Is Tarzan outdated?

[LonnieFisher]

Tarzan didn't swing by vines in the books. He used branches like "monkey bars" on a playground. Only the branches were very far apart. So he has never been accurately depicted in cartoons or movies or tv series.

[johnnystorm]

I read all the Tarzan books as a kid...my grandfather loved watching the old movies every Sunday morning on WPIX 11 from NY. He bought me the first novel and told me I'd like it (I did! Thanks Pap!).
Most people are unaware of the amount of fantasy adventure in the books. They think Tarzan is only wrestling crocodiles, swinging from vines, and the yell.
I think a fantasy based period piece could still work. Like other characters such as the Shadow or Doc Savage they SHOULD NOT be updated to modern times. The problem lies in our PC world, where we insist on overlaying current sensibilities over historical content. Witness the debacle Disney Lone Ranger and the "updated" Tonto. I can't even imagine how Tarzan's Waziri warriors would be portrayed in film today. Tarzan himself treated the native tribes with respect...he more or less went by the code of I'll treat you like you treat me. Applied to both humans and animals, he didn't just kill every lion that showed up, in fact, he raised Jad Bal Jad the Lion and treated him as an equal companion not a pet.

[samurainoir]

Tarzan could still work as a period fantasy piece, and I feel like they haven't ever realized his full potential in movies/TV/animation given all the fantasy elements from the novels, such as the city of Opar, that could be explored with today's film-making technology (imagine Tarzan vs Planet of the Apes by way of Indiana Jones style action set pieces). Strip away all the "George of the Jungle" trappings, because I feel like we've never really seen the Tarzan from the novels really brought to life on screen with all his balance of cunning and savagery intact, in a non campy way.

I know the John Carter film from a few years ago gets a bad rap, but I think it's still a good film, and I think that Tarzan could be handled in a similar fashion.

[Bruce Banner]

Love the original ERB stories, always have.
The Marvel series was also great, and I've always been a massive fan of the Filmation cartoon.
But no live action motion picture adaptation has ever done the source material justice.
(And that turgid Greystoke film stripped away all the fantastic elements, which made for a very bland and ponderous movie.)

[Mikey]

I do have to admit, as a Superhero I always thought Tarzan was very boring.

Besides Mr Myx, he's the only WGSH Mego I never even wanted

[ShadowAvenger]

I like anything with Tarzan but then I grew up with the books, comic books, cartoon strips, movie reruns and tv reruns. I even had the model kit. I suffered through Tarzan, the Ape Man with Bo Derek and thrilled at watching Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes. I even enjoyed some of the Disney animated version but I can't stand the songs. For me, it doesn't matter what time period he's in, I'll still enjoy it.

Maybe he needs a cool video game to attract the kids attention nowadays.

[samurainoir]

anyone see this latest animated version? I hadn't even heard about a release and assume it just came and went? or has it not been released?

[LonnieFisher]

anyone see this latest animated version? I hadn't even heard about a release and assume it just came and went? or has it not been released?

I saw it, and didn't like it.

[Spyweb007]

I am sure that a good writer cold find a way to make Tarzan work today. I've never read the books, but I know that none of the movies have really captured the more fantastic elements of the original stories. An approach which combines the fantasy aspects of those stories with some solid action would be nice to see, and maybe with todays worries about climate change Tarzan could even be relevant again as protector of the jungle.

[samurainoir]

didn't realize there was yet another film in the works, starring Alexander Skarsgård from True Blood. Looks like they are trying to flip the script by starting off with a "civilized" John Clayton who has to revert back to his feral beginnings. Sam Jackson is also in it.

"It has been years since the man once known as Tarzan (Alexander Skarsgård) left the jungles of Africa behind for a gentrified life as John Clayton III, 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."

Christoph Waltz says it wont be based on the novels at around 3:20.

[madmarva]

Looking forward to the new Tarzan movie. Hopefully, it'll be decent. Totally different subject, but Marvel or DC should be knocking folks over to cast Christoph Waltz as a heavy in one of their films.

[samurainoir]

From the casting of Eric from True Blood, I'm coming to the realization that this version of Tarzan is likely meant more for my wife than me.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2015/12/08/legend-of-tarzan-movie-sneak-peek-exclusive/76932268/

[MIB41]

For me, Greystoke will always be an amazing interpretation of that fable. Christopher Lambert just had those eyes that seem to be part man/part beast. I believed in his portrayal. It was sad when his ape father was killed by a poacher. I think that movie really brought the whole idea to a place that seem almost possible.

[samurainoir]

A friend just made my head explode with one simple question.... Why doesn't Tarzan ever have a beard?

[emeraldknight47]

A friend just made my head explode with one simple question.... Why doesn't Tarzan ever have a beard?

That is a darn good question. Maybe there were some apes around who showed him how to shave? LOL!

I look forward to a new take on Tarzan. If done properly, there's no reason why his exploits and adventures couldn't be entertaining to a new generation of audiences. Perhaps, as movies seem to get bigger and more polished and over-produced, people could find a certain charm to a movie that didn't have to rely on cities being destroyed and over-abundant CG imagery.