Tarzan (Disney Film)

Here, we can talk about what we liked or hated about Disney's 1999 hit animated film, Tarzan!

Personally for me, this is one of my most favorite animated Disney films since I loved the way that they developed Tarzan's character arc of trying to understand what it means to be in a family that's different from him. I also thought that Clayton was an interesting villain (well, he became more interesting by the end of the film).

I love Tarzan. The fantastic animation, catchy Phil Collins songs, etc. It's one of my favorite films from the Renaissance period; I'm glad that one of the directors went on to make another success last year...

I was actually surprised that the Phil Collins songs made this movie so unique and charming! Probably my most favorite Phil Collins song in this movie was "You'll be in my Heart."

There was something in this movie that always pissed me off when I first saw it, but I can't really put my finger on it since I mostly liked everything else. It was probably the music, or Clayton being really boring, I dunno, but there was always just something that made me not like it as much as I did the Lion King.

It's to Burroughs' Tarzan to what Hercules was to the Greek myth.

Jane a QT.

edited 15th Jun '14 7:02:41 AM by NapoleonDeCheese

Or Victor Hugo to The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

The movie has two big weaknesses, which sadly drag it down to mediocre. One is Clayton - one of the worst villains Disney ever created Imho. The other is the father/son story arc. Because in the end, it doesn't really make much sense that Tarzan is accepted as a son (and future leader) after leading the hunters to his family in the first place. I think Disney could have send a really powerful message if he hadn't gotten forgiveness - but naturally they went for the safe option instead. It's too bad, because the animation is gorgeous and Tarzan, Jane and Kala are really good characters...well, the sidekicks are kind of useless. I also don't like the English dubbing.

So it's probably the least faithful adaptation of anything ever?

Who cares...it's not particularly faithful, but they improved it at every turn, considering that the original Tarzan is basically a badly written fanfiction with more than a shade of racism and sexism in it and an unlikable Gary Stu as the lead. It's easily my favourite adaptation, despite its weaknesses.

One thing I really really liked is this Tarzan is the only one who really moves as if he had been raised by apes, and while the tree surfing seems a bit EEEEXXXXTREME at times, the vine swinging, the ape-like walking, even the body language... they really nailed it there, which deserves a fair amount of accolades. Even the TV series cared enough to keep that up.

For what it's worth, the Edgar Rice Burroughs Appreciation Society went into a pre-screening fully expecting to hate it...and wound up personally thanking the directors and animators for creating the best Tarzan movie they'd ever seen.

I love this movie! Tarzan is a cool protagonist, and I adore Jane and her father. And I can't even agree that Clayton is a bad villain. He's really funny actually when he sees himself as the bored Only Sane Man, and he also becomes really threatening in the end. As for my favorite song, it's "Strangers like me".

Tis my second favorite Disney movie, and my favorite of the Renaissance.

Yeah! I'm still trying to decide if this or Beauty and the Beast is my second favorite Disney movie.

swanpride, did you see it in a language other than English?

I'm German, so I always watch Disney movies in both languages...most of the times both dubbings have their advantages, but sometimes one dubbing is better than the other one. And in case of Tarzan, I definitely prefer the German dubbing - while I really like Tarzan's English voice, for Jane the German dubbing is better because they picked a comedian and actress who is really, really good with fast talking, and the voice of young Tantor is so good, that I laugh everytime he starts talking, while the English one is (at least for me) fairly boring with no comedic timing.

I think I'm more asking about what you consider the definition of "dub" to be. To me, if a film is recorded in its first language, that is not a dub. A dub really has to be something done over an original version.

Animation doesn't come with natural sound, it's just moving imagery. All dubs are dubs.

Exactly. Dubbing is for me the process of using the voice of someone for someone else. Just because the English version is the "first dub", it's not less of a doubt, though it naturally has the advantage that it is the one based on the original script.

And in any serious production, the speech will be animated to match the timing of the prerecorded dialogue, not the other way around.

Hmmm...

dub verb (used with object), dubbed, dub·bing. 1. to furnish (a film or tape) with a new sound track, as one recorded in the language of the country of import. 2. to add (music, speech, etc.) to a film or tape recording (often followed by in ). 3. to copy (a tape or disc recording).

Clayton isn't the worst of the Disney villains IMO. He's not particularly interesting, but he does have one of the darkest and creepiest deaths in Disney Cannon. It even comes with a Neck Snap. Also, it's Brian Blessed we're talking about here.

edited 20th Jun '14 7:44:29 AM by Sisi

I think he would work better if her weren't so obvious evil.

Oh yeah! I remembered the scene where Clayton got killed! Actually, when I was little, I didn't even noticed Clayton's body hanging from the vines until I saw the shadow of Clayton's body hanging in the air!

What does nobody like "Trashin' the Camp"? That shit is awesome.