Rudyard Kipling's the Second Jungle Book: Mowgli and Baloo

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Rudyard Kipling's the Second Jungle Book: Mowgli and Baloo ★★ Mowgli and Baloo: Jungle Book2; and Baloo 1997 (PG)

Actually a prequel to “Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book,” the story centers on the tenyearold Mowgli (Williams) and his efforts to stay among his animal friends in the jungle. After he is spotted by a scout for P.T. Barnum's circus (Campbell), he must elude the hastily organized group that's out to capture and exploit him. He must also dodge the Bandars, a group of funky monkeys who want to make Mowgli their unwilling leader. The special effects are nowhere near as good as its predecessor, with matte shots that make some of the animals look like they were added with magic markers. The story is a classic, however, and the performances (especially Williams') are good. 88m/C VHS, DVD . Jamie Williams, Billy Campbell, Roddy McDowall, Cornelia Hayes O'Herlihy, David Paul Francis, Gulshan Grover, Dyrk Ashton, B.J. Hogg, Amy Robbins, Hal Fowler; D: Duncan McLachlan; W: Bayard Johnson, Matthew Horton; C: Adolfo Bartoli; M: John Scott.