MOWGLI
UK, 2018, 104 minutes, Colour.
Rohan Chand, Matthew Rhys, Freida Pinto.
Voices of: Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Naomie Harris, Andy Serkis, Peter Mullan, Jack Raynor, Eddie Marsan, Tom Hollander, Louis Ashbourne Serkis.
Directed by Andy Serkis.
Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book stories have been a popular source for films over many decades. Sabu appeared in 1942. There was the very cheerful Disney animated feature in 1967. There was a live-action remake in 2015 by Jon Favreau, featuring voices for the animals from a wide-ranging star-list.
Now here is another live-action interpretation of Kipling. It was directed by Andy Serkis, certainly drawing on his vast experience in bringing animals and characters to the screen, going back to his appearances as Gollum in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, to his work with Peter Jackson on King Kong, to his appearances as Caesar in the new series of Planet of the Apes films. (Serkis also takes the opportunity to do some voice acting as Baloo, the Bear.)
This is quite a superior version of the Jungle Book stories. And, it is more rugged than the previous versions. It brings to the screen dramatic evidence of the law of the jungle, and, especially, nature “red in tooth and claw�. The film received a more adult classification, highlighting the sense of menace. And the menace is certainly there. Which means then that this version may not be suitable for younger children, probably too frightening, but it may mean that audiences who enjoyed the stories in the past but have now grown up may well appreciate the stronger themes and messages about humans and animals.
Rohan Chand seems perfect for the 10 year-old Mowgli, abandoned in the jungle, rescued by the Panther, Bagheera (voice, Christian Bale) from the malevolent tiger, Shere Khan (voice, Benedict Cumberbatch). In fact, Rohan Chand is from New York City, appeared first as Adam Sandler’s son in Jack and Jill and has had considerable experience in films like The Hundred Foot Journey, Lone Survivor, and the Jumanji remake. No trouble for him to be so convincing acting in front of the green screen, often interacting with unseen animals.
And the animals, animatronic and not always looking absolutely realistic, are quite convincing, many seen in the assembly to accept Mowgli into the community as a man-cub wolf, genial training from Baloo, severe testing by Bagheera, endurance tests in running with the wolves, playful scenes with little monkeys tempting Mowgli with fruit. There is a genial aspect of the bonding with the various animals despite the ominous threats from Shere Khan and his giggling hyena associate.
Eventually, Mowgli will have two join the human race, something he is quite unwilling to do. In his captive cage, he gets a wise explanation from Bagheera who had spent his own time in a cage as a human pet. Matthew Rhys is a hunter who has encountered Shere Khan but has also damaged the tusk of an elephant. This all comes to quite a dramatic head as Mowgli, now armed with a knife, confronts Shere Khan, supported by rifle shots from the Hunter. And nature comes full cycle with the charge of the elephant whose task was broken.
There is rather an idealistic picture of the human community going about their tasks, their bonding, their finally accepting Mowgli. The screenplay is suggesting that, allowing for nature red in tooth and claw and human hunting, there should be mutual respect in both worlds and between the two worlds.
Mowgli certainly brings the Kipling world to life.
1. The long popularity of the Jungle Book stories by Rudyard Kipling? Throughout the decades? The books? The range of films? Television films? Animation, realistic treatments?
2. This version for the 21st-century, the developments in technology and special effects, animatronics, to make the realism more convincing? Special effects for action, the young actor and the blue screen, interacting with the animals? The convincing story of Mowgli’s experiences?
3. The title, the focus on Mowgli, the death of his parents, the impact of Shere Khan, his being vindictive against the humans? The boy being saved? The role of Bagheera? Mowgli growing up, being a man-cub, the assembly of the animals, the leader, his wife, the vote, the family of the wolves, accepting Mowgli, his growing up as a wolf?
4. Kaa, her presence, the story, her perspective, helping in saving Mowgli?
5. Baloo, the humour, the big bear, his British accent? Training Mowgli and the bond with him?
6. The young boy, growing up, becoming part of the wolves, of the pack, the affection from the albino? And later discovering him killed by the Hunter?
7. The scenes of training, running, the temptation of the monkeys in the trees with the fruit? The buildup to the test, Bagheera being hard, the interventions, Mowgli and developing his skills, using his hands, holding onto branches, leaping on the rocks?
8. The difficulties, the failure, Mowgli self-image? Eventual success? The elephant helping, the broken tusk and this part of the story coming back?
9. The scenes of the humans, in the distance, in India, the life, work, adults, industry, in the fields, the children? Religious ceremonies and rituals?
10. Shere Khan and the hyena, the sense of menace, ever present, the hostility from Bagheera and the others?
11. Mowgli taken to the humans, in the care of the Hunter, in the cage, unable to eat the food, his resistance? Bagheera and the visit, his story about his own imprisonment, the cage, seen as a pet? Reassuring Mowgli?
12. Mowgli the transition to being more human, with the children, involved in the activities? Play?
13. The Hunter and his experience of Shere Khan, the buildup to the attack, the Hunter and his wounds, the return of the elephant and the broken tusk? The death of the Hunter?
14. Mowgli, the confrontation with Shere Khan? Shere Khan’s death?
15. Themes of the laws of the jungle, nature red in tooth and the exhortation for the animals, humans and animals living in harmony
