Tarzan II

(2005) Tarzan II ANIMATION/ CHILDREN/ ADVENTURE

After the moderate success of Disney's animated "Tarzan" cartoon movie released in 1999, the studio decided to produce a sequel which went straight-to-rental and it's a very good move on their part because that's where it needs to go, since it's just a simplistic recycled mess out of many other Disney classics that came before it especially the supposedly comedy scenes! Retelling the "Tarzan" legend created by Edgar Rice Burroughs -Disney style centering way too long about 'how come young Tarzan can't do some of the same things as his other apes friends' besides not looking like one almost made me like not wanting to care at this point, for as the movie progresses with the help of an older ape, he was able to identify the features he already has such as his using hands and his feet but it's so boring. For children, they may suck up to this since they may not have seen many as much as you, but a warning to all parents and adults the only reason to see this (if theirs any reason at all all) is to hear some of our favorite actors/ actresses doing the voices which can also be distracting since a lot of the dialogue is repetitive and somewhat annoying. These voices include George Carlin as Hugo, Glenn Close as Kala, Brad Garret as Uto, Lance Henrickson as Kerchak and Ron Pearlman as Kugo. Besides the cartoon being straight forward, conventional and unfunny was Phil Collins annoying songs throughout- they were so boring that I used a remote control to whiz through them. It's sole message is okay, but even at a running time of 1 hour and 12 minutes still felt quite long, perhaps it should've been 35 or 45 minute and at the same time cut out the uninspiring singing, the cheap jokes and I might've like this one a little more.

"Tarzan 2," directed by Brian Smith, is a direct-to-video prequel that explores Tarzan's childhood before he becomes the jungle hero we know. The story follows young Tarzan as he struggles to find his place in the jungle, feeling different from both the animals and his adoptive ape family.

The film features solid voice performances, with Harrison Chad voicing young Tarzan, bringing a sense of curiosity and vulnerability to the character. Glenn Close and Lance Henriksen return as Kala and Kerchak, adding continuity and depth to the narrative. The animation maintains the vibrant, lush quality of the original film, immersing viewers in the jungle's beauty.

While "Tarzan 2" lacks the epic scope and emotional weight of the first movie, it provides an engaging and heartfelt look at Tarzan's formative years. The storyline is simple yet charming, emphasizing themes of self-discovery and belonging. It's a suitable watch for younger audiences and fans of the original film, offering a light, enjoyable adventure that expands on Tarzan's backstory.

This straight-to-video Disney sequel, taking place when Tarzan is still a boy, is so perfectly executed, it feels as though it could've been additional material cut from the first movie.

Tarzan, finding that he can't keep up with the other gorilla youngsters, begins to question who and what he is, and the film is more or less about his self-discovery and how he begins the transformation from just being a human boy to becoming the 'Tarzan' we all know and love.

All of your favorite characters are back (except Jane and the professor of course), as well as the voice talents of Glenn Close as Kala and Lance Henrikson as Kerchak. The casting director did a wonderful job in finding a young voice talent to perfectly match the young Tarzan from the original. Furthermore, it appears that most of the original animators are back as well, for the animation is something to behold, and a few new songs as well as a reprise from the first film by Phil Collins make it that much more convincing.

This film has the passion and heart that is usually lacking in the great majority of Disney sequels—you can really feel the care and respect for the material by all involved in the production. It's both touching and humorous, and not just for children—adults will find this amusing as well. Now if Disney will just follow suit and continue to make sequels such as this one, maybe they can actually put more than one every ten years in the theater.

VERDICT: Disney succeeds in finally making a worthwhile sequel, much of the caliber of the original. Recommended to all—if you liked the original Tarzan, you'll like this one. And to all you collectors out there, this one is definitely worth the $20—I know I'll be adding it to *my* collection sometime in the near future.

7.5 out of 10.0

~AleXa~

I have been a huge fan of Disney for years, but their sequels have tended to be rather disappointing, with weak scripts and/or bad animation plaguing the productions.

After watching this, I must say, this is one of the best sequels to come from Disney. The animation quality is what most impressed me- it was cinema quality. The action sequences, effects, and the characters themselves were all rendered meticulously, with a lot of attention to light and color given as well.

The characters' acting (both in animation and voice) was very good, and Turk (who I found obnoxious in the first film 'Tarzan') was actually very endearing this time around. I was impressed with the children's voice acting, as they had to carry a good amount of the film, and they managed to do a good job with both the humorous scenes and the few more serious ones.

The adult voice acting was very very good, with some of the original cast such as Glenn Close and Lance Henriksen in the periphery, and the added great talents of George Carline, Estelle Harris, Brad Garret and Ron Pearlman.

It is not a story as grande or powerful as the big Disney classics, and doesn't hold quite as much 'awe' as 'Tarzan', but it was a nice tale for kids, with enough humor and production quality that the adults can enjoy it as well.

7/10

I didn't see this film until fairly recently, and since I loved the original film and the fact I am a huge animation fan I thought why not check it out? And I liked it very much, it is not as good as the original, which I think is wonderful, but it is better than Tarzan and Jane, which was mediocre.

Now I don't hate all the sequels, in fact some of them I have liked, King of Thieves, Enchanted Christmas, Simba's Pride, Bambi 2 and Brother Bear 2, though none of them are as good as their originals, and then there are some like Cinderella 2, Little Mermaid 2 and Jungle Book 2 that almost completely lack the heart and charm of their predecessors.

This sequel(or midquel perhaps) as I have said is not as good as the first Tarzan, but it does have the original's heart and charm, that is one main reason why it is one of the better Disney sequels. I do agree that the story is lacking a bit and drags in spots and the film is too short. However, there is some nice humour, and some parts are even touching. Even better though is the animation, this is easily one of the better-looking sequels. The animation in the original undoubtedly was absolutely fantastic, but here the landscapes, colours and characters are just as gorgeously rendered. And I liked the soundtrack as well, not as catchy but it is still nice and upbeat and gives the film its heart and soul.

Tarzan himself is very likable, strong and charismatic even as a young boy, yet loyal to his family and friends, and I liked Terk as well, she was funny without being completely over-the-top. The voice acting is strong, Harrison Chad does a great job, as do Glenn Close, Estelle Harris and Lance Henrikson, while Brenda Grate was surprisingly good as Terk.

Overall, not as good as the first Tarzan, but it is for me one of the better sequels, as it is very well animated and has charm and heart. 7/10 Bethany Cox