Tarzan: The Epic Adventures

I really enjoyed this series and wish it would have lasted longer on television. Joe Lara is a terrific Tarzan as he was in the television movie, Tarzan in Manhattan. It was nice to see a Tarzan series actually filmed in Africa instead of on a studio back lot. The series attempted to show us the Tarzan from the books that was a time traveler and existed in a science fiction world. I loved the photography and the music as well. I hope this series will return to television

Oh the 90s, were such a fascinating period for cheesy fantasy shows. It was truly a time for the reincarnation of the 'sword-and-sandal' subgenre, which had once been popularized in the 50s-60s, into the 'sword-and-sorcery' subgenre for TV. Everything is cyclical after all.

That was the period which saw the rise of series such as Sorbo's Hercules, Lawless' Xena or Moeller's Conan. And there was an underrated one but nonetheless notable, if not, the most notable of all: 'Lara's Tarzan'.

In this (awfully familiar) version, Tarzan who was once raised by the great apes, got civilized and lived as the Earl of Greystoke in London for a while. However, he returned to his true homeland Africa, to become the Lord of the Jungle once again.

Starred with Joe Lara. Let me tell you, not only was he physically well-fitted for Tarzan's classic description: 'tall, athletic, handsome, and tanned with grey eyes and long dark hair' --but his portrayal was one of the closest, if not the closest portrayals of Tarzan of all time. The stoic nature of the Ape-man was on point.

I believe this was one of the closest interpretation of Burrough's pulps, there I said it.

The supernatural elements were no stranger to the good ol' Ape-man tales, only if it weren't for the 90s VFX, though the 90s mentality, practical effects, and make-up made up for it.

Oh and one thing is sure, back in the days they really did know how to choose such beautiful actresses.

Anyway, it's a recommend. I rated it a 7/10, it certainly had a great charm to it. It's a guilty pleasure of mine. Also, just a piece of advice: please don't judge it so quickly based on the pilot, it gets way better.

(RIP Joe Lara.)

PS: Regardless, you can't go wrong with reading Edgar Rice Burroughs' novels.

I really liked this Tarzan series because it attempts to use the science fiction Tarzan from the Edgar Rice Burroughs novels. Joe Lara is a fantastic Tarzan and the most gorgeous guy in the world! He seems to understand the loneliness and solitude of portraying Tarzan and that is refreshing. All the technical credits are cool including the photography, locations, design and music. I really enjoyed the episodes where Tarzan is forced to survive the elements in whatever world he has been taken to. I also loved the science fiction characters in many of the episodes which are not overdone but feel almost realistic in a fantasy world. I wish the series could lasted longer as it was a breath of fresh air in the often dry jungle of television!!

Anyone who thinks Johnny Weissmuller is what Burroughs Tarzan is all about doesn't know anything about Tarzan. While Johnny looked great in the role, he did not portray Tarzan the way ERB created the character. And unfortunately it has taken a long time to try to bring the true Tarzan to the movie and TV screen. Joe Lara looked more like most artists drawings of the Apeman and the lost civilizations was what ERB wrote many stories about! What Epic Adventures did wrong was do stories about Tarzan's search for his "inner self" which was a bad idea. Also they brought too much fantasy into the series. Anyone who has read the Tarzan novels know Tarzan visited lost civilizations of Romans, Greeks, prehistoric worlds, Opar with Queen La, etc. The silent films were a lot more true to ERB's vision than anything done since sound movies came into being. Also Jane should have been brought into the series. And whatever happened to the so-called second season and Xavier DeClie stepping in as Tarzan (a bad move in my opinion) and Jane being introduced? Fact is the pilot TARZAN'S RETURN was a lot better than the actual series that followed. Instead of Tiemba, they should have introduced Muviro, the leader of the Waziri and Tarzan's friend in the books and kept Paul D'Arnot in the stories. A return to the Weissmuller "Me Tarzan You Jane" apeman now would be a worse move if another live action Tarzan movie or TV show is produced.

I really liked this Tarzan series and didn't understand why it didn't last longer. Joe Lara is really a great Tarzan. He has a real animal quality and he is the most authentic looking Tarzan yet. The locations are amazing and they really attempted to stick to the fantasy of the Tarzan books. I wish it had stayed around longer as it would have been a real winner!