Haraka’s Movie Review: The Jungle Book [2016]

At the beginning, it takes time to form a re-imagining adventure in the jungle, the scenario still sit nicely using basic synopsis but there are some attempts to create a new storyline. The Jungle Book seemed to want to make Mowgli became a hero by creating a connection with the animal kingdom. The impact is that the story be paced to develop conflict, occasionally feels relaxed, but also there is a section that is capable of pumping the adrenaline of the audience. The problem is not there, but lies in the combination between the tone of the story varied. As Mowgli moving wild in the woods, the tone of the story of this film also feels wild. Although the main focus is strong, but the transition is not always shown smoothly. By appearing implicitly, make an adventure of this film as less solid, sometimes fast and very smooth, but sometimes stiff and a bit draggy. Whether it be a bother? It is also difficult to give the green light on this issue. Jon Favreau once again managed to present a careful storytelling structure, so that the existing shortage able to covered well by him. The Jungle Book is a collection of timeless stories. Story when you read it back, it would still seem attractive and the higher levels of the age when you read it, it will be more knowledgeable frame of reference and perspective will you find and feel. Starting from tradition, perseverance, loyalty, courage, honor, to integrity. In the hands of the director of “Iron Man”, The Jungle Book managed to do a re-imagining of the old story of The Jungle Book into a presentation that not only merely proportionate in the context of the story, but also to be an adventure of darkness and light, which is thrilling and spoil the eye.

Was found by Bagheera (Ben Kingsley) as a baby, a son of man named Mowgli (Neel Sethi) grew up and raised by a wolf named Raksha (Lupita Nyong’o) along with his gang led by Akela (Giancarlo Esposito). Mowgli grows happily in the wild until one day, when the truce lasted drinking water due to drought, a tiger named Shere Khan (Idris Elba) come with a threat to Mowgli. Aware of the dangers that threaten “her son”, Bagheera choose to take Mowgli back to the human world. Unfortunately, their way is not easy, ranging from meeting a python Kaa (Scarlett Johansson), Gigantopithecus King Louie (Christopher Walken), to bear named Baloo (Bill Murray).

The Jungle is No Longer Safe for You

Although it brings many issues, The Jungle Book mixes all of it into a show that is comfortable to watch with the family. Yes, comfortable, but if too safe? Not entirely. Lots of interesting characters, a lot of fun color combinations, but it’s hard to wholeheartedly give the green light and stipulate that this movie is a family film that is “friendly”. In the hands of Jon Favreau and a script written by Justin Marks, This film which is adapted based on Rudyard Kipling’s collection of stories, trying to bring the approach with a combination of “dark” and “bright”. The Jungle Book has moments that may seem daunting to an audience of children, although Jon Favreau managed to keep the story did not appear dark frontally, one example by utilizing a pleasant visualization.

The best thing about this film is its visual presentation extraordinary satisfying! Potential eerie feel also born from the visual appearance that feels real. Managed to look so impressive, to the extent that was a little difficult to accept that the anthropomorphic animals depicted in this film, is produced computers. The animators did a stunning job here. Live action is presented not only feels smooth, but the charm of each character managed to captivate the audience. Everything looked amazing! Re-imaging existing code is sweet, ranging from the detail to the emotions, so that their presence on the screen left a strong impression. Presentation of the 3D effect is also very good at giving a deep impression. But unfortunately, elements that are really strong on this film only that, merely visual.

At the beginning, it takes time to form a re-imagining adventure in the jungle, the scenario still sit nicely using basic synopsis but there are some attempts to create a new storyline. The Jungle Book seemed to want to make Mowgli became a hero by creating a connection with the animal kingdom. The impact is that the story be paced to develop conflict, occasionally feels relaxed, but also there is a section that is capable of pumping the adrenaline of the audience. The problem is not there, but lies in the combination between the tone of the story varied. As Mowgli moving wild in the woods, the tone of the story of this film also feels wild. Although the main focus is strong, but the transition is not always shown smoothly. By appearing implicitly, make an adventure of this film as less solid, sometimes fast and very smooth, but sometimes stiff and a bit draggy. Whether it be a bother? It is also difficult to give the green light on this issue. Jon Favreau once again managed to present a careful storytelling structure, so that the existing shortage able to covered well by him.

The quality of the cast’s performance were mixed, and there are shortcomings in the Neel Sethi. When the show jumping or running, Mowgli performed very well, but when he is required to convey emotion through expression, he was less successful. Emotions of Mowgli feels flat! That’s also the reason why the most memorable of the acting part comes from the voice, which is not physically present on the screen. Ben Kingsley gives a good appearance on Bagheera, the impression of caring and protecting it appears very strong. Idris Elba managed to provide the perfect spooky charm on Shere Khan, and Scarlett Johansson is able to inject blowing “wind” that is so chilling when Kaa arise. And Bill Murray is the star at the voice, even though he made the song feel awkward but Baloo really feels “alive” in the story thanks to the voice of Murray that was so fused with fun characters of Baloo.

This film is an energetic adventure with captivating visuals, a full-color technical achievement is impressive. Rise and fall with the shifting tone between dark and light, The Jungle Book manages to be a re-imagining of the old material with the proportion of good stories, not just being eye candy is sweet but also as sweet when mixing comedy with tragedy. But because they are stable play at the halfway point, as well as a strong focus on the action, causing the film is less able to create a sense of “warm” was stronger when the film ends. It’s a 9 of of 10!