Cinema-Report #9 - Tarzan
First of all, this is not a new version of any Tarzan film that has been there before - although at first glance it looks a bit like Disney's Tarzan.
In fact, it is apparently a German production, which is rather surprising because it's a 3D animated movie. The 3D is even pretty good, too, most of the graphics as well, especially the water-effects and the scenery in general - only the characters' clothing and the one or other detail could have been better designed.
I'm not sure, why it was produced in English, but perhaps it was a co-production.
The beginning is a bit odd, for the story starts by following a meteor with mysterious (and never explained) powers that crashes on Earth at the time of the dinosaurs and thus forms the basis for the plot. Tarzan's parents & Jane's father are (modern day) scientists who want to find that meteor. Of course, that doesn't end well and young Tarzan ends up in the care of gorillas.
In general, this film dances between checking of classical Tarzan moments (fight with an alligator, learn speaking by saying hello to Jane, Tarzan communicating with the jungle-animals) and strange new ideas (a plant that can heal apparently everything, flora and fauna that would be more at home on Pandora than in the African jungle, that meteor).
If you don't like talking and singing animals, this movie is for you - the animals (and Tarzan with them) only communicate with their appropriate grunts / hisses / etc. and nobody sings (although there is a background song).
If you don't like unexplained and apparently pointless plot-items and -actions, this movie is not for you :) My favourite: Jane's father is in mortal danger during the end-fight and although they are in danger themselves, Tarzan & Jane think of him then. But when the fight is over, they apparently have forgotten all about him and join their gorilla-family without a care in the world (at least the audience learns that Mr. Porter did survive). Not to mention the alien plants and animals.
If you want to see a good 3D animation, this movie is more or less for you. As I already mentioned, there are some really stunning views and effects. Sometimes they seem to have gotten lazy, however. For example, they really do a good water-animation - but Tarzan is always dirty when he gets out of the water - on occasion it even seems he is still dirty while in the water :)
So, yes, I enjoyed this film, but I don't need to watch it again. At least, since the story-basis with the meteor was so odd, I wasn't bored because I knew the original story.
In fact, it is apparently a German production, which is rather surprising because it's a 3D animated movie. The 3D is even pretty good, too, most of the graphics as well, especially the water-effects and the scenery in general - only the characters' clothing and the one or other detail could have been better designed.
I'm not sure, why it was produced in English, but perhaps it was a co-production.
The beginning is a bit odd, for the story starts by following a meteor with mysterious (and never explained) powers that crashes on Earth at the time of the dinosaurs and thus forms the basis for the plot. Tarzan's parents & Jane's father are (modern day) scientists who want to find that meteor. Of course, that doesn't end well and young Tarzan ends up in the care of gorillas.
In general, this film dances between checking of classical Tarzan moments (fight with an alligator, learn speaking by saying hello to Jane, Tarzan communicating with the jungle-animals) and strange new ideas (a plant that can heal apparently everything, flora and fauna that would be more at home on Pandora than in the African jungle, that meteor).
If you don't like talking and singing animals, this movie is for you - the animals (and Tarzan with them) only communicate with their appropriate grunts / hisses / etc. and nobody sings (although there is a background song).
If you don't like unexplained and apparently pointless plot-items and -actions, this movie is not for you :) My favourite: Jane's father is in mortal danger during the end-fight and although they are in danger themselves, Tarzan & Jane think of him then. But when the fight is over, they apparently have forgotten all about him and join their gorilla-family without a care in the world (at least the audience learns that Mr. Porter did survive). Not to mention the alien plants and animals.
If you want to see a good 3D animation, this movie is more or less for you. As I already mentioned, there are some really stunning views and effects. Sometimes they seem to have gotten lazy, however. For example, they really do a good water-animation - but Tarzan is always dirty when he gets out of the water - on occasion it even seems he is still dirty while in the water :)
So, yes, I enjoyed this film, but I don't need to watch it again. At least, since the story-basis with the meteor was so odd, I wasn't bored because I knew the original story.