Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my movie review.
You know, from 5 years ago, i remember watching the live action remake of Disney's The Jungle Book by Jon Favreau, in fact, i even reviewed this movie that i considered as a better live-action remake film that Favreau has ever done. Unlike the godawful remake one from Disney Renaissance he ever involved...!
But when i reviewed this movie, i was considered as a superior remake from the 1967 version that i remember seeing this film a lot when i was a kid. So, i felt like il do the movie review of this classic film.
"The Jungle Book" is a 1967 animated musical comedy that was directed by Wolfgang Reitherman (one of the "Nine Old Men"), produced by Walt Disney, and written by Larry Clemmons, Ralph Wright, Ken Anderson, Vance Gerry, and uncredited Bill Peet.
By the way, the reason i called "uncredited Bill Peet" for the latter, its because it had a change during the early concept. When the development started, Bill Peet was asked to Disney to make another animal movie with Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, Disney approved his request and Peet started to write the movie. According to the original concept, it was supposed to be faithful from the book with dark, sinister and dramatic feel of this movie, and he also created a new character in the movie named King Louie, who's the king of the monkeys. Not to mention, Terry Gilkyson joined in for the songs with some dark elements. When Walt Disney looked up the project, he wasn't very pleased about it, claiming that it will be too risky for family friendly film (since after several films, he wanted to be involved a bit), which resulting into a backstage conflict between Disney and Peet, and in the end, Bill Peet was calling quit the in January 1964 along with Gilkyson's scrapped songs (except for one song called "The Bare Necessities"), so Disney hired a new writer Larry Clemmons in order to finish the story, but Disney told him to not read the book, even if Clemmons was secretly looked at the book for the changing tone.
However, before the project was finished, they received a tragic news, on December 15th 1966, Walt Disney passed with the age of 65 due to the effect of lung cancer (since he was a chain smoker), his body was cremated and buried in the memorial park on Glendale, California. At first, they were concerned for the fate when the project was finished without the fearless leader, if the film was a flop, they had no choice but to shut down their studio. But when it came out on October 18, 1967, not only it was a huge hit, but it was declared as a dedication to Walt Disney, meaning that despite without Walt, the studio will continue the projects, even to this day.
Of course, since this is an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling, im not gonna do a comparison between the film and book, cause i never read it, nor even comparing from the Fraveau's version. Cause its been done before.
So, with all that said, is this film still good to this day? Or is this film that it should've going into man-village?
Well, lets find out.
The Story
With a movie about The Jungle Book, its more lighter and safer than the book. But again, im not doing a comparison, cause as always, im a movie guy.
Anyway, it takes place on the jungle of India, where a panther named Bagheera heard a baby's cry from the wrecked boat, so he takes the baby to the pack of wolves with Raksha and Rama, leaving an orphan baby boy turned into a Mancub named "Mowgli" after ten years. However, at the same time, the jungle isn't safe anymore, because according to Akela, he said about an evil tiger named Shere Khan is out there to hunting down Mowgli, so Bagheera has no choice but going on the journey to save Mowgli in order to bring him into the Man-Village.
Now the story itself it not bad, its all about despite they took care an orphan boy to becoming mancub, the jungle isn't safe from a dangerous predator like Shere Khan. Although, the story of going to the Man-Village is kinda ignored, mainly because the movie is probably focused on Mowgli, even if he doesn't wanting to be taken to the village, but il tell the characters later on. But of course, its not just Mowgli, it sorta focused with the chemistry between Bagheera and Baloo, ranging from Bagheera being warned about Shere Khan, while Baloo likes to have fun.
However, in case for the writing, i can say its not bad, sure it doesn't have lore about the jungle law, its sorta more modern what they like to say, like they like to call "fire" than "red flower" (unless you countered the reference in the sing "Wanna be like you"). Despite a a bit of flaws, the jokes in this movie are pretty fun with some gags and some fun moments with Baloo.
The story and writing is pretty obvious it was done to be safer audience compare from either the book or the live action remake that i watched, which is truly understandable for Disney and probably the reason why Bill Peet will never coming back to them ever again. Does that mean its bad? Well, not really, i'd say its good for say the least.
The Animation and songs
Despite the some flaws of the story and some writing, at least the animation of this film looks pretty good.
With the film that came out from the 60's, it looks impressive hand drawn, colorful, the effects and even the paining background, they're all impressively good. Sure most moments that you can somewhat see some rough lines or some other flaws for the animation process, but then again, its from 60's, not everything is 100% pretty nor perfect, but they did a nice work. Some human animation (like Mowgli and the girl) moves nice and smoothly, and as for animals, they also works pretty good, even though most of them like Bagheera, the wolves and others are mainly animated like any animals, while some like Baloo, King Louie and others are sorta act like anthro, but then again, they're also worked nicely.
In fact, the animation that was done is the use of "xerography", its an experiment photography to transferring drawings to directly to animation cels for not only take down the inking process, but also toning down the budgets and times easily.
"Who came up this idea?", you ask yourself, it was introduced by none other than Walt Disney's best pal named Ub Iwerks, the same guy who created Mickey Mouse for Disney's official mascot. Surprising, eh?
And lastly, there's the songs, and i have to admit, the songs in the movie are ranging from good to catchy and entertaining.
The first of which that we all know and love is "The Bare Necessities" by Terry Gilkyson, which is Baloo's song that's all about get along together as a friend between a mancub and papa bear, its catchy and fun to listen to. But like i said before, Terry Gilkyson was supposed to making several songs in the movie with dark and dramatic tone, but Disney doesn't like nearly all of them that he wanted to be safe, leaving Gilkyson bowed out from the studio, but only accepted with "The Bare Necessities" to be kept in the movie.
The rest of the songs are all written by The Sherman Brothers (Richard and Robert), unlike before, those songs are made to add some small dark and mysterious tone, then flipped upside down to fun stuff.
There's "I wan'na be like you", the song from King Louie he likes to be man like Mowgli, specially for knowing how to bring out a fire, its a sorta villain song, but its more for fun and damn its also pretty catchy, which it might be my underrated favorite.
"Trust in me" is a hypnotic song from Kaa that he wants to help Mowgli to be safe from Shere Khan, when in reality, he's holding him like a puppet in attempt to eating him alive, a hypnotic song with a whole lotta nope. Fun fact: This song is actually a recycled from a scrapped song from Mary Poppins called "Land of sand".
There's "Colonel Hathi's March" which is... Well, the marching elephants with Colonel Hathi, its nice but... I've no comment on it, its passable.
"That's What Friends Are For" is the vultures song that despite Mowgli is pretty much left alone (even though he still refusing to be taken in Man village) after Bagheera and Baloo, he does got interested with the vultures. At first as a kid, i don't like it so much as unnecessary, but as i grew up, i liked it too. But here's an interesting fact, this song is supposed to be a British invasion music style (which il explained the vultures later on) with a dim-witted rhino named Rocky, but this version along with Rocky are scrapped since they made too much original characters in the movie, so they put it as vultures own song with a barbershop quartet style.
And the last song called "My Own Home", which is basically a girl's song where she's fil the water on the pot before Mowgli got distracted to see her for the first time before going to the man-village. Its another passable song, but this is made a maybe a last part decision for how to end the story where Mowgli has left to the man-village.
The animation and the songs are pretty impressive work for the 1960's eh?
The Characters
In this version, Disney wanted the characters to be sorta based on celebrities from its time, whether some of them are based on or not, they're fascinated and rather likable.
Lets started with Mowgli (voiced by then child actor Bruce Reitherman), a mancub who's adopted by the wolf pack and being told to going to the man village to be safe. I find him that although he looks not bad and likes to be live peacefully in the jungle, but he's rather being a brat or careless about the warning, i mean jeez, mancub, i get you like to stay in the jungle on your own or even your wolf family, but it doesn't make any excuse for being a bratty cub to putting into trouble with some animals!! (Sorry for my limit, try to stay positive, Anthony...) Nit picking aside, i find him a not bad protagonist.
Next up is our beloved sloth bear Baloo (voiced by Phil Harris), who's a happy-go-lucky and carefree bear who likes to have fun in the jungle. Even though i like Mowgli, but we all agree that Baloo steals the show for his playful and likable role in the movie, especially with a great performance of Phil Harris for his sense of humor. And of course, his singing of "The Bare Necessities" is pretty good.
Then there's Bagheera (voiced by Sebastian Cabot), a panther who's sorta act like a guard to Mowgli to bring him to the man-village. He's another fascinated, he's always keep looking to be safe and serious when he was ordered to save Mowgli, even if its challenging based on mancub's begging to stay in the jungle. But of course, il give credit for another good performance for Cabot.
After that, we have King Louie (voiced by Louis Prima), an orangutan (though orangutans are not found in India, but rather in Indonesia, Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra) who ruled the monkeys (or Bandar-log), but he likes to be in boogie-woogie with his fellow monkeys and likes to be like man when he and his monkeys see Mowgli. He's yet another fascinated one, even though i don't think i call him a villain, but he's more like a neutral, but of course, Prima also did a good performance.
Next is Kaa (voiced by my favorite Disney used actor, Sterling Holloway), a python who's always looking at Mowgli as his prey, even if he sorta tricking him to stay in the jungle with his hypnotic look. As far as i respect to Holloway, Kaa is... Not my kind of character, he's ok, but not my favorite of the bunch, either that or the cringe factor from a disturbing fanfic that i wouldn't bother to read (Don't search on the subject in DA, please?).
Aside Kaa being a sorta side villain, the real villain is Shere Khan (voiced by George Sanders), a smart and merciless tiger who's hungry for blood at Man, even for looking at mancub. I gotta say, he's another fascinated one, but only more a bit disturbing that he's always like to searching Mowgli for his deadly mission, since he has a hatred of man. Of course, George's role of evil tiger perfectly fits in and did a nice work.
And finally we have the vultures, there's Buzzie (voiced by J. Pat O'Malley), Flaps (voiced by Chad Stuart), Dizzy (voiced by Lord Tim Hudson) and Ziggy (played by Digby Wolfe), these vultures are lived out of nowhere from the jungle, but they're not hungry for fleshes, they're just hanging out together on their own before befriending Mowgli for help. Like a said before, at first, i disliked them as a unnecessary characters in third act, but as a grew up, i changed my mind that they're also likable, specially with their performances.
Btw, remember that i mentioned before of changing style of "Thats what friends are for"? Well, in the original plan, the vultures are meant to be The Beatles, based on mop-top hairstyle and their Liverpool accent, in fact, they were supposed to be played by The Beatles all along, but John Lennon rejected the proposal, resulting changing what they are.
The rest of the characters aren't much else to say, sure, they may have purpose, but didn't give attention or not.
There's Colonel Hathi (once again, voiced by Pat O'Malley), a colonel for his army of elephants with his wife Winifred (voiced by Verna Filton, but it was final role before she died in the same month as Walt Disney's death) and his junior son (voiced by then child Clint Howard, yup, the same brother of Ron Howard that we all know and loved), Akela (voiced by John Abbott), who's the voice of wolves for the warning messages, Rama (voiced by Ben Wright), who's Mowgli's father wolf with his wife Raksha, but he along with Raksha are only shown at the beginning, and the girl from the village (voiced by Darleen Carr), who's only shown for her song that i mentioned before that got Mowgli distracted and changed his life when he reaches at the man-village. Not to mention, she doesn't have her name until she was named Shanti in "The Jungle Book 2".
Aside with some characters have some flaws and some that i don't like in my opinion, but they're fun, likable and a great performances with familiar names. Which this is Disney's goal to win back the audience and critics to building a likable characters.
SPOILER ALERT if you haven't seen the movie or you don't mind:
The final act in this movie is quite of fun, though odd in the climatic scene, but with satisfied ending.
After Mowgli befriended with the vultures, the threatening tiger Shere Khan has arrived to hunting down Mowgli, even the Mowgli aren't as scared from the tiger, but rather his pouty confrontation at the tiger, which Khan is about to play the mind-game at the mancub, not before Khan was caught by Baloo for a tug of war with tiger's tail and Mowgli, Khan and Baloo are in the chase where the tiger is attempt to killing Mowgli, but saved by two of vultures. But when Baloo was attacked by Khan, the lightning strikes at the dead tree with fire, making a solution from a vulture to tell Mowgli to take a burning branch for his revenge at the tiger to scare him away.
Even though our mancub has defeating Khan, he was concerned that Baloo is "killed" from a merciless tiger, but it was all of swerve that Baloo is strangely ok after having multiple of scratches. But as Mowgli, Bagheera and Baloo are happy for defeating the tiger, they heard the beautiful voice of young girl from the village, which it got Mowgli distracted from his curiosity when he first see a human as a feral boy (sounds almost like he's acting like Tarzan for first witnessing a female human like Jane, but i digress.), not before the girl took the attention by dropping her water pot on purpose to Mowgli to do like she's done before, but in the end, Mowgli has his life changed that he shrugged off and going to the village.
Quite of odd fight and chase between Mowgli and Baloo vs Shere Khan, but hey, its Disney in the 60's, but at least it has an ok ending, but satisfied that Mowgli has accepted to change his life.
And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, the 1967's The Jungle Book is a pretty good film to looking back from my childhood, even if we truly understand that this film is pretty loosely from the anthology novel. The story is good, the animation looks impressive for 1960's, the songs are fun and catchy and the characters, while some have problems, they're fascinating and likables. Even though i had a fond memory of this film, i can definitely seen the flaws that i have as i grew while taking off my nostalgia glasses.
Do i say its a bad movie? No, not at all, its still a good film that i remembered as a kid, like i watched a lot. But then again, since i reviewed the remake one by Jon Favreau from 2016, while i like the 67 version, but i think the remake is superior to making it as a combination between the first Disney version and be respectful from the book. For my recommendation, i'd say give the 1967 version to watch, since it is one of Disney's classic. Or maybe the 2016 remake if you want.
For my rating, its gonna be a tough one, back in my remake review, i gave it a 8.5/10 (maybe i could tone it up to 9?) as a best remake that we all know. For this original, i think il give it a 7.5/10.
So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.
Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.
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