Film Review: The jungle book

 Genre: Adventure, Drama, Family

Cert: PG warning this film is not for anyone younger that 10 years old , in honesty should of been a 12A

Director: Jon Favreau

Screen writer: Justin Marks (screenplay),  Rudyard Kipling (book)

Starring: Neel Sethi , Bill Murray , Ben Kingsley , Idris Elba , Lupita Nyong'o , Scarlett Johansson , Giancarlo Esposito , Christopher Walken , Garry Shandling , Brighton Rose , Emjay Anthony , Max Favreau , Chloe Hechter , Asher Blinkoff , Knox Gagnon.

Running time: 1h 45min

Parents advised to read before viewing film as some scene may contain scenes unsuitable for younger viewers.

Sex & Nudity: A boy is shown half naked throughout the movie at a level of nudity that would be both illegal and criminal for a girl of equal age to be shown.

Violence & Gore:

• Moderate portrayals of violence without detail is depicted, and justified by context in the film.

• There are scenes of fighting depicted between various animals in the film, where they are seen attacking and biting one another. Although these scenes are intense, they are depicted without any details of injury or bloodletting.

• Shere Khan the tiger kills two characters. The first is a wolf whom he viciously attacks, bites and throws off a cliff. The second is a man who is later revealed to be Mowgli's father (this is shown in a flashback.) The man tries to defend himself by shoving a flaming torch in Shere Khan's face, but Shere Khan pins him down and kills him (the killing is shown as a shadow).

• On several occasions Shere Khan tries to kill Mowgli. Many times, Mowgli's friends try to save him but Shere Khan attacks them, hits them and bites them. In one of his attempts to kill Mowgli, his claw tears across Mowgli's chest causing a wound and some bleeding.

• There are some jump scares when Shere Khan leaps into the frame. The effect is accentuated in 3D.

Profanity: None 

Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking: Mowgli looks at a human village from a distance. Against a background of blazing flames, people seem to be celebrating something. There are drinks in their hands but nothing is clearly visible.

Frightening/Intense Scenes:

• Based on the classic children's book, 'The Jungle Book' revolves around the adventures of Mowgli, a boy raised by wolves in the jungle. The return of the man-eating tiger, Shere Khan, forces Mowgli to leave the jungle with the help of Bagheera the panther and Baloo the bear.

• The film contains several scenes where characters face threatening situations and/or engage in fighting. For instance, there are scenes where the protagonist is being pursued or cornered by animals such as a tiger or a giant Orangutan.

• Shere Khan is a menacing and frightening character, intent on killing Mowgli. His face is covered with burn scars, which are shown several times in close-up. The effect is more intense in 3D.

• There is a scene where Mowgli accidentally starts an inferno which engulfs a large part of the forest, threatening the lives of all the animals. This scene can be emotionally upsetting, though later the fire is extinguished by elephants.

• Akela the wolf, a father-figure to Mowgli, is killed by Shere Khan. When Mowgli learns of his death his grief is emotionally upsetting.

• A giant snake tries to swallow Mowgli by coiling around him and opening her mouth wide, but he is saved by Baloo the bear.

• The movie should be suitable for kids of all ages unless they are highly sensitive to scary situations on the screen.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Story: The man-cub Mowgli flees the jungle after a threat from the tiger Shere Khan. Guided by Bagheera the panther and the bear Baloo, Mowgli embarks on a journey of self-discovery, though he also meets creatures who don't have his best interests at heart

Likes : As we've notice over the past few years Disney has start to bring their film from animation to live action from maleficent to Cinderella & now Disney jungle book , based off the book The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story with a slightly darker story.

The film visual effect in this film are actually the main part of the film that actually make it look stunning ,  bring to live your favourite characters from the story in such amazing way with there own character which make this film entertaining to watch.

Would i say this film is a pg not really because their are scene through this film that are pretty much too intense for anyone under the age of 10. Special most of the scene with Shere Khan (voice by Idris Elba) who done an absolutely amazing job with which even gave me chill's , the scene's that are most intense are when this character gets seriously dark & in way i could describe it was like starring death in the face with the way he's talking & tell a story just give you the chill's.

Its match with it's look as a tiger with one blind eye & scar across his face just made the character even more menacing  to a young child which is too scary for them ,  so i dont recommended allowing your children younger than 10 to watch this as it not the child friendly story your use to, its pretty dark.

Ben Kingsley & Bill Murray voice their character brilliantly Ben as Bagheera (blank panther) Murray ( brown bear) too brilliant characters in the film , with Bagheera Kingsley gave him a more regal attitude like a prince of the jungle way which made the character stand out more which was good.

Murray cleverly gave Baloo this lazy but clever attitude to the bear by getting someone to help him get thing like a typical lazy bear get someone else to do the dirty work for him which is funny.

Scarlett Johansson voice for Kaa was just perfect for the massive anaconda snake, special with the lure you in & temped you in to a trance , the way that scene come across is very dark but brilliantly done.

Christopher Walken was awesome as the voice of King Louie, the orangutan , which gave this character more of a mob gangster boss which actually worked for the character in this style of story the visual effect of the character is just amazing.

Lupita Nyong'o done an absolutely amazing voice over for Raksha (white female wolf) Her scene's bring emotional contain to the film in show the true nature of the wolf in every way , in some places put me in tears.

There something about that scene that was close to me heart having the spirit of the wolf the way the law of wolves was told it had an impact for a very powerful moment in a spiritual way , which add's a special moment to the film which i like because its show the wolf in a true light.

NOW this is the law of the jungle, as old and as true as the sky,

And the wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the wolf that shall break it must die.

As the creeper that girdles the tree trunk, the law runneth forward and back;

For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack.

Wash daily from nose tip to tail tip; drink deeply, but never too deep;         

And remember the night is for hunting and forget not the day is for sleep.

The jackal may follow the tiger, but, cub, when thy whiskers are grown,

Remember the wolf is a hunter—go forth and get food of thy own.

Keep peace with the lords of the jungle, the tiger, the panther, the bear;

And trouble not Hathi the Silent, and mock not the boar in his lair.         

When pack meets with pack in the jungle, and neither will go from the trail,

Lie down till the leaders have spoken; it may be fair words shall prevail.

When ye fight with a wolf of the pack ye must fight him alone and afar,

Lest others take part in the quarrel and the pack is diminished by war.

The lair of the wolf is his refuge, and where he has made him his home,         

Not even the head wolf may enter, not even the council may come.

The lair of the wolf is his refuge, but where he has digged it too plain,

The council shall send him a message, and so he shall change it again.

If ye kill before midnight be silent and wake not the woods with your bay,

Lest ye frighten the deer from the crop and thy brothers go empty away.         

Ye may kill for yourselves, and your mates, and your cubs as they need and ye can;

But kill not for pleasure of killing, and seven times never kill man.

If ye plunder his kill from a weaker, devour not all in thy pride,

Pack-right is the right of the meanest; so leave him the head and the hide.

The kill of the pack is the meat of the pack. Ye must eat where it lies;         

And no one may carry away of that meat to his lair, or he dies.

The kill of the wolf is the meat of the wolf. He may do what he will,

But, till he is given permission, the pack may not eat of that kill.

Lair right is the right of the mother. From all of her years she may claim

One haunch of each kill for her litter, and none may deny her the same.         

Cub right is the right of the yearling. From all of his pack he may claim

Full gorge when the killer has eaten; and none may refuse him the same.

Cave right is the right of the father, to hunt by himself for his own;

He is freed from all calls to the pack. He is judged by the council alone.

Because of his age and his cunning, because of his gripe and his paw,         

In all that the law leaveth open the word of the head wolf is law.

Now these are the laws of the jungle, and many and mighty are they;

But the head and the hoof of the law and the haunch and the hump is—Obey!

Neel Sethi done a brilliant job as a child actor playing the part of Mowgli , showing the true nature of of the fearless boy brought up by wolves , so if you loved the animated film from Disney im sure your love this film.

Dislikes : Although this film is great you cant help but compare this film to the animated film from Disney the only problem that slightly make this film a lower rate than i can give it , is because if your seen the animated film, this is just an average film at best despite is stunning visual effect. It not really anything special its still a great film to watch.

Overall : Great funny moments , Stunning visual effect , Idris Elba is awesome as Shere Khan

 Rating: 5 out of 5 for entertainment / 7.2 out of 10 for story.