Tarzan (Blu-ray 3D) (2013)

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General		Extras
Category	Animation	Featurette-Making Of-3
Rating
Year Of Production	2013
Running Time	94:10
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Reinhard Klooss
Studio Distributor	Icon Entertainment	Starring	Kellan Lutz Spencer Locke Mark Deklin
Case	?
RPI	?	Music	None Given

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English DTS HD Master Audio 5.1
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	2.35:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080p
Original Aspect Ratio	2.35:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     Tarzan is a character who has been immortalised on the silver screen many, many times. There was the series of Johnny Weissmuller films in the 1930s and 40s, an Oscar Winning animated version by Disney in 1999, a Christopher Lambert vehicle, Greystoke, The Legend of Tarzan in 1984, numerous television series and even a Hindi take on the tale. There is also a big budget remake scheduled for release in 2016, which will supposedly star Christoph Waltz and Samuel L Jackson. This most recent theatrical go at the story is an animated version from German director, Reinhard Klooss, probably best known as a producer of films like Buffalo Soldiers and Jar City (although hardly a household name). Probably the most interesting thing about this version is the extensive use of motion capture for the animated movements of the human characters. Most scenes were acted out by the actors and then used as the basis for animation. The animation is very good, with the backgrounds looking fantastic and the human movements fluid. The facial expressions are a bit odd at times but generally speaking the animation is the star here. Unfortunately the rest of this production is quite forgettable and the story has been messed around with to try to modernise it. This basically just doesn't work, in fact it becomes quite silly and nonsensical at times.

     In this version, Greystoke Energies (an Energy company) is searching for a meteor that landed some years before in the jungle. After some time of searching, the expedition, led by John Greystoke (voiced by Mark Deklin) gives up and decides to head for home, accompanied by his wife and young son, JJ. However as they are flying out by helicopter they find the meteor in a mysterious cloud formation. They land to investigate, however this triggers some sort of volcanic eruption resulting in a helicopter crash. JJ escapes the mangled helicopter and is looked after by a female gorilla, Kala. He grows up in the jungle and in a major plot twist becomes Tarzan (voiced by Kellan Lutz). Some years later, Greystoke Energies is run by an evil new CEO who wants to find the meteor and by chance Tarzan provides them the ability to find him. This also brings the daughter of his father's old friend, Jane Porter (Spencer Locke) providing a love interest for Tarzan. Can Tarzan stop the evil corporation and get the girl at the same time?

     To me this story is a bit of a mixture of the original Tarzan and Jules Verne's Mysterious Island combined with a bit of evil corporation cliché. The animation is marvellous as I mentioned above, however the voice acting is nothing special and the story is just weird and occasionally nonsensical even within its own logic. It is reasonably entertaining despite its flaws although on balance is hard to recommend.

     The film was shown in 3D at the cinemas and is available in 2D and 3D versions on this Blu-ray.

Video

     The video quality is excellent on this Blu-ray version.

     The feature is presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio which is the original aspect ratio. It is 1080p.

     The picture was very sharp and clear throughout showing off the wonderful animation.

     The colour is fantastic really bursting from the screen with the deep greens of the jungle, the bright colours of birds and the other characters. Great stuff!

     There was some minor motion blur.

     There are subtitles in English which were clear and easy to read.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     The audio quality is very good.

     This disc contains an English soundtrack in DTS HD-MA 5.1.

     Dialogue was clear and easy to understand throughout.

     The music is dramatic and orchestral, combined with some pop songs by the likes of Coldplay. It is good without being great.

     The surround speakers were used well for storms, rain, the explosions and the helicopter. There are also a lot of jungle atmospherics.

     The subwoofer was used mostly for music and supporting explosions.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

     One minor extra only.

Menu

     The menu features music and motion.

Behind the Scenes with Kellan Lutz and Spencer Locke (7:18)

     Featurette on the extensive motion capture work and preparation undertaken by the lead actors.

Animal Shoot (7:17)

     Featurette on the motion capture work done for the animals such as the gorillas. Includes discussion with the director and choreographer.

The Making Of (11:11)

     A more general making of covering cast, animation, motion capture, voice recording and more. Ok but pretty superficial.

    The Region A Blu-ray includes the same extras and specifications. Draw.

    The video quality is excellent.

    The audio quality is very good.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall