Offering a blend of live-action and photo-realistic computer-generated effects, this action-packed 3-D adventure is for film lovers of all ages. The story of Mowgli — the orphaned “man cub” raised as a wolf and hated by the ferocious Bengal tiger Shere Khan — is a tale that has captured the world’s collective imagination since Kipling wrote it in 1894. Many have seen its various versions, the first being a 1942 live action film, then the first Disney offering in 1967, the second in 1994 and the third in 1998, along with others in various languages.

Director Jon Favreau’s version offers nostalgia draped in totally new vistas that are stunning, thrilling and never seen before. And the best way to enjoy it is to watch it in 3D.

Visually stunning and expertly acted, with some heart-stopping thrills and action sequences, The Jungle Book has young Neel Sethi as Mowgli, a toddler raised by wolves and a panther. Sethi is remarkable for an actor his age, especially considering the fact that he had to act with puppets on the set as all the co-stars (the animals) were computer-generated. The voices of the animals have been provided by the A-listers of Hollywood - Idris Elba, Ben Kingsley, Bill Murray, Christopher Walken and Scarlett Johansson.

There is just one word to describe Disney’s latest movie The Jungle Book: Wow!

Shere Khan is the villain and the character that comes across as the most powerful and impressive. He hates Mowgli with a vengeance — because the boy is a ‘man-cub’ and man is the destroyer of the jungle. Shere Khan is right in his own way, but he doesn’t realise or bother about the fact that Mowgli loves the jungle, and wants to live with his wolf family and animal friends.

Thus to protect his wolf family and himself, Mowgli flees and finds help in the shape of an adorable sloth bear, Baloo (Bill Murray). But this is not the end of Mowgli’s troubles and I will not disclose more of the storyline for those who don’t know the famous jungle tale.

Thankfully Disney doesn’t give us an overdose of songs or it would have disturbed the storytelling. There are just a few musical numbers that are basically redone versions of songs of the original Disney classic.

The Jungle Book effortlessly merges comedy, action, drama and musical, and gives us a Disney masterpiece to behold.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 23rd, 2015