It's easy to picture “Sheena,” or a female Tarzan, when watching this movie. The character originated in comic books—she was the first female with her own title, appearing in Great Britain in 1937 and America in 1938. While Rima from William Henry Hudson’s 1904 book “Green Mansions” (adapted into a film starring Audrey Hepburn in 1959) preceded her as the first jungle girl in adventure stories, DC Comics later created “Rima the Jungle Girl,” and Marvel developed Shanna the She-Devil, along with other female comic book heroes like Lorna, Nyoka, and Jana. Irish McCalla played Sheena in a short-lived 1955-1956 television series, and the film’s concept draws heavily from that tradition. The movie “Sheena,” also known as "Sheena, Queen of the Jungle" (1984), feels like a comic book come to life. Knowing this going in explains the plot, dialogue, and acting style—it's comparable to classic Tarzan films or Indiana Jones adventures. The film’s strengths lie in its stunning African locations (Kenya), the impressive array of real animals featured – elephants, rhinos, hippos, chimps, giraffes among others – a memorable musical score, and Tanya Roberts’ performance in the leading role. If you're looking for an escape from your everyday surroundings, this film provides it; it is essentially a two-hour showcase of beautiful African scenery. The soundtrack is pleasant and calming, bringing to mind “Chariots of Fire.” And Tanya Roberts embodies a striking image of femininity; France Zobda as Zanda also possesses beauty, though she plays an antagonist. I don’t usually consider ratings when I watch movies, but I was surprised that "Sheena" received a PG rating, given that Roberts is shown completely nude on several occasions and wears a very revealing leather bikini throughout the film (Zanda is also depicted nude during a massage). However, this nudity seems presented in an innocent way, similar to Eve before she became aware of evil. There's a sense of childlike purity to Sheena despite her skills as a jungle warrior, which I think the filmmakers successfully captured. For that reason, I don’t believe the film is unsuitable for children, even with the brief nudity present. While Siskel & Ebert dismissed “Sheena” as a "bad movie" in 1984, it works well within its intended genre: a comic book-inspired story about a beautiful and capable jungle woman, a journalist she encounters (Ted Wass), and their fight against those who do wrong. What did they expect—another “Chariots of Fire” or “Gandhi”? Films should be judged based on what they are trying to accomplish, not for what they fail to be. I’ve found a balance between the film's average plot, dialogue, and acting, and its exceptional African locations, animals, score, and Ms. Roberts’ performance. The movie has a running time of 117 minutes. GRADE: B

Source on TMDB