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Tarzan Disney Pictures Voices Of:Minnie Driver, Glenn Close, Tony Goldwin, Etc... It's enjoyable to see that Disney has decided to finally make improvements to its age-old formula of how they go about presenting their animated tales. Where we previously had to endure endless musical numbers(I'll admit, some weren't bad, but some became awfully excessive), "Tarzan" cuts the flab and all that's left is solid storytelling, focusing on the drama and the action of the classic tale. Cutting the story down to it's essentials helps give the story a propulsive and fleet pace that's frequently thrilling and exhilarating in it's grand, entertaining scale. We all know the story, but does it entertain once more? For the most part, the animation staff at Disney have crafted a solid film, but still, there are moments where I felt that there were a few missteps, mainly in the insistence to include a sidekick in the form of an ape(Rosie O'Donnell) who causes more in the way of annoyance than laughter. There's a lack of a strong villian as well. All we're given here is a rather vague stereotypical hunter. The energy is certainly there, but you don't walk out with the film glued to your memories; in fact, it's entertaining, but rather forgettable. The positives far outweigh the negatives, though. The animation(a combination of CGI added in as well) is absolutely stunning in it's color, scope and detail. There are incredible moments: the film starts off with a sequence that is a marvel of animation to show the events that led up to Tarzan being orphaned. That sequence also brings to light one of the other very strong aspects of this picture: the Phil Collins score may sound sometimes similar to his other hits, but there are songs like "Two Worlds" that are magestic, grandly emotional and as powerful as the imagery it backs up. Voice work is excellent, especially Tony Goldwin as Tarzan and Minnie Driver as Jane. In tone, the film is different from recent Disney films as well. Drama is not overblown and sappy; it feels true, honest and pure. The humor is genuinely funny, not the kind of messy slapstick that has invaded some of the Disney features of the past. This isn't a film that will make adults cringe, I think that both adults and kids can enjoy this film equally. Coming in at just under 90 minutes, I'm sure that adults will not grow bored of this film. Even though there were a few moments that I felt were a bit slow, overall, the film seems like it's over only moments after it's begun. I liked "Tarzan" quite a bit and a whole lot more than Disney's last effort, "Mulan". Still, this film doesn't have the witty humor and strong original story of "Antz" or the breathtaking visuals of "The Prince Of Egypt". Disney should be proud of their work on "Tarzan", but they should keep looking over their shoulder. Dreamworks, with animated pictures like "Prince Of Egypt"(which I consider an animation classic), is quickly catching up.... *** BACK TO THE SITE: Listing Of DVD Special Sales Back To A Guide To Current Film A List Of Current/Upcoming DVD For Sale Soundtracks For Current Films |
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