Instead, the film is dragged down by many questionable and downright indecent choices made by the filmmakers, the biggest of which is not providing the audience with a clear understanding of the film’s intent. But these redeeming aspects are not enough to keep it afloat. Some of the special effects are nice, the storytelling method is at least a bit different than what we have seen before, and Skarsgård makes a good John Clayton/Tarzan. The void in which this film exists leaves viewers with an uncertain, ambivalent attitude. The Legend of Tarzan doesn’t really have any of this, which brings up the burning question of ‘what’s the point?” For reboots and sequels, it’s to start or continue a storyline. Sometimes, it's a message or an intelligent idea expanded upon. Behind every film should be a clearly defined purpose. That’s the part where this new film runs into some trouble. Audiences know who Tarzan is, although they might not be too familiar, so it’s a matter of setting up a new adventure for modern viewers to enjoy. By not being a direct sequel, it doesn’t have to be restricted by past storylines. By not being a reboot, the filmmakers can avoid the accusation of just trying to cash in on a character audiences may have some familiarity with.
Existing simultaneously tethered and separated from the past grants the film some unique advantages in areas that other films this year have struggled with.
The Legend of Tarzan is, simply, another Tarzan movie. As a bit of a twist, it is neither a reboot nor a direct sequel to anything that has come before. The Legend of Tarzan is yet another reinvention of a long-standing fictional property. Will you be lured to the theaters to see it? Tarzan has been lured back to the jungle on his newest adventure.