The Jungle Book

THE JUNGLE BOOK

Director : Jon Favreau
Year : 2016
Genre : Children
Rating : ****

As was the case with Kenneth Branagh's underappreciated 'Cinderella', 'The Jungle Book' shows that respect and re-invention can go a very long way indeed. Directed with gusto by 'Iron Man's Jon Favreau and featuring the voices of some of the biggest names in Hollywood, this stunning live-action re-imagining of their beloved 1967 Disney animation not only serves as a terrific adaptation of the timeless Rudyard Kipling story but also as a nostalgically charged ode to Wolfgang Reithermans's toe-tapping classic cartoon.

Set amongst breathtakingly realistic CGI landscapes, this 'Jungle Book' sees newcomer Neel Sethi shine as the mancub Mowgli, whose vocal internations and slender frame are a perfect match for his animated counterpart while the unmistakable tones of Ben Kingsley as the loyal Bagheera and Bill Murray as carefree Baloo serve as perfect companions on this action packed and sometimes danger- filled adventure through the lush Asiatic rainforests. There is also a great deal of fun to be had with Christopher Walken's mafia-esque portrayal of the pyromaniacal King Louie while Idris Elba and Scarlett Johannsen provide the scares as the fearsome Shere Khan and seductive yet sinister Kaa respectively.

Some of the songs from the original film feel somewhat shoehorned in at points and not all of the creative choices work to their full potential but as a piece of technical and visual artistry, 'The Jungle Book' is one of the most impressive and enjoyable films of the year so far, sure to delight both adults and mancubs alike.