The Jungle Book

2016 live-action remake

Rating: 13/20 (Jen: 17/20; Buster: 1/20)

Plot: Same as the The Jungle Book, Disney's animated movie from 1967.

I can't figure out a reason why this isn't completely superfluous. It's often very pretty to look at, and the computer-animated animals look terrific for the most part. CGI really has come a long way. I also liked the kid who played Mowgli--Neel Sethi.

Other than that, I just didn't enjoy this at all. I looked forward to hearing Bill Murray voice Beloo, Christopher Walken as King Louie, and Scarlett Johansson as a phallic symbol. There wasn't anything wrong with the voice work, but the voices just didn't mesh with the animals. Somehow, the voices just seemed flat and alien coming from these fake animals' mouths. The story's episodic with too many action sequences, so many action sequences that it's really hard not to be bored after a while. And once the novelty of the look of the characters and the settings is gone, there's nothing about the story--one we already know--to keep us interested.

I have to say--I actually prefer the original voices used than the ones in this new version. There's just something about hearing a snake speak in the voice of Winnie the Pooh.