Planet of the Apes
Planet of the Apes
G | 07 February 1968 (USA)
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Astronaut Taylor crash lands on a distant planet ruled by apes who use a primitive race of humans for experimentation and sport. Soon Taylor finds himself among the hunted, his life in the hands of a benevolent chimpanzee scientist.

Reviews
Colibel

Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

Glimmerubro

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

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AutCuddly

Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

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Quiet Muffin

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

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y-36857

The second greatest film that came out in 1968. The first being Chitty Chitty Bang Bang of course.

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Brandin Lindsey

Planet of the Apes is a classic science fiction film. The plot involves a crew of astronauts who crash into a planet dominated by a civilized, talking population of ape-men. In this world, humans cannot speak and are treated like animals while the apes live like humans. The astronauts must survive in a world dominated by xenophobia and totalitarianism. The concept of switching roles is explored when the humans are kept in cages and afforded no rights by animals. On one hand, it shows that the less-intelligent species will always be subjugated, therefore showing a duality with the human world and the ape world. On the other hand, the movie casts a positive light on the humans and their struggles, validating their cause of having rights, despite not being the dominating species. This conflict is shown to be inevitable and natural, but that fighting against it is also justified and expected.Despite a few corny lines of dialogue and a few bits of bad acting, Planet of the Apes is still a great movie. The story will keep you engaged while the overall themes provide thought-provoking and intrigued enjoyment. The film is highly recommended for any fan of the science fiction genre.

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Julian R. White

We all know what Planet of the Apes is, but not all of us have seen the original films, or any of the films for that matter. I have to hand it to them, this film really was a masterpiece of science fiction, up there with "Dune" and "Star Wars". It has a subtlety that can't really be felt in films like this. There is action, suspense, and drama of course, but its not so much so that it has you on the edge of your seat. I was amazed at how far they went, even during this time period to make everything seem so real and well made, especially the sets. The ending, I won't lie, was quite infuriating, and probably one of the most widely discussed cliffhangers you'll ever see in your life. There are parts that get you a bit irritated though, say, problems that could easily be solved seem to be Greek to some of the main characters. Other than that though, there isn't much negative you can say about this film. I truly liked it, and look forward to continuing the series.

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alexanderdavies-99382

"Planet of the Apes" is still one of the most original and creative films within the last 50 years and one of the most creative. From the moment the film was given the green light and right through to the preview screening, there was always a concern that the final results would be greeted with derision. Happily, this was not the case. Audiences in 1968 had never seen anything like "Planet of the Apes." It is one of those films that could have become quite a different one if writer and dramatist, Rod Serling had had his screenplay used. In the end, some of his work remains in the final screenplay that was re-written. Quite rightly, Rod Serling's name is on the film's credits. The novel on which the film is based, is fairly similar in plotting but has a different ending and several key moments from the book differ from those in the film. The author, Pierre Boulle, was somewhat reticent in allowing his book to be adapted for the big screen. The reason he gave, was that he felt the novel - titled "Monkey Planet" - was one of his lesser works and he didn't take his book seriously. It was the star power of Charlton Heston that convinced Hollywood that the film could be made as a serious bit of cinema. A screen test was commissioned by the studio that agreed to produce the film - "20th Century Fox." The test took place in 1966 and lasts for about 10 minutes. The noted actor, Edward G. Robinson was originally cast as scientist Dr. Zauis but due to a heart condition and not being able to withstand the rather arduous make-up sessions, he had to withdraw from the film. I find that to be a pity as his version of the character would have been an asset to the film. The portrayal given by Edward G. Robinson is a more calm and thoughtful one in comparison with that of Maurice Evans's more bombastic performance. The budget of the film had to be reduced in order to be made. The ape make- up was by far the most important aspect of the budget as it was felt by all concerned that the ape characters had to be believable and convincing. The overall scale, as depicted from the original sketches that showed large theatres and halls, was considered to be too expensive and time- consuming. In addition, the idea of apes using highly advanced technology was dropped for the same reasons. Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter excel as the two scientists who slowly believe in the existence of man. Charlton Heston was ideally cast as the character who has to adjust to all the events that unfold during the film, not to mention having to fight in order to survive the fate that has been bestowed to him by the apes. The ending still carries a powerful punch and is quite shocking. The first shot of the apes at the beginning is rather startling as they are kept hidden from the viewer's gaze for a few moments. When they are seen for the first time, the moment has been carefully built up. The writing contains the kind of dialogue that any actor can sink his/her teeth into and the script doesn't disappoint. The script is insightful, imaginative and a clear reflection of how mankind treats his own planet. The direction is some of the best I've seen, as is the photography. The director knows how to create the right mood and atmosphere. The music also adds a great deal to the film - it's slightly off centre compositions suit the film very well. A lot depended upon "Planet of the Apes" being a success. Thank goodness it was! All the hard work had paid off. The 1968 film is still the definitive one in every way and is unmatched. A masterpiece of cinema.

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