Doug: I saw this on Twitter, via a tweet from Gerry Conway. Checked it out, discussed it with my older son, and we came to our conclusion. You come to your own, and then post a comment for all to see and discuss.
Personally, I'm still waiting for someone to do ERB's Tarzan of the Apes correctly. Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan Lord of the Apes came the closest, but neglected to deal with ERB's leap that a man raised by apes could end up speaking the king's English (or in the book, at least the king's French). I really did not care for the last 1/3 of that film.
This looks OK, but again -- it places the story in modern times. C'mon... there isn't enough uncharted jungle left in Africa that anyone could believe this would happen anyway, so why not just set it in the late 19th-early 20th centuries?
In the Disney version, I really questioned that tree surfing wouldn't just tear all the skin off his feet; in this version, looks like a 100 foot drop won't do much damage either. And I don't know what a nondescript "ape" is, but I definitely know that Bolgani is a gorilla. In this new flick, I guess we won't get the battle to the death against Bolgani that left Tarzan scarred.
I think we will all grow old waiting for somebody to do Tarzan of the Apes correctly. For Hollywood to do any of these characters "as is" is similar to catching lightning in a bottle.
I've learned over the years that trailers can be deceptive, especially in the final renderings of the characters, but this one seems to be mostly about the actually quite awesome backgrounds. The character designs seem a bit too Disney-esque for my tastes.
Like Doug, I yearn for someone to do Tarzan like he was in the novels, a brooding barely civilized creature who puts on the garb of the modern world to cloak his true nature.
Few if any movies have captured the raw savagery of Tarzan save for a few moments in "Tarzan and his Mate", a few seconds in "Greystoke", and some moments in Gordon Scott's version.
Tarzan is a powerful resonant character who rises above even his creator's intentions for him. Without the brutality, you don't have Tarzan.
I'll add my vote to the frustration of waiting to see an accurate Lord of the Apes on the big (or little) screen.
Any movie would have to include a concept I read a decade or so ago. I'm sorry I can't recall the author. He had permission (I think) from the ERB Estate to continue the adventures of Tarzan. The story was entertaining while reading it, but one brilliant concept stuck in my memory.
Modern awareness knows there is no "ape" on one hand and "gorilla" on the other and none of them are savage brutes. This modern author created Tarzan's people as the mysterious African cousin of the sasquatch and the yeti. This one "what if" fantasy element soothed a hundred questions and objections about Tarzan's origin.
The scenery and body movements look good. The faces and expressions could be better.
ReplyDeleteHmm, looks like Tarzan in the Savage Land. Makes me think a Ka-zar feature, complete with Zabu and Shanna, would be much better.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'm still waiting for someone to do ERB's Tarzan of the Apes correctly. Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan Lord of the Apes came the closest, but neglected to deal with ERB's leap that a man raised by apes could end up speaking the king's English (or in the book, at least the king's French). I really did not care for the last 1/3 of that film.
ReplyDeleteThis looks OK, but again -- it places the story in modern times. C'mon... there isn't enough uncharted jungle left in Africa that anyone could believe this would happen anyway, so why not just set it in the late 19th-early 20th centuries?
In the Disney version, I really questioned that tree surfing wouldn't just tear all the skin off his feet; in this version, looks like a 100 foot drop won't do much damage either. And I don't know what a nondescript "ape" is, but I definitely know that Bolgani is a gorilla. In this new flick, I guess we won't get the battle to the death against Bolgani that left Tarzan scarred.
I think I'll go read a book...
Doug
I think we will all grow old waiting for somebody to do Tarzan of the Apes correctly. For Hollywood to do any of these characters "as is" is similar to catching lightning in a bottle.
ReplyDeleteA Ka-zar film would be great, Edo. I remember liking that series in the early '80s...seems to me it had a good sense of humour.
ReplyDeleteI've learned over the years that trailers can be deceptive, especially in the final renderings of the characters, but this one seems to be mostly about the actually quite awesome backgrounds. The character designs seem a bit too Disney-esque for my tastes.
ReplyDeleteLike Doug, I yearn for someone to do Tarzan like he was in the novels, a brooding barely civilized creature who puts on the garb of the modern world to cloak his true nature.
Few if any movies have captured the raw savagery of Tarzan save for a few moments in "Tarzan and his Mate", a few seconds in "Greystoke", and some moments in Gordon Scott's version.
Tarzan is a powerful resonant character who rises above even his creator's intentions for him. Without the brutality, you don't have Tarzan.
Rip Off
I'll add my vote to the frustration of waiting to see an accurate Lord of the Apes on the big (or little) screen.
ReplyDeleteAny movie would have to include a concept I read a decade or so ago. I'm sorry I can't recall the author. He had permission (I think) from the ERB Estate to continue the adventures of Tarzan. The story was entertaining while reading it, but one brilliant concept stuck in my memory.
Modern awareness knows there is no "ape" on one hand and "gorilla" on the other and none of them are savage brutes. This modern author created Tarzan's people as the mysterious African cousin of the sasquatch and the yeti. This one "what if" fantasy element soothed a hundred questions and objections about Tarzan's origin.
Murray --
ReplyDeleteI've always thought it better that I not know the true origins of the "fifty frightful men" of Opar. Oh, my...
Doug