Jimmy Martin Chats With Director, Stars Of ‘Mowgli’
Dec 4, 2018, 3:36 PM | Updated: 3:49 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – “Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle” is one of the new movies coming to Netflix this month, and critic Jimmy Martin had the opportunity to chat with the film’s stars and director.
It’s definitely a little bit of a darker take on “The Jungle Book” story.
“There are frightening elements to it,” said director Andy Serkis. “It’s intense, but I don’t think there’s anything gratuitous or so adult-themed that you can’t watch it as a child.”
Martin wondered what it was like being directed by Serkis, who is the “god of motion-capture performers.”
Christian Bale, who plays Bagheera, said it was “the best thing ever.”
“He’s your best guide,” Bale said. “I’ve seen his performances, which were absolutely fantastic, so you know what’s possible.”
“You’ve got this wonderful, classic story that has never been seen in this way,” he added, “which is true to (Rudyard) Kipling’s original writings.”
“I grew up reading Rudyard Kipling’s short stories about Mowgli,” said Rohan Chand, who plays Mowgli. “I really enjoyed the stories. … I really admired (Mowgli) and he was almost like my hero.”
He said he was striving for authenticity.
“Compared to other versions, it’s obviously very what people like to call, ‘Dark,’” he said. “For me, I prefer to call it, ‘Deep.’”
“It goes really deeper with the characters and deeper with the emotions,” he said.
Martin thought “Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle” was “fantastic.”
“It’s cool to see Netflix coming out with this content,” he said.