By Darlene
Donloe
The Legend of Tarzan, in theaters nationwide today, is a cinematic wonder. The vast and
luscious cinematography is like an additional character in the movie. An
all-new action adventure, this isn’t your momma’s Tarzan.
Edgar Rice
Burroughs’ iconic character has been a favorite for decades. Many buffed actors
have taken on the character, but none as dramatically and lovingly as Olympic
swim star Johnny Weissmuller, who made swinging from the trees popular.
Up next in the
role is Alexander Skarsgård (True Blood)
whose re-imagined portrayal of the man brought up in the jungle by apes – is
fresh and effective. Noticeably abset is the loin cloth. Instead, Tarzan dons
some short pants. Bummer!
That being
said, the movie still plays as if Tarzan is the Great White Hope for the black
savages in the jungle. It’s as if Tarzan freed the slaves.
The movie is
laced with symbolic, colonial underpinnings.
It seems as if
they threw in Samuel L. Jackson’s character to balance out the Tarzan aspect.
The entire movie is a product of
colonial times.
Still, there
are some good performances from an impressive cast. A sculpted Skarsgard fills
the screen as does Christoph Waltz, Djimon Hounsou and Margot Robbie. Jackson
brings the levity, stealing every scene in which he appears.
The story is
presented with the first half taking place in Victorian England where Tarzan is
really John Clayton III, Earl of Greystoke.
Alexander Skarsgård is Tarzan
It’s been a
decade since Clayton has spent time in the jungle. He’s gotten quite used to the
big city. He was, after all, a rich kid at one time. He was raised by the apes
in the jungle after his parents deaths. Tens years removed from the jungle,
Tarzan, whose identity is widely known, is called into service by King Leopold
of Belgium and must return to the jungles of the Congo. The king wants to show
off the wonderful things he has done since occupying Clayton’s former home in
the Congo. Unfortunately for Clayton/Tarzan, it’s all a lie perpetrated by Leon
Rom (Christoph Waltz), who will get paid with the much sought after diamonds of
Opar if he brings Tarzan back to the jungle to be killed by the tribal chief
Mbonga (Djimon Hounsou), who is seeking revenge.
At first
Clayton turns down the request. However, George Washington Williams (Jackson)
convinces him it’s the right thing to do. Clayton/Tarzan returns and it doesn’t
take long for him to get into the swing of things (pun intended).
He must first
fight his big ape brother to prove he’s worthy to come back to the jungle.
There is lots
of action and adventure. There is also a touching love story between
Clayton/Tarzan and Jane, who is a pistol. Margot Robbie inhabits the role of
Jane – showcasing strong acting chops and physicality.
Oh, and lets
not forget the apes. Kudos to the apes, who are sufficiently menacing, but are
obviously digital.
Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in
association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Jerry Weintraub Production, a
Riche/Ludwig Production, a David Yates Film, The Legend of Tarzan. Directed
by David Yates (the last four Harry Potter films), the film stars Margot
Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street),
Oscar nominees Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, the Captain America
films) and Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond, Gladiator), with Oscar winner
Jim Broadbent (Iris), and two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz (Inglourious
Basterds, Django Unchained).
On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O
(oh, no), N (needs work), L (likeable), O (oh, yeah) and E (excellent), The Legend of Tarzan gets an O (oh,
yeah).
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