No major studio in Hollywood has been firing on all cylinders quite like Disney lately. In addition to the creative resurrection of Star Wars, the seemingly unstoppable commercial might of the Marvel films, and the by-now taken-for-granted genius of Pixar, the Mouse House has less noisily been rummaging around in its celluloid closet and giving some of its more mothball-scented animated classics up-to-the-minute live-action makeovers. Last year, director Kenneth Branagh splashed a fresh coat of candy-colored paint onto Cinderella (with a huge assist from Cate Blanchett’s venomous wicked stepmother). Now, it’s The Jungle Book’s turn in the rotation – and, it may be one of the biggest surprises of 2016!
Here is what the critics are saying about Disney’s The Jungle Book:
Groundbreaking and magical ~ The Independent
A Wildly Imaginative Visual Treat For All Ages ~Forbes
This ‘Dazzling’ and ‘Charming’ Live-Action Remake Is an ‘Utterly Immersive’ Experience ~Us Magazine
Maintaining the buoyant heartbeat beneath all the digital flash, Favreau never loses sight of the fact that hes making an adventure story for children ~Variety
The Jungle Book is shot beautifully, and has a fantastic sense of wonder within the world being created. That translates into big-screen magic. ~ Cinemablend
As lovely to behold as it is engrossing to watch, The Jungle Book is the rare remake that actually improves upon its predecessors — all while setting a new standard for CGI. ~Rotten Tomatoes
Disney’s return to the story of The Jungle Book might feel bigger and look better than anything that’s come before, but at its core is a very human tale that resonates just as strongly no matter how spectacular its visual wrappings. ~IGN
In every way, this quietly majestic film should be considered a triumph. The familiar, picaresque story of a young boy raised by forest creatures but fated to re-join Man has been re-imagined as a funny, scary, affecting family adventure with mythic heft but a refreshing lack of swagger. It was made with the latest in movie-making technology but has the ethical values and wide-net storytelling sensibility of an Old Hollywood classic. At its best it feels as though it always existed and we are only now discovering it. ~Roger Ebert
“spectacular revival of Disney’s family favourite“terrifically enjoyable piece of old-fashioned storytelling and a beautiful-looking film: spectacular, exciting, funny and fun” ~The Guardian
The Jungle Book is one of the stronger of Disney’s live-action adaptations. It’s a true family-friendly adventure that’s smart and often thrilling. ~ Lindsey Bahr, Associated Press
This Jungle Book works, because Favreau has both a sense of humor and a sense of spectacle. ~Stephanie Zacharek, Time Magazine
Like all classic Disney productions, “The Jungle Book” possesses its share of fear, suffering and loss. But somehow the audience comes out whistling – in this case, with joy and quite a bit of awe. Ann Hornaday ~ Washington Post
Jon Favreau’s Flashy Reboot is the Future of the Blockbuster ~Indiewire
Director Jon Favreau and an all-star cast turns Rudyard Kipling’s classic tale into a feast for the eyes ~Rolling Stone