The Legend of Tarzan
The Legend of Tarzan
2 out of 5
Tarzan is back on the big screen with this year’s The Legend of Tarzan. Over the years, several people have tried their Tarzan yell out for the small and silver screen. In this year’s iteration, it’s Alexander Skarsgård trying on the loin cloth and swinging through the jungle. David Yates, known primarily for directing the last four Harry Potter movies, is at the Director’s helm — and Margot Robbie plays Tarzan’s love, Jane.
By now, everyone is familiar with Tarzan’s story — so this is not a replay of the famous tale that we’ve all grown accustomed to. Though that storyline does weave throughout the film in the form of flashbacks, this plot picks up ten years after John Clayton III (or Tarzan) has left Africa for Victorian England. We are introduced to him, not as the “ape-man,” but rather Lord of the expansive estate of Greystoke, and a man as it turns out with some political influence. Several of England’s elite have gathered to ask Mr. Clayton to re-visit Africa, in order to show the world all the wonderful work that King Leopold of Belgium is doing in the Congo. Tarzan / Clayton, assisted by a sarcastic character from America, George Washington Williams (Samuel L. Jackson), realizes that this is simply a way to use him for others’ benefit, and politely declines. Though Williams doesn’t want Tarzan to help the English and Belgians, he does want Tarzan to go to Africa. Williams suspects that King Leopold is simply mining out the Congo for its riches and minerals, while enslaving a huge number of the people native to the area to accomplish his means. He simply needs Tarzan to help him prove this to the rest of the world, as well as to gain access to the country as only Tarzan knows it. What Williams and Tarzan don’t know however, is that King Leopold’s envoy, Leon Rom (Christoph Waltz) has struck a deal with a tribe who are enemies of Tarzan, deep in the Congo to lure Tarzan back, so they can kill him. In exchange the tribe will grant access to all of the diamonds the Congo can spit out for the bankrupt King Leopold. Tarzan’s wife, Jane, who grew up in the Congo insists on going, and unwittingly becomes a pawn in the plot against Tarzan. It is up to Tarzan, and a few of his furry friends to save the Congo and Jane.
The Legend of Tarzan has been highly anticipated with a 98% “want to see” on Rotten Tomatoes. However, I must tell you, while I think the story is decent and the acting isn’t bad, the movie just falls a bit flat to me. Samuel L. Jackson’s character is the most energetic and funny — often saying things that were running through my head when he said them. Skarsgård is exactly what you’d think Tarzan should look like, unfortunately for him, like the Lone Ranger before it, this movie just doesn’t give him much to work with. The action sequences are fun, and some of the cinematography of the country side is beautiful — especially the contrast that is drawn between England and Africa visually. However, I will say I was really surprised with much of the CGI work — especially in the larger scaled scenes — as much of it just doesn’t hold up to what we’re accustomed to seeing in big blockbusters (i.e. the new Planet of the Apes movies). There are several scenes that look like an animated film — not a live action movie. While the story is new to the Tarzan genre, it didn’t feel fresh to me. As with all movies, it depends on what your expectations are going in. I was hoping this would be something along the lines of Tarzan meets the Lord of the Rings — a grand adventure. In the end, it’s just doesn’t quite get there. It’s not a bad movie at all, it’s just not what it could have been. I foresee a box office weekend when Tarzan, King of the Jungle, gets beaten up by Dory, Queen of the Sea.
