Yet another live-action retelling of a Disney classic, this version of The Jungle Book is visually stunning and a lot more emotionally complex than the light-hearted 1967 animation. The plot, however, remains relatively untouched. It centres around Mowgli (played by Neel Sethi), a boy raised by wolves. Fleeing from the vicious tiger Shere Khan (Idris Elba) Mowgli meets an array of exciting jungle characters and learns some valuable lessons about himself along the way. The film boasts an extremely talented cast including Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Christopher Walken and Scarlett Johansson.
Featuring stunning visual effects, The Jungle Book's impressive CGI gives the film a gravity and realism far beyond most Disney films. The animals are fantastically animated, from Bagheera the panther to King Louie. The landscapes are vast and green, and the sound design only adds to the realistic feel of the film. The jungle sound effects are really immersive, and the soundtrack, whilst original, gives rather obvious nods to the songs of the animated classic. Something which will undoubtedly please fans of the original. And it is truly novel to hear Bill Murray singing 'the bare necessities' as Baloo. However given that in live action The Jungle Book becomes much more 'dark' and serious, the songs sometimes feel out of place. Especially during a scene with Christopher Walken's King Louie, where the suspense is ruined by Walken suddenly bursting into song with 'I wanna be like you'. Although the film is far from a musical, it just feels as though these couple of songs are at odds with the overall serious atmosphere of the film. 
The highlight of the film is most definitely the voice acting. Shere Khan, voiced by Idris Elba, is extremely menacing. And of course, Bill Murray makes for a great Baloo. He is one of the most vibrant and likeable characters in the film. Although it is clear that he is intended as comic relief, this sometimes falls a bit flat. But it doesn't change that he's one of the more fleshed out characters in the film. The true star, however, is Scarlett Johansson. She makes Kaa (the snake) sound especially hypnotic and almost seductive, and it's a shame her role is so small. Whilst overall The Jungle Book is entertaining and a good retelling of a classic, there are only a few memorable moments that really stand out. It is, however, a great visual experience.
