From someone who has read the books

First off I wanna just say that I love this movie. Okay? Just get that out there. I watched it a dozen times at least.

I watched this movie when I was little (10 or so) rented it from the shop and then went looking for it in my adult life as well because I love Tarzan. I've read the books, watched early and modern movies and yes this one's not perfect but none of them are really.

The thing about it is that I think this movie is actually pretty okay from someone who read the books point of view in the interaction between Tarzan and Jane. In the books he saves her and they fall in love and there are a lot of shy, awkward glances and touches and she's scared but trusts him then she gets returned to her father and confused but that's another story. Anyway their interaction was great from my point of view.

Tarzan was silent yes he could communicate with his native apes but not of the Pidgin English he does in some of the other movies. There was never any “Me Tarzan You Jane” nonsense. The first time Tarzan and Jane verbally communicate in the books Tarzan has a French accent and they're in America for crying out loud. Communication between them in the jungle was entirely non verbal since Tarzan while incredibly intelligent and who could in fact read and write English had never heard a European speak.

I found Jane's lines, while with Tarzan, cute and appropriate. She's just been recently reunited with her insane and vaguely incestuous father after her abandoned mother's recent death, dragged half across a continent, kidnapped by a handsome wild man, has been attacked by animals, and is lost in a jungle far away from anything even loosely familiar to her. She was probably already a bit mentally warped anyway but the stress at this point must have been immense. Psychologically she should be curled in a ball crying her eyes out. Instead she's gently curious about her surroundings and her strange beautiful protector which speaks amazingly well of her coping powers. She's speaking aloud to likely calm herself and besides who's gonna hear her. Tarzan? Hearing her voice is likely fascinating for him. He doesn't know what she's saying at the moment he's a bit distracted and fascinated with her bright blonde hair (true to the book Jane had blonde hair and it was one of the things that completely enthralled Tarzan) and pretty human female body.


Now one of the main things that seem to irritate people about this movie is how much there is of Jane and how little of Tarzan. To those people I ask:
Have you watched any of the other Tarzan movies? Specifically the black and white ones with Johnny Weissmuller?

Allow me to break down the plot for you.

JANE travels to Africa in search of her long lost father. From the get go JANE mouths off to anyone that will listen. JANE insists on joining his expedition. JANE and her father, his flirty male assistant, and the bearers are attacked on the way. JANE makes it safely up the mountain. JANE gets kidnapped or saved by Tarzan who has finally shown up mid way through the movie. JANE talks endless about her plight to a surprisingly fluent in English (taking note that yes there are humans on the escarpment but they're natives) Tarzan. JANE is saved. JANE gets in trouble. JANE decides to stay with Tarzan. Meanwhile in between JANE's monologues and soliloquies, Tarzan wrestles alligators, leopards and plays with monkeys while JANE watches and screams a lot. In the movies to follow Tarzan doesn't really do a lot plotwise. He's like a prop for JANE. He fights things, he swings from vines, and he saves the day by summoning a herd of elephants. Meanwhile JANE (note not the title character) reunites with her cousins who have come looking for her, JANE lies to Tarzan. JANE betrays Tarzan. JANE moans about her plights as a mother and wife. JANE's life both back home in England and now here in the jungle is examined over and over. Everyone wants to know how JANE feels.

Seriously go back and watch some of those. By comparison this Jane's pretty okay not nearly as self centered and at least this movie comes right out and says it. "Tarzan from Jane's point of view" "Cheesecake meets beefcake—amidst many lustful leers" At least they're honest about it.

Lastly let's get down to brass tacks. Why do we watch Tarzan movies? It's not for the storyline if you want storyline go read the books trust me they're incredible Tarzan becomes a secret agent for the Crown at one point and note Clayton is never a bad guy (intentionally), Tarzan actually likes and respects his cousin.

We watch Tarzan movies to see a big strong wild man and little proper city girl interact without massive amounts of clothing. You know one of the black and white movies Jane and Tarzan have a 3 minute long underwater scene where they completely nude. We watch to see their relationship blossom without modern conventions.

To quote the book "Tarzan of the Apes" Chapter 19 Call of the Primitive

"...it was primeval woman who sprang forward with outstretched arms toward the primeval man who had fought for her and won her.

And Tarzan?

He did what no red-blooded man needs lessons in doing. He took his woman in his arms and smothered her upturned, panting lips with kisses.

For a moment Jane lay there with half-closed eyes. For a moment--the first in her young life--she knew the meaning of love."

"And then Tarzan of the Apes did just what his first ancestor would have done.

He took his woman in his arms and carried her into the jungle."

And THAT, Mister Holt, is why we watch God D*** Tarzan movies!

Love and Peace. Love and Peace! LOVE AND PEACE! -Vash the Stampede