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The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli & Baloo
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Wikipedia article
'The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli & Baloo' is a 1997 American direct-to-video adventure film starring Jamie Williams as Mowgli, with Roddy McDowall and Billy Campbell in supporting roles. It is a live action adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's 'The Jungle Book' (loosely based on 'The Second Jungle Book', as its title would suggest). The film was adapted for the screen by Bayard Johnson and Matthew Horton.
It was shot in Kandy Central Hills, Sri Lanka in July to September 1996 and features some well known Sri Lankan actors like Wijeratne Warakagoda, Sunil Hettiarachchi and Raja Sumanapala.
Plot
10-year-old Mowgli has been raised amongst a wolf pack as well as Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther in the Jungles of India. Mowgli is the target of the notorious bandar-log (monkey people) who frequently attempt to kidnap him to teach them the ways of man. However, his greatest enemy is Shere Khan the tiger, who killed the boy's father.
Mowgli is soon spotted by an American traveller named Harrison, who wishes to take the man-cub to his circus in America. Mowgli escapes from Harrison and brings along Timo, the pet monkey of Harrison's companion named Chuchundra. Harrison enlists the help of a wealthy man named Buldeo to help him find Mowgli. Buldeo is none other than Mowlgi's paternal uncle - Mowgli is the rightful heir to his father's inheritance. For this reason, Buldeo seeks a snake charmer named Karait who owns Kaa the python, in order to kill Mowgli, pretending to use the snake to simply track the boy.
Mowgli is banished by the wolves for bringing home Timo, who is believed to be a cousin of the bandar-log. Timo is later kidnapped by the bandar-log - Baloo and Mowgli arrive at the Ancient City, the home of the bandar-log to save Timo but Baloo is trapped in the process. Harrison, Buldeo, Karait and Chuchundra successfully capture Mowlgi and bring him to their camp. At night, Shere Khan attacks the camp and Mowgli escapes when fighting him off. However, he is ambushed by Buldeo who attempts to kill him but fails thanks to Harrison's intervention. Baloo escapes from the bandar-log and rescues Mowgli. The two then return to the Ancient City and manage to save Timo whilst encountering King Murphy who wishes to make Mowgli king. The four men arrive at the Ancient City and split up to find Mowgli. Harrison attempts to help Mowgli but is injured by Buldeo who finally reveals his true intentions of wanting to murder his nephew.
Buldeo is confronted by Baloo and Bagheera who arrive to help Mowgli with the wolves. He hides in a canon which is lit by the bandar-log, being sent to the other side of the jungle where he is killed by Shere Khan. Meanwhile, Mowgli is rescued by Harrison and returns Timo to Chuchandra. Harrison offers to take Mowgli back to raise him as his own, having changed his mind about wanting the boy to be living in a circus. However, Mowgli decides to run with the wolves with Harrison and Chuchandra bidding him farewell.
Cast
*Jamie Williams - Mowgli
*Billy Campbell - Harrison
*Gulshan Grover - Buldeo
*David Paul Francis - Chuchundra
*Dyrk Ashton - Karait
*Roddy McDowall - King Murphy
*Cornelia Hayes O'Herlihy - Emily Reece
*B. J. Hogg - Colonel Reece
*Amy Robbins - Molly Ward
*Raja Sumanapala - Buldeo's Servant
Reception
The film ultimately received negative reviews from critics. McDowall was nominated for Worst Supporting Actor for this film at the 1997 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards but lost to Jon Voight for 'Anaconda'.
Meanwhile, Jamie Williams has been widely praised for his performance. His smooth skin and messy hair, body language, and large repertoire of animal noises, made him believable in a very difficult role that never allowed him to speak. For his performance, Jamie Williams went on to win the Most Promising Young Male Newcomer award in 1996, at age ten.
References
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