The Legend of Tarzan is one those films that would have undoubtedly had praise heaped onto it 10 years ago when Hollywood was desperate for franchises before the big cinematic universe boom. Now though, it falls under the weighted shadow of an overfilled blockbuster market and a larger looming film set in a similar setting; Disney's The Jungle Book. Now it faced a critical lashing and will likely not recoup its budget which I find to be a true shame because this is the live action Tarzan film I have been waiting decades for.
The Legend of Tarzan boasts an impressive cast unseen in a Tarzan film. Alexander Skarsgard does a great job as the title hero, fitting the role with his large stature but also providing a Tarzan rarely seen. This Tarzan (or as he prefers to be identified early on, John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke) is one who has grown accustomed to the ways of the "civilized" world and rejects his home. This is highlighted in a particular arc as Tarzan identifies who his mother is throughout the film. The extra layers added to these originally stock characters doesn't end as Margot Robbie's Jane Clayton provides a Jane who is willing to fight back and also humorously pokes fun at the villain's inadequacies. Samuel L. Jackson's turn as George Washington Williams is definitely the humorous audience eye into the weird world of Tarzan, providing some needed levity for certain moments but it never feels out of place.
The primary villain, Captain Leon Rom, is played by a more stoic and reserved Christoph Waltz (though he still manages to sneak in some quirks). Rom is certainly a despicable character but he's one that feels natural enough to this world and not some out of place mustache-twirling villain (that's left to his henchman, Captain Kerchover played by Casper Crump who some may remember as Vandal Savage in the CW's Legends of Tomorrow). Djimon Hounsou's Chief Mbonga is a great secondary villain with a compelling motivation, though in the end he feels thrown to the way-side in favor of Rom's larger evil.
+Alexander Skarsgard gives the best Tarzan performance to date
+Jane is more than a damsel and Robbie owns the role
+Villains have understandable motivations and aren't stereotypical
+Beautiful scenery and brutal action
Cons:
-Chief Mbonga is shoved aside in the climax
-Inconsistent CGI
+/-Waltz's Rom is a good villain yet only has one scene with the main hero
The Legend of Tarzan gets a well-deserved:
What did you think of the film? Agree? Disagree? Let me know below!
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