Thank you to Disney for sponsoring my attendance at the #JungleBookEvent!
I’m working under the assumption that you’ve already decided to see The Jungle Book. How could you watch the trailer and not want to see it immediately? But just in case you’re on the fence, let me convince you that you do indeed need to see it. Today. Or at the very least, soon.
It’s a classic.
The Jungle Book is based on a classic book and a classic animated film. And I suppose one could argue that calling this new version a classic before it’s actually in theaters could be a stretch, but trussssst me. In my mind, it’s status as a classic is a foregone conclusion. You’ll be watching this with your kids for years to come. And with their kids. And their kids. And…you get the picture.
©Disney
The music is amazing.
And to that end, I refer you to my mild red carpet stalking of Richard Sherman. He came on board to rework some of his classic lyrics to fit the film. John Debney did an amazing job of working the original music of the Sherman Brothers and Terry Gilkyson into the score. Even though the film is not a musical, you’re going to get a taste of all of the things you loved musically in the original animated version. Make sure you stay through the end credits for some extra music and animation treats.
The animation is going to blow your mind.
Speaking of animation…The Jungle Book could have gone so, so wrong. I won’t name names, but there are a few computer animated films that I won’t watch because they look so creepy. (And this is me talking-I like creepy.) I could go down the rabbit hole of discussing the uncanny valley, but I’ll leave that for another day. My point-I do have one-is that The Jungle Book did it very, very right. It’s hard to believe the film was shot in downtown Los Angeles and not in a jungle. That animation is that good. I’ve read the production notes. I’ve talked to the director. It still blows my mind. And it will blow your mind, too.
©2016 Disney
You’ll love it, no matter how much you loved the book or the original animated film.
Oh, my Disney purist. I get you. I do. You love the originals so much that you’re skeptical of the live action remakes each time one comes out. And what happens every time you see one? Go on, I’ll wait.
What’s that? You love it? Exactly. They’re not going to screw up your beloved childhood classics by throwing together something mediocre. You loved Maleficent. You loved Cinderella. You will love The Jungle Book, too. I promise.
Fans of the book, never fear. This adaptation of The Jungle Book lies somewhere between the animated classic and the Kipling version. The film makers had both sets of fans in mind while making the movie and it doesn’t disappoint.
It’s perfect for the family.
The Jungle Book is the perfect film for a family outing. There’s action, adventure and humor that will appeal to a wide variety of ages. The trailer for the film gives you a good idea of the action in the movie, so use that as a guide for determining if the movie is right for your younger children.
It has pangolins.
What are pangolins, you ask? Pangolins are extremely endangered mammals, unique to their taxonomy branch. There’s no close relative to the pangolin. Jon Favreau thought they were pretty cool and decided to give one a small role in the film. The little guy who interacts with Baloo and looks like an artichoke? That’s a pangolin! (Keep your eyes open for his special appearance in the end credits, too.)
Pangolin meat is considered a delicacy in some countries, and their scales are used in some traditional Asian medicines. Pangolins have never survived being born in captivity, so you’ll almost never see them in zoos. There are current efforts to get pangolins listed on the US endangered species act. You can help! Visit the International Fund for Animal Welfare to stay up to date. There’s also a petition coming soon that you can sign to let the US government know that you want pangolins protected!
And yes, there’s a pangolin plush from the film. And yes, you will absolutely get strange looks and a few questions when you carry him in your arms at the airport because you ran out of room in your carryon.
Find full coverage of the #JungleBookEvent right here on As The Bunny Hops.
The Jungle Book is in theaters everywhere in 3D, RealD 3D, and IMAX 3D!