The Legend of
Tarzan has a different feel from the familiar Tarzan story we’ve known and
grown fond of. We’re used to seeing Tarzan’s life from the time he was a young
boy living with the apes until he grew up and became the lord of the jungle.
I haven’t had
the opportunity to read the book, but I’ve watched many adaptations of the
story. This movie focuses on his life after he’s settled down with Jane, living
comfortably in England and trying to have a child.
While this seems
like a good idea—giving viewers something we’re not used to—the movie was a
bore. The dialogue was too long, and it lacked the thrill or suspense needed to
keep viewers interested.
The writers
packed so much between the first act and the expected showdown between the
protagonist and the antagonist that, by the time the showdown arrived, it felt
uneventful. The director didn’t help matters either, taking the movie too
seriously and making Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan resemble a lullaby. The
Tarzan we’re used to (thanks to Disney, at least for me) is the Lord of the
Jungle—strong like an ape and capable of performing magnificent feats.
The whole idea
of Tarzan is fiction, and Burroughs built his adventures on that fictional
foundation. Here, the writers tried to make everything look so real, and in
doing so, they drained the excitement from the character.
That said, the
CGI was as good as I expected, and Samuel L. Jackson’s cool acting was enough
to keep you watching. Another highlight was Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Jane
Porter. In other adaptations, Jane is often a sophisticated damsel in distress.
Here, she’s strong, confident, and holds her own in this movie.
The movie’s
intro is based on two independent events that somehow link in a miraculous way.
Congo is being colonized by two countries: Belgium and the United Kingdom. The
Belgians are running out of money and decide to raid the diamond mines in
Congo. Their raid ends in an ambush, with only Rom (Christoph Waltz) surviving.
The king of the tribe that ambushed Rom and his men gives Rom a diamond in
exchange for Tarzan.
At the same
time, Tarzan—now in England—is persuaded by the government to lead Williams
(Samuel L. Jackson), an American sent to investigate the slavery happening in
Congo at the hands of the Belgians. Tarzan agrees, and he, Williams, and Jane
head to Congo. They stay with a tribe Tarzan is friends with, but the village
is attacked by Rom and his men. Jane is captured to lure Tarzan out.
Now, Tarzan has
to find a way to save Jane from Rom’s clutches.
Why not save your money and see something else?
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