The Jungle Book

The 1960s were, by all accounts, a time of vast cultural change, experimental drug use, and awesome guitar solos. This psychedelic background certainly inspired The Jungle Book, the final film overseen by Walt Disney before his death. Based on Rudyard Kipling's classic book, the action centres on Mowgli, a young boy adopted by wolves and mentored by Bagheera, a sensible and wise panther. When Mowgli is spotted by tigers and has to return to the "man village", his jungle stopover sees him meet Baloo, lazy and wise-cracking bear-about-town, with this basic story playing host to an array of colourful supporting characters - militaristic elephants, hypnotic snakes, fully formed societies of jazzy monkeys, and Beatles look-a-like vultures. The animation is excellent and the jungle detail is superb, filled with tribal ruins and pools of water, but the film's trump card is its ability to deal with danger and darkness. The banter between Baloo and Mowgli is cheery and jovial, but the film also makes the viewer fear for its heroes, taking you down some weird and interesting avenues on the way. Along with the eclectic soundtrack (including the unforgettable songs The Bare Necessities and I Wanna Be Like You) and neat touches like elephants with '60s haircuts, the film transports you back to a time of colour, vibrancy, and innovation. It's fresh, funny, and genuinely heart-warming, and this re-mastered 40th anniversary version is the perfect way to revisit a true classic. [Peter Simpson]