{"id":34738,"date":"2014-10-07T09:00:28","date_gmt":"2014-10-07T13:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/?p=34738"},"modified":"2022-02-05T23:50:44","modified_gmt":"2022-02-06T04:50:44","slug":"movie-review-tarzan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/movie-review-tarzan\/","title":{"rendered":"Movie Review: Tarzan"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"DVD<\/a>
DVD Cover Copyright Disney<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Based on Edgar Rice Burroughs\u2019 1912 novel Tarzan of the Apes<\/em>, Disney\u2019s Tarzan <\/em>was released on June 18, 1999 as the company\u2019s 37th<\/sup> full-length animated feature. The 88-minute flick culminated a decade known as the \u201cDisney Renaissance,\u201d where Disney broke out of a prolonged animation drought by releasing 10 mostly critically-acclaimed cartoon features.<\/p>\n

Plot Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n

En route to an unspecified destination, a married couple and their infant son escape a burning ship and take refuge in the middle of an African jungle. The dire situation commences well enough with the family creating a serviceable shelter, but any semblance of happiness quickly terminates when a leopard named Sabor kills the baby\u2019s parents, leaving the infant orphaned.<\/p>\n

With all hope seemingly lost, a female gorilla named Kala stumbles upon the wreckage and takes the human child as her own. The gorilla leader, Kerchak, raises staunch objections to Kala\u2019s decision, but Kala proves to be an ideal mother, nurturing the child, now named Tarzan, as a responsible human mother would.<\/p>\n

Still, Kerchak is unable to accept Tarzan. The gorilla questions whether the now young-adult human will remain loyal to his animal family. Kerchak\u2019s doubts intensify when a trio of British travelers, Professor Archimedes Q. Porter, the professor\u2019s daughter Jane Porter, and the Porter\u2019s guide Clayton, arrive to study the indigenous species. Soon enough, Tarzan and Jane fall in love with each other, and a difficult choice must be made. Will Tarzan leave the jungle to live with Jane in Europe?<\/p>\n

Confusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

As relayed through the song \u201cTwo Worlds,\u201d Tarzan faces the conundrum of being a human amongst jungle animals. He often questions whether he fits in with either faction. On this note, the scenes where the title character realizes that he is relatable to peers on both sides are, in my opinion, some of the most beautiful in any Disney movie.<\/p>\n

Tarzan comes to consider both the animals and the humans as his family, and he will do anything he can to protect them from harm. This determination sometimes leads to awkward situations. When Kerchak threatens to attack the expedition members, for example, Tarzan physically fights the gorilla leader. Conversely, when Clayton later reveals his true evil colors, Tarzan valiantly fights to defend his gorilla family, Kerchak included.<\/p>\n

Determination<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tarzan isn\u2019t hampered by doubters. Rather, he only fights harder when questioned.<\/p>\n

When Terk, a young gorilla, and his friends sarcastically tell Tarzan that he can hang out with them if he retrieves an elephant hair, the human actually completes the arduous task.<\/p>\n

The title character is also determined to prove Kerchak wrong, to show that he can be trusted by the gorillas. Indeed, even after Kerchak deems Tarzan a traitor for mingling with Jane and the other humans, Tarzan returns against all odds\u2014no reference to the 1984 Phil Collins song intended, though it can be considered foreshadowing \u2014to protect his jungle family.<\/p>\n

Suspense<\/strong><\/p>\n

The flick features several exhilarating segments. Along the way, Tarzan battles Sabor, attempts to protect Jane from an army of aggressive monkeys, and strives to stave off a gang of malicious hunters.<\/p>\n

Humor<\/strong><\/p>\n

As often as Tarzan<\/em> is melancholy, it is as frequently hilarious.<\/p>\n

Terk and Tantor, the latter an elephant, engage in numerous shenanigans, such as pondering human possessions and playing \u201cdress up.\u201d<\/p>\n

When examining the still unnamed baby at the beginning of the film, Kala observes the infant\u2019s diaper. Let\u2019s just say it didn\u2019t smell that great. Eww, what a stink!<\/p>\n

The adult elephants have some interesting conversations, including a scholarly debate over whether piranhas exist in Africa. In any event, these elephants, unlike Tantor, are completely oblivious to their surroundings. Look out behind you!<\/p>\n

Music<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your enjoyment of Tarzan<\/em>\u2019s soundtrack will likely be determined by one factor: Phil Collins. If you like Collins\u2019 music, you\u2019re in luck because he sings four of the five numbers in the movie proper. In other words, unlike other films from the \u201cDisney Renaissance,\u201d such as Pocahontas<\/em> (1995) and Hercules<\/em> (1997), a single person performs both the in-film and popular versions of the songs. Collins\u2019 in-film renditions exist in the background; singing by actual characters is extremely limited here.<\/p>\n

The recurring \u201cTwo Worlds\u201d serves as Tarzan<\/em>\u2019s main thread, summarizing the film\u2019s themes through heartwarming lyrics.<\/p>\n

Similar in mood to \u201cTwo Worlds,\u201d \u201cYou’ll be in My Heart\u201d emphasizes key themes, most notably the lasting power of love. On this note, Tarzan reassures Kala that she will always be his mother even if he elects to leave with Jane.<\/p>\n

The upbeat \u201cSon of Man\u201d is my favorite song in the movie. Coupled with fun visuals of Tarzan, Terk, and Tantor enjoying life in the jungle, this number is delightful.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrashin’ The Camp\u201d is the only song not sung by Collins in the movie. Rather, Rosie O’Donnell, the voice of Terk, performs this jazz number while the curious animals are inadvertently destroying Professor Porter\u2019s camp.<\/p>\n

Relationship to Other Disney Films<\/strong><\/p>\n

An inanimate version of Mrs. Potts from Beauty and the Beast<\/em> (1991) is displayed at Porter\u2019s camp.<\/p>\n

Another story of animals raising a human was told through The Jungle Book<\/em> (1967).<\/p>\n

Kala\u2019s unbreakable love for Tarzan in spite of familial animosity reminded me of Mrs. Jumbo\u2019s love for her son in Dumbo <\/em>(1941).<\/p>\n

In providing comic relief, Terk and Tantor are relatable to Timon and Pumbaa from The Lion King <\/em>(1994).<\/p>\n

The scene where Tarzan implores Kerchak to tolerate the expedition members is eerily similar to the segment in Pocahontas <\/em>where the title character begs her father to seek peace with the settlers.<\/p>\n

The opening scenes of Tarzan<\/em>, where the family attempts to survive in an uninhabited locale following a shipwreck, harken back to Disney\u2019s live-action movie The Swiss Family Robinson <\/em>(1960).<\/p>\n

\"Tarzan<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the Parks<\/strong><\/p>\n

At Disneyland Park in California, guests can climb \u201cTarzan\u2019s Treehouse.\u201d The treehouse\u2019s counterpart at Walt Disney World\u2019s Magic Kingdom Park is based on\u00a0The Swiss Family Robinson<\/em>. Both versions are essentially walk-through exhibits; haphazard vine swinging isn\u2019t permitted, fortunately or otherwise.<\/p>\n

Overall<\/strong><\/p>\n

Simultaneously heartwarming and hilarious, Tarzan<\/em> is an amazing film.<\/p>\n

What do you think of Tarzan? Let me know in the comments!<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sponsored Ad:<\/strong>\u00a0 Would you like to help support The Mouse For Less website in continuing their mission of being THE Disney vacation planning resource?\u00a0 You can do so by purchasing Tarzan <\/em>from our Affiliate Link through Amazon. <\/a>Thanks so much for your support!<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Based on Edgar Rice Burroughs\u2019 1912 novel Tarzan of the Apes, Disney\u2019s Tarzan was released on June 18, 1999 as the company\u2019s 37th full-length animated feature. The 88-minute flick culminated a decade known as the \u201cDisney Renaissance,\u201d where Disney broke out of a prolonged animation drought by releasing 10 mostly critically-acclaimed cartoon features. Plot Summary…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":34739,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34738","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-disney-movies"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34738","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34738"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34738\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":82595,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34738\/revisions\/82595"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34739"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34738"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}