THE JUNGLE BOOK TRAILER IS A RESOUNDING HIT
I will admit that I was cynical about the prospect of a JUNGLE BOOK live action film. What’s the point? Been done before (seriously, it has: 1994, for starters: a live action version, aside from the 1967 Disney cartoon classic which this new remake references).
Granted, there IS a separate set of source materials to adapt. Rudyard Kipling’s original book could run and run as the basis for a movie or two (Peter Jackson would be in Heaven playing with that..turning one book into a trilogy again).
But it has taken the genius of JON FAVREAU (IRON MAN) to really nail this one as a promising production. This is not simply some bandwagon hopping Disney does its greatest hits in new format medley factory floor item (see CINDERELLA and the upcoming BEAUTY AND THE BEAST for that). No. This is a truly original vision.
The visuals are outstanding. The voice casting is perfect. IDRIS ELBA lends a regal authority to Shere Khan, the villainous Tiger. SCARLETT JOHANSSON was BORN to voice Kaa, the seductive snake (she can sound louchely languidly, lazily sexy: hypnotic). BILL MURRAY is Baloo, the Bear. There are hints of the old songs and scenes, but this will clearly come with fresh music and set-pieces to match.
There is a truly seamless coupling of live action footage to computer generated augmentation here. You do not look at this and think ‘CGI!’. Neither does it feel like a purely photo-realistic documentary. In short, this is something truly NEW.
One does not FEEL like they have seen this before, despite its foundations in a familiar product. PROOF if any were needed that film is truly a visual medium and that it can still surprise us when deployed by a visionary director and the right team of creative talents.
This is of course, just a trailer. But as trailers go, this is an experience in itself. I urge any fan of the cinematic art-form to watch this, enjoy it and thereby join in the collective anticipation for what will surely be a great film event in 2016.
Just look for the Bear Necessities..
