It’s a Tarzan thing.

It’s true. I have a thing for Tarzan. We go way back. As a kid I never missed a Saturday afternoon Tarzan movie, especially when Johnny Weissmuller played the part. He was legit . A hero. A survivor. He was one with the jungle and rode an elephant like nobody’s business.

I wanted to be Jane. I wanted to live in a treehouse and do the yell and fill out a loincloth dress and have a chimpanzee friend and never go to school ever again.

But that didn’t happen.

What did happen was this… In the back of Mrs. Ashley’s very organized 7th grade English classroom, a private library of her personal books lined wire shelves. We were allowed to check out books any day of the week. It was in this magical place that I learned of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan books. I read them all and began my own collection thanks to the Scholastic Book Fair order forms.

I still have my well loved, well read collection.

Yesterday I saw The Legend of Tarzan movie, because, well, Tarzan. John humored me, I know that. He went with low expectations, but we both left the theatre pleasantly surprised.

Tarzan (Alexander Skarsgard) and Jane (Margot Robbie) provided most excellent eye candy. The breathtaking scenery provided a wonderful escape from reality—and don’t we need that? Yes, the movie was a little corny at times. Each time Samuel L. Jackson delivered a line, I felt transported back to the present instead of the 1800s. (I don’t think men of that time said, “Man, we’re screwed.” Did they?) But seriously, Tarzan never looked better swinging through the jungle. The elephants spoke without saying a word. In fact, all the requisite animals made an appearance.

The Legend of Tarzan entertained me. Isn’t that the point of a July movie?

Oh to be Jane.

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

P.S. I highly recommend you add  Tarzan of the Apes to your summer reading. It’s a great book.

[tweetthis]I thoroughly enjoyed #TheLegendofTarzan but I’m a Tarzan freak @legendoftarzan #alexanderskarsgard #summermovies[/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:

Jethro Tull – Bungle in the Jungle