger this time around.

This is really a gorgeous movie. The animals in particular are stunning. Don't get me wrong, you can still tell these are all CGI animals, but the way they move and the effect they have on the world around them are both real. The shadows right down to the realistic animal movements help sell the story. As does the voice acting and young actor Neel Sethi, the only flesh and blood living entity onscreen. The kid deserves a lot of praise. His excellent performance really sells that Mowgli is interacting with live animal as opposed to CGI ones.

The story itself is still excellent. It's got heart and humor, as well as some dark moments. Nothing the kids won't be able to handle, but still serious enough to allow adults to engage with the material and give the movie some real stakes. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that some of the movie's best musical numbers made it into this version.

It's an excellent way to revisit the original movie. This time just in live action. It might not due too much new, but what it does differently makes all the difference. It's an intensely likable movie with excellent production and direction all around. The voice, acting, the visuals, the writing, everything comes together wonderfully. It's a perfect family movie and another win for Jon Favreau.