The Jungle Book Discussion

[AwallaceUNC]

The Jungle Book stands out as one of Disney's most beloved and classic animated films. It has very little in common with the book that it's based on. I read it when I was little and didn't care for it- maybe I should give it another try. However, all that's left in the book leaves plenty of room for a sequel (something they didn't bother with for TJB2, but it was still pretty good). What about a Ricky Ticky Tavi short?

The good guys- All the characters in TJB are great. Mowgli makes a fine protagonist, and Baloo and Bagheera (though the former largely eclipses the latter) are comical and loveable side-kicks. Baloo really steals the whole show in many parts, though. All the supporting characters (like Col. Hahtih's brigade) are fun, too.

The bad guys- TJB is rich in villainy! The leader of the pack is the evil Shere Kahn (wonderfully voice cast- in fact, all the characters are). Kaa and King Louie are also after Mowgli. The thing that I love is that all three of these main villains have their own agendas.

The animation is pretty good and the Indian jungle setting is very cool. The songs are fantastic- each is brilliant. My favorite is I Wan'na Be Like You, which you can really rock out to (SmashMouth's cover is pretty cool, too, I hope we see it on the DVD). I love the jazz influences on the film's wonderful soundtrack and score.

The plot is at many times a little dry. It suffers from the same condition as Peter Pan. When it's exciting, it's really exciting. In between those scenes and the songs, though, it's a lot of jungle trekking, which tends to drag on and get a little old. Still, 'tis a great film.

I'm hoping for a 2006 Platinum Edition DVD release for this one (though I now think 2007 may be more realistic). Can't wait!

-Aaron

[MickeyMousePal]

This is another great Disney classic film that I can't wait to own on DVD when it's release on Platinum Edition. I really like the songs and the animals of the film also it's very creative just like the book "The Jungle Book". This movie also get it's own two spin-offs "Tale Spin" and "Jungle Cubs". This is one of my favorites all time Disney films.

[Lars Vermundsberget]

Disney took liberties with the original "Jungle Book" to say the least, so there isn't much of that left in the film, as far as I understand. I happen to think that the first handful of animated features and the shorts from about the same period constitute the Golden Age of Disney animation. The Golden Age was long gone when JB came out on 1967. But I think JB is one of the best from the post-Golden period of the 60s and 70s (maybe even including the 50s). The plot isn't much to write home about, but the music and characters are able to carry the thing through. The thing about characters is important. From about 1950 and on Walt Disney himself shifted most of his attention from animation to other projects, such as live-action movies, television and amusement parks. The animated features of this period became few and far between. They depended first and foremost on the "Nine Old Men" who have been mentioned in other threads lately. These guys may not have had the "vision" of a young Walt, but they were experts in the field of character animation. That and music (the Sherman brothers) are the things that "make" The Jungle Book, I think it's fair to say. Also, JB was the last animated feature that Walt was somewhat involved in - it was released after his death.

[disneywb]

Actually, I believe there may have been a bona-fied literary sequel to Jungle Book. I own Rudyard Kipling's original book, and I bought at the same time a Jungle Book 2 (A 2 for 1 deal), with Rudyard Kipling's name on it...like he wrote it or something.
Anyways, I never made it through the second book. Even though the cover was more dynamic (it had a cool snake on it with a sword on a pile of golden coins), I wasn't able to finish it. Maybe I should dig it out...though I doubt it will be anything like the dvd sequel!

[ichabod]

Actually, I believe there may have been a bona-fied literary sequel to Jungle Book.

There is a true sequel it is called 'The Second Jungle Book'! However unlike The Jungle Book 2 i think the book actually had a plot!

[Trumpet Joe]

I love this movie with all my heart and soul, but I have a few notes:

- The elephants and Kaa served no purpose whatsoever
- Whoever thought up the ending must've been a major perv. Instead of Mowgli thinking with his johnson, I have a much better ending: There's some boys playing catch outside the man village, the ball rolls away, the boys encorage Mowgli to bring it back, and THAT'S how he gets to the man village.

[Simba3]

I am so excited that the Jungle Book's website is up and running. It getting me really anxious for the DVD release, and we still haven't gotten Peter Pan yet. I watched the trailer and it is great. The restoration looks pretty good and I am excited for the all new bonus features. I can't wait until we get some official cover art.

[Bill Freiberger]

Whoever thought up the ending must've been a major perv. Instead of Mowgli thinking with his johnson, I have a much better ending: There's some boys playing catch outside the man village, the ball rolls away, the boys encorage Mowgli to bring it back, and THAT'S how he gets to the man village.

Wrong, wrong, wrong. The ending to "The Jungle Book" is perfect. In a jungle of anthropomorphic animals there are plenty of friends with whom Mowgli can play catch. He doesn't need to return to the man villiage to find friends. He already has a best friend in Baloo. The reason he must return to the man villiage is to mature, find a mate, and become an adult.

Bill

[Mason_Ireton]

I'm very fond of this classic book/film, such richness in the writing and characters that emotionaly connects you to the morale, home will always be everywhere in your life. The '67 verison is a semi-perfect Disney film cause it contains the usual Disney formlua, a complex story, wondeful voices, catchy tunes, and many more. My bro, Noah, who's severly mentaly/pyshicaly disabled, loves Jungle Book and once in a while I'll put it on for him when he wants to watch a new movie, he loves the Baloo Sequences along with the Col. Hathi's March.

The style of the story is quite different from the Disney cannon, there's no "love conquers all" subplot, a few pop culture gags (notably the Vultures, represent the Beatles). I also haven't read Jungle Book 2, but I remember 2 years ago I saw a copy of it in my High School's Libary, Disney's Jungle Book 2 could've been alil more interesting and they could've used some of the songs from More Jungle Book" (Baloo's Blues, would've been a great intro to Ballo's depression sequence in Jungle Book 2), I'm looking forward to purchasing Jungle Book: 40th Aniversary Edition in Oct. 2007.

I'm gon'na be making a fan trailer for Jungle Book and would like to have some song suggestions from anybody please.

write back please

sign Mason

[SpringHeelJack]

I recall as a kid I never really cared for this movie. I think that was partially due to the fact that my sister watched it like every day and I got sick of it, so I haven't seen the movie in about thirteen years. As such, I'm kind of excited for this. I'm really looking forward to giving it another chance, and the Platinum releases have a way of making me appreciate movies more (though less for "Cinderella", I still don't really like that movie).

[dalmation134]

I am very excited for this Platinum Release. I really liked this movie when I was younger and I had a Baloo plushie.

[Chernabog_Rocks]

Actually as far as the ending goes in a way he gets "twitterpated" as a certain Owl once put it The reason why he acts like that around Shanti from what I remember is because up until now all of his friends have been Male, and the only Female he knows is his Wolf "mother" thats raised him, so therefore a human female would make him curious since she's new to him, he's never seen anyone like her and at the same time more than likely got a crush on her. One thing I brought up in the Decline in Good Villains topic is whether or not Shere Khan is a villain, I think he's one of those guys who just wants to protect the jungle from another Man who hunts the animals, but at the same time he also goes out of his way to ensure HIS survival. But I like him either way

[RyougaLolakie]

Now that the PE Edition of The Jungle Book website is up, I was so anxious to buy that DVD. This film is one of my top 5 favorite Disney animated films of all time, and yet the grooviest film in the late 60's (yet, much better than The Aristocats in my opinion. ). Furthermore, the reason why I love this movie is because the movie is semi-perfect due to the story that is different from the book and some pop culture references that resembelence to the 60's culture. The characters are great, especially Baloo and King Louie. The voice actors are a perfect match for characters (Phil Harris voiced as Baloo = perfect win ). The songs are totally catchy and awesome as well thanks to the Sherman brothers who composed the songs. To sum it up, this film is Cuh-ray-zee and Gro-oo-vy!

[Chernabog_Rocks]

Speaking of Phil Harris, I heard he was supposed to voice Baloo in Talespin but his voice had aged too much for them so they gave it to someone else.

[RyougaLolakie]

Speaking of Phil Harris, I heard he was supposed to voice Baloo in Talespin but his voice had aged too much for them so they gave it to someone else.

That's true. I also heard that Phil Harris was voiced as the dog who can't tie his shoes (can't remember his name) in Don Bluth's Rock-A-Doodle. I don't know what year he died after that.

[danfrandes]

Speaking of Phil Harris, I heard he was supposed to voice Baloo in Talespin but his voice had aged too much for them so they gave it to someone else.

Ed Gilbert voiced Baloo in TaleSpin.

[Trumpet Joe]

That's true. I also heard that Phil Harris was voiced as the dog who can't tie his shoes (can't remember his name) in Don Bluth's Rock-A-Doodle. I don't know what year he died after that.

The dog's name was Patou. Rock-A-Doodle came out in 1991, and Phil died in 1995. He was a tremendous talent.

[MichaeLeah]

- Whoever thought up the ending must've been a major perv. Instead of Mowgli thinking with his johnson, I have a much better ending: There's some boys playing catch outside the man village, the ball rolls away, the boys encorage Mowgli to bring it back, and THAT'S how he gets to the man village.

I remember watching a making-of for this film and in it I believe Richard Sherman related how the end of the film was determined. The animators had apparently pretty well worked out the story and had everything set but they weren't sure how to end the story. They got Walt and asked him what to do and Walt is the one who created the ending of the film--it was his idea. Mr. Sherman said that was one of the last ideas Walt offered before he died. I guess also it is logical that was the last idea he contributed to an animated film (unless you want to count Aristocats).

There's nothing wrong with Mowgli wanting to be with a woman! God made women because he knew men would be crazy about them. I am crazy about my women and I think I have looked like Mowgli ever since I met her! I chased her down and married her!