Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
After a threat from the tiger Shere Khan, Mowgli, a man-cub fostered by wolves, is forced to flee the jungle, and he embarks on a journey of self-discovery with the help of the panther, Bagheera, and the free-spirited bear, Baloo.
Jon Favreau's 2016 Jungle Book remake is most distinguished by its groundbreaking visual effects and cinematography — nearly entirely CGI environments rendered with stunning photorealism, earning a well-above-average mark there. The plot follows the classic Kipling/Disney template faithfully, serviceable but unsurprising. Acting is solid, particularly Neel Sethi as Mowgli and a strong voice cast (Idris Elba, Bill Murray), though nothing transcends the material. Novelty sits above average as a technically ambitious reimagining rather than a straightforward copy, but it remains a remake at its core. The ending resolves Mowgli's arc competently but conventionally.