The 'Not-So-Critical' Critic:
on THE
LEGEND OF TARZAN (2016, 110 minutes, PG-13)
The Quick of It -
The idea of reimagining a major classic is always a risk. The works of Edgar Rice Burroughs are no
exception. People have been introduced
a number of times to Tarzan and his legacy.
Disney did a cartoon production and was quite successful. The top recent live-action is a little
dated, GREYSTOKE: THE LEGEND OF TARZAN, in 1988. Now Dark Horse Entertainment has their version in the mix. What they did right was the depth of the
storybuilding and the research to back it up.
They tell the tale set during the late 1800’s as Tarzan must return from
his time in England to the Congo to investigate possible atrocities, and his
earlier years shown through flashbacks as this is taking place. And I am please to say that they didn’t do
much wrong.
Director David Yates, of Harry Potter fame, does a fair job, but I believe
there were greater standouts with this production. I think since this was under the scrutiny of producers and studio
wishing TARZAN to be viewable by a larger audience, his hands were tied. The music by Rupert Gregson-Williams (OVER
THE HEDGE, BEE MOVIE, HOTEL RWANDA, and a strong collection of comedies) set the
tone and filled the wilds with some context.
Cinematographer Henry Braham (THE GOLDEN COMPASS, FLYBOYS, and the
future GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2) did a wonderful job in creating unique
environments for each setting. In
concert, these three crucial players made the film a ‘safe bet’. You could almost sense the tribute given to
Burroughs and his work.
For the cast, there were both strong and weak elements. Alexander Skarsgard was an ok Tarzan. He didn’t hurt the image but seemed less
imposing on the screen. With the style
of the storytelling, this issue may not be his fault. They kept to a plausible plotline rather than going overboard
with superhuman type powers, which was the case from the original works. He was a humble person who was uncorrupted
by ‘civilized men’ (as the time period would support). Margot Robbie (Jane Clayton) did bring the
fire to her role, which was needed to balance the continuous calm of Tarzan’s
demeanor. I love Samuel L. Jackson (as
George Washington Williams), who I call ‘Sammy’ on weekends, but this role was
more for comedic relief. I appreciate
that but his levity was a little forced in the writing, and his character was
not quite balanced. But the one who
shined above all was Christoph Waltz.
This role could easily been written with him in mind. There was not one moment when Leon Rom was
on the screen when your skin did not crawl, and still you could not look away.
The one thing I must bring to the forefront is the supporting
cast. I was not comfortable with the
portrayal of life in Africa. Seemed a
little old school and less gritty and true to how it really was. The actors and extras really did a wonderful
job of creating the illusion, but I wonder how much was stereotyped.
Overall, this new vision was a great break from the rush of
superhero movies. I am always a fan of
the classics when a production listens to the original author’s voice and
intent, adding a piece to history and showing the new generations that the
classics should be respected for their subtle grandeur.
Grade: B+
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