The Jungle Book Review: A Disney Live Action Retelling You'll Go ApeFor!

If there’s one thing Disney is know for, it’s revisiting their most beloved work. Whether it’s re-release in theaters or Blu-Ray, sequels, TV Spin offs, or most recently remakes. From Alice In Wonderland to Maleficent to Cinderella. No matter how you feel about these adaptations, love them or hate them, there’s no denying they have been incredibly lucrative for the house Walt built, and why we will no doubt see more in the future.

Their latest attempt at bringing back a beloved classic of theirs is The Jungle Book. Directed by Jon Favreau, the director of Iron Man which helped kick off one of Disney’s most successful and profitable franchises to date the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has been given the difficult task of taking one of their most beloved and iconic films, which was also the last film Walt Disney himself had a hand in before his death, and introducing it to a new generation.

The 1967 original holds a special place in my family’s heart. It’s one of my personal favorite Disney movies. I love everything about it from the lovable characters, the atmosphere, the animation, the humor, and of course the music. "Bare Necessities" is one of my top 5 favorite Disney songs. And at the risk of offending people, not only do I like more than "Let It Go", but I might also prefer it over "Hakuna Mattata" (hides behind shield). My Mom tells me of how she saw it at the drive-in theater when she was younger.

When I first heard Disney was adapting this film into another live action remake, I didn’t know what to think. But I was optimistic when I found out that one of my favorite directors, Jon Favreau, would be at the helm. And with every new cast member announced, I just became more and more excited. Bill Murray as Balloo? Awesome! Ben Kingsley as Bagheera? Perfect! Scarlett Johansson as Kaa? Love it! Lupita Nyong’o as Raksha? Nice! Idris Elba as Shere Khan? BRILLIANT! Christopher Walken as King Louie?

And when I saw the footage at D23 back in August, with Jon Favreau, Lupita Nyong’o, and Neel Sethi on stage, the audience went bananas! (Pun very much intended).

The Jungle Book has been one of my most anticipated films of 2016 for a while. And in a year that includes Captain America: Civil War, Finding Dory, and Star Wars: Rogue One, that is saying a lot!

And after seeing it with my Mom on Friday, I can say that it definitely lives up to the hype!

I’m sure by now you’ve already read plenty of reviews all telling you it’s great. If you were hoping for a different opinion, sorry to disappoint. What can I say? I just adore this movie!

This is probably the most gorgeous looking live action film Disney has made! Never have I seen a film so gorgeous, so perfect for 3D, since Avatar! Half the time, I forgot the animals were CGI. And part of that has to do with the actors.

Neel Sethi gives a star making performance as Mowgli, the man cub raised by wolves. He has such innocence and wonder that not many child actors can pull off. He’s not a perfect person. He makes mistakes just like every kid does. He’s raised to do what other wolves do, and to not do his “tricks”. He is a good role model for kids. His imperfections are part of what make him so endearing and likable. His character encourages kids that it’s ok to be different from the crowd. I look forward to seeing Neel Sethi in more films in the future.

And what can I say about Bill Murray as Baloo? It’s as if he was born to play this character! Murray posses the dry wit, charisma, and laid back attitude needed for Baloo. He is every bit as good as Phil Harris was in the original. And hearing him sing "Bare Necessities" gave me such nostalgia!

Ben Kingsley, I’m convinced, cannot give a bad performance if he tried! He plays Bagheera with such intelligence and warmth. Even though he’s a panther, he looks like someone you can trust with children.

Scarlett Johansson kills it as Kaa! Where in the original, Kaa was more of a slapstick character played for laughs, Scarlett Johansson portrays Kaa as a Siren. Her voice is just so naturally seductive and hypnotic. It’s already hard enough for any man to resist her charms in real life.

Lupita Nyong'o fresh off from playing Maz Kanata in Star Wars: The Force Awakens,  plays Rakshi, Mowgli’s wolf mother with such warmth and love. She’s comforting, but can be upfront when she wants.

Idris Elba’s Shere Khan is probably the best villain I’ve seen in a while! He’s so menacing and frightening, but so full of charisma. In my acting class in college, we talked about what makes a good villain. My teacher says that best villains don’t think of themselves as villains. They still possess this kind of warmth that makes them syphathetic. Shere Khan wants Mowgli dead because he hates man, and what they do with their “red flower” (fire). You can almost see it from his point of view, and why he wants what he wants. Shere Khan is one of my favorite Disney villains of all time, and Idris Elba does him justice!

And of course, Chrisopher Walken as King Louie! Christopher Walken is one of the most entertaining people alive. Even when he’s in a bad movie, he’s just so fascinating to watch. And his “Cowbell” sketch from SNL is one of the funniest things I’ve  ever seen. Having Walken as as King Louie is like a dream come true! He’s scary, but also funny. And his version of “I Wanna Be Like You” is pure magic!

I could go on. This is some of the most fun I’ve had at the movies in a long time! It had an engaging narrative, gorgeous CGI, and a perfect cast! Not only does this make me more optimistic about future Disney live action adaptations such as Beauty and the Beast. But it also makes me excited for the idea of Jon Favreau directing an Obi-Wan Kenobi anthology trilogy starring Ewan McGregor! If it’s as good as The Jungle Book, we’re in for a treat!

Disney is so happy with how this film turned out, they’ve already free lit a sequel! I don’t know if Baloo will be a pilot just like in Tail Spin. But as long as Jon Favreau is on board, so am I!

This movie is already having a great weekend at the box office, so you might as well join the party! You’ve worked hard enough. You owe it toy yourself to have a fun time, and enjoy the Bare Necessities of Life!

Nerd Wars: Why DC Fans Are So Bitter

Since the dawn of time, long even before the internet, mankind has engaged in friendly rivalries.

Star Wars vs Star Trek. Lord of the Rings vs Harry Potter. Coke vs Pepsi. The Beatles vs The Rolling Stones. McDonald's vs Burger King.

But lately, the biggest rivalry is one that has torn families apart, turned brother against brother, and ended friendships. It's a rivalry that has been around since comic books became all the rage. I'm talking of course, about Marvel vs DC.

In arguably their most competitive year yet, both studios are releasing two movies each. Marvel is releasing Captain America: Civil War and Doctor Strange, and DC is releasing Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad.

But the two movies that are causing the most hostility between fans are Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Captain America: Civil War.

What do both movies have in common? Well, they're both superhero movies for starters. They're both part of a larger cinematic universe. And they're both about a Boy Scout dressed in blue and red and a Billionaire with a hi-tech suit clashing ideals and engaging in and all out war.

And ironically, both movies are about bitter rivalries and picking a side.

But the true war is happening online: between DC fans and Marvel fans.

However, the comparisons end at the reception both movies are receiving. Whereas Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice got panned by critics (causing even Ben Affleck some grief), Captain America: Civil War is receiving praise left and right from those who already saw it.

Jon Schnepp, comic book fan and the director of The Death of Superman Lives: What Happened?, said that the airport scene in Civil War is the single greatest action scene in any comic book movie ever!

Even though Batman v Superman has gotten panned by critics and has a depressing 30% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it is not without its defenders. The passion fans have for DC's characters should not be denied. And these aren't people who are like "Eh, it was ok. It wasn't THAT bad." These are people who honestly think it's on par with Citizen Kane. That it's a masterpiece that's too smart for critics and audiences. And just like Man of Steel and the Nolan Batman films, if you say anything and I mean ANYTHING remotely negative about Batman v Superman online, you better prepare for some harsh comments like "You're sucking Marvel's d***k!" or "You're BIASED! This movie is AMAZING!"

It's hard to tell if these fans honestly believe Batman v Superman is amazing, or if they are just burying their heads in the dirt and denying any legitimate criticism for it just like Star Wars fans did for The Phantom Menace back in 1999.

Some fans have started making theories that Disney, which owns Marvel, is paying critics to bash anything DC and praise anything Marvel.

RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT...

Youtuber Grace Randolph (host of Beyond the Trailer) believes that critics have an "anti-DC agenda" and just want to see DC fail. She even got in a Twitter war with Andy Signore, the creator of Screen Junkies home of  Honest Trailers. Grace Randolph is one of the few critics I've heard call Batman v Superman a masterpiece. While Signore is the opposite.

There are four words that debunk Grace's theory: The. Dark. Knight. Trilogy.

The lowest rated one is Batman Begins at 85%. The Dark Knight has an amazing 94%. And even The Dark Knight Rises, as divisive as it is, still has an 87%.

Even Superman Returns, a DC film that many fans detest, has a solid 76%.

I mean no disrespect to Grace Randolph, and I enjoy watching her videos and hearing her thoughts. But it's ridiculous to claim that everyone has some type of agenda if they disagree with you.

Critics are just regular people who are doing their job. They are not being paid by ANY studio to give a good or bad review of something. Critics for the most part are professionals. Sure, there are a few critics out there who are unprofessional, and probably don't deserve their profession (looking at you Lights Camera Jackson!). But we should never just assume that every critic has an agenda towards a certain studio or filmmaker.

Just because you love a movie everybody else hates, or hate a movie everybody else loves, it doesn't make  you or them any less smart. It just means we all had a different experience watching it. You don't need to vilify anyone who disagrees with you.

How did I figure this out? Because I used to think just like the DC fans did a few years ago.

I mentioned The Phantom Menace, and how Star Wars fans lied to themselves that it was a perfect movie because they didn't want to face reality that it was disappointing. I was born in the mid 90s, and grew up in the '00s. I am part of the "Prequel era". But I truly love Star Wars. As much as I love DC and Marvel, Star Wars has always been my biggest passion. I just love the story, the characters, the world. And ever since I learned about George Lucas, and all his struggles he went through to make those movies, it made me feel inspired to become a filmmaker myself. It's been a lifelong dream of mine to meet Lucas and thank him for making my childhood awesome.

However, in 2012 I started reading these comments online from people claiming that he's a hack, and that he had nothing to do with the Original Trilogy being great, and that anyone who thinks otherwise is an idiot. I was so devastated by these comments. I had a hard time when people disagreed with me on something, especially something like Star Wars.

I was even bullied in person back in 2014 for defending George Lucas. This hurt me so much that it almost killed my excitement for The Force Awakens.

So how did I get over it? Simple: I talked about it TO people. I have learned to discuss my problems in person with reaonable people rather than complain online.

I have even gotten to meet some of these "critics" at conventions. People like Scott Mantz, Mark Ellis, Kristian Harloff, Amirose Eisenbach, Miri Jedeikin, John Campea, Dennis Tzeng, JimmyO, Jon Schnepp, Holly Payne, Krisily Kennedy, Clarke Wolfe, Grae Drake, Alicia Malone, Roth Cornet, Andy Sinore, Dan Murrel, Hal Rudnick, Jeremy Jahns, and so on are some of the nicest, smartest, most awesome people I ever met! They have a passion for film that's contagious, and a knowledge that's unmatched. Even when I disagree with their opinions, I still trust them and love to listen to them when they speak about movies. They have taught me to love what I love, and respect other people for things they love.

And last year at Star Wars Celebration, I made friends with someone who is also a huge Star Wars fan. She doesn't just rant and complain about things she hates. She's smart, intelligent, and reasonable. She loves to have long discussions about things she is very passionate about. She is one of the coolest people I know! She's a great example of being a fan the right way.

Having discussions about art is not about agreeing with people all the time, or having everybody agree with you. It's about discovering what makes you YOU and learning something about your values. And you even learn about other people as well. That in my opinion is the power of art, especially film. It not only distracts us. It helps us to learn more about our world, ourselves, and each other.

And at the end of the day, it's all entertainment. It's not something to stress out about. It's meant to help us escape the real problems of the world (like Donald Drumpf possibly becoming president).

If there is anything I want you to take away from this blog post, it's to stick with your passions. Whether you're a Marvel fan, a DC fan, a Star Wars fan, etc. You should embrace the things you are passionate about. It's what makes you YOU. Do not let ANYONE tell you different.

And if you come across someone who acts like a jerk and bullies you for your opinions like I did, just ignore them and move on. Life is way too short to spend it with bitter people, let alone have fights with them online.

And don't be a jerk yourself. If you don't like it when people attack you for your passions, you shouldn't do the same. You should treat others the way you should be treated.

I love Star Wars, and I love George Lucas. I have some friends that don't share my love for either of those. But we are still good friends, and have intelligent discussions. I respect their opinion, and they respect mine. Everyone wins.

If anyone tells you that you're an idiot or you're "biased" for your own opinion on something, that only makes them even more so. They should probably go drink some of Granny's Peach Tea.

"This Is A Rebellion, Isn't It? I Rebel." NEW STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE TEASER RELEASED!!!

"Star Wars! Nothing bus STAR WARS! Give me more STAR WARS! Don't let it end!"

- Bill Murray, Saturday Night Live

Couldn't have put it better myself. If there's anything that can break the internet as much as cats, it's Star Wars! (Sometimes, it's both combined)

After Star Wars: The Force Awakens, a movie that destroyed almost every box office record and brought back the beloved franchise, fans have been asking for one thing: MORE!

And we got our wish. This morning, a teaser was released for the next Star Wars movie!

No, it's not Episode VIII. The teaser for that was released a couple months ago.

I'm talking about Star Wars: Rogue One. A prequel that fills in the gaps of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV: A New Hope, and finally reveals the story of how the plans to the Death Star were stolen by rebel spies, as the famous opening crawl described.

Many Bothans died to bring us this teaser.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wji-BZ0oCwg

I have seen this trailer a couple of times, so here are my general thoughts and impressions.

Star Wars generally doesn't have a good reputation with the word "prequel". But thankfully, there are no signs of Jar Jar Binks or Midichlorians in this teaser. What it does have is cool shots like this:

And this:

 

 

And this:

Just like The Force Awakens, Rogue One has a strong female protagonist. Her name is Gyn Erso.

From what the teaser tells us, she doesn't look like a rule following citizen. "Forgery of Imperial documents, possession of stolen property, aggravated assault, resisting arrest." says an officer reading her charges. "On your own since the age of 15, reckless, aggressive, and undisciplined." Says Mon Mothma. "This is a rebellion. I rebel." she proudly proclaims to Mon Mothma.

We then hear that the Empire is constructing a powerful weapon. The Rebels need to figure out what it is and how to destroy it. With her spunky attitude and her experience being a thief, Gyn seems like the perfect person to get the job done.

The trailer shows shots of action scenes with a classic alarm sound. Most people think this is just an attempt to copy the infamous Inception "BWAAAAAAAH" noise often heard in trailers. But for us hardcore Star Wars fans, we know that that's the famous alarm sound heard on the Death Star in the Original Trilogy. And I so want it as my ringtone!

The thing I loved the most about this trailer was the scope. There are shots that just feel so gigantic and gorgeous, I just want to hang them up on a wall and set as my Desktop! This is a movie I have to see in IMAX! Gareth Edwards seems like the perfect director for this story. No matter what you thought about Godzilla (2014), love it or hate it, we can all agree it was beautifully shot, and was the perfect IMAX experience. I expect nothing less from Rogue One.

The moment everyone is talking about is the return of Mon Mothma, played by Genevieve O'Reilly who was supposed to play her in Revenge of the Sith, but her scene was ultimately cut. It's funny how things work out. You think you're going to be in a Star Wars movie, your scene gets cut, but then you have to wait just ten more years to get the chance again. It's great to have you back Mon Mothma!

One classic character that did not make an appearance though was Darth Vader.

Of all the characters in Star Wars, Darth Vader is hands down my favorite. I was so excited to finally see him back on the big screen in all his glory. So I'll admit I was a little disappointed that he didn't make an appearance in the teaser as many had speculated. However, it does show that the filmmakers have a lot of confidence in the new characters, and that they're saving Darth Vader for a huge reveal. Let's just hope we don't have to wait until the third act to see him like Gareth Edwards' Godzilla.

Some fans have speculated if this shot could be Vader. I actually doubt it myself. For one thing, it looks nothing like Darth Vader from the back, unless he went through some hood phase. Perhaps it could be Emperor Palpatine. But what is he walking towards? Could it be Snoke? We'll just have to wait and see.

Just like the trailers for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the teaser for Rogue One has created countless speculations about the characters and possible plot points. One theory is that Gyn Erso could be the secret mother of Rey. I find this theory to be 40% likely. The timeline does seem to add up. Gyn looks to be around the same age as Luke Skywalker, Rey's possible father. And she does seem to possess some of the qualities of Rey, from her fighting skills to her bravery. I can't seem to think of reasons why she isn't. But I'm sure none of us saw the twist of Kylo Ren's relation to Han and Leia Solo, did we?

I may not know much about Gyn Erso, but what I do know is that I already want to see more of her! It's so exciting and refreshing to see Star Wars include more female protagonists in a male dominated genre. It still warms my heart to see little girls dress up as Rey.

If there is a Dark Side (see what I did there?) to this new teaser, it's that it has awakened sexist trolls on the internet. And if you think we had heard the last of "Mary Sue", think again. Just like how they unfairly gave Rey that title just because she was so good at everything, they give the same label to Gyn Erso, even though the movie's not out yet!

Seriously? How come we never hear anyone calling Luke Skywalker a Mary Sue? I mean, he learns about the Force for a few hours, and all of a sudden he can shoot down Stormtroopers, and destroy an entire space station in one shot? Why is it so hard for people to accept that fact that women can do things just as well as men can? How come when Batman can do everything just as well as Superman can without any powers, he's just cool. But if Rey can do everything as well as Luke Skywalker can, she's a "Mary Sue"?

And if you want to lose faith in humanity, you should have visited the comments on YouTube for the teaser earlier. There were nasty comments like "I'm so sick of female leads!" and "Feminism is ruining Hollywood!" Sometimes I feel like people forget it's 2016.

But, as Yoda would say, "Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering." It's always better to focus on the positives.

And there was definitely a lot more good than bad to come out of the Star Wars: Rogue One trailer! It may not have had Darth Vader as I was hoping, but I suspect we'll see him in the full length trailer. But it did give us a lot to talk about with glimpses of an intriguing narrative and great new characters, and the return of Mon Mothma! The fact that we are getting a new Star Wars movie every year indefinitely makes me happy to be alive right now! Christmas will not be the only reason to look forward to December anymore.

May the Force be with you!