Tarzan (B+ or 3/4 stars)
Disney has done it again! 'Tarzan' (directed by Chris Buck & Kevin Lima) is the studio's best animated feature film since The Lion King; and that's saying a lot when such strong offerings as Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules & Mulan have come out since. The story begins in the 1890s with 2 sets of mothers & fathers care for their youngens. One set is human (mother/father/baby boy), shipwrecked, & making a new home for themselves high in a tree in the vast Congo jungle. The other parents are gorillas, raising their little baby deep in the gorilla community. Unfortunately, the shipwrecked infant is orphaned after his parents are killed by a leopard named Sabor and, soon after, said leopard devours the baby gorilla, as well.
Despite the reluctance of her mate, Kerchak (Lance Henriksen), the baby boy is adopted by the loving mama gorilla, Kala (voiced by Glenn Close), who is grieving the loss of her own baby gorilla. As 'Tarzan' {as she names him} matures into a teen and then strapping young man (Tony Goldwyn) with the instincts & strength of a jungle animal, his idyllic habitat is then disrupted by some British explorers, most notably Prof. Archimedes Porter (Nigel Hawthorne), his wife & their strong-willed daughter, Jane (Minnie Driver). Realizing she's more like him than any other animal he's ever seen, Tarzan is intrigued beyond bounds. Meanwhile, Jane's father & big game hunter, Clayton (Brian Blessed), pose a major threat to the sanctity of the jungle. Romance, humor, tragedy & adventure ensues.
From a visual standpoint, 'Tarzan' just may be the most impressive of all of Disney's traditionally animated films. The jungle backdrops are lush to the max, the characters are exceedingly-well realized, & the action scenes are a whirlwind of technical precision; with copious changes of perspectives & camera angles -- I was mightily impressed. As amazing as other Disney classics have been, and though this one isn't my favorite, you can't deny the groundbreaking visuals on display. I'm reminded of a dazzling sequence where Tarzan helps Jane escape from the leopard; their gliding through the treetops with vines is like being on a wild roller-coaster ride.
Now, there are some pretty perilous & upsetting moments that young kids might react negatively towards {several deaths occur both off & onscreen; one is very emotional near the end}. But most kids & adults will be charmed by this version of the popular Edgar Rice Burroughs story. The storytelling is traditional, but solid. The characters - while not iconic - are fairly memorable. All the voice actors do a swell job. The only actor who struck a strident chord with me was Rosie O'Donnell's take on Tarzan's brash friend, Terk. Gilbert Gottfried (Aladdin), Nathan Lane (The Lion King) & Eddie Murphy (Mulan) ... she is not. Also, while Brian Blessed's voice-work as nefarious Clayton is okay, other Disney classics contain stronger villains than he.
One other high point of 'Tarzan' is Phil Collins' 5 original songs which aid Mark Mancina's wonderful score. Best of Collins' songs is the popular, Academy Award-winning "You'll Be in My Heart"; which induces all the requisite 'feels' that classic animated songs can achieve. Now, nothing in 'Tarzan' will surprise -- what you see is what you get. But kids & adults will love the fleetness of pace & action. They'll value Tarzan's struggle with his identity {gorilla, human, where do I belong?}. They'll dig the light romance btwn. him & Jane. And Tarzan's seeking of love & harmony among the various species of this world can be appreciated. Tarzan is a great role model for anyone; and the depiction of Jane impresses, as well. Thumbs up.
Despite the reluctance of her mate, Kerchak (Lance Henriksen), the baby boy is adopted by the loving mama gorilla, Kala (voiced by Glenn Close), who is grieving the loss of her own baby gorilla. As 'Tarzan' {as she names him} matures into a teen and then strapping young man (Tony Goldwyn) with the instincts & strength of a jungle animal, his idyllic habitat is then disrupted by some British explorers, most notably Prof. Archimedes Porter (Nigel Hawthorne), his wife & their strong-willed daughter, Jane (Minnie Driver). Realizing she's more like him than any other animal he's ever seen, Tarzan is intrigued beyond bounds. Meanwhile, Jane's father & big game hunter, Clayton (Brian Blessed), pose a major threat to the sanctity of the jungle. Romance, humor, tragedy & adventure ensues.
From a visual standpoint, 'Tarzan' just may be the most impressive of all of Disney's traditionally animated films. The jungle backdrops are lush to the max, the characters are exceedingly-well realized, & the action scenes are a whirlwind of technical precision; with copious changes of perspectives & camera angles -- I was mightily impressed. As amazing as other Disney classics have been, and though this one isn't my favorite, you can't deny the groundbreaking visuals on display. I'm reminded of a dazzling sequence where Tarzan helps Jane escape from the leopard; their gliding through the treetops with vines is like being on a wild roller-coaster ride.
Now, there are some pretty perilous & upsetting moments that young kids might react negatively towards {several deaths occur both off & onscreen; one is very emotional near the end}. But most kids & adults will be charmed by this version of the popular Edgar Rice Burroughs story. The storytelling is traditional, but solid. The characters - while not iconic - are fairly memorable. All the voice actors do a swell job. The only actor who struck a strident chord with me was Rosie O'Donnell's take on Tarzan's brash friend, Terk. Gilbert Gottfried (Aladdin), Nathan Lane (The Lion King) & Eddie Murphy (Mulan) ... she is not. Also, while Brian Blessed's voice-work as nefarious Clayton is okay, other Disney classics contain stronger villains than he.
One other high point of 'Tarzan' is Phil Collins' 5 original songs which aid Mark Mancina's wonderful score. Best of Collins' songs is the popular, Academy Award-winning "You'll Be in My Heart"; which induces all the requisite 'feels' that classic animated songs can achieve. Now, nothing in 'Tarzan' will surprise -- what you see is what you get. But kids & adults will love the fleetness of pace & action. They'll value Tarzan's struggle with his identity {gorilla, human, where do I belong?}. They'll dig the light romance btwn. him & Jane. And Tarzan's seeking of love & harmony among the various species of this world can be appreciated. Tarzan is a great role model for anyone; and the depiction of Jane impresses, as well. Thumbs up.