Based on the novel by Rudyard Kipling, director Jon Favreau pulls a James Cameron and creates a jungle that is immersive and a character all in itself. Like Avatar, The Jungle Book's jungle and animal inhabitants are completely done in CGI while also using motion capture to really add depth and human emotions. The detail put into this really fantastic. To make the animals and jungle look so real they took many photos of the indian jungle and got photos of animals to get all the features just right. The Jungle Book sets a new standard for CGI and is sure to get a nod for Best Visual Effects.
Neel Sethi is perfectly cast as Mowgli and he does an excellent job working along the many amazing visual effects. He is basically working all alone and he does such great work here. It is also his first film and I am very impressed, would love to see him in more.
The voice cast is on mark, Ben Kingsley plays the black panther Bagheera, Bill Murray plays the loveable bear Baloo, and Idris Elba plays the terrifying tiger Shere Khan. These three are craft the most interesting sidekicks, comics and villains. Idris is by far the best villain so far this year. Lupita Nyong'o is a great addition to the cast, she is so sympathetic as the wolf mother, Raksha. Christopher Walken plays the part of King Louie and is brilliant. And the late Gary Shandling makes his last voice/screen appearance as a little character called Ikki. One who is very underused is Scarlet Johansen. It may be due to her commitment to work with Marvel but I would have loved more exploration into her snake character like what they did with Mother wolf.
Composer John Debney does a wonderful job with the score. His score with the combination with the amazing visuals add to the enticing fun you'll have watching this movie.
The Jungle Book is bottom line the new Avatar with a better story and a much more family friendly adventure.
A sequel has been confirmed with the same director and hopefully the same cast. There is still more material to mine so it is an excepting treat. I wish it to come out sooner than the many Avatar sequels, maybe go head to head with Andy Serkis's adaptation, I would say this one would still win out. In all honesty, why is Andy even doing an adaptation this one is the best. If Andy doesn't get the visuals right it will flunk, the story is a family friendly story and Disney has done the best job. I am also afraid Tarzan has big shoes to fill.
Thats what made this film work, it was not dark, it was pure family fun adventure and did not try to be anything else. Andy's take and Tarzan may only be good and not be the fun family adventure that this was.
Rating = A +, 5/5, Gold Star
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