Directed by Jon Favreau, The Jungle Book is based off the classic Disney animated tale and novels by Rudyard Kipling, but with a twist. Blending live-action with photorealistic Computer-Generated Imagery animals and environments, this movie immerses the audience into a life-like and enchanting world, allowing the audience to experience the beloved story all over again, but better. The cast includes Bill Murray as Baloo, Idris Elba as Shere Khan, and newcomer Neel Sethi as Mowgli.

The movie revolves around the man cub Mowgli and his struggle to escape from the tiger Shere Khan and go back to Man. Mowgli has grown up with the wolves, the only family he has ever known. Well, and Bagheera, Mowgli’s mentor. One day, Shere Khan Returns to the jungle, and Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome when he is given a death threat. Guided by Bagheera, and further on by Baloo, Mowgli embarks on a journey across the jungle, and along the way he encounters a few unpleasant distractions. Kaa still wants to eat him, and King Louis still tirelessly tries to find the power of man’s red flower: fire. Through a series of twists and turns, Mowgli not only has to save himself, but has to unite the animals of the jungle against one single enemy: the tiger who bears Man’s scars.

The photorealistic CGI animals seem astonishingly real. Elephants, tigers and bears-oh my! It looks as though they actually used real animals. Of course they were not, but it just felt so real. And yes, The Jungle Book did include the two most important songs. And yes Bill Murray and Christopher Walken sing them beautifully.

The Jungle Book beautifully blends comedic relief and emotional heartbreak. Lines such as “Look at all that flesh just squatting there..on an ancient throne..so majestic” and “Not full hibernation, but I nap. A lot” (never has an animal been more relatable), Baloo is a sure fire way to ease the pain that some scenes may inflict upon the heart. And there are a few.

There were some differences between the two movies. In the older version, the animals were a lot smaller, and King Louis was about the same size as Mowgli. But in the newer one, the animals are much bigger, and King Louis is over 12 feet high. That is a big orangutan. Elephants are also seen in a different light. In the cartoon version, they are seen as playful creatures that sing and march wherever they go. But in the CGI version, they are respected creatures that have created the jungle, and all must bow when they pass. One major difference is that Kaa switches genders. He was male, but in the newest movie he is now a she and is played by Scarlett Johansson.

There are two things to take away from this movie when you do go to see it. First, Mowgli is living the life with all these awesome animals. Second, the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack.