In The Jungle Book, Mowgli (Neel Sethi) is a man cub who is raised by a family of wolves – the Indian wolf, Raksha (Lupita Nyong’o) and her pack led by Akela (Giancarlo Esposito), ever since he was brought to them as a baby by Bagheera (Sir Ben Kingsley), the black panther.
Mowgli as an Outsider
Mowgli is expected to behave like a wolf and is put down by Bagheera when he solves problems using human tricks, like creating tools instead of learning the way of the pack.
Peace is Shattered at Peace Rock
During a severe drought, all the animals in the jungle gather at a huge rock surrounded by the only remaining water as part of the Water Truce – a timeout called during a drought that enables all animals to gather at a water hole without fear of being eaten by larger animals.
This gathering is disrupted when huge and scary Bengal tiger, Shere Khan (Idris Elba) comes to the rock and perceives Mowgli’s scent. But humans are not allowed in the jungle, and because this cardinal rule had been broken; Shere Khan, who despises humans because of their cruel ways and his facial scars which bear evidence to this, threatens that when the Water Truce ends and the Peace Rock disappears, he would come for the boy. Not only the boy, but anyone who seeks to protect him.
Mowgli Leaves the Only Family He Has Ever Known
This generates a debate and argument among members of the wolf pack as to whether or not they should keep Mowgli. But before a general consensus is reached, Mowgli voluntarily decides to leave the jungle for the sake and safety of his pack, while Bagheera volunteers to guide him to human civilisation.
But on their way, Shere Khan jumps the duo and injures Bagheera while Mowgli manages to escape. Deep in the jungle, he meets giant python Kaa (Scarlett Johansson) who who lures him in with promises of safety and an assurance that she knows who and what Mowgli truly is.
Kaa shows Mowgli a vision of his father being killed by Shere Khan and of himself as an abandoned infant being found by Bagheera. She also warns him of the destructive power of man’s red flower – a tool that brings warmth and light and destruction to all that it touches. Having successfully wrapped Mowgli in her coils, Kaa attempts to devour Mowgli, but he is rescued by the bear, Baloo (Bill Murray).
Honey for Baloo, Please
In return for saving his life, Baloo makes Mowgli fetch him honey from honeycombs perched high on a cliff. Mowgli uses human intelligence to get the honey, upon which bear and boy form a friendship. Mowgli thus decides to stay with Baloo until the winter season arrives.
Back in the Jungle
Back in the jungle, Shere Khan visits the wolf pack looking for the man-cub, and kills Akela by throwing him off the cliff when he is told that Mowgli has left the pack. He demands that the boy be handed over to him and, confident that Mowgli will return again, appoints himself the new leader of the pack.
When Bagheera returns to fetch Mowgli, he discovers that Mowgli has decided to live with Baloo. While sleeping at night, Mowgli hears a cry for help and discovers that a baby elephant is trapped in a deep pit. Using his tricks, he fashions a rope to rescue the baby elephant, forming a bond between Mowgli and the elephants.
Bagheera then instructs Baloo to lie to Mowgli that they are not really friends after all, with the hopes that Mowgli will change his mind about staying with Baloo. But Mowgli is suddenly abducted by a group of monkeys who take him to an ancient ruined temple and present him to King Louie (Christopher Walken), the orangutan.
He tries to coerce Mowgli into giving up the secret of the red flower, and it is at this point that Baloo and Bagheera arrive to distract the monkeys while Mowgli flees into hiding. King Louie is hot on his heels though, and this chase causes the temple to crumble all over him, but before he dies, he ensures to inform Mowgli of Akela’s demise.
The Battle – Man vs. Tiger
Furious that Baloo and Bagheera kept him in the dark about Akela’s death, Mowgli decides to return to the jungle and confront Shere Khan. But first, Mowgli ventures into the village where the humans live and for the first time sees his own kind from afar and gazes at them in amazement. He steals one of the burning torches and heads back to the jungle but accidentally starts a fire, just as Baloo and Bagheera follow him in close pursuit.
When the news breaks out that a man with the red flower is making his way into the jungle, all the animals gather at the Peace Rock. Mowgli confronts Shere Khan but seeing how all the animals of the jungle cower in fear at the sight of the fire he holds, throws away his torch into the water, allowing Shere Khan to attack him.
Will Mowgli defeat Shere Khan? Will the animals help him? Will the fire be put out? Will his animal friends ever accept the fact that Mowgli is a human boy?
There’s just one way to know for sure – when you watch it! You will definitely have the time of your life, I promise.
