Cert PG
106 mins
BBFC advice: Contains mild threat
These were worrying times. I was brought up on Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book and adored the wonderful Disney cartoon.
By updating what has always seemed perfect, I feared that Disney would tarnish my golden memories.
Thankfully, it didn't. Jon Favreau's picture will capture the imagination of a new generation.
But this is not The Jungle Book that we knew because it is so intense I was surprised it was granted a PG certificate by the BBFC.
The latter's citation states that the film contains 'mild threat'. I thought the levels of aggression were much greater.
Indeed, I began to wonder at which age group the movie was aimed because I would have thought it might scare younger children.
Favreau has stylishly mixed high-quality CGI with one real-life character, Mowgli, played with great gusto by Neel Sethi.
The Jungle Book follows the familiar Disney story, even throwing in a couple of hints at famous songs such as Bare Necessities and I'm The King Of The Swingers.
But some of its key characters are darker than those we are used to.
These include Shere Khan (voiced by Idris Elba) who wants to kill Mowgli in revenge for his father injuring him in the past.
In addition, Kaa the snake (Scarlett Johansson) is more scary that in the 1967 film, as is King Louie (voiced with menace by Christopher Walken).
These are offset by the caring Bagheera (Ben Kingsley) and the jovial and laid back Baloo (the perfectly cast Bill Murray)
What cannot be denied is that The Jungle Book is a spectacular adventure and I must echo thoughts of critics who have marvelled at young Sethi's performance which is all the better when one realises he acted most of the film in front of a green screen.
Add to the latter, the fact that he is very young and this is his first feature and it becomes remarkable.
In my view, Mowgli rather than the incredible CGI, is the key to children's enjoyment of The Jungle Book. They will be urging him on and will find his heroics spellbinding.
We watched it in sense-tingling IMAX at Nottingham Cineworld.
Reasons to watch: the superb special effects
Reasons to avoid: it is much darker than the famous animation
Laughs: none
Jumps: one
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 8.5/10
Star tweet
Neel Sethi 
Thank you everyone!! 
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