PLANET OF THE APES

The original masterpiece (1967) and the fourth sequels which were spawned!

PLANET OF THE APES

By far the best of all PLANET OF THE APES-related material (except for the brilliant THE SIMPSONS spoofs!), the 1967 original Arthur P. Jacobs production, directed by Franklyn Shaffner, and staring Charlton Heston as astronaut Taylor, is a cultural movie icon.

The film is, like most movies I love, a slow-paced sci-fi adventure, with many subtle underlying themes about racism, equality, fear, xenophobia, and open-mind-ness

By far the best of all APES film, PLANET was a visual feat, and the experimental music score, which won an award that year, imerses the captive audience even deeper into this slow-moving masterpiece.

The thing is that I remember seeing most of all 5 original films when I was very young. Years went by, and I never though about the Apes until one day a couple of years ago when my wifey GWEN bought me (as a gift) the full-widescreen/letterbox format of PLANET on VHS tape. I re-watched it late one night, and became almost instantly hooked on the Apes again! Not necessarly the apes themselves, but rather the over-the-top character of Taylor, portrayed by veteran hollywood actor Charlton Heston. The astronaut Taylor is an anti-social who goes off in a deep outer space mission to find solitude, peace and quiet. He believes the human race is far from perfection, and hopes that somewhere in the universe, there must be a lifeform out there that is better than mankind.

He does find lifeforms, although not in the shape he would have expected. Heston's performance is way over-the-top, sometimes bordering on the downright over-played hysterical (and laughable). Still, Heston gives PLANET OF THE APES some of its best lines, as well as provides a very intense ending.

Charlton Heston as Taylor (with fellow astronaut) leave the 20th century behind

Charlton Heston as Taylor is caged as the human animal he is

Kim Hunter as Zira, easily one of her best performances

Roddy McDowell as Cornelius, Zira's archeologist husband

Linda Harrison, then 19, as Nova, the mute human female

Maurice Evans as Doctor Zaius, by far one of the most remembered Apes from the franchise

BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES

Although regarded by many as the weakest of the lot, BENEATH happens to be my favorite after the original, simply because producer Arthur P. Jacobs and director Ted Post tried to remain true to the original's mood and feel

However, in my own opinion, the film makers shouldn't have cast James Franciscus as astronaut Brent. Franciscus is a fine actor, hollywood caliber and all, yet his physical resemblance to Heston's character Taylor is too evident. I think the film makers should have tried to give the charater of Brent his own visual style instead of being limited to a younger, smaller-built version of Taylor.

Many people have also complained that BENEATH is just simply a repetition of the first film. Well, to be honest, that's to be expected of sequels, especially sequels in the late 60s. Still, the film makers managed to input enoughnew material, juggling it very well with the familiar, creating thus a sequel, yes, but an admirable one at that.

BENEATH also features another incredibly bleak and nihilistic ending thast is very UN-hollywood-esque. The performances were top notch from all actors involved, and aside from a few special effect goofs, the visial aspect of BENEATH is superior to most of the APES sequels.

Astronaut Brent, and Nova

James Franciscus as astronaut Brent, stranded on the planet of the apes

The gorilla war machine marches into battle!

An underground mutant, in full custome

ESCAPE FROM THE PLANET OF THE APES

Probably the "lightest" of the bunch (except for the ending), this time-travelling tale sees familiar ape faces in 1970s USA America.

Having to work with an increasingly low budget, the producers quickly saw the the potential of having a few apes return in time to 70s USA: Not too much makeup and appliances were to be made.

ESCAPE is also a favorite amongst many fans, simply because of its more "down-to-Earth" (pardon the pun) approach, and the very recognizable terrain. Acting and characterization were top notch by all, and also featured Ricardo Montalban is a small, yet important role towards the end of the film.

The three time-travelling survivors from the planet of the apes

Cornelius and Zira, in court to deffend their intelligence

Kim Hunter as Zira, with her new-born baby

CONQUEST FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES

Regarded as the series' most violent entry, CONQUEST follows the slow decent of Ceasar (Zira and Cornelius' son from ESCAPE) into human intolerance. Ceasar frees hundreds of apes in street riots and finally takes back the planet from those pesky humans!

Ricardo Montalban and Roddy McDowell return, Mcdowell this time playing Cornelius' son, who names himself Ceasar. Again filmed with a reduced budget, the special effects team opted for pull-over masks for most of the gorillas and apes instead of the more precise facial makeup, which was reserved for the main ape players.

CONQUEST was also viewed as the more violent of the APES films, granting it a PG rating instead of the usual G rating.

Ricardo Montalban returns in CONQUEST, with Roddy McDowell as Ceasar

Ceasar, Zira and Cornelius' baby, plans to take back the planet!

BATTLE FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES

Perhaps the weakest, and least favorite (amongst fans) of the four sequels, BATTLE suffered from a reduced budget and mediocre screenplay. Apes and surviving humans fight against mutants to keep control of the planet.

Both the film makers and the audience came out of BATTLE with one general feeling: not enough budget was spent on the film, making it a barely acceptable sequel at best. Far from being my favorite.

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