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The Legend of Tarzan (2016)
Topic Started: Jun 30 2016, 06:34 PM (1,084 Views)
The Batman
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Surprised that this film hasn't been mentioned here sooner. I know it was probably wishful thinking, but was hoping for a faithful adaption of the source material. The reviews aren't encouraging, though I will still see it for myself.


https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_legend_of_tarzan/
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Sgt Saturn
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This one snuck up on me. Looks like yet another movie about a character named 'Tarzan' who bears only a superficial resemblance to John Clayton, Lord Greystoke, as we find him in the books of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Yet another movie that ignores that Lady Greystoke is a blond; no biggie in itself but very indicative of the general faithfulness on the part of most Tarzan talkies. (Bo Derrick was a blond, but the character she played did not even have the right last name.)

I'll probably wait till Netflix has this one.

Some of the silent Tarzan films were relatively faithful. A few of the talkies have come close, but none yet had hit a bulls eye. This one may be better than I think. (I don't allow Flash on my computers; so, I can't watch the trailer.)
The Ol' Sarge
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The Batman
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I'm definitely curious to see it, too, and feel it will probably be better than the reviews are giving it. From what I've read, it seems to be going for faithfulness in a realistic vein. Not sure how that will work out, but will have to see for myself.

For me, both recent efforts for The Lone Ranger and John Carter of Mars were much more entertaining than their reviews led one to believe. I would go so far as to call both underrated and faithful to the source material, while at the same time injecting fresh life into them.

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MovieMan
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From the trailer on television, this doesn't look like a bad movie. Also seeing that Margot Robbie is among the cast, I'll definitely be picking this up after it hits Blu-ray!
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Frank Hale
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The NYT review was generally favorable, concentrating on the mythic elements. Apparently we now have the Tarzan who had returned to civilization (the Tarzan of the last portion of the first book, which I recently read), but who is induced to return to Africa to help investigate Belgian colonial atrocities. Lots of action and CGI.

I will only say, not being a particular Tarzan fan, that the legs this character has had over the last century continues to amaze me.
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The Batman
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Thanks, Mr Hale, I'll have to read the NYT review. My reviewer of choice, Peter Howell of the Toronto Star, headlined his review "You Tarzan, Me Bored", giving the film a 2 out of 4 stars.

I still want to see it, as I group Tarzan with those other "super-heroes" that started the whole thing (Doc Savage, the Shadow, the Spider, etc).

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Barcroft
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Bats,
I went with a group of 9 and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. Alexander Skarsgard I thought was a decent enough Tarzan and carried his role as well. Samuel L. Jackson and Christoph Waltz were also good in their roles. The Story kept my interest and the CGI was excellent, so don't miss it... Barcroft
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The Batman
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Thanks, Barcroft. I'm hoping to get a chance to see it in the next week or so.


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Sgt Saturn
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Just ran across a review in Frontier Partisans that (along with the comments section) make me think I shall not wait for Netflix. Most of the folks on that site think this is the best Tarzan movie since the silents.
Edited by Sgt Saturn, Jul 13 2016, 10:13 AM.
The Ol' Sarge
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Great to hear, Sarge, I've heard nothing but good things from people who have seen it. Critics be damned.


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Sgt King
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STOP - don't read further if you haven't seen this movie yet.
There is no bigger Tarzan fan than me soooo . . . . I saw it a couple days ago with a buddy and we both were slightly disappointed. The money is on the screen, it has some great locations, some good action and the actors are OK but it's a disjointed movie with a few too many boring scenes and too much CGI. Also I'm not a fan of the popular "quick cut" action fighting - you can't even tell what's going on.
I appreciated the few decent and correct scenes right from the original book and overall it certainly isn't a bad movie but . . . always a "tell" to me: I have no desire to see it again anytime soon. Believe me, I really wanted this movie to be more than **½ out of four.
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Sgt Saturn
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"Best Tarzan movie since the silents" is a pretty low bar to get across. This movie succeeds but only just.

As my fellow NCO points out, too much CGI. All the CGI animals look like CGI animals. I mean, we did not need a scene with Tarzan bumping heads with a pride of lions, but if we are going to have one, couldn't they be real lions? The movie get a plus for showing the mangani, but they looked a lot better in Greystoke back in 1984!

This is the second Tarzan movie to use the name "Opar" without any clue as to what Opar of the books is supposed to be. (For that you'll need to go back to 1929, Tarzan the Tiger.)

Skarsgard is a decent Tarzan; although, my ideal Tarzan would be a bit more feral. I wish they had been a bit more consistent in his fighting abilities. In one scene be beats up a whole rail car full of soldiers; in just a couple of scene before half a dozen soldier manage to subdue him and tie him up. He goes from Superman to punching-bag depending on which the plot requires.

Swinging through the trees was great at first, but it got old quickly. Especially after the Waziri warriors show that they can do that too!

I did like the way the melded the Johnny Weissmuller yodel with a more animal scream to produce a Tarzan yell that is more credible than most.

I'll give it a three stars out of four.
The Ol' Sarge
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The Batman
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Thanks, Sarge. Still haven't seen this one, but plan to. I should see if Netflix has it yet.


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Sgt Saturn
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The Batman
Jan 11 2017, 11:38 AM
Thanks, Sarge. Still haven't seen this one, but plan to. I should see if Netflix has it yet.


Netflix is where I saw it.
The Ol' Sarge
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The Batman
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Cool, but I am Netflix North, and our selection is not as good as yours. I will check tonight.


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