CLASSIC tales come to life on screen at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre this week.

Walt Disney Pictures' beautiful and thrilling live-action adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's timeless collection of fables about man-cub Mowgli and the furry denizens of his tropical habitat, often feels like a video game or a theme-park ride.

It's fast-paced and engaging entertainment but lacks some of the pathos you might expect.

Its heart beats in your throat, not in your gut.

Although kids are the primary demographic, the film is intense, scary, and occasionally brutal in its depiction of the laws of the jungle, as the 10-year-old Mowgli flees the jaws of his feline nemesis, the malevolent tiger Shere Khan or encounters the violent demands of King Louie, the orang-utan who offers the orphaned boy protection in return for the secret of the "red flowers," the name given to the man-trick all animals fear the most - the flames of fire.

Still, this is a match made in movie heaven, given that the critters in Kipling's stories speak and behave like human beings, perfectly suited to Disney's anthropomorphic tradition of walking and talking animals, which began with Mickey Mouse.

The Jungle Book is a shining example of phenomenal filmmaking, transporting the viewer to a different world.

Complete with a riveting plot combined with VFX and 3D that makes you jump.

The film is a must watch experience at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre this week.

LIVE ACTION CLASSIC

What: The Jungle Book

Where: Proserpine Entertainment Centre

When: Friday, April 22, at 7pm and Sunday, April 24, at 2pm

Cost: Adults $13, concession $12, children $10

Tickets: Phone 4945 2312