Movie Title: The Legend of Tarzan
Grade: B
Rating: PG-13,
109 minutes
In a Nutshell: Director
David Yates is most known for his work with the last four Harry Potter films. This time he brings us a new take on Edgar
Rice Burrough’s Tarzan.
One of Hollywood’s
first silent films was the Tarzan story, shortly after the original book came
out. While the story is flawed, and many feel like there was no need for a remake, the lush, romantic images in this movie will make you
feel like Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bocall could float down the river at any
minute.
Did you ever see the 1984 movie “Greystoke”? I loved it and highly recommend it. This story...sort of....begins where that movie left off.
Uplifting theme:
- “A
normal man can do the impossible to save the woman he loves. My husband is no normal man.” - Jane Clayton
- Honor,
friendship, loyalty, revenge, respect.
- The value of human an animal life.
Things I liked:
- The
musical score sounded very exotic and mysterious from the very beginning.
- Christoph
Waltz is fantastic in anything.
- Alexander
Skarsgard makes for a perfectly believable Tarzan. I loved it when he greeted the lions he
had known since they were cubs. So
sweet. Great CGI moment! As a 6'4" hunk of muscle and abs, Alexander convincingly plays a kind Tarzan who can easily kick butt when needed.
- Margot
Robbie makes a lovely, spunky Jane Porter. She's a British actress playing an American, while Alexander Skarsgard is an American playing a Brit.
- Samuel
Jackson. Ha ha He looks like he's having fun. His character is actually based on a real person.
- Beautiful
scenery and settings.
- Tarzan
thinks those pincer ants taste like bacon.
Ha ha
- There is a lot of action and movement from start to finish.
- There are some emotional moments akin to Bambi losing his mother.
Things I didn’t like:
- The
movie jumps back and forth in time and could become confusing for some
people.
- Sometimes
the apes and animals looked real; other times the CGI looked too fake.
- There
is a LOT of narration so that the audience can understand what’s going on. The problem is that the movie almost talks down to the audience. Show us; don't just tell us.
- Samuel
L. Jackson’s existence in the movie is merely for comic relief. He represents an American emissary,
which doesn’t make a lot of sense in the story line.
- You hear Tarzan's famous yell, but you never actually see Alexander Skarsgard do it. You also hear him growl like lions and other animals, but again, it's a soundtrack behind him and you never see his face while he's making those sounds.
Funny lines:
- “I’ve
already been to Africa. And it’s
hot.” – John Clayton (Tarzan)
- “I
never take the stairs. I usually
take the curtains.” – John Clayton
- “You
DO know that the right side of your mustache is just a little bit lower
than the left?” – Jane
- “How are we supposed to catch a train going 40 miles an hour?” – Samuel L. Jackson “Gravity.” - Tarzan
Interesting lines:
- “He’s Tarzan. You’re Jane. He’ll come for you.” – Captain Rom
(Christoph Waltz)
- “They
say an elephant’s eye speaks the greatest language. Who else can say so much without
speaking a word?” - Tarzan
- “These
are what you came for? What will
you do for them? – Chief Mbonga (Djmon Hounsou)
“Whatever is necessary.” – Leon Ron
(Christoph Waltz)
* No man ever started with less.” –
Jane
- “Your
husband’s wildness easily disturbs me more than I can easily express,
whereas your spirit…” Captain Rom
- “That
woman!” - Captain Rom
- “What
was that?” – Captain Rom’s assistant
“Tarzan, although it sounded
different than I thought. Better.” –
Captain Rom
Tips for
parents:
- There
is a LOT of violence. Man vs. man. Man vs. animal.
- Some
profanity, usually out of the mouth of Samuel L. Jackson.
- The
issues of African slavery, mistreatment of the American Indians, and “blood
diamonds” are addressed.
- There
is a before and after sex scene, but the audience doesn’t see what
happens in between.
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