"To get some friends."
The Legend Of Tarzan is the latest incarnation of the oft-told tale and definitely one for the 2016: epic in style, serious in tone and bombastically blockbuster at times. The extra time afforded the screenplay while the project got shuffled around Development Hell means that there is an interesting structure, starting mid-story and using well-placed and not overdone flashbacks to fill out the story, leading to a strong final act that brings together all the story elements effectively, even if dialogue mostly borders on the bland. Skarsgard mixes power with a thoughtful morose demeanour as a workable Tarzan, Margot Robbie again proves a real asset to any project as she gives a strong performance which essentially remains a kidnap-victim role in spite of the film's attempt to convey a more feisty Jane character, and Samuel L Jackson works well as the audience's mediator of the new-to-the-jungle experience. There are some very well-staged action sequences, some delightful Tarzan-animal moments and some beautiful lavish landscapes (part of the fun is spotting which were most obviously shot in Leavesden's soundstages and backlots), and whilst this is a very expensive movie there are still a couple of terrible CG moments in amongst so much terrific technical achievement. The mix of history and BIG themes (slavery, exploitation, the environment - just watch that foregrounded trainload of elephant tusks trundle by) does feel a little forced at times, but it does give the story and motivations good focus. Overall, The Legend Of Tarzan is a good, well-directed film which - like all takes on classic stories - is clearly a product of our times.
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