As a kid, I used to be fascinated by Jungle Book. I have read the book several times, watched the animated version atleast 8-10 times and even collected hundreds of “Gold Spot” crowns to win some contest on this movie. I eagerly waited for the release and as expected, the film still had the magical effect on me. Mowgli is a baby who is brought up in a jungle by a panther and a wolf pack. When there is a threat for his life from a tiger, Shere Khan, he needs to get out of the jungle. In this process, he makes some new friends and decides to take on the tiger. The film is really interesting and mostly gripping. Except for the Mowgli character, all other characters are developed using CG work and it must have been really difficult to make. The soul of the original is intact and thats why one is able to relate when the movie. However, the songs are not as effective as the animated version. “Bare Necessities” was a disappointment and I really missed “I am going to fetch the water” in the end. The fun elements involved with Baloo or Kaa and even the vultures are missing. The whole film is dark, and I am surprised to see a kids movie with this tinge. Yet, it is a joyful and nostalgic ride.
