The Legend of Tarzan is the new Tarzan movie that is released this year. The story is closer to Greystoke–The Legend of Tarzan–Lord of the Apes (1984, USA) though there are, of course, differences.

The version of Tarzan that makes you think.

There was another version–the pulpy action incarnation of Tarzan which was pure entertainment. This starred competitive swimmer Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan. Later on, there were other actors from the classic era who took over the helm of the Lord of the Apes.

The version that makes you think stays closer to the source material,  the 1914 novel Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Greystoke–The Legend of Tarzan–Lord of the Apes layers in literary substance to get the thinking juices flowing and gives the Tarzan tale reverential treatment.

Thought-provoking

Greystoke is thought provoking.

John Clayton’s born of English parents, the Clayton’s. They are shipwrecked in Africa. John Clayton’s parents die.

John is raised by apes. The apes are John’s family. The apes nurture him. He never shakes that. His nurture is what’s permanent. So, the story’s saying that humans are mainly shaped by their upbringing not their nature. In that vein, apes love their children like humans can.

The movie appears to be saying that love is important to raise a family; as long as there is love and nurture.

The film

We may unpack Greystoke‘s themes (on closer inspection), but the jungle scenes are all out there to be seen.

I remember a critic refer to The Mission’s ‘nudity’ as ‘National Geographic nudity’, meaning it’s all quite naturalized and nothing’s hidden. That could be said for Greystoke‘s scenes in the jungle.

The jungle scenes are also violent with Tarzan fending off apes and pygmies.

I was at first put-off by the jungle scenes, but was not fussed on a second viewing. It may depend on how well it is done; the scenes do work.

The arrival of Capitaine Phillipe D’Arnot (Ian Hom) and his relationship with Tarzan is always interesting. He takes Tarzan to England.

In England, the Earl of Greystoke meets his grandson John Clayton (Tarzan) for the first time.  Jane Porter is fond of Tarzan, but is this more? All the same, in England, Tarzan has trouble fitting in.

Greystoke is sumptuous, literate, reverential, and sensitively handled. The story rounds off well, and may leave you thinking, but perhaps not enlightened any further as to the theme.