Jungle Book 3D, The

The Jungle Book is a live-action epic adventure based on Rudyard Kipling's timeless stories, inspired by Disney's classic 1967 animated film, and centered on Mowgli (Sethi), a man-cub who's been raised by a family of wolves. But Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan (Idris Elba), who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Actor/Writer/Director Jon Favreau, the featurettes The Jungle Book Reimagined (HD 35:02), I Am Mowgli (HD 08:18), and King Louie's Temple: Layer By Layer (HD 03:14), upfront previews, and a digital copy.

Previously reviewed in the 2D format, this 3D version surpasses the previous version in spatial dimension, as was to be expected. The 1.85:1 1080p 3D AVC picture was converted by Weta Digital Limited and Gener8 Digital Media Services. The imagery exhibits the same quality picture elements. There is the impressive realism of jungle atmospherics and complex and intricate earth shapes. The climatic shifts are wonderfully realistic, from humid to dry to rain to mist. The color palette is perfectly natural, dominated by earth tones in foliage, trees, groundcover, and fiery red flower ambers. Mowgli's fleshtones are naturally grungy, bruised, and scratched. The animals are varied and numerous, all rendered with incredible realism and seemingly accurate tone. King Louie is a real treat to examine in all his enormousness and complexity. Contrast is well balanced with deep black highlights and revealing shadow delineation throughout, such as in the night scenes, the bear den, and King Louie's Temple. Bright scenes are perfectly natural as well. Resolution is fantastic, such as depicted in Mowgli's bodily features and hair, the red cloth Mowgli wears, the fur on the wolves and the bear, as well as other creature exteriors, and object textures in foliage, trees, rocks, and groundcover. This is a marvelous visual experience that is mesmerizing in natural beauty. This is a spectacular picture that will fascinate every member of the family.
The 3D effect effectively enhances this realism, adding another dimension of wonderment. The open jungle landscape, with its multitude of earth shapes and textures, is a perfect palette for dimensional realism. Vines hang at various distances and tree branches festoon outward, all displaying incredible natural depth and perspective. All manner of earthly and animal shapes exhibit a naturally voluminous presence. Even during intense rain, the drenching drops seem as though they are protruding into the viewing area as well as far into the background. Everything is naturally realistic with convincing depth. This is a fantastic 3D presentation that will thrill viewers far more than the standard flat issue. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 7.1-channel soundtrack combines live actor dialogue along with talking animals nicely voiced with generally decent spatial integration. At times the voices are directionalized. Narration is well balanced against the other sound elements. John Debney's music score features a classic orchestral and choral sound accented by ethnic instruments and pays homage to the original film by highlighting snippets of the classic songs. The fidelity is excellent. The music aggressively occupies every channel and creates an effective holosonic® presence with wide channel separation and balanced integration. Deep bass is delved in the music as well as in occasional atmospherics and scenes of peril. Bass extends to sub-25 Hz at times. Foley sound effects enhance the realism of movements in the jungle, and bird and animals sounds also are naturally presented with effective directionality. This is a wonderfully rich sonic experience that sounds dynamic, along with excellent fidelity, and a stirring music score that will delight all ages in the family. (Gary Reber)