The Legend of Tarzan
In the years following Tarzan’s relocation from Africa to London, the ape man has found a sophistication and understanding that allows him to integrate into Victorian society under the name of John Clayton III. His humble existence is soon shaken up, however, after a cordial invite draws him back to the Congo where a dastardly diamond magnate plots his capture in exchange for a set of precious stones. As he sees his beloved Jane captured by bandits, Tarzan will do anything to save his home and the woman he loves while also trying to evade his own capture.
Featuring a big name cast comprised of Alexander Skarsgård, Margot Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson, and Christoph Waltz, The Legend of Tarzan is an all-star affair that takes the best and the worst of Hollywood filmmaking and mashes it into a new take on a classic adventure story. While it may be unsurprising that Skarsgård plays Tarzan without much nuance, his presence in the film is bolstered somewhat by a selection of CGI animals who are more interesting to watch than any of the characters who take human form.
It’s unfortunate that more care and attention wasn’t put into the CGI process as the special effects look mostly unfinished and without texture. Rather than putting together some intricate motion capture sequences, the studio opted instead for bad green screens that render the actors disjointed from anything that isn’t psychically present within the scene. The movie is comprised of a number of sequences that feel far too gimmicky for their own good and the made-for-3D shots turn The Legend of Tarzan into a cheap jungle adventure with animal close-ups made for the sole purpose of wowing those wearing 3D glasses. In a two-dimensional form these moments draw attention to themselves and only expose the cheap tactics that this form of entertainment employs.
Although David Yates was in the director’s chair for this movie, his masterful presence is barely felt as the mediocre plot unravels in a mishmash of new and old ideas. It’s easy to be misled into thinking that this is simply a remake of the Disney-adapted Tarzan story when it isn’t. The Legend of Tarzan takes a new angle and it’s one that sadly leads to a dull premise. While it does have a few entertaining moments of spectacle, this latest adaptation is unlikely to stick in your memory and it’s easy to feel nothing more than numbness as it slowly plays out. It’s an unimpressive and forgettable outing in this year’s reboot line-up.
So what do we think of this movie? Well, let us say it didn’t swing too wildly as it lands with a measly score of 4 our of 10.
