Reliving childhood with Mowgli

Bakang Israel | Friday June 3, 2016 15:31

 

This film epitomises the real throwback, which has become trendy these days.  Animation films have commanded a huge fanbase because of epic adventures like Snow White, Tarzan, The Lion King, Beauty And The Beast as well as the one in discussion before new millennium cartoons such as Ben 10 stole the limelight.

Walt Disney studios recently released the 2016 American action, adventure, fantasy reboot of The Jungle Book and currently a leading chart-topping movie in the world. The film is a book adaptation of Rudyard Kiplinghis’ timeless  adventures of Mowgli, an abandoned ‘man-cub’, who is raised by wolves in the Indian jungle.  In this latest experience Mowgli (Neel Sethi), a man-cub who is raised by a family of wolves, learns he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger, Shere Khan (Idris Elba), who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. Urged to abandon the only home he has ever known, Mowgli embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery, guided by panther-turned-stern mentor, Bagheera (Ben Kingsley), and the free-spirited bear, Baloo (Bill Murray).

Along the way, Mowgli encounters jungle creatures who do not exactly have his best interests at heart, including Kaa (Scarlett Johanson), a python whose seductive voice and gaze hypnotises the man-cub, and the smooth-talking King Louie (Christopher Walken), who tries to coerce Mowgli into giving up the secret to the elusive and deadly red flower fire.

The Jungle Book is making waves because movie enthusiasts get to have a fun-filled family experience with the little ones courtesy of Hollywood voices of superstars Alba, Johanson, Murray disguised as vicious jungle animals.

If you do not know these stars very well, blockbuster films such as No Good Deed, Avengers, Selfless and Chef  have answers.

The Jungle Books is enterprisingly fun because it was directed by Jon Favreau, who brought his acting enthusiasm in the 2014 comedy drama, Chef and the magic touch of special effects to direct this funny action animation.

The Jungle Book is visually stunning because of the crisp cinematography and the CGI (computer generated imagery) visual effects setting.  This film is the best 3D film so far, with super high definition crystal visuals.  Mowgli, played by lead actor, Sethi is the only real life character.  The rest of the characters are animated and everything occurs in the Indian jungle as the setting, which also explains the featured type of animals. Tigers, wolves, bears, panthers, monkeys and pythons are all featured looks for Alba, Johanson and the likes.

It is very exhilarating as the animals look huge making  Mowgli the tiniest of them all, plus the experience with all these jungle legends is nostalgic for adults.

This family experience is also not just about cartoon, but also meaningful and informative in the sense that it teaches children life lessons.

It talks about harmony. The wolves do not harm the child, but instead raise Mowgli because they know that harming a human can bring other humans upon them, therefore endangering themselves.

Also the law of the jungle lays down rules for the safety of individuals, families and communities.

It teaches children the ramifications of not abiding by rules.  For instance Mowgli encroaches into Kaa’s territory and nearly turns into a meal for the python, as such showing children dangers of not being home, roaming foreign territories.

Now to the thick of the action. It feels like an action extravaganza from the start as Alba plays villain for the second time since No Good Deed (2014), this time as Shere Khan a vicious tiger obsessed with ending Mowgli.

When this evil tiger brutally kills the alpha wolf (Akeela) it causes mayhem in the jungle sounding a hostile revolution.

Now what follows next in the film is the fun adventure and peppered with fright.

Speaking of such, The Jungle Book is excitingly adventurous and funny as during his exile, Mowgli flirts with more of the untamed nature, learning about food in the jungle such as honey from the bees.

So the little ones, those we had flocked to cinema with, also discovered such.

Baloo the bear is just a marvel to watch in this film and certainly, an agent of laughter from heaven.

He lights up this animation with moments of humour telling Mowgli that bees do not sting, he should just climb up and get honey for him as the hungry bear manipulated the man-cub’s ignorance to his advantage.

Apart from that, this film is surely going to make your heart skip a beat with some scary thriller action moments.

The voice of  Shere Khan brings terror in the cinema too, as the intimidating tiger lingers.

Also Kaa the python looks super real.  If you have ophiophobia (abnormal fear of snakes) take cover.  But this is what makes the whole experience fun. The whole experience is loaded with twists and manipulations, well orchestrated storytelling of good and evil with shocking discoveries.

King Louie (Walken) of the monkeys is very much obsessed with knowing the secret of the red flower (#makingfire).

If they squeeze this skill out of Mowgli, humans in general will be facing a calamity.

The sarcasm is what you can enjoy from this adventure. Overall, the film transmits themes of family, love, friendship, power, greed and vengeance, which have the jungle turned upside down by Shere Khan’s hunt of Mowgli.

Lastly, this film is doing well because of the special effects.  It is the amazing artistry of CGI of the animals, Shere Khan, Kaa, Bagheera, who look real powerful and intimidating for mere animation.

For instance, there is a scene where Kaa the python coils herself around Mowgli blinking her serpent eyes with an effort to hypnotise him, leaving some of the children frightened, thanks to CGI visual effects.

 

Quotes From the movie that shed more action

Panther - Bagheera: (to Mowgli) The jungle is no longer safe for you.

 

Tiger - Shere Khan (to wolves after killing the alpha) Now you know fear.

 

Trending upcoming film

If you loved The Jungle Book, well brace yourself for The Legend of Tarzan.  It takes us on an epic new adventure of Tarzan (Alexander Skarsgård) a man raised by gorillas just as Mowgli was raised by the wolves.

 

Reception

In comparison to other animation films like Kung Fu Panda 3, which was number one back in March after being praised for its $41 million premiere,  The Jungle Book has done extremely well blowing that record.

Mowgli’s adventures were released mid-April and exerted dominance immediately on circuit.

The Jungle Book made a staggering $103 million in a weekend.

Across the world, sales from countries like Botswana and the rest of the world, excluding the US, generated a whooping $530 million. Altogether now, The Jungle Book sold out a worldwide gross of $858 million in six weeks since release.  This positive reception skyrocketed the film to the top of the box office before Marvel super heroes took over with Captain America Civil War.

Top five movies in the world courtesy of box office 

1.The Angry Birds Movie

2.Captain America: Civil War

3.Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising

4.The Nice Guys

5.The Jungle Book

 

Ratings

I really enjoyed the CGI and crystal high definition look of the film.  Shere Khan as well, made the experience fireworks with his evil intents and most importantly the moral lessons contained in the film.  I rate it a 7/10.

 

Movie: The Jungle

BookGenre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Animation

Duration: 1 hour 45 mins

Age Restriction: PG

Release Date: April 15, 2016 

Director: Jon Favreau    

Main Cast:  Neel Sethi as Mowgli, Idris Elba (Shere Khan), Bill Murray (Baloo) and Ben Kingsley (Bagheera)