The Legend of Tarzan (2016)

Genre

Action | Adventure | Romance

Director

David Yates

Country

USA

Cast

Alexander Skarsgard, Margot Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson, Christoph Waltz, Rory J. Saper, Christian Stevens, Ella Purnell, Djimon Hounsou, Jim Broadbent, Casper Crump, Hadley Fraser, Genevieve O'Reilly, Yule Masiteng, Simon Russell Beale, Madeleine Worrall, William Wollen

Storyline

In the Nineteenth century, John Clayton (Alexander Skarsgard) aka Tarzan is married with Jane (Margot Robbie) and is fully adapted to the life in London. But then he is called back to his former home in the jungle to investigate the activities at a minim encampment.

Opinion

Disney's "Tarzan" was one of my favourite films as a kid. I loved everything about it, from the story to the beautiful soundtrack by Phil Collins, and especially Terk, Tarzan's friend. But more than anything, I liked the character, Tarzan. That's why I decided to watch "The Legend of Tarzan". I knew it would have been nothing like the cartoon, but I wasn't expecting it to be this bad.

This film is only another desperate and failed attempt of Hollywood to bring back to the screen a legend both of literature and cinema with the only purpose to make money, and, to do the trick, they used well known actors.

The biggest problem with "The Legend of Tarzan" is the writing. Even though the filmmakers decided to make some sort of sequel to the story we all know, the original plot is also quite incoherent, confusing and utterly predictable. And top it off, it also addresses slavery in such a lighthearted way it should be a crime.

Following the same disgraced path of the story is also the dialogue - I wasn't expecting it to be good though -, the romance between Tarzan and Jane - the bromance between Tarzan and George Washington Williams is stronger than that -, and the characters.

Especially the characters. As I mentioned before, I loved Tarzan. But it's impossible to love or even like this Tarzan because he's nothing more than a one-dimensional character that acts like an angsty teenager. Same goes with the villain. He doesn't act like an angsty teenager, but he is a very weak, stereotyped psychopath.

If all of that wasn't important, this film could have been nominated best film of the year because the action is actually quite good, the setting is beautiful, and the special effects are good. Also, Samuel L. Jackson - who is completely wasted in this film, just like the great Christoph Waltz - brings some humour to it and makes the experience a little bit more enjoyable.

At last, I have to say they couldn't have picked a worst actor to play Tarzan. He doesn't have anything to offer other than his abs. And his terrible performance which is even worst of the entire film.