Let’s throw it back to 1967: the year of my mother’s birth, the year that the first African- American Chief Justice, Thurgood Marshall, was sworn into office, and the year that Disney’s The Jungle Book premiered in front of children across the nation. This installment of The Jungle Book was a childhood treasure, even for kids born decades later. The film included songs we all know: “Bear Necessities,” “I Wanna Be Like You”; songs that made you sing along whether you thought to or not.
In April, Disney produced a live-action version of The Jungle Book. My first reaction upon hearing that there would be a new installment was one of concern. I adored the original version and did not want the the film’s glorious name to be tarnished by a second-rate film designed to turn a profit. Upon hearing the cast list, I was somewhat confused by the way humans would portray animals. I anticipated use of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and thought that the recognizable voices of the actors would cause the computer generation to be awkward and obvious. The animals are, in fact, portrayed with CGI.
Despite my worries, the film exceeded my expectations. The sole actor (in the conventional sense), is 12-year-old Neel Sethi, who did a fantastic job as the lovable protagonist and only human, Mowgli. Sethi perfectly depicted the childish attitude and mannerisms of a boy raised in the jungle. Mowgli’s development was clear and personal, even more so than in the original. The innocent young boy at the beginning of the film morphed into a mature young man by the end.
The rest of the cast can only be evaluated by their voices. Ben Kingsley, as Bagheera the panther, embodied the stoic and wise teacher he was meant to be, his British accent adding to the solemnity of his character. Bill Murray (Baloo the bear) has a voice made for comedy. Baloo is the greatest source of comic relief in the film, and Murray’s voice is as soothing as the honey his character loves so dearly. Scarlett Johansson (Kaa the snake) has the voice and, well, face of an angel, so I was confused when I found that she was chosen as the voice of the snake. However, Kaa is a hypnotic and soothing figure who lulls her prey into her clutches, and Johansson’s seductive and soft voice does just that. Christopher Walken (King Louie the monkey) has the classic accent of a New York businessman, someone who knows how to drive a hard bargain, adding depth and power to his scheming. Finally, Idris Elba (Shere Khan the tiger) has a voice that rivals that of Morgan Freeman and James Earl Jones. His voice is perfect for the villain.
A story everyone loves and characters to boot: what’s not to love about the film? I found only two problems. First, the incorporation of some of the songs from the original seemed forced and awkward. Most noticeable was the happy strumming while King Louie was yelling at Mowgli. When Baloo and Mowgli were singing “Bear Necessities,” the setting and vibe were right, but the singing itself was awkward. It was not exactly sung; it was more spoken in rhythm with random spells of singing throughout. Second, the minor characters were omitted. Some of my favorite characters were the vultures that represented The Beatles and the elephants that marched through the Jungle “in a military style.” These characters may not have been important to the plot, but they were more beloved memories that I was hoping to relive.
Overall, the new rendition was excellent with its combination of well-produced CGI and phenomenal voice acting. It was lots of fun to watch and I advise everyone to go and watch it ASAP.