1968. dir. Franklin J. Schaffner, starring Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans.
Seen it before? No.
This movie is hilarious because apes are in charge of a planet and humans have evolved to not being able to speak...a reversal of the world today, how ironic. If you take the movie too seriously you feel beaten down by a seemingly political agenda. If you take it as entertainment you find yourself going Damn that Charlton Heston is good looking but the man can't act...oh crap, I think I agree with Sam again on this one. I remembered that Roddy McDowall was in this movie but forgot he was actually one of the apes. Like Sam I thought the movie was set in what looked like the southwestern part of the USA.
Cute moment - when Charlton Heston kisses Zira
Most annoying character - Dr. Zaius...speaking of which, even though I am not as "schooled" on the Simpsons as my husband is I couldn't get this song out of my head for some reason.
No, I didn't know that it was earth...the movie was made before I was a thought...and I didn't watch Marky Mark's remake either...
Would I watch the original again? Sure, I found it both sad yet funny
Would I watch the remake? I heard it was awful
Last thoughts...CRIKEY there was a television series?!?!?
Showing posts with label Planet Of The Apes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Planet Of The Apes. Show all posts
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
#46 Planet Of The Apes: Get your stinkin' paws off of me, you damn dirty ape!
1968. dir. Franklin J. Schaffner, starring Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans.
Seen it before? No.
One of those movies, like Soylent Green or The Sixth Sense, where everybody in the entire world knows the twist ending. If you've seen the Simpsons episodes "A Fish Called Selma" or "Deep Space Homer", you know what I'm talking about:
In any case it should have been obvious from the start. Four astronauts are on a mission to another planet. Due to relativistic time dilation, centuries pass by outside the ship but only a few years inside. The ship crash lands in a lake, in a desert that looks suspiciously similar to the southwestern USA. The sky is blue, there's vegetation just like Earth's. They find a tribe of humans, then they get captured by apes riding on horseback. Why didn't the astronauts figure out that it was Earth? How stupid were they? And how did they crash land on Earth anyway? Aren't space missions usually planned pretty carefully?
Charlton Heston is the lead astronaut, and the only one who survives most of the movie. He really truly was an awful actor. He chews the scenery, and he does this stupid thing with his teeth the whole movie. I think Troy McClure would have done a better and more subtle job.
So then we move into Obvious Political Allegory Land. The apes think the humans are stupid, because they can't speak or reason. Blah blah blah, they re-enact the Scopes trial, the Salem Witch trials, the HUAC hearings. I hate that, when they sledgehammer in political content to make the movie more "serious". It's a freakin' talking ape movie! Damn you! Damn you all to hell! (sobs)
Position on the list: 227
Something I did like about this movie: The score. It's random and atonal. Very 1960's.
Seen it before? No.
One of those movies, like Soylent Green or The Sixth Sense, where everybody in the entire world knows the twist ending. If you've seen the Simpsons episodes "A Fish Called Selma" or "Deep Space Homer", you know what I'm talking about:
Troy McClure: Oh my God, I was wrongIt's such common knowledge by this point that even the cover of the DVD gives away the ending. Thus I was pretty surprised that my wife didn't know they were on Earth. I think she needs to go to remedial Simpsons school...
It was Earth all along!
In any case it should have been obvious from the start. Four astronauts are on a mission to another planet. Due to relativistic time dilation, centuries pass by outside the ship but only a few years inside. The ship crash lands in a lake, in a desert that looks suspiciously similar to the southwestern USA. The sky is blue, there's vegetation just like Earth's. They find a tribe of humans, then they get captured by apes riding on horseback. Why didn't the astronauts figure out that it was Earth? How stupid were they? And how did they crash land on Earth anyway? Aren't space missions usually planned pretty carefully?
Charlton Heston is the lead astronaut, and the only one who survives most of the movie. He really truly was an awful actor. He chews the scenery, and he does this stupid thing with his teeth the whole movie. I think Troy McClure would have done a better and more subtle job.
So then we move into Obvious Political Allegory Land. The apes think the humans are stupid, because they can't speak or reason. Blah blah blah, they re-enact the Scopes trial, the Salem Witch trials, the HUAC hearings. I hate that, when they sledgehammer in political content to make the movie more "serious". It's a freakin' talking ape movie! Damn you! Damn you all to hell! (sobs)
Position on the list: 227
Something I did like about this movie: The score. It's random and atonal. Very 1960's.
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