BLU-RAY REVIEW

Legend Of Tarzan, The 3D

Featured In Issue 211, November 2016

3D Picture5
Picture5+
Sound5+
WSR Score4.5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Warner Home Video
(Catalog Number):
3000070770
(MPAA Rating):
PG-13
(Rating Reason):
Sequences of action and violence, some sensuality and brief rude dialogue.
(Retail Price):
$$44.95
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
110
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
(Direct-To-Video Release):
(Disc Release Date):
10/11/2016
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
David Yates
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD 7.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(Subtitles):

In The Legend Of Tarzan, it has been years since the man once known as Tarzan (Skarsgard) left the jungles of Africa behind for a gentrified life as John Clayton, Lord Greystoke, with his beloved wife, Jane (Robbie) at his side. Now, he has been invited back to the Congo to serve as a trade emissary of Parliament, unaware that he is a pawn in a deadly convergence of greed and revenge, masterminded by the Belgian, Len Rom (Waltz). But those behind the murderous plot have no idea what they are about to unleash. Based on the Tarzan stories created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. (Gary Reber)

Special features include five featurettes: Tarzan Reborn (HD 15:10), Battles And Bare Knuckled Brawls (HD 15:03), Tarzan And Jane's Unfailing Love (HD 06:01), Creating The Virtual Jungle (HD 15:16), and Gabon To The Big Screen (HD 02:28); Stop Ivory PSA; upfront previews; and an UltraViolet digital copy. Also available as a 3D Blu-ray and a 4K Ultra HD release.

The 2.40:1 1080p MVC 3D picture is a fantastic conversion performed by Prime Focus.
The opening scene of Rom and his solider detail, shattered by the natives below the carved rock face towering over them, is a superb feat of dimensional imagery, with impressive depth and height perspective. The mid-air collision of a gorilla and Tarzan is incredibly real. A delicate butterfly flutters in three-dimensional space before landing on Jane's shoulder, conveying a wonderful sense of depth. Scenes of Tarzan swinging on vines in the jungle darkness amongst gorillas and Rom soliders exhibits impressive depth and realism as well. The jungle vista leading up to the final assault at the port of Boma is spectacular, as well as the battle at Boma in the aftermath of a wild buffalo stampede. This is such an incredibly dimensional viewing experience in 3D. Amazingly, 3D conversion technology is virtually perfect in its ability to create completely realistic imagery. The 2D version pales in
comparison.
As for the general visual character, the cinematography and product design are fabulous. Contrast is excellent, with wide dynamic range exhibiting deep blacks, revealing shadow delineation and bright highlights. Visuals range from vast African landscapes to intimate interiors. Night scenes reveal fine details in the shadows, at times lit with firelight, for a visually dramatic effect. Daylight scenes are bright and well scaled. The color palette exhibits a limited range of earthy hues of landscape and jungle. Few colors really pop, though, the grasslands and tree foliage are pink in tone. Fleshtones are naturally endeared in all lighting conditions. Resolution is finely rendered throughout, whether showing detail in landscapes, rock formations, water, foliage, and other object textures. Detail is especially revealed in close-ups of facial features on humans and apes, and clothing and armaments. This is a wonderful cinematic expression of filmmaking that is reference quality throughout. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is equally fabulous, with a superb dynamic character. The sound design perfectly defines the scenes, whether during quiet sequences or robust scenes of peril and action. Every nuanced sonic is heard with impactful fidelity. The mayhem of fight scenes, whether human, or ape and human, rifle and machine gun, or explosions is powerfully dynamic and enhanced with deep extended bass in the .1 LFE channel. Atmospherics also are perfectly rendered. Both atmospherics and sound effects are aggressively dimensional and often directionalized, occupying the entire soundfield. Rupert Gregson-Williams's orchestral music score is phenomenal, with a wide and deep soundstage that extends throughout all seven channels. The added two channels really expand the sense of holosonic® envelopment. Dialogue is consistently intelligible, including narration, with excellent spatial integration. This is a leading edge soundtrack that is reference quality throughout. (Gary Reber)