Mowgli the "mancub" and his interaction between the different animals is an interesting social commentary that still holds weight today - good creatures and bad creatures, some motivated by predisposed prejudices that don't apply to the target of their ire. Raised by animals, yet having animals as an enemy - it's clear that Mowgli needs to enter into a life with humans in "the Man-village," and it's a young girl that finally convinces him that it's the right thing to do. Friendship and trust (BTW - never trust a snake that sounds like Winnie the Pooh) are important elements that make great talking points for the little ones.
Released for the first time on Blu-ray, THE JUNGLE BOOK looks fantastic - better than I expected it to, and without overkill on the polishing. The audio is crisp and vibrant, and the songs sounded fantastic blaring from the soundbar. An added bonus is the intermission feature, which opens up what are essentially "lyric videos" for the songs on the soundtrack simply by pressing the pause button. I had to take a phone call mid-film, and the girls were still entertained by music and movement.... some provided by that group of vultures that looked suspiciously like THE BEATLES:
Additionally, this "Diamond Edition" Blu-ray packs in a bunch of bonus features steeped in the history of Walt Disney Animation Studios, and includes all of the bonus materials from the previously-released 2007 DVD.
The Rock Father Rating:
Film: 5/5 Stars
Blu-ray: 5/5 Stars