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DVD Planet of the Apes (Widescreen 35th Anniversary Edition)
Many early science fiction films are now, quite inadvertently (and in most cases undeservedly), objects of camp attention: we laugh at the silly makeup, tin-can special effects, and the naive "high-tech" dialogue. Planet of the Apes is no such film. Its intelligent script, frightening costuming, and savagely effective conclusion (which needs no big-budget special effects to augment its impact) remain both potent and relevant. When Colonel George Taylor (the fabulous Charlton Heston) crash lands his spacecraft on what seems to be an unfamiliar planet, he is captured and held prisoner by a dominant race of hyperrational, articulate apes. However, the ape community is riven with internal dissention, centered in no small part on its policy toward humans, who, on this planet, are treated as mindless animals. Befriended and ultimately assisted by the more liberal simians, Taylor escapes--only to find a more terrifying obstacle confronting his return home. Heavy-handed object lessons abound--the ubiquity of generational warfare, the inflexibility of dogma, the cruelty of prejudice--and the didactic fingerprints of Rod Serling are very much in evidence here. But director Franklin Schaffner has a dark, pop-apocalyptic sci-fi vision all his own, and time has not dulled the monumental emotional impact of the film's climactic payoff shot. If you don't know what I'm talking about here, you owe it to yourself to check out this stone classic, and even if you do, see it with fresh eyes; and don't be surprised if you get the chills all over again... and again... and again. --Miles Bethany
Review(s): DVD Planet of the Apes (Widescreen 35th Anniversary Edition)
Its a mad world!
Humans have been moved too the bottom of the social chain. All humans are mute with the exception of Taylor. The monkeys and apes have an order also. The Chimpanzee are the scholars, scientist; the Orangutans are the government officials and religious guardians; and the Gorillias are the military soldiers. The Gorillias hunt humans and consider them a pest which feed on their corn and food supplies.
HONORIUS: "Tell us, Bright Eyes, why do men have no souls? What is the proof that a divine spark exists in the simian brain?"
Zaius is both the defender of the faith and the minister of science. Zaius maintains a secret. He knows about the forbidden zone, World War III, the nuclear holocaust, archealogy in the forbidden zone, and evidence that man was superior to ape. Honorius faith is that ape is more compassionate to each other: no ape has killed another ape. The law giver was an ape and he warned in their articles of faith not too trust man.
Zira and Cornelias befriend Taylor and their scientific findings are consider unauthorized and heretical. The council when confront with evidence of man's superiority will not hear the evil, see the evil, or speak the no evil of such a contemptous idea. Taylor is not allow to speak in his defense because he is not recognized as having any rights by the court.
Interesting Taylors argument is one of evolution. The Orangutans are religous animals and this Taylors ideas of evolution are ridiculous; the sacred scrolls teach nothing about monkey evolving into man; the Orangutans can not comprehend Taylors claims. Second, Taylors claim that they cross the forbidden zone does not seem possible. The council knows no living creature could cross that great distance of desert and barreniness and live. Third, Taylors companions can not collaborate his story, since two are dead, and the third one, Landon is surgically altered too prevent him for ever speaking again.
Zira must speak for Taylor. Zira begins her argument asserting, if Taylors claims are false then he must have sprang up from the apes. In other words, Taylor is a naked ape. Zira further argues that she can find no physical evidence too indicate why humans can not speak. "An upside down world", perhaps, zoologist today and trying to teach monkeys to speak, form sounds and symbols vocally that could be construed as speech. Zira says, "Their voice organs are adequate. The flaw is in the brain" Cornelius rises up and says, "Yes! Behold this marvel, this living paradox, this missing link in an evolutionary chain!" Man is the missing link. Cornelius claims contradict the sacred scrolls and the court will not hear his arguments. "Silence you have gone to far!" Cornelius is treatened with a charge of subversion which would destroy his carreer and bring harsh penalities on him. "An indictment is in order. Yes, sir. The State charges Doctors Zira and Cornelius with contempt of this Tribunal, malicious mischief and scientific heresy." The ape government positions the religous order, the law, and political power in the hands of the state. The state is role is too protect the interest of the these three domains. This sets the stage for an oppressive government and an unjust government and revolution uprisings threaten the government. The state will use violence to suppress this uprising and consider Taylor a threat too their idealogy. Therefore, the apes must contain this liberation attempt and return order. The apes consider the new discovers a social disease rather than a great scientific discovery.
'Beware the beast man, for he is the devil's pawn. Alone among God's primates, he kills for sport, or lust or greed. Yes, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land. Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him. Drive him back into his jungle lair: For he is the harbinger of death'
My first exposure to science fiction as a kid
My earliest exposure to science fiction as a child was watching CBS' broadcasts of the Planet of the Apes films during the early-mid 1970's. I remember watching all five films, plus the TV series on CBS and the animated series on NBC. But my overall favorite is producer Arthur P. Jacobs' 1968 film adaptation of Pierre Boulle's novel. Michael Wilson and Rod Serling adapted the screenplay from Boulle's book, and Franklin Schaffner directed. Charlton Heston stars as George Taylor, the astronaut who finds himself in a "madhouse" world where apes rule and humans are treated like animals. Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter are Cornelius and Zira, the chimpanzee scientists who befriend Taylor. Maurice Evans delivers a fine performance as Dr. Zaius, the orangutan high minister of science, as do James Daly and James Whitmore. Planet of the Apes received Oscar nominations for costume design, and well as for a magnificent musical score by the late Jerry Goldsmith, and received an honorary award for John Chambers' outstanding work in developing the latex ape make-up. After nearly 40 years, the original Planet of the Apes still outshines its four sequels as well as Tim Burton's "re-imagined" version from 2001. It remains a great science fiction film, as well as one of my favorite movies of all time.
Man, what a crazy planet.
Monkeys and forbidden zones and...what is that? That looks like...the statue of liberty...YOU MANIACS! YOU BLEW IT UP! DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!!!!!
Related DVD's Planet of the Apes (Widescreen 35th Anniversary Edition)
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Science fiction took a grim turn in the 1970s--the heyday of Agent Orange, nuclear peril, and Watergate. Suddenly, most of our possible futures took on a "last man on Earth" flavor, with The Omega Man topping the doom-struck heap.
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