A guest post by Lane Batot:
Finally. FINALLY. FINALLY!!!
You cannot know how long (unless you are a longtime Burroughs’ fan yerself) I have waited for A GOOD Tarzan movie. And trying to keep up with the efforts and Hollywood politics involved, I was NOT encouraged by what I was reading, leading up to this most recent effort. They WEREN’T going to follow any of the original books(HUGE immediate negation in my view). They had finally chosen ALEXANDER SKARSGAARD for the lead role—super white, soft-looking, blonde Swede—NOOOOO! Etc. Etc. Etc.
Wasn’t looking good, in my opinion.
Then I saw some trailers (first one on THIS blog, I believe!). Well, heck, that looked purty darn good — a real Big Budget effort! So I did go and see it on the Big Screen — even went Whole Hawg and saw it in 3D!
The most fun I’ve had at the movies in quite awhile, despite my nit-pickin’ arse ready to whine!
No, they didn’t follow any of the books (although they DID utilize numerous of Burroughs’ ideas from the books, especially in the flash-backs of Tarzan’s origins), but it was still a rip-roaring good “Jungle” adventure movie I think even Burroughs would approve!
Mister Skarsgaard also did a GREAT job portraying the feral hero, I think, and he certainly wasn’t so soft and white-looking as previously! Best of all, they gave Tarzan his balls back (spoiler alert, some really funny “balls” comments in the movie!). And I’m referring to the former best, serious attempt at a good Tarzan movie, non other than “Greystoke”(1984), which WAS the BEST effort up till now. But, though they followed the original novel purty close in the first half of “Greystoke”, and really really (TOO MUCH, alas) tried to be REALISTIC with the story, the second half of that film was HORRENDOUS—the Director/Writers went off on their own tangent, and succeeded in completely neutering one of the greatest literary and film heroes of all time (no disrespect to poor Christopher Lambert, who was only doing what he was told….He certainly redeemed himself in “The Highlander”!)
Skarsgaard’s cool, collected, but plenty “kick-arse” attitude when necessary has returned Tarzan to the epic hero role, as opposed to the mentally, emotionally confused and neurotic (yea, even WIMPY!) character portrayed in “Greystoke.”
It IS a very tricky, difficult thing to mix realism with fantasy — Burroughs was a MASTER at that! This movie did an excellent job balancing the two too, I thought. No, giant apes and really big humans are not able to swing through the trees quite like that(believe me, I’ve tried….), but that was one of the more mesmerizing things in Burroughs’ novels that are a MUST in a Tarzan movie, I think. Sure, the hijacking of the train via jungle vines was a bit much, but I can suspend belief in a fantasy movie a bit myself, for the sake of entertainment.
One thing I loved about the movie, is it’s use of ACTUAL HISTORY, with Leopold’s reign and the abuse such rule inflicted on Africa. And the characterization of a REAL historical character, George Washington Williams, played so perfectly (as always) by Sam Jackson! Jane was GREAT —what I would imagine Jane was really like in the latter novels of the book series — in the first one or two, she was yer basic helpless damsel-in-distress, but she LEARNED QUICK and became one tough chick by the third novel, which Margot Robbie certainly was in this movie! And the sociopathic little worm of a bad guy — that Cristoff fellow deserves some kind of award for his portrayal!
And EXCELLENT African characters — good, bad, and everything in between — if I hear someone whining about Tarzan being a racist character in this movie, I’m gonna go all “Akut” on them!
Which brings us to all the CGI critters…
As I mentioned in my “Jungle Book” Critter Geek Critique,” I both abhor, and yet understand and appreciate CGI critters. Some of them in this film were GREAT and quite realistic at times, others not so much — and this is for THE SAME critters, as in the Apes looked ready to settle in and start grooming you in some scenes, and awkward fakes the next — not exactly consistent. But all passable in my book.
I DID ALMOST stand up in the theatre and voice the victory cry of the bull ape (what Tarzan’s yell is SUPPOSED to be) when, at long last, they mentioned the apes WERE NOT GORILLAS (and obviously not chimpanzees either!), but MANGANI (and with a GREAT line from Tarzan — “Gorillas are gentle; Mangani are not!”) — which has always confused movie makers and goers ever since these stories have been filmed. You’ll notice they always used to choose between gorillas as the apes (people in gorilla suits) or chimps (and in “Greystoke”, people in VERY REALISTIC chimp suits!) — or as in the classic (if dated) Johnny Weismuller movies (such fun, those old movies people in gorilla suits as the ADULTS, and young chimps as the baby apes!!! Even the Disney animated film chose to portray gorillas.
Anyway, for those of you not privy to the original tales, Burroughs invented his own Ape species — the “Mangani” —perhaps so he could portray them howsoever he wished without worrying so much about “accuracy” — purty clever really. But confusing to everyone not able to READ! Which apparently includes lots of Hollywood Producers, Writers, and Directors!
Mangani were something BETWEEN chimps and gorillas—take it from me — behaviorally, a LOT like the larger, common chimpanzees!
Although a Tarzan raised by Bonobos (the so-called “pygmy chimps”) would have to be made into an X-rated film, as Bonobos settle all their social altercations with sex! And are a totally female-dominated society. That WOULD make an interesting movie!
Also interesting is, only fairly recently, they DID discover a subspecies of chimp (called “Bili Apes” — Google them!) that is somewhat intermediate in size and behavior with gorillas! Maybe Burroughs knew something nobody else did — he WAS way ahead of his time, certainly!
But back to the other animals…
I especially appreciated the efforts to at least TRY and be realistic with Tarzan’s relations with them — as with the lions — “he’s known them since they were cubs.” And (spoiler alert!) the Wildebeest stampede I LOVED! (nothing like panicked wildebeest to run into and over ANYTHING!) I haven’t seen such a great stampede since some of the old Westerns (and I’ve ALWAYS loved a good stampede!) THE BEST being the Arapahoe stampeding the (REAL!!!!) buffalo on the railroad construction in the original classic movie “How The West Was Won” — which I saw as a toddler on the Big Screen eons ago (but which I still remember DISTINCTLY — they always cut this scene IN HALF in TV versions, damn them!). Now THAT had to have been some feat, stampeding real bison for a scene
But back to “Tarzan” — I suppose I’ve waxed low-quay-shuss enough. My final verdict? Two thumbs up, AND two opposable big toes up! I just HOPE there are SEQUELS!!!!!
Keith West says
I’m with you on this one, Lane. My son and I saw it Saturday afternoon. I was guardedly optimistic going in. I was impressed. While it wasn’t a perfect movie, the things it got right more than made up for its flaws. The attention to detail, such as Tarzan telling the children the bone structure in his hands had changed because he grew up running on all fours as a nice touch. As was the mating calls scene where Tarzan makes the mating calls of a variety of animals from hiding and Jane identifies all of them.
The villain was wonderful, especially his weapon of choice. Wasn’t expecting that one. And Jane telling him what Tarzan would do to him when he caught the guy, that’s the type of strong woman I like to see in movies.
I also appreciated the references to Leopold II. I read King Leopold’s Ghost years ago and may dig it out for a reread. Made me want to reread Heart of Darkness, as well.
lane batot says
Not only Leopold 2, but Leon Rom(the bad guy) was ALSO a real historical character–I didn’t realize that till AFTER I saw the movie and was googling stuff about that time period! So another nice touch! And–my bad–that would be George Washington WILLIAMS, not “Jones” as I wrote above! And there ARE a lot of actual George Washington Joneses out there to confuse the issue!!!
Davide Mana says
You can’t imagine how many discussions I had in the last week with a horde of armchair zoologist with their “gorillas wouldn’t act like that!”
And when I go “Those are not gorillas, those are Mangani,” I got _a lot_ of weird looks.
But then
a . they never read the books
b . I’m a paleontologist
… so they guess there’s something I know and they don’t (which is true, after all) and shut the f*ck up.
JimC says
How much do I love that…
lane batot says
….Sounds like those armchair zoologists either didn’t actually see the movie, or they didn’t listen very well to the dialogue–although they might be excused from missing that one comment as to the apes’ species identity, or not quite understanding it if they did hear it–if they hadn’t read the books. Very, very few people know of the Mangani UNLESS they read the books, and thanks to Hollywood’s “inaccurate” portrayals of the apes over the years. To me, judging(or MAKING!) a Tarzan film without having read the books, is about like judging(or making!) all the films made from Shakespeare’s plays, without having at least TRIED to read the originals! If I am remembering correctly, I do think they referred to the apes as just “great apes” in the okay(in my opinion it was okay–a “B”-movie, definitely, but an okay “B”movie!) in the 1990’s Casper Van Dien version–which was at least a feeble attempt to portray them as other than just bad gorilla suit wearers. That movie–“Tarzan And The Lost City” had a few other plusses going for it, for the true Burrough’s aficionados, but was VILIFIED(and continues to be!) by the critics…..
Matthew says
Philip Jose Farmer wrote Tarzan Alive a fictional biography claiming that Tarzan was a real person that Burroughs fictionalized. He claimed that the Mangani were early hominids rather apes as we think of them.
Either way they weren’t gorillas.
JimC says
I love that kinda stuff. The more “historical” a fantasy is, the better I relate to it.
Matthew says
You could probably find a copy easily. Farmer also did one of Doc Savage but it did not have as much history.
I think the thing about Robert E. Howard and J.R.R. Tolkien is that they both had a knowledge of history along with legend and mythology. Too many fantasy writers only know other fantasy novels.
JimC says
Truth.
lane batot says
I have read “Tarzan Alive” by Farmer, and it is rather imaginative! He is not the only one “speculating” that the “apes” that raised Tarzan were more hominid than anthropoid, and it IS a neat concept–some surviving Australopithecines or some such–it would certainly be more realistic! But I still prefer the APES to be APES, in my imagination, and Burroughs does use the term “anthropoid” bluntly and frequently to describe them, as well as they were knuckle-walking quadrupeds in most descriptions,(with huge fangs), and Tarzan’s upright walking was one of the things that distinguished him from them(yeah, Kala had ONE WEIRD looking/acting baby!)–and I’m surprised Farmer didn’t note that, or chose to ignore it! But still a neat “Tarzan theory”!
Traven Torsvan says
Of course Farmer did his own Tarzan/Doc Savage crossover which I haven’t read but has some great cover art
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c1/AFeastUnknown.jpg/220px-AFeastUnknown.jpg
lane batot says
I’ve read THAT one, too(Farmer wrote a LOT of Tarzan-like character novels, but had to “hide” or change the identity somewhat due to the ERB incorporated “rights”–Edgar Rice Burroughs the first person to incorporate HIMSELF! Clever fellow……) But a WARNING(which likely will serve as an incentive!)–this, and other Farmer novels are rather, how should we say–GRAPHIC(I’ve always felt he was writing what perhaps Edgar might have WISHED he could have gotten away with in his day!)–even pornoGRAPHIC, to say the least!
Paul McNamee says
Only recently experienced those myself;
http://paulmcnamee.blogspot.com/2016/02/recent-reads-pulp-feast-of-philip-jose.html
lane batot says
To me, Farmer’s stuff is okay, but just. NO COMPARISON to Burroughs’ original stories. Perhaps they are worthwhile AFTER you’ve read ALL of Burroughs’ original tales! Which is when I encountered them….
deuce says
I’m surprised that we haven’t seen an FP post on George Washington Williams. Soldier, Indian fighter and traveler to three continents. He stared down kings on his deathbed. 😉
JimC says
Gauntlet thrown. Of course, guest post is always welcome ** cough** ***hint***.
lane batot says
….Just make sure you git the name right(ahem!)…..
lane batot says
….and thanks J. C., for correcting my George Washington boo-boo above(etc. etc.)–but then, yer an EDITOR! It’s what you do!
JimC says
Fixer of Boo-Boos. Not the best nom de guerre, but…
Paul McNamee says
Still waiting to say Finally. FINALLY! FINALLY!!! on Conan of Cimmeria.
But, yes, I loved THE LEGEND OF TARZAN.
Some of the CGI was obvious, but there is just no way to convey the acrobat vine prowess of Tarzan with real folk. The old movies you could see the actors awkwardly holding on for dear life, never mind getting fancy.
I guess I was expecting a bit more savagery from Tarzan, but it was a PG-13 movie. Then I remembered ERB wasn’t visceral in the violence as much as REH had been with Conan.
Those were my only takeaway negatives and they are slight.
The story did enough combining of original touches and ERB touches and ERB spirit. I was glad not to slog through the origin story again. Flashbacks were the right way to go.
The actors all hit home runs with their roles. Though, I tended to be especially partial toward Margot Robbie. Wonder why? 😉
Keith West says
Why, indeed. 🙂
JimC says
Our wait will be eternal on that score, I fear.
lane batot says
I ALSO really like Margot Robbie as Jane–for the obvious–but also as she fit Burroughs’ Jane more accurately than most portrayals. First she WAS blonde, at least, which in the books, was a fascination to Tarzan and the Mangani–none of which had ever seen blonde hair before! Second, AT LAST, Jane being portrayed as an AMERICAN, which she was in the books–a Maryland Southern Belle, with an AMERICAN doddery professor father(I LOVE the character of Professor Archimides Q. Porter! And his assistant Mister Philander!). I like a lot of the English Janes in film(who could not fall in love instantly with Maureen O’Sullivan????) but why Hollywood has insisted on British Janes, I can’t fathom. And Jane WAS(or at least BECAME) a strong female heroine in her own right throughout the novels. Margot Robbie(in my opinion) did her proud…..
Wayne says
The Farmer “biography” of Tarzan is a masterpiece of imagination.
Loved the Mangani reference in the movie. Loved Jane!
I’d have used Cape Buffalo for the stampede.
I want a sequel.
lane batot says
HA! I thought the same thing, with Cape Buffalo! Certainly would have been a helluva lot more damage and dead bodies! But a lot of the “good guys”(including Jane!) would likely have not survived either! As for the crocs–I’m confused(spoiler alert), was Tarzan calling them with baby croc calls on purpose whilst being strangled(it kinda sounded like baby crocodilian calls–“nyuh! nyuh! nyuh”–to me), or was that just typical strangulation gasps?. It happened too fast for me to catch it, but if so, now THAT was another nice touch! Do remember(another spoiler alert), we didn’t actually see Leon Rom dismembered–it was just alluded too–so perhaps he WILL be back in a sequel? I’m hoping BOTH The Jungle Book, and this Tarzan movie have sequels!
lane batot says
….and just in case the non critter geek readers don’t git what I was talking about concerning baby croc calls–you can attract crocodilians by mimicking the distress calls of their young. Having tried it with alligators, I can assure you-all it works!
Paul McNamee says
I saw it as – Tarzan was choking, he let out a few grunts. Then because he was choking, he did the only call he could – a guttural sound. It was a crocodile mating call, not baby distress – which dovetailed with the earlier mating call litany he went through with Jane.
lane batot says
Yeah, that makes more sense–but DAH-YAM! Crocodile MATING call?? I ALMOST feel sorry(almost) for Leon Rom! Maybe when/if he returns in the sequel, he will not only have a hook, but walk bow-legged! Oops, sorry–starting to sound a bit like Philip Hose’ Farmer there!
Wayne says
If there is a sequel, I’ll bet on Rom returning with a hook.
lane batot says
HA! Now THAT would be a HOOT!
lane batot says
And since this is MY guest post, and my right index finger has recovered(somewhat), I figured to take the opportunity and ELABORATE on a coupla more “Tarzan” film themes, for the interests(?) of the blog readers…..One is another comparison between this most recent Tarzan effort, and that other well-done(if somewhat depressing to us fans) 1984 film “Greystoke”. When they were filming “Greystoke”, I was trying to keep up with the production and the whys and wherefores, which I still well remember(ALWAYS having interest in such subjects). One of the MAJOR pronouncemints the Writers/ Director/ Producers made about the production was the REALISM and FACTUAL effort they were making in the retelling of Burroughs’ original tale(even though they then went off on a completely different tangent the 2nd half of the movie!). And though I think they did a swell(but not swollen) job(depressing as it was…..), I think they got just a BIT pretentious, and actually ended up being INACCURATE on several counts…..to be continued…..
lane batot says
….one of the(inaccurate) things they did was profess that LIONS being used in Tarzan movies(and the books), was INACCURATE, because lions DO NOT live in tropical rain forest, but are more savannah/desert creatures. Which is mainly true. So they only used leopards/pannthers for “Greystoke”. HOWEVER, though there may not be lions in the densest parts of the Congo, there are MANY places, especially in West Africa(where the origin stories took place, AND where the actual “on location” shots were done for Greystoke”–in the Cameroons no less–one of the especially neato things about THAT movie!) where both dense rain forest(“jungle”), AND savannah are interspersed. And lions most assuredly USED to live there, and traveled through and made use of the dense forest between their more open areas. Northern Cameroons is largely open savannah, in fact! Where I was in Africa(1983–while “Greystoke” was being filmed, by coincidence!) in Gombe preserve on Lake Tanganyika(just across from the Congo) in Tanzania, it was mostly dense forest, BUT was also interspersed with open savannah-like areas, and lions DID occasionally show up there, until like lots of the West African countries, they were exterminated by “progress”. And where one of my favorite installments of the TV show “Survivor” was filmed, in Gabon, showed the wonderful diversity of habitats, including dense jungle AND savannah all in the same general area. And Gabon also used to have lions. And WHERE did they film some of the only “on location” shots with “The Legend Of Tarzan”? Gabon! So sorry Hugh Hudson(Director of “Greystoke”), NOT using lions was actually INACCURATE on yer part. Old Edgar read hunter/exporer accounts of Africa VORACIOUSLY, and usually darn well knew what he was writing about long before he took up the pen……
Paul McNamee says
I find the “liberal” – shall we say? – use of flora and fauna to be the largest disconnect I get with Tarzan – particularly the movies. Tarzan, deep in a jungle – lion roar – cut to stock footage of a lion hunting on the veldt.
I was surprised to find the mixing in the original novels, too. I thought ERB knew Africa but maybe he only knew it through exaggerated tales. Did he ever travel there? If he did, I would guess it was after he’d created Tarzan.
Anyway, the easiest way for me to swallow it now is to consider Tarzan’s Africa very much a fantasy land, just as Barsoom/Mars and his other tales were. There are lost races, Ant men, lost cities, great apes … why not jungles with lions?
lane batot says
Except there ARE jungles with lions! So long as those jungles are interspersed with savannah, which such diverse habitats exist together in numerous places in Africa. But Burroughs himself NEVER went to Africa–according to the biographies of him I’ve read–you’d think that would have been one place he woulda visited after he became wealthy and renowned–he did make the comment once that he didn’t want the reality of Africa to interfere with his imagination of such. I personally DON’T git that! His writings are one reason I DREAMED of going to Africa and finally DID! And got to live in a forest with apes(chimps) and baboons, and climb trees with them, go on hunts with them, and just hang out with them! Swam in a lake there every day, too–eyes out for crocs! Luckily never saw any—anyway, I can tell you, Burroughs MISSED OUT!!! He WAS a rabid, voracious reader, and read many African hunter and explorer accounts to get his “facts”. And “anecdotal” though these accounts were, they were often QUITE accurate, and certainly give one a feel for the “real” Africa! But Burroughs WAS mainly a science fiction fantasy writer……
lane batot says
….And I wanted to plug the Casper Van Dien version made back in the 1990’s, the last live-action feature film made of Tarzan(although there were a coupla TV series, plus the Disney animated version–and I really liked the Disney animated Tarzan!). This continues to be one of the most vilified and snarkily-commented-on Tarzan films, which I think is quite unfair. As I mentioned, it IS just a “B” movie in scope and production, but I think it is well worthwhile for the TRUE Burroughs fans. First, it WAS actually and entirely filmed in Africa(South Africa to be exact, but at least on the same continent with similar habitats and wildlife!) And it used REAL critters, and used them well(except for the aforementioned rather poor ape-suited humans representing the “great apes”. But they were only used mercifully briefly!) One thing I LOVED about the movie, is the use of REAL AFRICAN ELEPHANTS–the FIRST film, in fact, where the Tarzan actor actually RIDES and interacts with AFRICAN elephants! In all previous films, they used Asian elephants(considered safer and more tractable, but that just DEPENDS!)–including some HILARIOUS attempts in the early Weissmuller movies to try and make the Asians appear more African by putting prosthetic rubber ears on them, and fake tusks! Well, at least they tried! And of course they’d intersperse actual film footage of real African elephants which, to me, only made the use of Asians all the more glaring, as you could obviously see the differences! But “Lost City” only used Africans, and Van Dien on a big tusker was a triumph, in my critter-geek opinion! Van Dien also had some rather rough experiences with them, as he tells so entertainingly and self-deprecatingly in interviews! They had an English Jane again, of course(it had become film tradition, certainly, by this point–even in the Disney animated feature!). Anyway, I kinda enjoyed “Lost City”, and found it far better than MOST of the previous attempts that are not so vilified by the critics. I think both “Lost City” and “Greystoke” are well worth viewing for the Tarzan/Burroughs fan, and both can be had super cheapo now! But as far as budget and production, a satisfying story while honoring Burroughs tale-telling ability, decent more realistic animal action(even if they are fake critters….), and re-establishing Tarzan as a kick-arse hero, “The Legend Of” has them all beat!
lane batot says
…..and my kriteek would not be complete on this film, I don’t think, without a critique on the Profess-shun-dull critics! I was curious, naturally, as to what the rest of civilization was thinking(not that it matters much to my ape-way of thinking, but WILL matter in regards to the chances of a SEQUEL!), so I googled some of the movie’s reviews. Not that those matter a rat’s arse to you guys, either, but most are purty snarky(no surprise), and they all seem to be bending over backwards(about time for some crocodile mating calls, in my opinion!) trying to out-snark one another, and wringing their hands trying to see just who among them can be THE MOST politically correct. All I can say to all that is–URBAN POLLUTED DOLTS! Yeah, time to go “Akut” on their arses! I get the notion that most of these Hollywood critics can ONLY enjoy some French existential(black-and-white) film where no one understands WHAT the hell is going on(as regards plot and theme), and everyone commits suicide by the end. Like “modern art”–it ain’t good unless you cain’t tell WHAT it is! The usual “Burroughs as racist” tripe is being slung about with regularity, even though it is OBVIOUS none of them have read the first Burroughs novel! Kinda reminds me of the hue-and-cry regarding the Harry Potter books and film as encouraging “devil worship” by ignoramouses that never read any of the Harry Potter books or saw any of the Harry Potter films. Or calling Shakespeare a male chauvinist, or Mark Twain a racist for using the “N” word. Please IGNORE these dull pretentious city folk, and just go see a fun jungle action adventure film!
Will Streckfus says
I was so upset with the second half of Greystoke that I almost caused a scene at the theater. The people sitting immediately in front of me would probably argue that I did. The scene is burned into my memory. Tarzan and D’Arnot have made it to the first outpost of civilization and they show Tarzan standing in the corner of a room shaking and then quivering in fear as the door slowly closes. I think I said WTF out loud and then it got worse from there. I didn’t sleep for two nights I was so mad they turned my number one hero into a wuss. I had to read your paragraph out loud to my wife because she’s heard my rants about Greystoke for years. Thanks for putting so succinctly my own feelings of Greystoke.
JimC says
That was WRONG!
lane batot says
….Oh, there was A LOT MORE “rong” with “Greystoke”(2nd half of the film)–so much, you had to wonder WHAT and WHY it was done–to try and be more “realistic”? That tricky thing about combining realism with fantasy–“Greystoke” tried to be TOO realistic, I think–what would someone REALLY raised by apes be like? Some psychologists speculate such a feral child would be mentally retarded or severely autistic. But WHY make a movie of THAT? Depressing! But it failed in being “realistic” as well. I myself woulda been knocking and throwing rude civilized folk all over the place–that’s one of the GREAT appeals of a character like Tarzan(or Conan, etc.), they follow their primitive instincts and do what we all WISH we could do! In Greystoke, I CERTAINLY woulda laid that Bobbie OUT(no offense to the terrible cop controversies going on now) had he shot MY ape dad! The scene I HATE the WORST in that movie, which is so completely NOT Tarzan, is when, after his granpa dies(portrayed MARVELOUSLY in his last film, alas, by the incomparable Sir Ralph Richardson), and Tarzan is driving the horse-drawn coach around and around the courtyard, screaming like a girl, and MERCILESSLY beating the horses with a whip–SOOOO “untarzan”!!! Despite the neutering and neuroticizing of this literary hero, it still WAS a well-made, well acted film(which is why you get such contradictory opinions on it!)……
Peggy Brown says
Greetings! I arrived here from Diana Gabaldon’ link to the post on King of Men, JAMMF, and HAD to come read the post I saw about Tarzan!
Oh my… how sweet to run into fans of ERB! I have read all of the two dozen Tarzan stories (IMHO, the last few left much to be desired, but I digress ) and I was guardedly optimistic about the Tarzan movie. I have watched it many times…so much to love about it! There was nobody to whine to about the things they got wrong…so I appreciate all the commentary here.
My eldest son has a degree in history and I must say that the world needs more real history majors! He is also a reader and has obediently read all the books I required all these years — and Tarzan and the Barsoom series were among them.
I think that now would be a good time to have someone do with Tarzan what Ron Moore has done with Outlander… develop a show for the fans of the books. Just sayin….
On a side note: have any of you been able to read any of ERB’s westerns? I found the written form of the colloquial speech too laborious….
Peace to you, brethren. May your tribe increase.
JimC says
Welcome to the campfire Peggy. There are several big ERB fans here.