Legend of Tarzan is swinging back onto film scene

“Me Tarzan, you Jane”. The early loincloth superhero movies of the 1930s and ‘40s were never noted for their impressive dialogue, or for that matter their amazing special effects (see Johnny Weissmuller wrestling plastic crocodile). This new instalment of the franchise however, is an entertaining development of the evergreen story that never grows old.   

It has been years since the man once known as Tarzan (played here by Alexander Skarsgard) left the jungles of Africa behind for a gentrified life as Lord Greystoke, with his beloved wife, Jane (Margot Robbie) at his side. 

Now, he has been invited back to the Congo to serve as a trade emissary of Parliament, unaware that he is a pawn in a deadly convergence of greed and revenge, masterminded by the Belgian, Captain Leon Rom (Christoph Waltz). But those behind the murderous plot have no idea what they are about to unleash.

The writers clearly did their historical research on this film and if you found yourself shouting for the Irish or Welsh against the Belgians in the recent European Championships, you’ll certainly be rooting for our animal whispering friend when you see what old King Leopold got up to in the Congo. 

Samuel L Jackson pops up as the comic relief and historically accurate US envoy, George Washington Williams, in a film that just as easily could have included our own Roger Casement who was based there at the time.

Skarsgard, of ‘True Blood’ fame, is an effective Tarzan, ripped and smoldering as he is. Margot Robbie lights up the screen as always, and Christoph Waltz does what he does best, in providing another villainous performance. 

The film looks impressive with its rich and lush landscape and benefits from the fact that the fight count is lower than most action movies. In fact, some of the best moments are slower, reflective and almost mystical. 

Fortunately for everyone, the producers couldn’t figure out how to drop a giant robot monster into the African jungle, and the film is all the better for that. We score it a chest-thumping, 3.5 out of 5 stars.  

Paul O’Rourke