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The Jungle Book backdrop

The Jungle Book

8 April 2016English1h 46m
out of 10
Exceptionalcritics broadly rave
Monk Score · 19 scored reviews · 9 not rated

A visual marvel where photo-realistic animals make the jungle feel real.

Verdict tier Exceptional, critics broadly rave, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: Visual effects and photo-realistic animals
  • Criticised: Over-reliance on source material legacy

Audience

User score 7.8 out of 10 from 32 ratings, Recommended
Read 9 audience reviews ↓

Not streaming in India

Critic consensus

What 26 critics are saying

Critical reception for Jon Favreau's The Jungle Book is overwhelmingly positive, with reviewers consistently lauding the film's visual effects, photo-realistic animal rendering, and immersive world-building as technical achievements that set a new benchmark for live-action and motion-capture filmmaking. Neel Sethi's performance as Mowgli and the voice cast also drew frequent praise. A handful of critics noted that the film leans heavily on its source material's legacy and familiar emotional tropes, with one pointing out it offers more as a spectacle than as a standalone narrative. The broad consensus is that the film works as compelling entertainment for audiences of all ages.

How the 19 scores spread

9 not-rated reviews aren't plotted

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 26 critic reviews · may contain errors

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From the papers

Critic reviews (28)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  1. Top critic

    IBNLive

    Film review ·

    It's a stunning visual achievement, and one that reminds you why you fell in love with these characters all those years ago. Don't miss it.
  2. Top critic

    Indian Express

    Film review ·

    It's a little more reminiscent of the jungle and the book than the 1967 Disney classic, a lot, lot darker, and yet, ultimately as exuberant, with a surprisingly strong and novel message at the heart of it, in a story that already didn't lack for them.
  3. Top critic

    Rediff

    Film review ·

    Take the kids you know (and the kid within you) and go watch The Jungle Book. Trust in me.
  4. Top critic

    Firstpost

    Film review ·

    Apart from being a great movie The Jungle Book is also another big triumph for Disney. It seems whatever Disney touches turns to gold. It's hard to think of another studio that has had so much universal acclaim and financial success for such a long stretch of time. With Moana and Rogue One coming later this year it certainly seems like Disney has made sure we're in for a ton of fun.
  5. Bollywood Life

    Film review ·

    This is one of the best Jungle Book adaptions on screen and also one of the best live action motion-capture films I have seen in years. Just wondering how Warner Bros will top this with their version of the book that will come next year. The summer holidays just started off with a bang!
  6. KoiMoi

    Film review ·

    The Jungle Book is a film that has something for everyone. It defines the phrase 'feels like coming home'. You have to watch, to believe it so don't miss this one!
  7. Rediff

    Film review ·

    The characters drawn for the 2016 live action film have an edge that was not present in the 1967 animated film...
  8. CatchNews

    Film review ·

    The Jungle Book is a film that has something for everyone. It truly feels like a home coming of sorts, driving you right back into the charms of childhood wonder.
  9. DNA India

    Film review ·

    ...you're going to love Mowgli, this film, the voice cast, the photo-realism of the animals surrounding Mowgli and an inherent innocence that just shines through and through. It's a spectacular film and one you shouldn't miss. Just go watch it!
  10. Hindustan Times

    Film review ·

    The Jungle Book is no longer cute and cuddly but a tale of survival. This time, it really is a jungle out there. But I can guarantee one thing, once you and your children do enter it, you would not want to leave.
  11. SKJBollywoodNews

    Film review ·

    Don't wait. Just go out this weekend with the kids and re-live one of the most cherished children's stories told from an adult perspective and yet miraculously maintaining an artless innocence that makes this film entirely winsome experience. And so what if Priyanka doesn't sing in the Hind version. The film is suffused in the music of the soul.
  12. Times Of India

    Film review ·

    ...the intricate landscaping, masterful camerawork and environment (actually filmed in Downtown Los Angeles) create a delightfully immersive experience. Heartwarming and enjoyable.
  13. Zee News

    Film review ·

    'The Jungle Book' is a visual masterpiece that will entice the audiences of all groups. If you are looking for a break from the modern film culture, then don't waste a moment and grab tickets immediately!
  14. Bollywood Hungama

    Film review ·

    ...a shining example of phenomenal filmmaking, transporting the viewer to a different world. Complete with a riveting plot combined with VFX and 3D that makes you jump, THE JUNGLE BOOK is definitely a must watch.
  15. India Today

    Film review ·

    Jon Favreau's live-action re-imagining of the 1967 film, The Jungle Book, is a visual treat. Along with Neel Sethi's Mowgli and a superb voice-cast, this adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book is a winner on many fronts.
  16. Mid-Day

    Film review ·

    The drama and treatment may border on conventional but the animal renditions are definitely not. Cinematographer Bill Pope and the VFX team led by Robert Legato and Adam Valdez integrate real time sequences with animation so brilliantly that it's difficult to pinpoint the differences. It's seamless, proportionate and way above anything that has come before. A must-see for all - irrespective of species, age or gender!
  17. Mumbai Mirror

    Film review ·

    While the original story has little mystery and would even seem like a lame fantasy today, this adaptation, thanks to its visual bravado, makes it a contemporary classic.
  18. Deccan Chronicle

    Film review ·

    . This version of The Jungle Book is a brilliant and beautiful evocation of the time when everything was bigger than us, when the natural world seemed to be full of wonders and where almost every new animal species, whose picture and presence we glimpsed, was an adventure in and of itself. This film is a brilliant fantasy for the whole family to see, reviving one of the great classics for a new generation.
  19. Deccan Chronicle

    Film review ·

    The film is very well produced. The effects are spectacular and the performances are good. It is entirely worth watching, but its implicit politics is as troubling as Kipling's was.

From our readers

Audience reviews (9)

32 ratings · user score 7.8

  1. Neeraj MultaniApr 2016
    8/10

    Must watch to revisit childhood memories in a spectacular way.

  2. 8/10

    The Jungle Book is an illustrious jungle glitzy tale to watch on a big screen. Based on Rudyard Kipling's famous book 'The Jungle Book', the film is about a boy named Mowgli and his adventurous vitality in the jungle. It is a Disney film. And all of us can imagine that what a Disney film is like. A film with high bright 3D animation effects and the dream light abstract backgrounds and the high opulence of the sets. This film has it all in a more advanced manner. It is shot well and yes the boy who plays Mowgli is very good too. The acting and the vigorousness exhibited by him is commendable. He is completely engrossing himself as the prominent Mowgli. Animals of the jungle too are worthy of fulfilling one's expectations. They are all crafted equally at their best. Shere khan is perilously very dangerous but fails to satisfy his gut with Mowgli's soul. The Baloo Bear and the Panther Bagheera are very bright and helpful to Mowgli. Both always save him from the Lion by their artificial intelligence and physical strong strengths. Other animals' viz. monkeys, snake, foxes, wolves are fairly satisfying and are well polished. The voices are vocalized by Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong'o, Scarlett Johansson. They are all successful in doing their job. Kudos to the Director and the graphic designers for the sumptuous spiriting animated effects and the frightening jungle of India and Mowgli and also the real looking animals. The film is currently hitting the theatres. And is on a very big stride to set new Box office trends on Bollywood. It is wholly replete with wonder and ecstasy. Do watch it. I am going with a solid 8.

  3. Maulik ShahApr 2016
    9/10

    The movie I watched was in Hindi and it was one of the best I have seen! Storytelling, Visuals, dialogues by legendary actors were among the things that made it beyond the word!

  4. Mohiuddin HussainiMay 2016
    7/10

    This was one of the longest awaited release in my watchlist. Watched it, loved the effects in 3D. So stunning, when compared to other such releases of same genre. But, what lacked was story. i thought the story could have been stretched a little bit more. After building SherKhan as most dangerous and villainous animal in the whole jungle, he was killed off so quickly. And also, I don't know how are they going to move the story forward with other squeals that are going to come. Because when i used to watch The Jungle Book in my childhood as a TV series, the whole plot revolved around Maugli and ShrkKhan. But this are just my thoughts. As I said, loved the movie and effects, but the story could have been a little better.

  5. 7/10

    A Pleasant Visual Experience For All That Nostalgic Feels On Whatever Little One Have Watched 'The Jungle Book' Animations In Childhood.Better To Watch It In Hindi As Nana Patekar, Irrfan Khan ,Om Puri & Others Have Done Great Job With Their Dialogues.Neel Sethi As Mowgli Have Done Great Job Too.No Surprise That It Has Became Highest Grossing Hollywood Movie In India, A Record Which Will Be Unbroken For Many Years.

  6. 8/10

    If I had to ask all those people who had grown up watching Doordarshan in the 1990s as to which was their favourite animation series, what do you think their answer would be??? Well I am kinda sure that most of their responses will be the same as mine as it would be "Jungle Book" even if many wouldn't have seen the animation movie released in 1967. So when I heard that Walt Disney Pictures was remaking the film with live CGI effects, I was naturally thrilled. The excitement further escalated when I saw the trailer, as it was jaw dropping realistic. Hopefully the film in itself is an extension of the magnificent trailer. Well I dont think there is need to elaborate on the plot as there would be hardly anyone who hasn't read Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book" or atleast watched the animation series. Anywaz Mowgli (Neel Sethi) is a boy who was raised by the wolves Raksha (Lupita Nyong'o) & Akela (Giancarlo Esposito) after he was brought to them as an infant by the black panther, Bagheera (Ben Kingsley). However, his life was in danger as the fearsome Bengal tiger Sher Khan (Idris Elba) had made his intentions clear. So he was left with no option but to leave the jungle before the tiger unleashed harm on his family. But little did he realize that Sher Khan wasn't the sole problem that lay in front of him. Frankly speaking, I knew Jon Favreau as an actor but wasn't aware that he had decent directorial credentials as well until I checked wikipedia & saw movies like "Elf", "Iron Man 1 & 2" etc to his credit. He has done a wonderful job in re-creating this timeless classic taking advantage of all the latest advancements in technology available on offer. The screenplay by Justin Marks was more or less true to the original with a couple of changes towards the climax. At just over 1.5 h, the movie is an absolute visual treat & the credit for that goes to Bill Pope's cinematography as well as Mark Livolsi's editing. Apart from this, the one thing which had mesmerized me was John Debney's music be it "The Bare Necessities" included in the movie & also the tracks "I Wanna be Like you" & "Trust In Me" which appear in the end credits. There was an extensive audition for the role of the protagonist before Neel Sethi was zeroed in & it was well worth the effort as he was wonderful exuding innocence & vulnerability along with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. Even though the only character which appears in flesh & blood in the movie is Neel, Favreau needs to be applauded for his apt choice of brilliant artists to do the voice over for the CGI generated characters. Bill Murray as Baloo was my personal favourite for his wise cracking jokes while Ben Kingsley & Lupita was impressive as well. Idris Elba was able to convey the sinisterness convincingly while Scarlett Johansson as Kaa was fantastic & you guys need to stay back to check out her excellent rendition of "Trust in Me" in the end. Verdict: It's an absolute visual treat & in all likelihood going to rake in some serious ground breaking box office collections. The makers have enlisted the services of Om Puri, Nana Patekar, Priyanka Chopra etc for the Hindi version which will further increase the collection from the Indian subcontinent, not to mention it is released here a week prior to the US market. In short, if you have been a fan of the animation series, you can rest assured you would love this movie!!! Rating: 3.75/5 Regards...Ben

Credits

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