It can be a very difficult task to remake an animated movie into a live-action one, especially a film like Disney’s 1967 classic The Jungle Book. What was once a jovial cartoon filled end-to-end with songs is now a thematically dark CGI wonderscape, all centred on the performance of newcomer Neel Sethi.
Thirteen-year-old Sethi is the only creature on-screen not generated by a computer, and as such, the burden of making the modern Jungle Book a believable venture lies squarely on his shoulders. Director Jon Favreau (Elf, Iron Man) succeeds in his task of bringing the animals to life (ironically, none of them are), and the jungle never felt more lush and colourful.
But the visual effects end up being the winning aspect of the film, leaving the rest of the elements behind — including the plot, the shoe-horned-in songs (of which there are two) and the movie’s message. It’s as if Favreau was trying too hard to get the perfect look, and all the rest fell by the wayside.
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At some points, The Jungle Book forgets that it’s for kids, getting a tad on the scary side. Hey, it is the jungle after all, and the scariness might be more of a side-effect of modern society’s propensity for fear mongering rather than a conscious effort. It ain’t the ’60s anymore, that’s for sure.
How scary are we talking? I want to take my kids to this
OK, so it’s not grip-the-edge-of-your-seat scary, but there are genuine “jump” moments. Of course, adults can see them coming, but it might not be the same story for your kids. I sat next to a 10-year-old girl (I’m guessing her age), and she didn’t seem to be afraid, so take that how you will.
But perhaps the most grating thing about the film is how everything — aside from Mowgli’s wolf pack, a lovable, friendly Baloo (voiced by Bill Murray) and the solid, father-like panther Bagheera (Ben Kingsley) — is out to get Mowgli. Like, really get him, as in kill him. He’s always running from something, and once one threat is eliminated, another pops up in its place. It is relentless. In the 1967 original, happy songs buoyed the subject matter, bringing levity. Also, when it’s a cartoon, it takes the film a step away from reality. Despite things being entirely CGI, it feels and looks real enough.
In sum, take your kids if they’re hearty and not fazed by dark themes and events.
What about the songs?
There are only two: The Bare Necessities and I Wanna Be Like You. They’re wedged into the story awkwardly, and lack the same oomph as their predecessors. As an adult they pulled the strings of nostalgia, but they probably won’t have the same resonance with your kids.
Is the whole gang here?
The entire Jungle Book crew is here, including the above-mentioned characters. The movie has Idris Elba voicing fearsome tiger Shere Khan, Lupita Nyong’o as Mowgli’s jungle “mother” Raksha, Scarlett Johansson as the hypnotic snake Kaa, and Christopher Walken as King Louie. Truly, the voice cast is remarkable, and all hit their marks. Not hard when you have multiple Oscar winners, right?
When you consider the calibre, it makes Sethi’s performance all the more impressive. On top of that, Sethi was essentially working with the air, since no live animals were actually used in filming.
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Will I be blown away by the visual effects?
I saw the film in 3D, which makes immersion into the jungle setting more complete. But even without the 3D, it’s definitely a sight to behold. Certain scenes take your breath away, like a group of elephants emerging out of fog, or a wide-shot savannah teeming with animal life. Just eyeing the detail of the animals themselves, any viewer can see the amount of effort and detail that went into it. They are incredibly lifelike, to the point that you might forget they aren’t real in the first place.
(I only wish this film had come out before the Twilight series. Those films ruined anthropomorphic wolves in cinema forever.)
So what’s the bottom line?
A film that borders on adult territory but is clearly made for kids, The Jungle Book is a bit of a conundrum. Visually, it’s a masterpiece, but unfortunately other aspects of the movie lag behind. It’s heavier than the original, for sure, but perhaps a child’s mind has the luxury of being able to shut out the seriousness and focus on the fun.
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