The Legend of Tarzan is not a perfect film. The pacing drags slightly in the middle, and the reliance on blue-screen can occasionally feel stagey. Christoph Waltz is doing his usual "menacing polite guy" shtick, which is fun but familiar.

However, in a cinematic landscape flooded with superheroes in spandex, there is something refreshingly old-fashioned about a sweaty, angry man in a loincloth fighting colonialism with his bare hands.

It is a movie that respects its hero enough to show him being vulnerable. It respects its heroine enough to give her a gun. And it respects the audience enough to not pretend the jungle isn't a terrifying, beautiful, bloody place.

If you need a rainy afternoon adventure that makes you want to hit the gym and read a history book simultaneously, swing over to your streaming queue and give The Legend of Tarzan a chance.

Final Score: 7.5/10 – A Lusty, Gritty, Underrated Jungle Adventure.

Have you seen The Legend of Tarzan? Did you think it was an underrated hit or a deserved miss? Let me know in the comments below!

Swapping Vines for the Victorian Life: The Legend of Tarzan If you're looking for an old-school adventure that trades the typical origin story for a gritty, late-Victorian political thriller, The Legend of Tarzan

is a solid pick for your next movie night. Directed by David Yates—the mind behind the final four Harry Potter

films—this 2016 adaptation offers a more mature take on the classic character. Where to Watch You can currently find the film on several major platforms: Streaming Services : Available on in many regions and Rent or Buy : You can rent or purchase digital copies on Amazon Video Apple TV Store Google Play Fandango At Home Physical Media : If you prefer a disc, you can find the DVD and Blu-ray at retailers like Barnes & Noble Plot Overview

Instead of showing us Tarzan's childhood, the movie picks up years after he has left the jungle. Now known as John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke , he lives a refined life in London with his wife,

His peaceful life is interrupted when he is invited back to the Congo as a trade emissary. Unbeknownst to him, he is a pawn in a deadly scheme masterminded by Captain Leon Rom

, a treacherous envoy for King Leopold II of Belgium who plans to trade Tarzan for a fortune in diamonds.

David Yates (of Harry Potter fame) knows how to direct movement, but here, he ditches the wand-waving for bone-crunching fisticuffs. The action in The Legend of Tarzan is visceral.

The CGI for the apes (specifically the alpha silverback, Akut) is excellent. The motion capture work gives Akut a personality—he is a grumpy, old king who recognizes Tarzan as a brother, not a pet.

A Stylish, Muscular Reimagining of the Lord of the Apes

Directed by David Yates (best known for the Harry Potter franchise) and starring Alexander Skarsgård and Margot Robbie, The Legend of Tarzan attempts to break the mold of the typical "origin story." Instead of retreading the familiar beats of a shipwreck and a boy raised by apes, the film picks up years later, finding John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke, living a civilized life in Victorian London.

The Premise The narrative is a smart inversion of the usual trope. Tarzan has already left the jungle. He is comfortably established in society, haunted but suppressed, serving as a trade emissary for the British Crown. He is invited back to the Congo Free State by Parliament, ostensibly to see the development King Leopold of Belgium has brought to the region. In reality, it is a trap set by the corrupt Captain Léon Rom (Christoph Waltz), who needs Tarzan to deliver him to a hostile tribal chief in exchange for diamonds.

Joined by his spirited wife, Jane (Margot Robbie), and the American envoy George Washington Williams (Samuel L. Jackson), Tarzan must return to his roots to save his family and expose the genocide and slavery ravaging the Congo.

The Performances Alexander Skarsgård is perfectly cast as the titular character. Physically imposing, he captures the dichotomy of the character: the gentleman exterior versus the primal, feral instinct lying just beneath the surface. He speaks little, relying on physicality and intense stares, which suits the character’s animalistic nature.

Margot Robbie is a highlight as Jane. Unlike the classic "damsel in distress" archetype, this Jane is fiery, independent, and capable. Her chemistry with Skarsgård sells the emotional core of the film—the idea that these two are soulmates who have literally crossed worlds for one another.

Christoph Waltz plays the villain, Léon Rom, with his signature brand of charming menace. While he is effective, the character feels like a retread of his previous villainous roles (most notably Inglourious Basterds), lacking a unique spark.

Visuals and Direction David Yates brings a moody, atmospheric aesthetic to the film. The CGI jungle is lush and vibrant, providing a stark contrast to the gray, industrial gloom of London. The action sequences are inventive, particularly a sequence involving a train and the climactic showdown. The animation of the animals—specifically the apes—is impressive, with the alpha male, Akut, providing a memorable physical rival for Tarzan.

Strengths and Weaknesses The film excels in its production design and its "fish out of water" concept. Seeing Tarzan uncomfortable in a suit and tie is arguably more interesting than watching him learn to swing from vines again. The inclusion of Samuel L. Jackson provides necessary levity and grounds the story with historical context regarding the colonization of Africa.

However, the film suffers from a slightly muddled plot. The pacing drags in the second act, and

Watch The Legend Of Tarzan ✦

The Legend of Tarzan is not a perfect film. The pacing drags slightly in the middle, and the reliance on blue-screen can occasionally feel stagey. Christoph Waltz is doing his usual "menacing polite guy" shtick, which is fun but familiar.

However, in a cinematic landscape flooded with superheroes in spandex, there is something refreshingly old-fashioned about a sweaty, angry man in a loincloth fighting colonialism with his bare hands.

It is a movie that respects its hero enough to show him being vulnerable. It respects its heroine enough to give her a gun. And it respects the audience enough to not pretend the jungle isn't a terrifying, beautiful, bloody place.

If you need a rainy afternoon adventure that makes you want to hit the gym and read a history book simultaneously, swing over to your streaming queue and give The Legend of Tarzan a chance.

Final Score: 7.5/10 – A Lusty, Gritty, Underrated Jungle Adventure.

Have you seen The Legend of Tarzan? Did you think it was an underrated hit or a deserved miss? Let me know in the comments below!

Swapping Vines for the Victorian Life: The Legend of Tarzan If you're looking for an old-school adventure that trades the typical origin story for a gritty, late-Victorian political thriller, The Legend of Tarzan watch the legend of tarzan

is a solid pick for your next movie night. Directed by David Yates—the mind behind the final four Harry Potter

films—this 2016 adaptation offers a more mature take on the classic character. Where to Watch You can currently find the film on several major platforms: Streaming Services : Available on in many regions and Rent or Buy : You can rent or purchase digital copies on Amazon Video Apple TV Store Google Play Fandango At Home Physical Media : If you prefer a disc, you can find the DVD and Blu-ray at retailers like Barnes & Noble Plot Overview

Instead of showing us Tarzan's childhood, the movie picks up years after he has left the jungle. Now known as John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke , he lives a refined life in London with his wife,

His peaceful life is interrupted when he is invited back to the Congo as a trade emissary. Unbeknownst to him, he is a pawn in a deadly scheme masterminded by Captain Leon Rom

, a treacherous envoy for King Leopold II of Belgium who plans to trade Tarzan for a fortune in diamonds.

David Yates (of Harry Potter fame) knows how to direct movement, but here, he ditches the wand-waving for bone-crunching fisticuffs. The action in The Legend of Tarzan is visceral. The Legend of Tarzan is not a perfect film

The CGI for the apes (specifically the alpha silverback, Akut) is excellent. The motion capture work gives Akut a personality—he is a grumpy, old king who recognizes Tarzan as a brother, not a pet.

A Stylish, Muscular Reimagining of the Lord of the Apes

Directed by David Yates (best known for the Harry Potter franchise) and starring Alexander Skarsgård and Margot Robbie, The Legend of Tarzan attempts to break the mold of the typical "origin story." Instead of retreading the familiar beats of a shipwreck and a boy raised by apes, the film picks up years later, finding John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke, living a civilized life in Victorian London.

The Premise The narrative is a smart inversion of the usual trope. Tarzan has already left the jungle. He is comfortably established in society, haunted but suppressed, serving as a trade emissary for the British Crown. He is invited back to the Congo Free State by Parliament, ostensibly to see the development King Leopold of Belgium has brought to the region. In reality, it is a trap set by the corrupt Captain Léon Rom (Christoph Waltz), who needs Tarzan to deliver him to a hostile tribal chief in exchange for diamonds.

Joined by his spirited wife, Jane (Margot Robbie), and the American envoy George Washington Williams (Samuel L. Jackson), Tarzan must return to his roots to save his family and expose the genocide and slavery ravaging the Congo.

The Performances Alexander Skarsgård is perfectly cast as the titular character. Physically imposing, he captures the dichotomy of the character: the gentleman exterior versus the primal, feral instinct lying just beneath the surface. He speaks little, relying on physicality and intense stares, which suits the character’s animalistic nature. David Yates (of Harry Potter fame) knows how

Margot Robbie is a highlight as Jane. Unlike the classic "damsel in distress" archetype, this Jane is fiery, independent, and capable. Her chemistry with Skarsgård sells the emotional core of the film—the idea that these two are soulmates who have literally crossed worlds for one another.

Christoph Waltz plays the villain, Léon Rom, with his signature brand of charming menace. While he is effective, the character feels like a retread of his previous villainous roles (most notably Inglourious Basterds), lacking a unique spark.

Visuals and Direction David Yates brings a moody, atmospheric aesthetic to the film. The CGI jungle is lush and vibrant, providing a stark contrast to the gray, industrial gloom of London. The action sequences are inventive, particularly a sequence involving a train and the climactic showdown. The animation of the animals—specifically the apes—is impressive, with the alpha male, Akut, providing a memorable physical rival for Tarzan.

Strengths and Weaknesses The film excels in its production design and its "fish out of water" concept. Seeing Tarzan uncomfortable in a suit and tie is arguably more interesting than watching him learn to swing from vines again. The inclusion of Samuel L. Jackson provides necessary levity and grounds the story with historical context regarding the colonization of Africa.

However, the film suffers from a slightly muddled plot. The pacing drags in the second act, and