Anyone interested in embarking on a tour through the original movies and the new trilogy can expect to go from one of the unquestioned pillars of sci-fi and one of the most famous plot twists in cinema, to some lesser but uniquely compelling sequels that pull no punches, to one of the most effective and inspired franchise revitalizations in recent memory. Like any long-running franchise, the "Planet of the Apes" movies share a fascinating developmental history and a colorful selection of very high highs set against infamously low lows. It's one of my 15 favorite movies ever, and I ignore any sequel, remake, or reboot that does anything to try to take something away from it.( Welcome to Where to Watch, which provides a clear and simple answer to the question, "Hey, where can I watch this thing?" In this edition: the Planet of the Apes movies.)
Even if it's ending may not pack the same punch it used to since everyone knows about it. Few movies have are capable of fully bringing you into their atmosphere as if you're right there in the action the way Planet of the Apes can. I always get so involved with the film that I get to the point where I want to scream at the apes when Taylor isn't able to speak to them. It draws you in from the very beginning and doesn't hold back from there. It may show its age a bit, but seeing the imagination of the film hasn't weakened in my eyes since I first watched it years ago.Įverything about the film is excellent. There have been countless sequels, ripoffs and parodies that may diminish its power and hide how good the film really is. One of the best sci-fi films ever, Planet of the Apes is one of those movies that everybody has heard of and most of them have seen. His expressions, delivery, mannerisms, and straightforward personality are just perfect. But the film will grow on you, especially through Heston's flawless portrayal as a man in an unfamiliar world. With more detail, and perhaps a more captivating subplot, this could have had a timeless feel. Except we are hearers of the story, not the tellers. How long was Taylor in space, and what for? How did they arrive on this ape planet? Where does it exist? On another planet, on it's own planet? The film doesn't explain itself, it expects the viewer to put the pieces together. The huge flaw in my opinion is the pacing of the story, which for the first half was unbelievably slow and didn't have much detail to it. A good look has to be taken to see the actor underneath. But through well done design, they look like apes. Also astounding is the makeup done on the apes to make them look almost "evolved" into humans, which was kind of the point. First off, the visuals here are quite well captured and the landscapes and backdrops, much like The Ten Commandments, enhance the set to where the supernatural surrealism of the picture feels like a hands-on experience.
The rest takes on this scientific debate whether man or ape first existed through cracks at religion, science, evolution, and many controversial arousing subjects that would make today's filmgoers cringe with emotional defenses slowly rising.
Finally, he breaks his silence with the trademark line "Get your hands off me, you damn dirty ape!". Heston's character gets cut in the throat, which renders him mute through most of the first quarter. They come across a tribe of apes representing a sort of medieval society in an alternate world, and soon they are taken prisoner. George Taylor and his merry men of space explorers survive their sinking spacecraft and land on a seemingly deserted planet where they at first take a liking to finally being on land with fresh water. We are introduced to the film by the spaceship landing where I assume we are supposed to care about these characters.
Watching Planet of the Apes, I found I much enjoyed the elements surrounding the movie more than the progression of the film itself.