Rating: 
Summary: Not the same planet, but still....
Review:
Before I start reviewing this movie, please indulge me for a few words of explanation. I am a die hard fan of science-fiction , especially the type of sci-fi that contains more 'science' than 'fiction'. You know, less Star Trek, more Asimov, Ellison, Lem or Miller, Jr. Heck, I even wrote a dissertation on this stuff. Therefore, please forgive me if you find certain comments objectionable or simply too mundane. What's also important, I read and greatly enjoyed Pierre Boule's novel long before I saw the Charlton Heston movie, which was an excellent movie in its own right. Therefore, I approached this new production of "Planet..." with very mixed feelings of cautiousness and anticipation, especially in view of the recent "A.I." disappointment.Even before seeing the movie I heard explanations that it's not a remake, but a new take on the old story. And it very much is so; if you expect a remake, or start comparing this movie to the Heston movie, you'll be greatly disappointed. The main protagonist lands on the planet by accident, rather than on an exploratory mission. From this point onwards, it's a completely different story, beginning with the fact that both species, i.e. humans and the simians are intelligent here. As a matter of fact, the only thing that reminds me of the original book is the ending back on Earth - but I don't want to spoil the movie for you by revealing the plot. The overall impression of the movie was rather favorable, although there were some serious shortcomings in the storyline. How could intelligent humans become subjugated to the simians, who were only "awakening" at the time, is beyond me. I also have a problem with the miraculous return to Earth - the trip back in the little pod is the equivalent of someone flying to the Moon and back just in the lunar landing module: sorry, but it can't be done. The very ending though is quite teasing. Whether it's parallel universe, alternate reality or any other cosmic phenomenon, it does correspond to the book original. Having asked you not to compare the movie with the original "Planet...", I must admit I loved the references to the famous original. Similar or identical lines recited with a twist, the Charlton Heston cameo, etc. are a welcome tribute to the movie's predecessor. Character development leaves a lot to be desired. We really don't get an opportunity to get to know the characters; the simian dramatis personae are briefly introduced during the trade and feast scenes, while humans - except for Leo (Wahlberg) - remain in the background throughout. The creators manipulate the audience into liking Ari (Helena Bonham-Carter) not only by her humane views, but also by making her look more human than simian. Conversely, Daena - I cannot treat her as anything but a Nova counterpart - even though strikingly beautiful, seems only to serve as a visual attraction. Maybe her character was written like this, but I think Estella Warren may not have been the best casting choice here. Mark Wahlberg lacks the charisma and intensity of Charlton Heston, and is oft seen musing, as if not comprehending the surroundings. Not a leader material, in any case. And there are the required comic relief lines delivered by the slave trader. Talking about the cast and characters, I cannot help but marvel at the make-up and acting. The simian make-up effects are spectacular, except maybe for Ari. Guys, we do get it!! She could have remained a nice chimp and we would still have liked her, no need to make her look like a human half-breed. The acting deserves a separate credit on its own (I'm talking about actors playing the ape roles). It was spectacular, each of the characters simply nailed the simian gestures, mannerisms and even fidgeting. Whether it was walking, common gestures or fighting, the actors did a remarkable job. We even got treated to a sneak peak of simian foreplay, before the characters were rudely interrupted by escaping humans. Tim Roth is excellent as a menacing general Thade - as usual, I may add; I saw him first in "To Kill a Priest" and he's been amazing me ever since with his range of skills. Bonham-Carter did her part very well. Attar, played by Michael Duncan Clarke was impressive. However, I was most impressed with the silent, honorable, yet ominous presence of gorilla general Krull, played by Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. Too bad there wasn't more room for his part in the script. To sum up this rather lengthy review, the movie is an entertaining summer fare. It could have been much better, with some plot changes, but it also could have been much, much worse.
Rating: 
Summary: Great, for people who haven't seen orig.
Review: I thought it was quite good. Everything seemed very well. It kept me in my seat and the audio/visual was very good. I decided to go here on Amazon to see the reviews and it seems people don't like it compared to the old one. well, I haven't seen the original, so that's why I guess I liked it since I didn't know the original plot, etc. It might also be that us teens don't really think when it comes to movies, we just watch.
Rating:
Summary: Visually stunning, but lacking in any connection.
Review: Remember at the end of the 1968 version of "Planet of the Apes," when Charlton Heston falls to his knees and curses the human race in front of the ruins of the Statue of Liberty? That moment is one of the most well-remembered moments in cinema, a true movie revelation that brings to light everything the movie was trying to say in one swift, gut-punching moment. That movie had a lesson to teach, not just about where we were headed as humans, but about the way in which we treat other people. What Tim Burton's latest film, a "reimagining" of that masterpiece, does is take the basic ideas and turn them into a foray for some of the most elaborate set pieces and special effects, devoid of a script that is involving enough to keep audiences entertained. It's a small-minded popcorn movie that brings on all the rousing action that a colony of apes can muster, while keeping us waiting for a newly-spun ending that is shocking for all the wrong reasons. The setup for the movie is full of holes. A spacecraft is searching for an electrical storm in space for some apparent reason, with lots of monkeys in tow to send out in situations where a human mission would prove fatal. When one monkey is lost in the storm, the film's hero, Major Leo Davidson (Mark Wahlberg), goes after him, only to be transported many years into the future, to a planet where apes rules human life. The film never really answers the question of whether or not the planet he has landed on is Earth in the distant future. What it does portray is a complete role reversal of man and animal, as monkeys parade around in human clothing, capturing humans and using them for servants or trade. They are regarded as filthy and worthless, and General Thade (Tim Roth), a ruthless and unrelenting force, would like nothing more than to wipe out the rest of them, despite the protestations of the senator's daughter, Ari (Helena Bonham Carter). And so, our hero for the day, Major Davidson, leads the enslaved humans to freedom, to the place known as the beginning of ape civilization, where all the clues begin to come to light, and a battle will be fought that will show the true rulers of the planet. The film has a tremendous combination of good and bad points, the good resting with the production design and character development, the bad resting with the lack of human (or ape) intrigue behind the overall plot. Burton's sense of visual style is ever present, and since "Sleepy Hollow," he has grown as a director but not as a storyteller. Let's face it: we've never seen a planet of the future look so authentic, so captivating. Burton sells us on the setting, giving it a look of desolation with small spots of civilization gone awry. The villages of the primates are clustered together, surrounded by dry, arid lands, while the place at which the final third of the film takes place is completely desolate and provoking. The characters are also very intriguing, and under some good casting calls, they come to life brilliantly. Mark Wahlberg proves he can be a hero as Davidson, who is firm in his belief that there is a way to win control. Helena Bonham Carter convinces us of Ari's compassion and caring nature for the brutality visited upon the humans, while Tim Roth is equally passionate about the extermination of the human race as General Thade. But, after all is said and done and thrown and shot about, the film is surprisingly lacking in any emotional connection to what has happened. There are never any moments of sheer suspense or utter shock, mainly due to the movie's predictability. We know from the beginning that the electrical storm is going to play some part later on in the movie; it is also easy to see where the apes originated from, if you think about it. And the ending is a downer, unable to live up to the surprise at the end of the original. "Planet of the Apes" brings to mind an old saying: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Tim Burton's attempts to pull a new twist on the story is high on style and visual flare, but the emotional depth is as barren as the wastelands of the ape planet. Reimagining a movie is one thing, but making it work right is something completely different.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Good
Review: The remake of this classic sci-fi film was very good but had some strange twists that were hard to understand (the ending comes to mind first)Other then that it was well filmed with great makeup and effects. The acting is sometimes silly, but was a good effort. Mark Whalbergs performance was good but not one of his best. Tim Roth was a superb villian as Thade. The best acting in the film has to be Helena Bonham Carter as Ari. Although I like the original film better, the new "Planet of the apes" was better then I thought it would be, and I will see it again for sure.
Rating:
Summary: Much better than expected.
Review: As an avid POA fans for many years, I thoroughly wanted to hate this film. Fortunately, I came away very surprised. No, it will not make anyone forget the classic original series. That said, this APES feels like it was done with a great deal of respect for the franchise. There is no self-referential, " look how goofy this" type of humor in evidence. Also, the script stays true to some of the themes that were an integral part of the original series. The performances, especially Carter and Roth, are well rounded and vividly drawn. Even Mark Wahlberg does a good job (No offence to him. It's just that Heston's shoes are pretty hard to fill.). Danny Elfman contributes a great score that thankfully doesn't rip off Jerry Goldsmith. It's also free of the cloying sentimentality that seems to infect major Hollywood productions like the Black Death. The ending is a puzzle. Those expecting a tidy resolution where everything is neatly wrapped up and explained will no doubt be disappointed. Those who still appreciate a little irony and ambiguity will be delighted. No, it won't make you forget the Statue of Liberty but, it's good in its own way.
Rating:
Summary: Good, Unless You Expected the Original
Review: I've read some of the reviews of this film, and they were scathing. I just saw it, and can't figure that out, unless those reviewers went to the show expecting to see the original. I had heard that this version was only loosely related to the first movie, and to the book, for that matter, and I went expecting to see a different movie (from the original). That's what I got. With Tim Burton directing, I expected stunning visual sequences and a dark, shadowy style. All of that is there. The story is quite different from that of the first movie and from the book; I'm not talking about details, I'm talking about substantive changes in plot and setting. I like these changes. There is also more plot complexity than I had expected, as the film is advertised in a way that suggests a weak-plot, heavy-action story. Instead, it's a moderate-plot, heavy-action story. Mark Wahlberg does his job well, although a few of his lines needed to be rewritten. Tim Roth was excellent as the malicious, power-hungry, ruthless, chimpanzee leader. Helena Bonham Carter was exquisite as the chimpanzee human-rights activist rebel. Michael Clarke Duncan was also wonderful has the aggressive but moral, military gorilla leader. Paul Giamatti's slave-trader orangutan provided good comic relief. The weak spots were Kris Kristofferson, who was given so few lines and so little screen-time that I couldn't believe he accepted the part, and Estella Warren, who is gorgeous but is apparently unable to act. I also liked the homages to the original movie that were slipped in. Several lines were taken from the original movie, but often put into role-reversal situations ("Get you hands off me, your dirty stinking human!"). Charlton Heston did an unbilled cameo as Tim Roth's dying father, and advised his son to kill the human (Wahlberg) as quickly as possible. Talk about role reversals. Wonder when the first sequel will be out?
Rating: 
Summary: Makeup and effects do not a movie make
Review: The make-up was a step in the right direction for the entire movie-making industry. There was some decent choreography for the stars and secondary actors too. As for the rest of the movie, it was a half-decent occupation of my time on a Saturday afternoon, but I would have been upset if I missed something like, oh, knitting class to see "Planet of the Apes". Tim Burton has proven he is an exibitionist after his own heart. I don't blame the screenwriters because the studio execs and Burton probably forced the bad plot. Don't get me wrong, a couple of the excerpts from the plot probably seemed funny on paper or during the original readings, but man, in the context of the movie they were painful to watch. As for the ending... weak. I am just glad I was heading for the door anyway. Sooo, if you've got nothing else to do, go see "Planet of the Apes", but keep in mind you're not seeing a blockbuster-quality film here. And, if you want to avoid Tim Burton's attempt at providing cannon fodder for your Monday morning water cooler discussion, leave 5 minutes before the end of the show. Enjoy, Wilds
Rating:
Summary: Flawed, but remains an entertaining summer action flick.
Review: I had very mixed feelings about this film. I liked the start; it went straight into the action and had an amazing crash scene. That was all very well. However, as soon as we got to know the nature of the apes, I started to really despise this movie. I thought it was pathetic, gay and boring. That lasted for about 25 minutes or so and then BAM! the action hit me like a bomb and I loved it. That lasted for pretty much the rest of the movie. All of it was a blast after the crappy parts in the ape city and I was really entertained watching the adventure and escapist story. The apes themselves can be sort of unintentionally funny at times, but the make-up for them was amazing! Wow, I just gave up trying to guess who the actors where after a while because the ape make-up was so astounding and convincing, you couldn't even tell who's eyes were under that hunk of hair! The actors do well, Mark Wahlberg fits the leading role well and gives it his all. I don't think his character was very considerate and I think he tried to be a little too much like Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic, but apart from that, he's done well. Helena Bonham Carter was really fantastic and has the pleasure of playing the most developed character in Planet of the Apes, giving her character and performance depth, more-so than Wahlberg's sometimes selfish hero. Tim Roth was evil and believable. Tim Burton's direction shines through the movie, especially the final reel. He puts focus to his camera-work and knows he's up to the job. Some of the characters are annoying at times but you all care about what happens to them. Like The Mummy Returns, this movie is all about action, having fun, escaping and far-fetched fantasy so don't go in to the theatre expecting a summer drama with fully developed characters and a memorable plot. Oh, and I loved the surprise ending.
Rating:
Summary: Why all the bad reviews???
Review: All of these bad reviews I'm seeing are disappointing. Probably because although I never liked Tim Burton's work before, this movie was a triumph for him. First of all, the special effects and monkey make-up is top notch. And what is this that I heard about there being no character developement? SO WHAT? The movie is telling a story. It isn't a damned biography of the people in it. The characters are developed as much as they need to be to tell the story. As for the ending, I think it worked perfectly as it was a 're-telling' of the POTA story.
Rating:
Summary: Bad!
Review: I only saw this film, because The Others was sold out. The story is strung together with no plot line. Mark Whalberg seems like he does not want to be in this film. Helena Bonham Carter's character only wants to fall in love with the human, and be A Human Herself! Tim Roth does a GREAT job with his performance, as well as Michael Clarke Duncan. The film has to much humor in it for a film like this. You wait through about 105 minutes for a big fight scene which contains a monkey that comes out as the apes god and stops the fight. The ending is HORRIBLE! It's a insult to our intelligence. Tim Burton who is a very creative director puts no creativity in this film. Very lousy film!
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