Jon Favreau's The Jungle Book is what family-centric filmmaking should be, a well told adaptation of the iconic story of Mowgli, the man-cub living in the Indian jungle. When Shere Khan, a savage tiger, threatens the livelihood of the wolfpack who raised him, Mowgli is forced to flee the jungle in order to protect his family. Guided by Bagheera, the black panther, and Baloo, a free spirited bear he meets along the way, Mowgli finds himself on an adventure full of self discovery and a host of characters, some with not necessarily the best intentions. Jon Favreau's The Jungle Book is a beautiful looking film that features some of the best computer generated imagery I've seen in some time. The textures are vibrant and complex, the emotions are beautifully realized, and the direction seamlessly interweaves reality with this computer generated world creating a unique and transfixing aesthetic. The mythology and world building of Favreau's adaptation is my favorite aspect of the film, creating a believable world in which these creates inhabit and interact. I love how fire takes on a spiritual quality in its supernatural perception by the animals of the land, who live in fear of this force that brings warmth, light, and destruction to whatever it touches. Fire is man's creation, one that threatens all that it touches in the eyes of the animals, and the film uses this to its advantage in crafting its theme centered around prejudice, peace, and what it means to be family. While Mowgli is viewed as family by the wolfpack who raised him, Shere Khan views him as a threat who must be extinguished, his hostility triggred by his past run-in with fire that left his face severely scarred. The story in this version of The Jungle Book unfolds organically for a film of this ilk, letting the audience learn about these characters and their back story as the film progresses instead of feeling the need to spell out everything for them along the way. From Idris Elba's diabolical Shere Khan, to Bill Murray's playfully entertaining Baloo, all the characters of Jungle Book bring something to the table, with perhaps Christopher Walken's small, but memorable performance as King Louise, a singing monkey stealing the film due its sheer hilarity. Jon Favreau's The Jungle Book is just strong filmmaking all around, featuring memorable characters, strong world-building and mythology, lots of thrills, and an important message.
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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