Movie Review: The Legend of Tarzan (2016)

Most of us know the story of Tarzan - the wild man raised by the apes in the jungle and who has the ability to communicate with the animals of the wild. Created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the character has seen so many adventures and adaptations since his first appearance in the early 1900's that he is considered one of the first "heroes" of fiction to date. Several film adaptations of Tarzan have also been made, varying to a degree on presenting his origins as well as assimilating back into civilization, marrying his true love Jane Porter, and eventually returning to his jungle roots following his disillusionment with mankind.

Now comes a film that dares to take a look into possibly expanding the mythos and pursuing the further adventures of the man who's birth name is John Clayton in "The Legend of Tarzan". Directed by David Yates of Harry Potter films fame as well as the upcoming spin-off film "Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them", The Legend of Tarzan is the kind of film that doesn't linger around the premise that it needs to retell Tarzan's origin story - rather we are propelled forward to a time when he has already been educated, returned to civilization, and is happily married to Jane Foster. Unfortunately, Tarzan once again gets called to the wild when an expedition at the Congo leads to the discovery that slavery is prevalent and the Belgium Government is seeking rich minerals to pay off their immense debts. What follows is an adventure that exposes conspiracies, reignites rivalries, and sees a hero reasserting his reputation as lord of the jungle.

THE LEGEND OF TARZAN - Official Trailer 2
Straightforward and action-packed in every way possible as well as combining a good mix of drama, comedy, and epic storytelling, The Legend of Tarzan features quite an ensemble cast that includes Alexander Skarsgard in the titular role, with Margot Robbie playing his lady love Jane Porter. Samuel L. Jackson provides the excellent action comedy relief as American envoy George Washington Williams, while Christoph Waltz plays the big bad henchman of King Leopold named Leon Rom. All these talents give level to the playing field in this movie, and the narrative is constructed well enough to give brief flashbacks of Tarzan's primal life while still maintaining focus on the present day adventure.

Ultimately, I'd recommend this film to Tarzan fans - especially those who grew up reading the books and watched the Disney animated movies and cartoons. It's the kind of film that feels on step with the mythos, and could potentially expand into a franchise if they decide to revisit this storybook hero's life again. Special Thanks again goes to Warner Bros. Philippines for bringing this to our shores! Go catch it now!

Rating - 4/5