You have to remember they were written just after 1900. One person complained in a review of the film that the plot was nothing new. Bearing in mind when it was written you could argue most other plots came from Edgar Rice Burroughs. Try the Tarzan books. They are really good. He does work to a formula though, boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy finds girl; the stupid person loses her again!! Still quite good reads though and his view of the wild animals is quite insightful.
Though I enjoyed it, and the soundtrack!