In the new trend of Disney’s live-action films, people didn’t expect a lot from The Jungle Book. Cinderella and Maleficent were considered pretty good movies, but they didn’t live up to the massive shadows of the original classics. The Jungle Book had a huge shadow to live up to. The 1967 classic is a part of many childhoods, with its memorable songs and loveable characters. But the new Jungle Book movie not only lived up to its classic counterpart, but also brought new life to the movie.

The movie follows the basic plot of the original movie. A boy named Mowgli is adopted by wolves, and is cared for by a panther named Bagheera. But everything changes for Mowgli when the villain of the story, Shere Khan, threatens Mowgli, forcing him and Bagheera to run away and attempt to leave the jungle. But the new adaptation is not as lighthearted as the classic movie. There were several moments when the CGI seemed almost too real, making you wonder if Mowgli really was facing off against a real tiger. If you get scared easily or have younger siblings, this movie may not be exactly right for you.

It was still a great film though. The live-action version expanded the story way more than the original, and advances the plot really well. It has deep complex characters, with many different dilemmas and conflicts. For example, Baloo, the lovable bear that sings one of the most well known songs in the movie, first tricks Mowgli into helping him. Then, he too starts to care for the boy and eventually risks his life for Mowgli. The wolves also play a huge part in Mowgli’s story. They are more than just the family he grew up with; they help defend him and become his reason for fighting Shere Khan. There were plot twists that no one saw coming, and the movie kept you on the end of your seat, wondering which character would show up next, and how they would affect Mowgli’s coming of age story. The only thing that could improve this movie would be more songs or maybe less intense CGI. There are certainly a few moments that would make anyone jump in their seat. The new film lacks a few of the songs that made the original movie so magical, but there is no doubt that this movie is a must-see for all people who grew up watching the original Disney movies.