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Tarzan

Name: Tarzan - Christian Parent's Review
Item: Tarzan
Rating: 1
Author: StoryScanner

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General Review

Parent's Guide to Tarzan

Disney's "Tarzan" (1999) is an animated adventure-drama film that retells the classic story of a boy raised by gorillas in the African jungle after his human parents are killed. The narrative follows Tarzan's struggle with his identity as he navigates life between his ape family and the arrival of other humans, particularly Jane Porter. The film is known for its groundbreaking animation, especially the 'Deep Canvas' technology, and its Academy Award-winning soundtrack by Phil Collins. It explores themes of family, belonging, loyalty, and the conflict between human civilization and the natural world, aiming to be a cross-generational appeal while being accessible to children.

Things to Consider

High3

Violence

The film contains significant instances of implied and on-screen violence, including several deaths of main characters. The violence often involves animal attacks, hunting, and physical confrontations, which can be intense for younger viewers. While gore is largely absent, the emotional impact of the deaths is present.

1. The film opens with the implied death of Tarzan's biological parents, who are attacked and killed by the leopard Sabor. Later, Kerchak's biological child is also killed by Sabor, shown through the mother gorilla, Kala, finding the cub's deceased body. 2. Tarzan engages in a fierce and prolonged fight with Sabor, ultimately killing the leopard. Later, Kerchak is fatally shot by Clayton, leading to an emotionally impactful death scene where Tarzan cradles him.

Scary & Intense Content

The movie contains several intense and potentially frightening sequences, primarily involving dangerous animals and confrontations with human antagonists. The themes of loss and death can also contribute to the intensity for younger viewers.

1. The repeated leopard attacks by Sabor, resulting in the deaths of Tarzan's parents and Kerchak's child, are depicted as frightening and have lasting emotional impact. Tarzan's violent fight to kill Sabor is also a highly intense scene. 2. The final confrontation with the villain Clayton involves gun violence, the capture of gorillas, and Clayton's violent death by accidentally hanging himself with a vine, which can be very suspenseful and disturbing.

Anti-Christian Themes

Christian reviews highlight concerns about underlying philosophical messages in "Tarzan" (1999) that are perceived as promoting evolutionary concepts and self-reliance over explicit faith in God. The film's emphasis on "two worlds, one family" and songs promoting belief in oneself are identified as potentially conflicting with Christian teachings.

1. The opening song, "Two Worlds," includes lyrics like "Put your faith in what you most believe in" and "There's no one there to guide you, no one to take your hand," which Christian reviewers interpret as promoting self-belief and omitting God as a guiding force. 2. Critics from Christian perspectives note the film's overarching theme of "Two worlds, one family" as promoting an "evolutionary, deep-ecology religion" that downplays the distinct creation of humanity in favor of a message of commonality between species, thus lacking a hint of God's role in creation.

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Medium3

LGBTQ & Gender IdentityRomance and Sexual ContentDisrespect & Rebellion

Low3

ProfanityWitchcraft & OccultSubstance Use

Medium3

LGBTQ & Gender Identity

The 1999 Disney animated film "Tarzan" does not contain explicit LGBTQ+ characters or storylines within its canonical narrative. However, some long-tail and fan community discussions identify queer subtext or thematic resonance for LGBTQ+ audiences. Additionally, the voice actor for Terk, Rosie O'Donnell, later publicly came out as a lesbian and became an advocate for same-sex parent adoption rights, with parallels drawn to Kala's unconventional adoption of Tarzan. Some trans male viewers also express gender euphoria relating to Tarzan's character. Other adaptations of 'Tarzan' have included LGBTQ+ content, such as a cut gay kiss in 'The Legend of Tarzan' (2016) or an adult parody.

1. The Fandomentals notes that while Tarzan's sexuality is presented heteronormatively, there is 'plenty of queer subtext to explore within his narrative' regarding his unconventional situation and search for belonging. 2. Reddit's r/ftm community includes discussions where trans masculine individuals express 'gender euphoria' regarding Disney's Tarzan, with one user stating, 'I remember really enjoying it as a kid, too, and wanting to be him so badly!'. 3. Rosie O'Donnell, the voice of Terk, came out as a lesbian after the film's release, and some draw parallels between her activism for same-sex parent adoption and Kala's role as Tarzan's adoptive mother.

Romance and Sexual Content

Romantic elements between Tarzan and Jane are central to the plot, depicting their developing affection and culminating in kisses. There is one scene noted by reviewers that, while intended innocently, could be viewed as mildly suggestive.

1. Tarzan and Jane share several kisses throughout the film as their romantic relationship develops. This is a core part of their bond and a significant aspect of the narrative. 2. A scene shows Tarzan innocently lifting the hem of Jane's dress and placing his ear to her breast to hear her heartbeat, reflecting his unfamiliarity with human customs and anatomy, though this is presented without explicit sexual intent.

Disrespect & Rebellion

While not a central theme, there are instances of mild disrespect and rebellion. Tarzan, as a child, sometimes chafes under Kerchak's stern leadership, and some minor animal characters display mischievous or insulting behavior.

Low3

Profanity

The film contains very minimal and mild language, predominantly in the form of comedic insults or exclamations. There is no strong profanity or offensive language used by characters.

Witchcraft & Occult

There is no depiction of witchcraft, sorcery, magic rituals, demons, spells, or other occult practices in Disney's "Tarzan" (1999). The narrative is grounded in natural elements and human-animal interactions.

Substance Use

The film does not contain any depictions of substance use, including alcohol, drugs, or smoking. Characters do not engage in or refer to such activities.

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Disney's "Tarzan" (1999) presents several themes that align positively with Christian values, particularly regarding family and love. The film strongly emphasizes that family is defined by love and commitment rather than blood ties, exemplified by Kala's unconditional adoption and nurturing of Tarzan despite Kerchak's initial rejection. This resonates with biblical principles of adoption and selfless love. Characters like Kala and Tarzan demonstrate heroism, loyalty, and selflessness, particularly when protecting their loved ones, which are virtues rewarded throughout the narrative. The villain, Clayton, embodies greed and malice, ultimately leading to his demise, providing a clear moral accountability for vice. The movie also touches on themes of self-discovery and acceptance, highlighting Tarzan's struggle to reconcile his human identity with his ape upbringing. However, some aspects of the film may present challenges from a Christian worldview. Certain Christian reviews highlight concerns that the movie's overarching worldview leans towards evolutionary concepts and self-reliance, with songs like "Two Worlds" emphasizing personal faith and omitting God as a guiding force. The idea of "two worlds, one family" can be interpreted as promoting a deep-ecology religion that blurs the distinct creation of humanity, potentially conflicting with biblical accounts of creation. Furthermore, the ending, where Jane and Professor Porter choose to remain in the jungle and embrace a more 'natural' existence, could be seen as valuing a 'noble savage' ideal over the benefits of human civilization, which historically has been influenced by a Christian worldview. There is no explicit representation of faith or Christianity in the film. While themes of sacrifice, such as Tarzan's willingness to protect his family and Kerchak's eventual acceptance and blessing of Tarzan as leader, offer glimpses of redemptive qualities, explicit themes of forgiveness, grace, or spiritual redemption are not centrally featured. The film primarily focuses on horizontal relationships and self-actualization within a naturalistic framework. Parents should be aware of the strong emphasis on finding one's identity within oneself and family unit, which, while positive in many respects, might implicitly downplay a transcendent source of meaning or guidance. The film is commendable for its portrayal of adoptive family love and the consequences of greed, but its broader philosophical undertones warrant discussion for families seeking to reinforce a biblical worldview.

Additional Context

Best For Ages

Ages 6+ with parental guidance for children aged 6-8, due to several intense and potentially frightening scenes involving animal attacks and death, as well as complex thematic elements related to identity and philosophical messages that may require discussion.

Good to Know

Parents should be aware that while the film is rated G, its themes of loss, identity, and the intense action sequences warrant discussion with younger children. The philosophical undertones regarding creation and self-reliance, as noted by Christian reviewers, may also be points for parental discernment and conversation after viewing.

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