I can already see people reading this saying "oh god, this is the most obvious movie that this guy reviews." I just can't help myself. I am in love with the original book, the 1967 animated classic and the not so well known 1989 anime. With that out of the way, let's get this started.

The Jungle Book was billed as a remake, to the 1967 animated classic from Disney itself. I heard alot of people groaning when Jon Favreau (director of the Iron Man movies) announced this, saying "this will just be another cashgrab." And i admit that i was skeptical as well. But i saw the Super Bowl Trailer during the game and i thought to myself 'meh, might be worth a look, just for curiosity.' That's what i pretty much did then.

The Jungle Book tells, like every other version, the story of the mancub Mowgli, who was raised by the Wolves since he was a baby and departed from his real parents. He pretty much spends time playing with his wolf friends, while being teached the laws of the Jungle, mostly from his Lifelong Panther friend and teacher Bagheera. Mowgli was always a bit different though, since he was a human and uses his hands to create human objects to help himself, which the pac leader Akeela really didn't liked. One day during a great dryness, where the Jungle was not allowed to kill, Shere Khan the great Tiger told everybody in the Pac "once the rain comes, this Mancub is dead." So the Pac decided that the Mancub must go back to his own kind and Bagheera helps him. On his way, he meets friends and foes.

While the movie is buildup as a remake of the 1967 classic, they are also elements of the original book in this movie and it really shows. The movie has his disney lighthearted side, but it has points where it's as dark as the book and the movie balances it out brilliantly, making it alot of fun, while not too silly, while also being dark enough, but not too scary for the children. It's really a great adventure, while also having this nostalgia feel for the guys, that are familiar with the 1967 animated movie.

It's also no musical, besides 3 songs making a return from the animated movie being sung in the movie (2 in the movie and 1 in the credits as extra.) People who where never fans of the animated movie, probably won't like it and say it's forced. People like me on the other hand, think it's great fanservice. This Movie also looks gorgeous, infact this is the most gorgeous looking movie i have seen since Avatar. The whole Jungle is colorful and alive and vibrant and just makes you feel like you really want to be in this place. I watched this movie in 3D BTW and it's phenomenal.

The cast of characters are wonderful.
Mowgli (played by Neel Sethi) is a lovable character, who has a childlike nature, but not in a way that it's annoying, like you have with most children actors in movies. He is brave, but also intelligent and knows when it's dangerous. Also, serious credit to the kid. Considering he is the only thing that is real in this movie, he did his job great. He pretty much acts with invisible characters and to do that with 10 years old, much props to him.
Bagheera (played by the great Ben Kingsley) Is wise and is actually a great asskicker (seriously, he kicks Shere Khans ass bad in one scene) He is sort of like the motherly voice of Mowgli, to the point where he figuratively holds a shield up that says "no fun allowed."
Baloo (played by Bill Murray) is the fun and careless friend of Mowgli, who likes to eat honey and just hangsout and sleeps all day. Bill does a phenomenal Job and this is probably his best role in years.
Shere Khan (played by Idris Elba) is THE BIG top heel in this movie. He says it like it is and says that he wants the mancub. He even Kills Akeela just like that, once he hears that Mowgli was gone. This guy is coldhearted. Also, it's Idris Elba. How can you go wrong?
Kaa (voiced by Scarlett Johansson) is a very mysterious character. She is over 100 feet long (from i have seen) seems to know alot and has an extremly seductive and hypnotic voice. And yes, she is doing the color eyes to hypnotize Mowgli, so you can be quiet about that.
King Louie (voiced by the always entertaining Christopher Walken) Is the selfproclaimed King of the Jungle and lives in his big ruin. He lives lavish, has all the fruits, all the treasures and all the servants, he is a real jungle VIP (nyeh nyeh .) Some might find Walkens voice strange, but i think that's what makes him entertaining.

Disney could have done a really sloppy job here, by just releasing a very sloppy movie like Tim Burton did 6 years ago, with his live action adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. What we have here though, is a well thought out and clever take on the tale of Rudyard Kipling. It has alot of heart, great character interactions and just an overall satisfactionary feel, that when you go out, you feel incredibly satisfied. This is probably one of the best family movies (not animated) that i have seen in the past 4 or 5 years.

If you have some money to spend, watch this movie. Jon Favreau really deserves the praise that he gets from reviewers like me. You can trusssssssssssst in me.