Imagine you find yourself in a lush jungle, sprawling with vines and plants of all kinds surrounding you. Snakes slither, a warm breeze is blowing, and suddenly a pack of wolf cubs, a black panther, and one man-cub go racing past you… you are now in The Jungle Book!
The Jungle Book is an all new, live action, epic adventure about Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi), a man-cub raised in the jungle by a family of wolves, who embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery when he’s forced to abandon the only home he’s ever known. I was so excited to hear that Walt Disney Pictures was taking on this feature! I will admit that I had high expectations, but Disney did what Disney does and exceeded those on every level. This film is so incredibly done! From the raw talent of Neel Sethi, to the voice actors bringing the characters to life, to the beautiful scenes that transport you from your seats into the jungle.
It stays true to the original story line including two of the most iconic Disney songs, “I Wanna Be Like You” and “Bear Necessities!” Though this is not a musical, both songs had their place in the film and added that special touch.
I loved seeing the courage and bravery that Mowgli had. No matter what the circumstances, he wanted to do what was right and make his family proud. After all, “…the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.” I love this line and every time it was recited. What would we be without the support of our families, friends, and communities? We are all stronger, better, because of our “packs.” Mowgli shows us what this really means through his unwavering loyalty.
This movie is rated PG and I would recommend for ages 5 and up. You know your kid best. There are animals fighting and tigers on the prowl (hence the PG rating). My kids (4, 9, & 11) loved it and only took off those 3D glasses one time!
The Jungle Book Fun Facts
- The talking animals in this film were created using animal behavior, then having the actors copy those movements in motion-capture VFX.
- The film will be released in 2016 to coincide with the 49th anniversary of the original Disney animated classic masterpiece, The Jungle Book (1967).
- Bill Murray voices Baloo in this film; his older brother Brian Doyle-Murray had voiced Baloo in The Jungle Book: Mowgli’s Story (1998).
- The wolf pups in the film are named after motion capture actors and other crew members.
- The animal characters were both motion captured by and performed live on set by puppeteers from the Jim Henson Company. For the on-set performances, Jim Henson’s Creature Shop built elaborate life-sized puppets to act alongside Mowgli and serve as eye-lines.
To learn more about the cast, click here.
The wild adventure swings into theaters in 3D on April 15, 2016. For more information, check out Disney.com/thejunglebook, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
