Sadly Over-hyped

Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

THIS is the the best adaptation of Mowglie's Brothers. It follows the original almost exactly, with two added scenes of Mowgli dressing up in sheets to scar Tabaqui, and dropping a melon on Shere Khan.this got me to read all of the Jungle Book stories as a young child. As far as Shere Khan being white, I always thought he was supposed to be, and looked for some reference to that in the books. In "Tiger! Tiger!" the villagers DO think SHere Khan is a ghost, but it's because of his lameness, the same as "wicked old money lender, who passed away some years ago." If he were white it would have only increased their superstitions, but what I think happened was this: Chuck Jones considered doing more adaptations of Kipling; and since it wouldn't animate well to show a limping tiger, he decided on another reason the villagers believed he was a ghost--namely making him white. Unfortunately, "Tiger! Tiger!" never got made.

Legendary animator Chuck Jones has brought another Jungle Book story to life after Rikki-Tikki Tavi and The White Seal, with excellent animation and story telling by Roddy McDowall and Dean Elliott's musical score. You know, the only adaptation of the "Mowgli" stories I had known is the Disney version, but I love both! including the version from Russia. But unlike Disney's version, Jones adhered to the original story, although Shere Khan becomes a white tiger and there is no reference to his lameness...of course I did not know the tiger was lame in the original stories. And also we got to see his spineless slave/henchman - the jackal Tabaqui (animated by veteran Jones' animator from the Warner Bros. years - Ben Washam), who didn't appeared in the Disney version; I love how made his appearance in the picture...what a grin.I love the little wolf babies, they're SO cute! I also love that bit a animation put into the scene when Rashka (Mother Wolf) told Shere Khan off.

Last time I saw this I think I was in first or second grade. When we got the Disney version for my daughter, I was thinking, "this is a great movie." That was before I realized that I had never seen the Disney version (which completely lacks a story). If you're two years old the Disney version is great; otherwise watch this one. This version is basically the original story, kind of dark and the animation matches the mood of the story. I especially like how this version handles the progression of Mowgli from "man cub" to man, and his mastery of the "red flower." It's still a kid's movie, but like other stuff by Chuck Jones it appeals to all ages. Check out this movie. Chuck Jones is the man. watch it!

Kipling purists might quibble over the fact that Shere Khan becomes a white tiger and regains the use of his bad leg, or the fact that some of the animal characters look as if they belong in one of Jones's Road Runner cartoons. On the other hand, this is the only adaptation from the Mowgli stories that actually sticks closely to Kipling's original plot and dialogue. So if you want to see where Disney got it wrong, this 25-minute film is definitely worth checking out.