The movie released to critical acclaim with noted film critic Roger Ebert giving itfour out of four stars.
Some aspects of the movie, however, are a bit darker than we remember from our childhoods.
There are some sinister things aboutTarzanthat you only notice as an adult.
Why were Tarzan’s parents traveling?
Tarzanis based on a series of novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
The first,Tarzan of the Apes, was published in 1912.
This era seems to fit with the one portrayed in the animated film.
It wasn’t exactly the safest time to be alive.
What was so important that Tarzan’s parents decideda boat ride across the oceanwas a good idea?
Was there some sort of family emergency?
Where were they going?
What was so urgent that they were making what seems like an arduous journey with an infant?
Were there no other survivors in Tarzan?
The film opens on the three of them escaping the burning, sinking ship in a tiny boat.
How come no one else is around?
Even after they make it to shore, there areno other survivorsin sight.
Were Tarzan’s parents sailing the ship by themselves?
What would happen if they ran into pirates?
Or sailed into a storm that required all hands on deck?
If so, this is a pretty morbid start to a movie, at leastby Disney standards.
Where did Tarzan’s parents get construction materials?
Tarzan’s dad worked with somepretty good toolsto build that treehouse.
How on earth did a saw manage to survive the ship burningandsinking?
Realistically, most of what was on the ship probably went up in flames before sinking below the waves.
This is either a miracle or Disney magic at work.
Where is the fabric for Tarzan’s loincloths coming from?
Tarzan wears a loincloth throughout the film.
But… where is hegetting the fabric for them?
And yes, we are assuming that Tarzan has gone through many, many loincloths throughout his life.
There’s no material that could hold up for very long considering Tarzan’s very active lifestyle.
At least he could realistically have access to those materials in the jungle.
So, did a treasure chest of fabric wash up on the beach?
Is there a secret underwear store hidden away in the trees?
Why doesn’t Tarzan have any body hair?
Okay, we know that Disney isn’t exactly known for its anatomically correct art.
How is this possible?
Surely Tarzan should atleasthave a beard, unless he somehow taught himself how to shave.
Jane’s outfit is absurdly impractical in Tarzan
Tarzan’s Jane Porter is clearly a smart woman.
So we’ve got to wonder, then, why she’sdressed so impractically.
Why on earth is she wearing a long dress with a bustle, not to mentionhigh heels?
Heck, she’s in the middle of the jungle; she could probably get away with wearing pants.
She is, after all, the only other human he can remember seeing.
She has no idea who Tarzan is or that he is one of the good guys.
Why does Tarzan have an American accent?
Tarzan was still an infant when his parents died.
As such, he never learned how to speak English.
When he meets Jane, he eagerly mimics her words, and she eventually teaches him English.
This simply makes no sense at all.
Theactor who voiced Tarzanis an American namedTony Goldwyn, who seems to have been speaking in his natural accent.
Why did the Porters pack so much stuff for a short trip in Tarzan?
While we understand the temptations of overpacking, the Porters havekind of overdone it.
Do theyreallyneed a dresser (Jane only has a couple of outfits so what could it be filled with?
), a full tea set, a chemistry lab, fine china, and a skeleton?
This is justtoo much.Jane and her dad seem perfectly capable of roughing it for a few weeks.
So why did they feel the need to pack up all of their belongings for the trip?
Jane even has a complete wardrobe set, including a mirrored vanity.
This seems totally out of character for Jane who seems to be a pretty self-reliant and practical woman.
This seems to be Disney’s way of making this strong, female character inTarzanappear more stereotypically feminine.
Is Tarzan’s Jane descended from Beauty and the Beast’s Belle?
If you look closely, you’ll see that Disney’s famous teapotMrs.
Potts and her teacup son Chip make a cameo… sort of.
Could it be possible that it came from Belle’s castle?
The similarities aren’t just physical, either.
They also have some personality traits in common.
Jane and Belle are both spirited brunettes whowant adventure in the great wide somewhere.
Is it possible that the Porters are actually directlydescended from Belleand the Beast?
Could that tea set not just be an homage to Mrs. Potts but actually a family heirloom?
How did Tarzan’s dad’s clothes fit him?
and which also fit Tarzan pretty well.
In short, the man is totally ripped.
Perhaps it’s some sort of magical suit, enchanted to last forever and fit whoever wears it?
Because that’s the only way this is making sense.
Tarzan is being a jerk to his family
Comeon,Tarzan.
He couldn’t have asked the boat to wait a couple of minutes?
He didn’t eventry,which seems like some pretty scummy behavior.
At theveryleast, he could have done his Tarzan yell to let his family know something was up.
What happened to Clayton’s cronies in Tarzan?
Clayton dies in the melee, and the other bad guys just… vanish.
There’s no hint of Clayton’s cronies.
Are they being held in the ship’s brig to be sentenced back in England?
Or did they escape into the jungle, plotting their revenge?
This isthemost impractical plan.
The Porters couldn’t even go on a short trip without bringing along a full set of china.
How are they going to survive in the jungle without any modern comforts?
Have they thought this out?
They’re giving up modernmedicine, running water, and the companionship of other human beings.
Surely they could benefit from a first aid kit and a change of clothes.
Jane is an intelligent and educated woman who clearly values intellectual pursuits.
There’s also the problem of what will happen if Jane and Tarzan have kids.
