Tarzan (1999)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Directors:

Chris Buck
Kevin Lima

Writers:

Edgar Rice Burroughs (story)
Tab Murphy (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

18 June 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Drama | Family

Tagline:

An immortal legend. As you've only imagined.

Plot:

A man raised by gorillas must decide where he really belongs when he discovers he is a human.

Plot Keywords:

Gorilla | Lifting Person In Air | Storm | Animal Capture | Lightning

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 10 wins & 22 nominations

Cast

Tony Goldwyn	...	Tarzan (voice)
Minnie Driver	...	Jane Porter (voice)
Glenn Close	...	Kala (voice)
Brian Blessed	...	Mr. Clayton, the Gorilla Hunter (voice)
Nigel Hawthorne	...	Professor Archimedes Q. Porter (voice)
Lance Henriksen	...	Kerchak, the Gorilla King (voice)
Wayne Knight	...	Adult Tantor (voice)
Alex D. Linz	...	Young Tarzan (voice)
Rosie O'Donnell	...	Young Terk / Adult Terk (voice)
Taylor Dempsey	...	Young Tantor (voice)
Jason Marsden	...	Additional Voices (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Beth Anderson	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Jack Angel	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Joseph Ashton	...	Ape Boy (voice)
Bob Bergen	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Rodger Bumpass	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Kathryn Cressida	...	Additional Voice (voice)
Jim Cummings	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Aria Noelle Curzon	...	Baby Apes (Additional Voices) (voice)
Debi Derryberry	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Paul Eiding	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Blake McIver Ewing	...	Additional Voices (voice) (as Blake Ewing)
Michael Geiger	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Scott Martin Gershin	...	Kerchak Gorilla (voice)
Amy Gleason	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Jonnie Hall	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Linda Harmon	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Jennifer L. Hughes	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Adam Karpel	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Ricky Lucchese	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Sherry Lynn	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Melissa MacKay	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Michael Perl	...	Mungo (voice)
Phil Proctor	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Jessica Rotter	...	Additional Voice
Frank Simms	...	Ensemble Vocals (voice)
Erik von Detten	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Joe Whyte	...	Additional Voices (voice)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:G (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Quebec) | Italy:T | Argentina:Atp | Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-8/5 | France:U | Germany:o.Al. (cut) | Hong Kong:I | Mexico:A | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:PG | Norway:7 | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/6 | Singapore:G | South Korea:All | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:U | USA:G | Greece:K | Australia:PG | Philippines:G | Brazil:Livre

Company:

Walt Disney Pictures

Trivia:

This is not Glenn Close's first involvement in a Tarzan movie - she dubbed the voice of Andie MacDowell in 1984's "Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes".

Goofs:

Continuity: When Tarzan defeats Sabor, he presents the body to Kerchak and lays it on the ground. Moments later, as they all run off, the body is gone.

Quotes:

Terk: What kind of animal are you?
Tantor: You know, I've been thinking lately that Tarzan may be some sub-species of elephant.
Terk: Are you kidding... What are you talking about?
Tantor: I mean, think about it. He enjoys a peanut, I enjoy a peanut...
Terk: He looks nothing like you!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Lion King 1½ (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Strangers Like Me

New "deep canvas" backgrounds steal the show!!!

'Tarzan' delves right into the core of the story from the very start, beginning with the shipwreck that causes mother, father and son to be castaways on an island inhabited by wild animals. The montage of scenes are brilliant as they show, side by side, comparison between the humans and the animal families. After this spectacular start, the timeworn story gets brilliant treatment from the Disney animators. The boy grows into the fearless hunk and his meeting with Jane in the jungle has to be one of the cleverest bits of animation ever. Jane is voiced by Minnie Driver in what is undoubtedly the top vocal job in the film.

An exception is Rosie O'Donnell, but then--needless to say--I'm not an O'Donnell fan. Her vocals are a distracting annoyance since you immediately recognize it is she and the character becomes an obvious source of comic relief. But I digress. The film gets off to a great start and only occasionally stumbles. I didn't care for the bland Phil Collins songs--especially 'Trashing the Camp' (the entire scene should have been cut) but songs were not intended to be the strong point of this version of the Tarzan legend. Nor are they as effective as those in 'The Lion King'. But 'Tarzan' is a movie that really MOVES and you'll find yourself caught up in the frantic story from the very brilliant animation of the opening scenes.

Only other weak factor of the animation is the poorly motivated villain who is too one dimensional and the Disney artists have made him a replica of Governor Ratcliffe in 'Pocahontas'. Other than that, it's top-notch Disney with the jungle settings looking more real than ever thanks to their new "deep canvas" technique for background paintings. By all means, see it and enjoy!!