Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3828 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-06-16
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Format: PAL
• Original language: Hindi, Dutch
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 69 minutes

Amazon.co.uk
After a delightful opening, in which jungle boy Mowgli (voiced by Haley Joel Osment) recaps much of the original Jungle Book in a sprightly shadow puppet show, The Jungle Book 2 swiftly turns into a carbon copy of the splendidly swinging previous movie. After his old pal Baloo the bear (voiced by John Goodman) draws Mowgli away from the man-village, with all its work and rules, and back into the glorious indolence of the jungle, the movie repeats--in a less energetic form--an encounter with Kaa the snake, the cockney vultures, a musical number at the monkey's palace, the menace of Shere Khan the tiger, and even the song "The Bare Necessities." The only difference is that there's a girl named Shanti along for the ride; sadly, her character is so bland that it doesn't do much to justify the movie's existence. --Bret Fetzer

Synopsis
Disney's 'Man Cub' Mowgli (voice of Haley Joel Osment) is back in this animated sequel to the 1967 classic. Mowgli, now living with an adopted family in a nearby jungle village, is homesick for his jungle adventures and his good friends, like Baloo the Bear (voice of John Goodman) and Bagheera the Panther (voice of Bob Joles). But because the villagers believe that the jungle is a dangerous place for children, Mowgli isn't allowed to visit. Bored and lonely, he dreams of his carefree days in the jungle and finally runs away from his new home to visit the jungle and the friends he left behind. This time he is followed by his neighbour Shanti (voice of Mae Whitman) and together they meet Baloo and friends for more adventures. The fun-loving, jovial bear is overjoyed to see his old friend, and a little jealous of Shanti, but together they share some spirited Jungle Book moments, to the tune of original classics like "Bare Necessities" and "I Wanna Be Like You" and new hits like "W.I.L.D." Mowgli is thrilled that things in the jungle haven't changed, until he realises that Shere Khan (voice of Tony Jay) the Tiger is thirsty for revenge and threatening to harm his jungle family. Together with Shanti, Baloo, Bagheera, and some new faces like Lucky the Vulture (Phil Collins) Mowgli must fight Shere Khan one last time.

Customer Reviews

Enjoyable but not memorable

Note: The review that follows is of the Special Edition of a film first released in 2003.

Comparisons with the earlier version released 41 years ago (featuring the voices of Phil Harris, Sebastian Cabot, Louis Prima, George Sanders, and Sterling Holloway among others) are inevitable and perhaps unfair. As I began to watch this sequel, I tried very hard to experience it and then judge it on its own merits. All issues considered, my rating of it is explained as follows: I think it offers pleasant but unexceptional entertainment (Three Stars) and several bonus features that add one Star to my rating.

My guess is that, in general, adults enjoy the special features (other than interactive games such as "Mowgli's Jungle Ruins Maze") more than children do. In the sequel, the plot remains faithful to the beloved Rudyard Kipling novel, this time featuring the voices of John Goodman, Haley Joel Osment, Mae Whitman, and Jim Cummings. Phil Collins provided the voice of Lucky. I watched this film with several of my younger grandchildren, none of whom had seen the 1967 version. Unlike their parents and grandparents, they and other children ages 4-14 seem to think nothing of watching a film they like several times either in a theatre or a DVD of it, whether or not it is a sequel.

Although a sequel offering solid entertainment to "children of all ages," I doubt if it will not have the same enduring appeal from one generation to the next as do other feature length animated films produced by Disney (e.g. Bambi, Beauty and the Beast, Dumbo, Pinocchio, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) and Pixar (e.g. Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, Toy Story, Toy Story 2, and WALL-E) nor by DreamWorks (e.g. Antz and Shrek). I agree with my grandchildren: it was fun to watch but generates no interest in seeing it again soon. It must join a long line ahead of it.

Very enjoyable
Not quite the same as Jungle Book 1, but still very enjoyable all the same and my 2 year old loved it

great view!
we all enjoyed this dvd as much as the 1st one! good family viewing, good sequal to the original, very pleased.