Tarzan

This German attempt to match Hollywood at digital animation proves that technical knowhow and a reliable old yarn will only get you so far when imagination is lacking. It’s an ingenious set-up: the Greystoke Corp is exploring remotest Africa for the site of a crashed meteor believed to have brought aliens to earth. However, once a helicopter crash leaves young master Greystoke in the jungle to be raised by primates, the movie hits a predictable groove and stays there. The lad grows up to swing through the trees, beat his chest and, when the time comes, protect his habitat from the next generation of corporate raiders – who also bring the comely Jane into his life. The possibilities of 3D are given a good workout by animators who excel at fur, feathers and fronds, but struggle to create humans who don’t look creepily synthetic. Curiously, it all unfolds in a corner of Africa without a single black face!