The Legend of Tarzan review: Edgar Rice Burroughs’ literary character gets another big screen adaptation. But do David Yates and Alexander Skarsgård do the loincloth proud?
Kat Hughes check out David Yates’ latest. Here is her The Legend Of Tarzan review.
The Legend of Tarzan Review
The story of the rich Victorian Lord lost in the jungle as a child has been told in various forms for decades. A long line of actors have donned the famous loincloth to tell the tale of Tarzan, the latest being True Blood‘s Alexander Skarsgård.
Rather than tell yet another origin story The Legend of Tarzan is set ten years after Tarzan, now living as John Clayton, has left the jungle. Cohabiting with him is Jane (Margot Robbie) and whilst on the surface the duo have the perfect life, it seems that all isn’t well in paradise. Enter Samuel L Jackson‘s George Washington Williams who offers the pair a chance to accompany him back to the Congo. Whilst there, they encounter the dastardly Leon Rom (Christoph Waltz), a man who has promised Tarzan to an old foe.
The plot is as generic and uninspired as it sounds, with Waltz on all too familiar polite gentleman bad guy duties; Jackson provides the humour which is often a little jarring and way above youngsters heads. Despite not being an origin tale it’s actually the flashback sequences that standout. They’re dark, wild and violent, perfectly capturing a tumultuous jungle upbringing. The film would benefit from either more of these sequences or by bringing that same tone to the current time period.
The Legend of Tarzan Review
The coupling of Robbie and Skarsgård is, on paper, a genius one. The pair are both exceptionally attractive people and independently ooze sex appeal. Sadly that doesn’t translate well in the film. Whilst both are individually impressive specimens of our species, when combined they seem to cancel one another out, the spark between them barely there.
In True Blood Skarsgård played the charismatic and charming Eric. Unfortunately he doesn’t bring that same magnetism to the role of Tarzan. Granted he’s put in the effort to get the physicality of the role down, but personality wise the character struggles to connect. That’s more than likely due to weak writing, but it’s a flaw that knocks the film down.
Robbie is likeable as always, but despite all of her talk of her Jane being more than just a damsel, she really isn’t. This version of Jane has moved on from the traditional helpless damsel, but has instead become the new stereotype – the feisty damsel. This is the captured female who manages to get in the odd punch or kick, but at the end of the day still needs the man to rescue her.
The Legend of Tarzan Review
Visually the film strives for perfection but whilst everything looks nice, it’s disappointingly obvious that the majority of it isn’t real. In the wake of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and The Jungle Book audiences have high expectations when it comes to computer generated beasts. Unfortunately there isn’t really anything magical about the creatures in this film, they all feel like exactly what they are, pixels. Whereas other films have made you feel for the unreal animals, this one leaves you cold.
Director David Yates uses colour to hammer home his message about being true to yourself. Everything set in England is heavily tinted blue and grey, emphasising the cold, harshness. In contrast, the Congo is brightly lit, with strong golden hues expressing warmth. Subtle this film isn’t.
The Legend of Tarzan has an old school summer action-adventure blockbuster vibe to it. It’s a refreshing break from all the superhero franchises that have dominated the last few years but isn’t strong enough to quash the competition. It’s trying to tap into the magic of Branden Fraser’s The Mummy and The Pirates of the Caribbean but only manages to be as good as the more dire sequels in both series’.
The Legend of Tarzan review by Kat Hughes, June 2016.
The Legend of Tarzan is released in UK cinemas on 6th July.
