Run time: 105 mins Certificate: PG Director: Jon Favreau Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley. Release Date: April 15, 2016.
A Bear Necessity.
To describe how refreshing Jon Favreau’s adaptation of The Jungle Book is would be almost impossible, in an age of countless needless remakes it could have been set to go down the same path, but instead he’s delivered a delight of a film that pays as much a homage to the Disney original as it does the Kipling source material. Placing itself deftly between the musicality of the cartoon and the more fable like qualities of the book it manages to create wonderfully balanced world all of its own, one with equal charm and drama that will appeal to any age. Simply put this is Disney back on classical form.
The beautifully crafted world and animals will strike you immediately, with an eye on realism at all the times the CGI is undoubtedly some of the best to have ever been put on screen. As with all effects laden films though, there can be some disparity in the quality. Seeing Mowgli ride down the river on Baloo’s stomach is brilliantly realised, whereas another moment that sees Mowgli being taken through the trees by an assortment of monkeys looks more than a little odd. Likewise it takes a moment to adjust to seeing such believable animals talk so casually, some characters mouth movements never quite looking credible, yet admittedly there came a point in the film when I forgot even noticing it. It all takes a little getting used to then, but once you’re invested in the world there’s no denying the beauty with which it has been crafted.
Ben Kinglsey’s Bagheera is a commanding figure.
Favreau shows a clear attention to detail throughout, building the mythos behind this animal kingdom subtly without ever endangering the plot or characters. Ben Kingsley’s Bagheera works as a pseudo narrator, establishing aspects of the world such as the much respected elephants (far from marching this time round) to add a level of depth to the proceedings. Children won’t be lost with any heavy messages, but its does take it beyond the simplistic man versus nature motifs it could have easily relied solely upon.
There is time for levity as well however, not only from Baloo either, with two songs from the original animation returning to great effect. John Debney’s soundtrack is well done, weaving the same classic tunes into its rousing orchestral themes to evoke a nostalgia in any Disney fan. All of this is then framed expertly by Bill Pope’s cinematography, using panning shots and close ups in equal measure to emphasize the breadth of scale in this fantastical world. One instance where the camera follows an enormous King Louie clambering around the sides of a courtyard as Baloo and Bagheera struggle below was a jaw dropping shot that sold the scene with a stunning intensity that’s rare in such effects heavy features.
Christopher Walken dominates the screen as King Louie.
What binds the dramatic tones with the whimsical fantasy of it all is without a doubt the spot on voice acting. Few of the famous characters are replicated from Disney’s previous iteration, rather they’re developed further or reinvented entirely. Bill Murray’s con artist Baloo lights up the film from the moment he appears, providing some much needed comic relief to the relatively sombre opening. His comic delivery is as spot on as ever, and he gives some genuine heart to the character. Likewise Kingsley’s regal tones imbue Bagheera with his trademark wisdom, whose chemistry with both Mowgli and Baloo arguably provides an anchor to the majority of the films more poignant scenes. Idris Elba revels in the villainy of Shere Khan, and in taking the big bad to some truly dark places gives the protagonists and audiences alike something to genuinely fear. Christopher Walken’s King Louie (an enormous gigantopithecus this time around) steals his scenes with his mafioso like turn as the character, his rendition of Swingdance managing to be both joyous and terrifying at the same time. Perhaps the only disappointment here is Scarlett Johanson’s Kaa who, despite being animated exquisitely in her mesmerising scene, turns in a performance absent of any of the hypnotic qualities of the character she’s portraying.
Considering this is Neel Sethi’s breakout role as Mowgli, and that he’s the only character physically on set, he performs admirably. Portraying the cock sure attitude of Mowgli whilst interacting with co-stars made up entirely of CGI animals inevitably leads to some stiffness and moments of over acting, but the enthusiasm with which he approaches every aspect of the role keeps the character from ever feeling detached from the world he’s inhabiting, which is no mean feat.
Verdict
Once the whimsical credits begin to roll to the timeless Disney songs there’s little doubt left that The Jungle Book was a remake that fully deserved to be made. Favreau’s cognizant approach marries the best of both worlds, weaving the depth of the book into the playfulness of the Disney original to form an iteration that’s entirely its own. Astounding computer effects, a believable lead and an esteemed voice cast all ensure this classic tale finds its place in modern cinema.
Hits
+ Balances dramatic beats with humour perfectly + Surprising depth and emotion + Cast impress across the board + Musical beats implemented into the soundtrack + Jaw dropping visual effects bring the world to life…
Considering its pioneering use of CGI its a wonder one can call Jurassic Park a timeless franchise, but thanks to a healthy mix of computer effects and Stan Winston’s incredible animatronics it really has stood the test of time. Witnessing Alan Grant and company see a live Brachiosaurus is as awe inspiring now as it was 23 years ago thanks to its unparalleled effects under some incredible direction from Spielberg. Jurassic Park was an event of a film, and the franchise its spawned has continued to give us some incredibly memorable scenes. So with the release of Jurassic World here’s a list of what I consider to be the 25 best scenes Isla Nublar and Sorna have given us.
SPOILER ALERT: Major spoilers for all Jurassic Park films ahead, including Jurassic World!
Honourable Mention – Spinosaurus Vs T. Rex (Jurassic Park 3)
Before we enter the top 25 this just had to be mentioned. Love or hate the outcome, this scene was a phenomenal opener to the dinosaur action in Jurassic Park 3. What began as a terrifying enough experience for Alan Grant and co having had their planes wings thoroughly clipped by the Spinosaurus soon developed into a monumental bout as a T.Rex entered the fray. Why didn’t it make the top 25? Well considering what was happening on screen there just wasn’t enough weight behind the action and having just met both of these titans it was hard to root for either of them. Regardless it was a big scene that introduced the Spinosaurus with a bang, and one that was talked about by fans long after, so it had to be mentioned.
You can watch the scene below.
25 – Close Encounters with a Brachiosaurus (Jurassic Park)
This playful scene occurs after the parks been plunged into chaos making it a much appreciated respite for the isolated group. Seeing Lex and Tim regain their confidence around the Brachiosaurus after their harrowing experience with the T. Rex is great, and there’s some great bonding between them and Alan Grant as well. The animatronic goes a long way to making this scene as special as it is, as you can believe Grant’s feeding an actual Brachiosaurus when the immense model chomps down on the branch. Tim shouting “God bless you!” after the Brachiosaurus has sneezed all over Lex is just the icing on this wonderful scene.
You can watch the scene below.
24 – Stuck in a Hamster Ball (Jurassic World)
This is a great example of a classic Jurassic Park scenario done with a twist in Jurassic World. Zach and Gray are thrust into the middle of a deadly fight after having gone off road as the Indominus Rex dispatches a defensive Ankylosaurus and turns his attention to the Gyrosphere they’re in. There’s the quiet build up as Gray counts one more dinosaur than his brother, spotting the reflection of the Indominus behind them, to the all out chaos as the Gyrosphere’s integrity is tested by the panicking Ankylosaurus herd. After a grim end for one Ankylosaurus the Indominus locks his jaw right around the sphere and begins smashing, an eerie callback to the T. Rex’s glass smashing attack on the jeep roof from the first. Its a tense sequence with the kids going from terrified to ingenious as they narrowly escape (props to Ty Simpkins and Nick Robinson for really selling the terror here), with the whole endeavour capping off with a now or never waterfall jump.
You can catch a clip of the scene below.
23 – Fire, Water and a Spinosaurus (Jurassic Park 3)
Jurassic Park 3 may not have been of the same calibre as its predecessors, but its continued use of practical effects alongside CGI made for some great action. The last ditch attack from the Spinosaurus is where it all comes together to work in harmony, with its closely framed shots emphasising the size of the beast (again an impressive animatronic) against the towering crane. Its an excellent set piece that dials up the desperation to 11, forcing William H. Macy’s Paul Kirby to climb the crane to distract the Spinosaurus from his trapped ex-wife. Its all looking hopeless until Alan Grant once again makes use of a flare, firing it at the Spinosaurus and into the leaking oil that has bathed the scene of the action. The river goes up in flame and drives the Spinosaurus away (his last appearance, a full body shot behind the fire using CGI casting an imposing image) leaving the gang to escape with their lives. The night time attack on the river lit up by the fire makes this a thrilling and apt farewell to the deadly Spinosaurus.
You can watch the scene below.
22 – Indominus Rex Escape (Jurassic World)
The Indominus Rex was introduced as a true threat in this scene, tricking Owen Grady and company into entering its paddock and biding its time before making its move. Luckily for Grady there’s a slightly slower runner than him to take the first hit, and a well placed car for him to slide under once he’s free of the gates. Perhaps the best moment of this scene though? Watching the paddock supervisor (Eric Edelstein) teach Grady a valuable lesson as he sits still once his cover is thrown aside, thinking back to the T. Rex’s vision based movement, only to be gobbled up in one bite. Grady catches on immediately, covering himself in fuel to disguise his scent so as to avoid discovery. Its all highly intense stuff that shows off the Indominus Rex’s brains as well as brawn, and Colin Trevorrow deserves commendation for showing so much of the big bad in its first (ish) scene to deliver one very memorable introduction.
You can catch a clip of the scene below.
21 – Nedry’s Unfortunate End (Jurassic Park)
Starting with a comedy sound clip for his slipping down the muddy bank and the Dilophosaurus playing hide and seek from behind the tree, this scene starts off almost comedic, but its not long before things get dark. Spielberg nails the back and forth approach, having Nedry slowly make his way to the tree to secure his car tow and back up the slope, albeit with a curious dinosaur in tow. Its simple, but the heavy rain and deep mud make this quintessential Jurassic Park, with Nedry’s struggle becoming more and more evident as the scene progresses. Sure he’s the bad guy but you can’t help but feel for him here. Of course the dinosaur isn’t just curious as it appears behind him, spits her blinding goo, and ends up devouring Nedry in his car. The slow panning camera from the rocking car accompanied by Nedry’s screams make this a top notch horror scene. Then again Wayne Knights wry delivery of his line “No wonder you’re extinct. I’m going to run you over on my way back down.” almost make this a victory for the Dilophosaurus, especially considering its the last we see of the embryo Nedry stole. (Another minor honorary mention here. Dieter’s death at the claws of the Compies in The Lost World was going to make the top 25, but both scenes achieved a similar goal, and Nedry’s did it so much better.)
You can watch the scene below.
20 – You Asked For More Teeth (Jurassic World)
Jurassic World surprised me by not only only including a tweaked scene from the original book that didn’t make into the first film, but by making it seem even better in this entirely new story. The heated discussion between Henry Wu and Mesrani mirrors a talk Wu has with Hammond in Crichton’s novel, with great lines from Wu such as “…if the genetic code was pure, many of them would look quite different. But you didn’t ask for reality, you asked for more teeth.” echoing the book wonderfully. Mesrani doesn’t have the tact Hammond did however, and his last accusation directed at Wu for having created a ‘monster’ is shot down with Wu’s killer closer “Monster is a relative term. To a canary, a cat is a monster. We’re just used to being the cat.”. It acts as a knowing rebuttal to some palaeontologists’ comments regarding the lack of feathers on the dinosaurs, after all these aren’t real dinosaurs, and one that sets BD Wong’s Wu as one to watch as the series continues.
There are no clips yet, but here’s a similar discussion between Claire and Owen.
19 – They’re Flocking This Way (Jurassic Park)
This scene deserves special mention for being a rare instance of Jurassic Park showing the dinosaurs doing what they do without any human interference as Grant and the kids find themselves spectators to a herd of Gallimimus. Of course things take a turn for the worse as Tim realises they’re in fact “flocking this way” and they’re forced to take cover behind a handy log, lucky too as the T. Rex is soon revealed to be the cause of the Gallimimus’ panic. Its a brilliant effects shot as the CGI holds up in the broad daylight without any rain or shadows to hide it, the wobbling log and natural lighting selling the snapshot of life as it would be 65 million years ago. Its an effective shot of the T. Rex too as its the only time she’s ever seen without our heroes being in peril, and one that aids her portrayal as just a natural predator rather than full blown antagonist.
You can watch the scene below.
18 – Stuck Up a Tree (Jurassic Park)
Having just escaped the T. Rex, Tim finds himself stuck in a tree, still inside the car. Its another example of the there and back approach, having Grant slowly climb the tree to get Tim out only to be forced to descend it again post haste. John Williams’ score queues the moment the car begins to fall down the tree, amping up the tension for what is a brief but thrilling scene. The moment the car lands on top of the two at the base is filmed so seamlessly you question whether they made it or not, only to be reassured by the classic lines from the two – “Well we’re back in the car again.”, “At least you’re out of the tree.”. Its top notch suspense followed by some light hearted relief, all without a single dinosaur in sight.
You can watch the scene below.
17 – Lethal Vs Non-Lethal (Jurassic World)
As if the Indominus Rex hadn’t proven dangerous enough after his initial escape, this Predatoresque massacre solidified him as a force to be reckoned with. First revealing himself to have been camouflaged the whole time to a crew of Muldoons, all foolishly armed with non-lethal weapons, he sets about ripping them all apart in one of the franchises most graphic scenes. Blood is spilled and backs are broken as the heart rate monitors of the crew stop one by one. Its an effectively shot scene that gives the audience the idea of grisly deaths without having to show the whole ordeal. The final victim decides to forget their initial approach, pulling out a shotgun to blast away at the beast before falling straight into its crooked jaws. Killer stuff.
There are no clips of this scene yet, but you can catch some Indominus action in the TV spot below.
16– Must Go Faster (Jurassic Park)
Another short scene but one that’s remained in viewers memory ever since. Beginning with Goldblum’s Ian Malcolm laid in the back of the car, we hear the ominous footsteps and see the iconic ripples in the water, and are all of a sudden in as much of a panic as he is when calls to Sattler and Muldoon. Before you know it you’re whisked into the T. Rex chasing the Jeep, ripping through trees as it keeps up with worrying ease. Goldblum’s panicked yet calm delivery of the now unforgettable “Must go faster.” sells the scene. Spielberg’s attention to detail, this time round framing the approaching T. Rex in the wing mirror complete with the warning “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.”, once more enhances what’s already a terrific scene.
You can watch the scene below.
Continue to page 2 for the top 15th to 6th scenes!
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