The Jungle Book [Includes Digital Copy] [Blu-ray/DVD]

Director: Jon Favreau Jon Favreau

Overview

In this reimagining of the classic collection of stories by Rudyard Kipling, director Jon Favreau uses visually stunning CGI to create the community of animals surrounding Mowgli (Neel Sethi), a human boy adopted by a pack of wolves. The appearance of a villainous tiger named Shere Khan (voiced byIdris Elba) forces Mowgli's guardian, the panther Bagheera (Ben Kingsley), to shepherd the child to safety in the "man village." Along the way, the boy meets an affable, lazy bear named Baloo (Bill Murray), as well as a snake with hypnotic powers (Scarlett Johansson) and an orangutan (Christopher Walken) who wants to harness the power of fire. Lupita Nyong'o, Giancarlo Esposito, and Garry Shandling also lend their voices to this adventure tale.

Product Details

Release Date:	08/30/2016
UPC:	0786936850628
Original Release:	2016
Rating:	PG
Source:	Walt Disney Video
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:46:00
Sales rank:	2,034

Special Features

The Jungle Book Reimagined - discover how the filmmakers reenvisioned this classic tale.; I Am Mowgli - follow the extraordinary journey of Neel Sethi, who joins some of the biggest names in movies to bring this story to life.; King Louie's Temple: layer by layer - take a fast, engaging lookat how the "I Wan'na Be Like You" sequence was created.; Audio commentary - with director Jon Favreau.

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Armin Rohde	Balu
Joachim Król	Baghira
Rolf Becker	Shir Khan
Heike Makatsch	Raksha
Jessica Schwarz	Kaa
Justus von Dohnányi	Akela
Christian Berkel	King Louie
Olaf Reichmann	Ikki
Patrick Winczewski	Rama
Stefan Fredrich	Riesenhörnchen
Oliver Stritzel	Rocky das Nashorn
Tilo Schmitz	Bison
Gerrit Schmidt-Foß	Schuppentier
Axel Malzacher	Springmaus
Bill Murray	Baloo
Ben Kingsley	Bagheera
Idris Elba	Shere Khan
Lupita Nyong'o	Raksha
Scarlett Johansson	Kaa
Giancarlo Esposito	Akela,Animal Voice
Christopher Walken	Louie
Garry Shandling	Ikki
Brighton Rose	Gray
Emjay Anthony	Young Wolf
Max Favreau	Young Wolf,Pygmy Hog,Raquel the Rhino
Chloe Hechter	Young Wolf
Asher Blinkoff	Young Wolf
Knox Gagnon	Young Wolf
Sasha Schreiber	Young Wolf,Young Wolf
Sam Raimi	Giant Squirrel
Russell Peters	Rocky the Rhino
Sara Arrington	Neelgai Deer
Sean W. Johnson	Voices,Animal Voice
Allan Trautman	Animal Voice
Bernard Lewandowski	Voices
Jan Peszek	Voices
Jan Frycz	Voices
Lidia Sadowa	Voices
Anna Dereszowska	Voices
Dee Bradley Baker	Voices
Neel Sethi	Mowgli
Ritesh Rajan	Infant Mowgli's Father
Kendrick Reyes	Infant Mowgli
John Debney	Composer

Technical Credits

Justin Marks

Brigham Taylor	Producer
Justin Marks	Screenwriter
Paul Becker	Executive Producer
Molly Allen	Executive Producer
Philip Greenlow	Executive Producer
David Conley	Executive Producer
Julian Levi	Executive Producer
Peter Tobyansen	Executive Producer
Karen Gilchrist	Executive Producer
James Hyde	Sound Effects
Ron Judkins	Sound Effects,Sound Mixer
Veronica Kahn	Sound Effects
Jon Favreau	Director,Producer
Peter M. Tobyansen	Executive Producer
Sarah Finn	Casting
Chad Cortvriendt	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Jon Favreau's ambitious retelling of the beloved 1967 Disney animated film The Jungle Book could have been a success based solely on the sum of its parts; the star wattage of its voice actors alone rivals the cast of any other popcorn flick hitting theatres this year. In order to truly do justice to its predecessors, however, the reboot needed to have enough heart to match its visually stunning CGI animals and backdrop. Fortunately, this incarnation is able to capture the spirit of the source material (which originates in Rudyard Kipling's 1894 collection of stories of the same name), paying appropriate reverence to past versions while also creating its own unique wrinkles, humor, and overall journey. We first find Mowgli (played here by newcomer Neel Sethi) struggling to fit in while living among a wolf pack, despite the diligent tutelage of his mentor and guardian, the panther Bagheera (voiced by Ben Kingsley). After direct threats from human-hating tiger Shere Khan (Idris Elba, whose vocal work is both enthralling and chilling), the boy's adoptive wolf parents Raksha (Lupita Nyong'o) and Akela (Giancarlo Esposito) are forced to let Bagheera escort their son to the "man village" for his own safety. But Mowgli is separated from the panther during his reluctant trip to the human refuge, and a hypnotizing encounter with the transfixing snake Kaa (Scarlett Johansson) ends with the boy being rescued at the last possible moment by an affable, lazy bear known as Baloo (Bill Murray, providing terrific comic relief). Bagheera and Baloo, uneasy acquaintances who are quickly forced to become an odd couple of sorts, help Mowgli escape the grasp of orangutan King Louie (Christopher Walken), who wishes to harness the power of fire. Later, their journey culminates in a final battle with Shere Khan. Favreau and the rest of the creative team behind this remake (especially screenwriter Justin Marks) are to be commended for crafting a well-thought-out plot that draws on prior adaptations of the story. Their choice to spend a substantial amount of time with the wolf family who raised Mowgli pays great dividends, as Nyong'o's performance offers an emotional heft that adds undeniable gravitas to the picture. This incarnation also reprises most of the 1967 film's classic tunes: Murray professes his appreciation for the "Bear Necessities,"" and Walken does a rendition of "I Wan'na Be Like You" that remains an earworm while shedding most of the original version's uncomfortable racial overtones. Favreau is not afraid to go his own way here, particularly with a showdown that varies greatly from the animated version, and which leads to a fresh, distinctive coda for a new generation of viewers. Of course, there are certain aspects of the classic Disney film that are downplayed in this remake. Kaa's role has been greatly diminished, and her accompanying musical number, "Trust in Me,"" isn't heard until the credits. Also, it's slightly disappointing that there are no Beatles-inspired vultures here who break out into a mellow, groovy tune (a number that many modern artists probably would have been eager to recreate). And the 3D gimmick of the film's theatrical release, almost compulsory for children's entertainment these days, feels unnecessary in this instance, as the finely tuned CGI work and colorful settings are immersive enough on their own. If anything, the 3D makes the movie seem too busy at times. These minor qualms don't diminish The Jungle Book's charm, though, as Favreau has not only created a wondrous world here, but crafted a heartwarming story about responsibility, loss, and the importance of utilizing one's own gifts and talents. Both neophytes and fans of the 1967 movie can enjoy this adorable yet weighty tale, which captures the spirit of the Disney canon as well as any of the studio's recent releases. Although it's a remake, this Jungle Book hits the mark by just being itself.