Originally Posted By SarahKaaSnake Hi all. New to the forum. Wanted to discuss Disney's recent interest in producing live action versions of many of their iconic animated movies. In particular my favourite ever Disney flick, The Jungle Book. If you know your Disney history you will know it's not the first time Disney have produced a "flesh n blood" version of their 1967 musical smash. A version was done way back in 1994 when I was a kid. Directed by Stephen Sommers of "The Mummy" and "Van Helsing" fame. Needless to say it was a mixed bag. Much darker and having little to nothing to do with the animated movie itself, much less Kipling (despite it's eyebrow raising title of "Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book"). It was more "Stephen Sommer's The Jungle Book" in fact. Transforming Mowgli into a fully grown Tarzan clone and giving him an Indiana Jones style temples and treasure, gung ho, action adventure outing. I loved it however. It was well made and entertaining and was in fact promoted here in the UK as being a live action version of the cartoon. Sommers, a fan of the original movie, even tossed in a few wonderful references here and there such as the inclusion of none other than King Louie and even having actor John Cleese jokingly refer to a line from "The Bear Necessities"! Not long after I saw the far better and brilliantly realised live action version of "101 Dalmatians" (written by the late, great John Hughes no less). This thing was almost a perfect translation with every line uttered from Glenn Close's mouth as Cruella De Ville lifted straight from the cartoon. I couldn't help but wonder why on earth Disney never bothered to do more films in the style of this. The possibilities seemed endless in what animated characters they could bring to life. All these years later it would seem they've finally woken up. I'm delighted The Jungle Book will have a newer version and hopefully get right this time what the 1994 version did not do. The casting of Idris Elba as the voice of Shere Khan seems perfect. I have no doubt his wonderful vocals will channel a touch of George Sanders. Even more amazingly left-field is the apparent choice of Scarlet Johansson as Kaa who is my favourite character by far. It's unusual they have selected a lady for the role. I was certainly expecting a Sterling Holloway-like actor. I think she's just what that character needs to boost that role up in people's interest's and I for one cannot wait to see her bring that character to life in a new, exciting way. If she actually gets to sing "Trust in me" how incredible would that be for starters?!! lol However it depends which version Jon Favreau is choosing to adapt: Kipling's novel or Disney's classic film? It's all a mystery right now. Unfortunately I'm not keen at all on the original novel (I'm so happy Walt and his animators tossed the dull tale through their studio window and did their own version lol). I hope it won't be that version. I've read from a lot of fans that want him to stay faithful to the book. I really don't see the point of this however since Andy Serkis is already making a version of that at Warner Bros (as has been widely reported). Sticking to the Kipling material is what for me undermined Sommer's movie. In short they lost all the fun stuff as to why we all love Disney's Jungle Book. Kipling's source has been honoured enough in more than a few previous Jungle Book movies. Disney now have a wonderful opportunity to bring their classic animation to life properly at last. It makes more sense to do it now with that rival Serkis production in the air too. Why do exactly the same thing? I think an audience, especially little kids, would be delighted seeing that animated world coming to life in contrast to what Serkis has planned. Perhaps this time even including the Sherman Brothers iconic songs (criminally not included anywhere in the 1994 release). It also bothers me how Disney fans want these new live action versions to be "darker" and "grittier". And that awful phrase, "a new take on something". Urgh. Why? That misses the point of what Disney is. "Maleificent" looks intriguing for example but apart from Angelina Jolie, who looks the spitting image of the animated villain, there is not much else in the film to get excited about far as I can see. It looks like they simply have an original story that bares little resemblance to the wonderful animated "Sleeping Beauty". It also displeases me that they have changed the 3 fairies names. Why? They were great names and easy to remember. I don't get it. Why do filmmakers have to change so much now? This I hope will not happen with The Jungle Book. With Jon Favreau's style of humour I am hoping we will have something far more faithful and ultimately exciting to see.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: My sisters and I just saw a sneak peak of MALEFICENT today at DHS. One of the main comments we heard from others, afterwards, was, "Why did they change the names of the 3 good fairies? It's confusing! It's also sacrilegious!" ORWEN: We agreed. I mean, it's like doing a live action remake of Snow white and then giving all 7 dwarves completely different names! Why fix something that's not broken? ORDDU: It does seem rather odd that Disney wants to remake so many of Uncle Walt's animated classics into live action versions. In some ways it seems exciting to do this. In other ways it seems somewhat insulting to the animated versions--as if saying they weren't good enough the first time around. ORGOCH: Well, I could see 'em doin' a live action remake of somethin' that flopped--like The Black Cauldron. But not a remake of Snoozin' Floozie er Jingle Belles Book!!!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I've never been a huge fan of the Jungle Book (original text, animated classic, or live action version), so I can't say that I'm especially excited about another version of it, but it does sound promising so far. I'm also a little tired of the "gritty" versions of things and the "untold story from a different perspective", so it will be interesting to see how they try to make this one stand out >>It also displeases me that they have changed the 3 fairies names. Why?<< My understanding is that the new version of the fairies are bumbling inept idiots, and they thought it would be better to distance them from the lovable characters in the animated film. With that framework, I can certainly appreciate what they were attempting to do
Originally Posted By SarahKaaSnake "I've never been a huge fan of the Jungle Book (original text, animated classic, or live action version), so I can't say that I'm especially excited about another version of it, but it does sound promising so far. I'm also a little tired of the "gritty" versions of things and the "untold story from a different perspective", so it will be interesting to see how they try to make this one stand out My understanding is that the new version of the fairies are bumbling inept idiots, and they thought it would be better to distance them from the lovable characters in the animated film. With that framework, I can certainly appreciate what they were attempting to do". Geez that sounds terrible about the Fairies for such lovable characters. They always were "bumbling" to me anyway. Imelda Staunton who is playing "Flora" (I don't care, that's what I'll call them lol) does look VERY much like the animation in terms of her face and hair. Unfortunately "Fauna" has become a "teen" no less. "Merryweather" is the worst offender. What happened to her little pudgy, cute appearance? Thank goodness though they still have their proper colours of red, green and blue. As for Jungle Book Favreau has described it as being a true "family film". So it would seem we will have the fun, light hearted adventure it should be compared to the Serkis production. I don't think we're likely to see Mowgli swinging round the jungle armed with a crossbow or something to "toughen" the world up lol Beauty and the Beast's live action upcoming film sounds the single most dreadful. I'm so disappointed with what I've heard about that. For Disney's crown jewel movie (at least to me) I think your obliged to keep the thing recognisable. Unfortunately it sounds it'll be based on the original novel and be a dark, scary film focused on The Beast. So no wonderful visuals then of seeing Belle's gorgeous yellow/gold (and "iconic") dress come to life. Hopefully they will come to their senses in time
Originally Posted By SarahKaaSnake It seems they have given Mowgli's wolf mother a name (finally!) and she may be played by the girl out of "12 Years a Slave". I'm waiting for the announcement of the voice of King Louie who is not a Kipling creation. If he is going to be in the new film we will defintely end up with a tribute to the Disney cartoon. Not Kipling. That'll be my hint. In the novel Kaa is an ally of Mowgli which has always disappointed me. Having him as Shere Khan's stooge is so much more fun. I don't think Scarlet Johansson would be too interested in a snake that's heroic. A villain however? An actress like her would leap at a chance to have some fun there. Her casting consideration offers a small hint we might get the Sterling Holloway portrayl after all. In the 1994 film they got Kaa's species wrong! He was an ANACONDA in it! Yes really! Not an Indian Python. Brought to life by a restricted animatronic robot and a (now sadly) dodgy dose of nineties CGI. He was also WAAAAAY too frightening. The thing that always disappointed me was that he lacked his powers of hypnotism too (even in the Kipling novel he had this). Hopefully in this new film they can restore all that. With today's CGI they could animate a beautifully long and swirling version of the character with the right species in mind! Not sure how they can handle the hypnosis but they must still have it. I think it could offer them some wonderful visual possibilites. And as I said, I'm dying to hear Scarlet Johansson now perform "Trust in me" lol
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "Unfortunately it sounds it'll be based on the original novel and be a dark, scary film focused on The Beast." I'm more interested in this than a retread of the animated movie.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Have you seen the live action Cocteau version of BATB? Certainly darker than Disney's, but completely wonderful.
