Forty years old, and the animation still holds up today

Rating: 7/10 (4 November 2007)

I'm afraid I cannot comment on the English and original voice-track, for I have not been able to summon a copy (for free) of it without Danish dubbing(as is the custom here... we dub what children would watch, but apart from that, thankfully, we leave the sound as is... I am opposed to the idea, the audio track is part of the original, it's part of the finished product that the film-makers put together, possibly even a part, significant or otherwise, of the director's vision), but for any Dane reading this who hasn't already seen it... some of the voice acting isn't too bad, and it features Ove SprogÃ¸e, in at least one, possibly several, parts(including Bagheera). I have not seen the sequel, and I don't believe I've seen any of the Disney sequels to their animated features, save for Jaffar Returns(and I was a kid, less trustworthy judgment). I haven't read the book, either. Or seen any of the other versions of the story, including the 94 version(not that I'd want to, Sommers isn't exactly my favorite director... he helps furnish the bottom of that list). But enough of that, on to the film. The animation still holds up remarkably well. It's dynamic, dramatic and comic, when it tries to be any of the three. There did seem to be some reused footage(in a film that doesn't even reach a full hour and a half, no less), but that can be forgiven. The songs are catchy enough. Shere Khan makes a pretty cool villain. The plot is fine, though some of the developments have simple writing. At one point, our heroes are fortunate enough that an opponent takes the trouble to sing his plan while they are close enough to overhear it... not sure even Bond could get away with that one, but maybe middle-aged to old men with dreams of world domination or destruction make dreadful performing artists. The humor contains slapstick. Editing and shot composition are well done. I recommend this to fans of Disney cartoons, but from what I have heard of what it's like, *not* Rudyard Kipling's novel. 7/10