MOVIE REVIEW: THE LEGEND OF TARZAN




6/10

 Lord Greyctock has moved on from his past incarnation as the jungle lord, the only reminder of Tarzan being "penny dreadfuls" sold in London. He is a celebrity, however, and is invited by the King of Belgium to visit Congo once more. But this is a trap, and when his beloved Jane is taken hostage, Tarzan has to return to make things right. Let the adventure begin!

As a child I read all 24 Tarzan adventures, and entering the movie theatre I was hoping for one thing - that the film delivers on the atmosphere and makes me feel like a kid again. Did the movie achieve it?

Yes and no.

My main problem with THE LEGEND OF TARZAN is the plot. We only get a glimpse of the story of Tarzan's origin and his meeting with Jane, (not a bad thing), but at the same time it leaves too much to interpretation. There is a feeling you have missed the "Part 1" which lingers until the movie ends. For the lengthy run of the film Tarzan does not have enough exciting adventures. The grand finale redeems it, but only a little. Many critics complained about historical inaccuracy, but it seems strange looking for the chronological  errors in a fantasy film.

If there is a reason to watch THE LEGEND OF TARZAN, it's for the amazing African vistas and the quirky dynamic between the characters of Jane (Margo Robbie) and  Chris Waltz (Leon Rom). The sparks  are flying in their scenes together and they bring the movie alive. 

 The presence of Samuel L Jackson as George Washington Williams is a necessary comic relief but he is redundant as a character. Tarzan would have to have a side kick, and Jackson is not the worse choice - his jokes have great timing and when allowed he owns the screen.

One of the complains, strangely, are visual effects for the animals, particularly gorillas, that look cartoonish and fake. Not a good look for a film where CGI is a primary concern. 

Tarzan did manage to bring my favourite character to life, but I was left asking for more. This predictable movie will not keep you on the edge of your seat, but is visually stunning and may awaken the sense of adventure you thought you never had.

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