6. Clayton Hanging In The Vines - Tarzan
Walt Disney PicturesDisney's Tarzan quickly established itself as edgy with an opening shot of a burning ship sinking as a desperate father saves his wife and small son (Tarzan) in a lifeboat amidst a stormy sea. Landing off the coast of Africa, the family decides to build a new home. Unbeknownst to them the area of the jungle they are in is stalked by an overly vicious leopard, which kills Tarzans family. Gorillas adopt the human infant after he is discovered near the bodies of his dead parents and a mess of bloody paws prints. Thats some pretty raw stuff to show in the opening five minutes of a kid's movie, but nothing compared to the climax when Tarzan faces off against another evil hunter, Clayton. Wishing to sell Tarzan's adopted family on the black market, Clayton cages the apes with help from a group of poachers. He shoots Tarzan and the leader of the apes with his hunting rifle before smacking Jane in the face. After Tarzan wrestles the gun from him, Clayton taunts Tarzan to be a man and shoot him. Instead Tarzan breaks the gun. He and Clayton fall into a mess of vines where, despite Tarzan's warnings, Clayton cuts his vine supports wildly with a machete until he falls victim to his own hand. The last vine goes taut around Claytons neck, and a lightning strike shows the swinging body in silhouette. Score three for Disney.