See it at the Movies

THE JUNGLE BOOK

with Joyce & Don Fowler
Posted 4/21/16

* * * *

(Disney at its best)

Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” is by far one of the best adventure novels ever written. Disney Studios has done the book justice in its terrific …

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See it at the Movies

THE JUNGLE BOOK

Posted

* * * *

(Disney at its best)

Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” is by far one of the best adventure novels ever written. Disney Studios has done the book justice in its terrific interpretation, complete with live action and superlative special effects that bring the story to life.

New young actor Neel Sethi plays Mowgli, the boy raised by wolves in the deep, dark jungle. Director Jon Favreau uses special effects to make the wild animals talk so realistically that you immediately buy into the story. We get a chance to see the many different creatures up close and even learn something about them. The great lesson for kids is the simple premise that “the strength of the pack is in the individual, and the strength of the individual is in the pack,” the sort of inspiration a coach would give his football team.

Mowgli, the boy-cub, is accepted by the pack and all of the other jungle animals…with one exception. Shere Khan, the majestic tiger (voice of Idris Elba, and what a powerful voice it is) wants Mowgli dead. He hates the humans for bringing fire to the jungle. The wise old panther (voice of Ben Kingsley, who also narrates) agrees to take Mowgli to the human village, where he will be safe. The two get separated, leading to some fantastic adventures with a giant snake (Scarlett Johansson), an orangutan (Christopher Walken) and a bear (Bill Murray). Murray provides the comic relief in the story, even singing a couple of songs that help to break the tension.

There are incredible scenes of mudslides, raging rivers, swarms of bees and thousands of monkeys, with Mowgli and his companions swinging over the land on vines and climbing gigantic trees.

The movie has a moral about preserving the environment. When it is decided that Mowgli should return to the humans, he is told that it will “make a man out of him,” a true double entendre.

We loved this movie, which will touch people of all ages. Very young and sensitive children may be frightened by the realistic portrayal of the animals and the fight for survival. To date, this is the best movie we have seen so far this year.

Rated PG, with a few scary scenes. (Watch out for that snake). 

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