Gripping story with well-crafted characters

A Brilliant Conflict

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

...and I might even add it rightly deserves it's current Rotten Tomatoes' score of "92%", yet mysteriously only has a "6.0" out of 10 on IMDb. WHY!??And since there're also soon gonna be TWO remakes of "The Jungle Book" within two years of each other (2015 & 2016), I thought it'd be appropriate to write this review. (Looking forward to what you've got, Serkis & Favreau!)I certainly agree with the general crowd that this flick is quite an underrated masterpiece! (I mean, hey it came out in 1994, where nearly *every* film of that year was considered great movie - so that's why I guess movies like this and "Iron Will" faded away a bit from the public eye.) In my opinion, this is my favorite version of the story! Even though I do like the original Disney cartoon; and I now know there're some controversies here & there involving the "PG" rating with this (whether it'd be involving to the violence, the action, the language, or simply scenes that're too scary for young viewers.) I admit, I've often been so critical of films, that are not only bad, but have an inappropriate "PG" rating (i.e. "Howard the Duck", "Airplane!", "Spaceballs", etc.) One of the scenes that scared me the most was where Sergeant Harley drowned in the black quicksand while chasing Mowgli. (But I also might add, it's one of those scenes that I found myself obsessed with pausing, rewinding, and re-watching so many times... for some reason.) Towards the end of the movie, each one of the bad guys die, in unique sort of ways - somewhat almost like the way the antagonists did in the recent film by Mel Gibson, "Apocalypto". (THAT'S even a film worth checking out - I was mind blown!)But exclusively addressing those who may say "what does this film have to do with the Jungle Book?", when the animals don't talk, and other things. I KNOW - but it's called an "adaptation"; things have to be changed; I mean, it's the "Jungle Book" but with more ACTION! Kinda like Indiana Jones. It stills somewhat keeps with the source material. I mean, it wasn't like the movie "Eragon" or the recent "Noah" film that disappointed SO many fans & critic.But moving back, I certainly have to say I'm quite a fan of the talented Hawaiian actor, Jason Scott Lee, since this was the first film I saw him in. I think he was a great pick to play the grown-up part of Mowgli, even though not Indian. Nice bod, though not Indian. lol I may even say he's one of those actors who're A LOT hotter & talented than Leonardo DiCaprio (an actor I really can't STAND!) And I'm a GUY... from the 90s. Here's my list on that issue: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls058930557/And several scenes that include Mowgli RUNNING through the jungle was just EPIC, and still are to this; everything coming together with the slow-motion, his hair flowing in the wind, the soundtrack, and the tense emotion Mowgli has turning from sadness to revenge is just all-round BADA$$!Anyways, I think this is still a very good film. It introduced me to such things as the "Blue Danube" theme (much better used in this flick, in a rather charming creative way, than in "2001: A Space Odyssey", a film I just don't get); I was even introduced to big Hollywood names as John Cleese (just intellectual, likable, and really funny - a much greater performance, besides "Fawlty Towers" that I've seen him in; unlike the dumb & overrated "Monty Python" series), Sam Neil (I'm not much of a Jurassic Park fan, but I am of him! With his "nostalgic" appeal to so many general viewers, & his great talent with versatility & accents), Lena Headey, who was just very beautiful & all-round likable in this story (I mean, I feel as almost my childhood of her was RUINED by that atrocious & disgusting "Game of Thrones" series! I didn't know it was her until I viewed her profile on IMDb!), Cary Elwes, though I already knew him from "The Princess Bride" (great film); but even then, I didn't know it was him! Just really goes to show how talented he is at being versatile! (Amongst actors like Johnny Depp & Gary Oldman). Overall, this is GREAT ensemble cast, with every one of them giving quite an underrated performance each! Better performances than what most of them are generally known for being in.Not only is this a dramatic film, but it has quite a few (memorable) humorous moments as well. hehehe. Like the montage of how Mowgli has to "adjust back into the human world", whether it being bathed by John Cleese ("Alright, then") or being measured, reading the alphabet, or pushing a mirror than John Cleese is looking at. "Ah, look... Ahhh!" hahahahaha! LOL Too funny!I find this movie interesting for even portraying the culture of India in a rather decent & informative way, without delving too much into the occult (i.e. biased promoting Hinduism, Buddhism, or idol worship, etc.) Many of the shots of the sets and landscape are PRETTY WELL done! And do I even need to bring up the shots of the Treasure Room in Monkey City? ...Man, it's breathtakingly, beautiful! Can give almost ANYONE goosebumps!I bet the Nostalgia Critic has YET to review this film! Right along with "Tall Tale" and "Rocketman" - I want him to review & give publicity to these movies SO BAD!8/10

Not a bad adaption, I would rate it a 7.0. Nevertheless, I still consider that "The Jungle Book" 1942 version in gorgeous Technicolor is rather better. On my seventh birthday I was given a Pan Book paperback entitled Mowgli Stories. The only illustration was on the cover: against a vivid dark blue and black background a naked adolescent Mowgli is depicted wielding a flaming red and orange branch in resistance to the villainous tiger Shere Khan, who has come to claim him from the wolf pack. I no longer have that book but my research indicates it was published by Pan Book's in 1948. The paperback contained all eight of the Mowgli stories in roughly serial order taken from a miscellaneous collection of stories found in The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book. Although the movie's longer title is "Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book", it does not deserve to have Kipling's name attached to it. The Mowgli tales as Kipling wrote them are far superior to the weak screenplay of the film which diverges widely from the original and develops an entirely new set of characters. Would a late Victorian army colonel really contemplate his only daughter marrying even a refined native boy in those days? I think not. One may forgive easily forgive the numerous careless goofs. After all it is Walt Disney stuff not a documentary about British India in late Victorian times or whether the fuel containers on the horse cart should have the word "paraffin" or "kerosene" stencilled on them etc. However, I have seen far worse gaffs in some otherwise praiseworthy Oscar-winning movies, such as"Lawrence of Arabia". I wonder if one day somebody will make a new non-cartoon film entitled "The Mowgli Stories" which is much more faithful to them than what has been produced so far. It probably could not be contained in a time span of less than three hours and who would want to sit in a cinema theatre that long anyway? Perhaps the best way of presenting the Mowgli stories on screen as Rudyard Kipling envisioned them would be to produce an eight-episode made for TV series. Okay, I have grouched enough. In fairness, I enjoyed the film as it stands. After all my objections why do I give it a 7/10? First the cinematography and staged scenery were good quality, second animal handling was well done and third the cast was excellent. The lead star, Jason Lee Jones was first rate, just right for the part. Several Indian commentators on this site have disliked the fact that Jason is not an Indian and they also claim he does not even look like one. This is rather a pointless objection in my view. India (without Pakistan and Bangladesh) has about 1.2 billion human inhabitants and a long history of invasion and conquests with much interbreeding. Thus there are numerous tribes, ethnics and races in India. Indians themselves display a range of complexions from the ebony black of a Tamil to the light olive skins of a Mediterranean person further north. Jason reminds me of many Bengalis I have known where slightly Mongoloid features are common. To ignore the physical diversity of its inhabitants would be to deny India's cultural, ethnic and racial diversity which makes that country so interesting. Instead, I would have thought that Indians would more likely to have objected to the way they are depicted in the movie, either as rather silly or villainous. In fairness several of the British officers are depicted as silly and/or villainous as well.Downgrading natives was definitely not Kipling's style. In the Jungle Books and his novel "Kim" Rudyard Kipling reveals a true love of greater India and its people and culture. He was one of the few intelligent imperialists (called "Empire Builders" until well into the 1950s) who sought to understand the local cultures in whatever corner of the Empire they found themselves assigned for years. The could either isolate themselves in compounds or mingle. Kipling mingled and studied the cultures and manners of Her Majesty's exotic subjects though as a man of his day he did not commit the "sin" of "going native". As the film is deliberately light-hearted Disney stuff bordering on comedy one could even accept John Cleese portraying - as he did in the Monty Python films and as Basil in the "Fawlty Towers" TV show- a very silly, uncouth, and highly satirical Englishman. One final point I need to make is that in my view the movie should have been rated PG-13 rather than PG. There are some particularly ugly scenes including man eaten by a tiger, by implication only, in one instance or another explicitly mauled to death by Shere Khan. That is scary stuff for a small child. Worse are scenes of a soldier slowing sinking to his death in a quagmire, an Indian bad guy being squashed by man-trapping devices and another man drowned in slow motion. Also young children tend to become very upset if animals are hurt or killed. There is a scene where an animal is shot and depicted to be in great pain. Anyone who cares to read the Mowgli stories (best after and not before you see this movie) will find them published in full at:http://thenostalgialeague.com/olmag/kipling-jungle-book.html A site dedicated to Kipling's work that is well worth visiting.

Interested in seeing an action packed movie? If so, watch The Jungle Book live version. I really enjoyed it. This movie has so much action and suspense and follows the same storyline as the cartoon version but with so much more detail. The movie is about a boy named Mowgli who is taken away from his village after a tiger attack. He gets stuck on a runaway wagon that is on fire. After he manages to get off of the wagon he is too far away from his village and no one can find him. Mowgli is raised by a pack of wolves and grows up with a panther and a bear named Baloo. Eventually, he is found by civilization and his childhood love named Kitty. He then has to learn how to fit in with everyone. My favorite character in the movie is Mowgli because he tries really hard to fit in with everyone once he is found. He also tries really hard to always protect Kitty. He is a really good fighter and climber. My favorite part in this movie is when Mowgli finds a secret hideout where a lot of monkeys live. It is packed with mountains of treasures. He finds a dagger but then a snake pops out and tries to kill Mowgli. So Mowgli fights with the snake and eventually uses the dagger to kill the snake. It is really suspenseful. I recommend this movie for ages 6 and up. Younger kids might get scared watching this movie because there is a lot of fighting and suspense. Credit: Anthony Aranda, age 9, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic.

I am shocked at the low rating this movie has. Sure, the animated version will forever be my favorite. But, I felt that Disney did a fine job bringing an animated movie and novel to life. Jason Scott Lee stars as Mowgli and does Rudyard Kipling proud by making the audience believe he can talk to animals. The animals that were featured in this version were great, from the wolf to the great Tiger. The story starts out with a hunting expedition in India led by Mowgli's father. As a boy, Mowgli meets and takes a liking to the daughter of the British colonel who financed the trip (played by the great Sam Neill). While they camp at night, a powerful and fierce tiger attacks the camp, killing several people including Mowgli's father. Mowgli ends up being separated from the camp and is presumed dead by everyone. In the jungle, he meats a baby bear and wolf and together they grow up. Eventually, Mowgli comes across his long lost love but even though he is accepted to society, he feels like an alien. If that's not enough, he must battle a corrupt army captain who has his sights on Mowgli's love. Ultimately, this is a film that is worthy to have The Jungle Book as it title, with great acting and beautiful scenery. Truly a film that everyone can enjoy.