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Show 12 Signpost -Tuesday, May 1, 1984 mmd. review Tarzan .Lord of the Apes Movie Differs From Book by Kent Jameson Contributing Writer For years we have witnessed Hollywood's attempts to portray on cinema the likes of some well-known novel or literary work. Greystoke, The Legend of Tarzan-Lord of the Apes is a typical, if not classic, example of Hollywood's incompetence in this area. I might have written this film off as just another one-sided interpretation by an unconcerned director and left it at that, but the character created in Edgar Rice Burrough's novels holds too much sentimental value for me and many others. I found it intolerable that a character so rich in literary heritage could be so distorted and twisted by a film billed as "authentic" and "faithful" to the original novel. In the novel, Tarzan is a nobel, powerful figure, but in the film he fails miserably in this aspect. Instead he is portrayed as a hopeless misfit, a misplaced freak in British high society. Two-thirds of the film is set in England, not the jungle. What the director created was not Tarzan but instead an abomidable attempt to somehow join the aura of an established, romantic figure with the setting of his last film, Chariots of Fire. There is never any mention of the name Tarzan throughout the film. Even the Bo Derek film of several years ago, though lacking in plot and quality as well, depicted more credit and realism to the image of Tarzan than did this movie. The director could have spared himself my ridicule and resentment, as well as that of other Burroughs followers, had he merely left the name Tar zan out of the title. He could have then proceeded to turn the film into whatever he was trying to create in the first place. Even the main character, Christopher Lambert, makes for a doubtful portrayal of the Lord of the Jungle. The director chose him because he felt Tarzan should be built more like a runner than a muscle man. He completely overlooked the novel's numerous references to Tarzan's great physical prowess.Lambert's slender body fails to project the power and physical quality that is inherent in the character Tarzan not only from the novel's standpoint but from the past Hollywood pictures as well. In the final analysis, the director did what has been done in the past many times and will most certainly be done again in the future: he interpreted into film his own image of a well-known literary work with little regard for the value of the novel. Though some people might enjoy this film, it is doubtful that anyone familiar with Burrough's novel "Tarzan of the Apes" or appreciative of the more classical image of Tarzan will be able to sit through this film and not cringe when they see an utterly strange, new character arise who fails to do justice to the character and creativity of the novel. Upcoming Events James Tay lor will be appearing in the Dee Events Center on May 2, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 with a $1 discount for students, faculty and staff of Weber State. Ballet West will performing in the Browning Center, May 1 and 2, in the Austad Auditorium. For more information call 399-9214. Alabama will be performing on May 17 in the Dee Events Center. Tickets are on sale now for $12.50. Tickets are available at the Dee Events Center box office. Sheena Easton performs in the Dee Events Center on July 30 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12 and are available at the Dee Events Center ticketoffice. CTake a t GGURSE this SyRRcr COURSE CREDIT TUITION' Plants in Human Affairs 4 $98. Introduction to Chemistry 5 ns. Child Development 5 118. Principles of Advertising 4 98. Intro To Mass Comm 3 77. Mass Media & Society 3 77 Police Process 3 77. English Composition 3 77. Intro To Fiction 3 77. Poetry Writing , 3 77. Physical Geography 5 us. American Civ 5 118. Utah History 3 77. Principles of Adv (mktg) 4 98. Intro to Music 3 77. Music Essentials 3 77. American Natl. Govt. 5 us. Intro to Public Admin 5 118. Criminology 3 77. Heredity 5 ns. Does not include text & materials To register for a correspondence course, call 626-6600 or come to Promontory Tower 4th floor. WEBER STATE COLLEGE DIVISION OF CONTINUING EDUCATION May 10 - 12 Thursday Ford Car Showcase noon Bar-B-Q . . . 1 1 :00 - 1 :00 ssr maay Sun Run noon Road. Rally 7:00 p.m. Sun Stomp 9:00 p.m. Saturday Barrel of Fun Carnival . . .10:00-9:30 Solar Rock noon Fireworks g:30 p.m. B |