Rating: 
Summary: Great for a Variety of reasons
Review: "'Planet of the Apes' is an amazing film. A political-sociological allegory, cast in the mold of futuristic science-fiction, the Arthur P. Jacobs production for 20th Century-Fox is an intriguing blend of chilling satire, a sometimes ludicrous juxtaposition of human and ape mores, optimism and pessimism. Franklin J. Schaffner directed star Charlton Heston and a strong supporting cast. Production values, especially outstanding makeup, plus Jerry Goldsmith's score, maximize impact. Strong entertainment assets for general audiences, plus concurrent -- and perhaps controversial -- appeal to more sophisticated viewers, add up to excellent entertainment with the Fox DVD. "Pierre Boulle's novel, in which some stranded U.S. space explorers find themselves considered animals in a world dominated by apes, has been adapted by Michael Wilson and Rod Serling. Script at times digresses into low comedy -- many common phrases in which 'simian' and 'ape' are substituted for 'human' and 'man' -- and, whether intended or not, audiences will be inclined to laugh rather than to grin at the irony. Perhaps this was a gambit for mass appeal. "In any case, the totality of the film works very well, leading to a surprise ending, although, in hindsight, it could have been deduced all along. Yet, the suspense, and suspension of disbelief, engendered is one of the film's biggest assets. "Heston, leader of an aborted space shot which propels his crew 20 centuries ahead of earth, is a cynical man who eventually has thrust upon him the burden of reasserting man's superiority over all other animals. At fadeout, he is the new Adam. Linda Harrison,who has appeared in some recent 20th pix bits, is herein formally 'introduced' in a totally silent part of the new Eve. "Key featured players -- all in ape makeup which obscures their regular facades, yet permits subtleties of expression -- include Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter, two scientists accused of heresy; Maurice Evans, their adversary in the Inquisition which forms a major plot sequence; James Whitmore and James Daly, two other ape Establishment functionaries. John Chambers is given special creative makeup design credit, and it certainly is deserved. Ben Nye and Dan Striepeke executed superbly the makeup design. "Rather precise parallels exist in the allegorical writing to real world events over, say, the past 20 years. Suppression of dissent by fair means and foul; peremptory rejection of scientific data by maintainers of status quo; double-standard evaluation of people and events. It's all here. "Screenplay probably could not have been filmed 10 years ago, and the disturbing thought lingers that it might not be possible in another 10 years, when engineered public and political opinion again swings into another distorted extreme. Despite the immediate world turmoil, climate appears to be in a dead center which in life, as well as in mechanics, cannot long endure. "Schaffner's direction generally is sure throughout. Leon Shamroy's versatile Panavision DeLuxe Color lensing accents both the macroscopic and microscopic dramatic elements, with adroit and neatly restrained forays into subjective technique, per director's obvious intent. Goldsmith's score, orchestrated by Arthur Morton, lends an excellent mood. Overall establishment of setting is, in the best sense of the word, a successful con. "In smaller roles, Robert Gunner and Jeff Burton, as Heston's space crew survivors, serve to fix star's initial character; their eventual demise in plot is logical. Lou Wagner, as a young ape intellectual, and Buck Kartilian, as a gorilla zoo-keeper, help reinforce the ape civilization setting which, in some spots involving principals, is strained (but never broken) in credulity. "There is some medium and long-shot male buttocks nudity, but handled with care and free of obvious exploitation sensationalism. Hugh S. Fowler executed editing to 112 minutes. It is debatable whether about 10 minutes could be trimmed, particularly in first two reels; film would play better, internally, yet the deliberate establishment of the strange world -- which successfully gulls an audience -- could suffer. In any case, once story begins to move, it keeps going. "Other technical credits are first rate. Film exteriors were shot in Utah and Arizonia National Park country, where desolation and grandeur of an indifferent Mother Nature matches perfectly with the desired story setting of the results of an insolent Human Nature."
Rating:
Summary: Get your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!
Review: When Franklin J. Schaffner's brilliant science-fiction masterpiece was released to audiences in 1968, the world was still in a sense of uncertainty at just what the future would hold in store. With Cold War paranoia still running high in the United States, PLANET OF THE APES ingeniously incorporated the fears of society with the popular concept of space exploration to come up with a film that's still relevant now more than ever. Politics aside, the original PLANET OF THE APES also makes for very entertaining viewing and its timeless appeal is just as enjoyable and fun now as it was over thirty years ago! The movie starts off with a rather somber and understated prologue with four astronauts going into deep hibernation. Their spaceship crash-lands on a planet some two thousand years into the future, where apes have evolved into the dominant species and the humans are regarded as the animals. To reveal any more about the plot would be unfair, but it's important to note that the intelligent screenplay (co-written by none other than Twilight Zone host/writer Ron Serling) raises some very provocative issues about society, religion, science and law. The absolutely brilliant ending has since become the stuff of legends, and remains one of the instantly-recognizable images in popular culture. Charlton Heston gives a magnificent and absolutely convincing performance as astronaut George Taylor, and would go on to become a mainstay in post-apocalyptic movies, such as BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES, THE OMEGA MAN, and SOYLENT GREEN. Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter give excellent performances as apes Cornelius and Zira, and Maurice Evans plays his ape protagonist, Dr. Zaius, with just the right amount of contempt to make it work wonderfully! The acting is top notch, the direction is marvelous, and the special effects on the apes are fantastic! The Digitally Mastered DVD from Twentieth Century Fox is a thing of beauty, and an absolute joy for fans of this film. The film is presented is an absolutely gorgeous 2.35:1 Widescreen format (which is its original aspect ratio). Bonus features include an excellent photo gallery and a series of theatrical trailers for every single one of the films in the series (a nice touch). Essential!
Rating:
Summary: Great premise, great themes, great movie.
Review: Surprisingly intelligent sci-fi-adventure. Was surprised it had such a great premise (man travels in space three thousand years into future, lands on planet where apes are intelligent, superior species and humans are the mute animal species, yet he is shot in the throat and can not communicate to show his intelligence!), and more significantly I was surprised and impressed that this premise served to make such a wonderful, vivid comment on our own society. Probably the best, most effective portrayal of the dangers of religion. Charlton Heston is wonderful in his role, and a great action hero. I got really involved in this movie - at times i was so twisted up and fearful for Heston's life and frustrated by the repressive nature of the Ape state. A really well made movie, immensely watchable. Special features on this disc are extraordinary - plus, you have to see it in widescreen.
Rating:
Summary: Reviwing the film
Review: I am strictly reviewing the film, not the DVD features. Many people are complaining this film is too confusing for some, but I must point out that ONLY TIM BURTONS VERSION WAS CONFUSING. I will now explain the ending to those who were confused... Future humans waged an atomic war againts themselves, destroying the most of the species. Apes however, survived and built a new civilization. Over time, the humans became stupid. Story: A time warped astronaut (Heston) crash lands on a world where apes rule over a primitive race of humans. He then must rely on two chimps (McDowell Hunter) to escape from the planet. Whats Good: Pretty much everything. The story is respectable for a sci-fi film of the 60's, delivering a good message, and haunting finale. Alos, it stands it's own when giving out some great qoutations I.E. Damn them, Damn them all to hell. Notthing to violent,, good for the family. Very thought provoking Whats Bad: The ape make-up takes sometime to get used to. Although not laughable, it is alittle odd. Also, the opening walk through the desert is a wopping 30 minutes. It does a fair job of standing it's own against the book, but not as good. Final say: 5 Stars : This film is definantly a keeper for the ages.
Rating:
Summary: "Beware the beast man, for he is the Devil's pawn."
Review: Thus spoke the chimpanzee Cornelius (Roddy McDowall, 1928-1998) while reading from the sacred scrolls in the 1968 classic sci-fi film "Planet of the Apes". It's difficult to believe that 35 years have passed since this landmark film was produced in which a group of astronauts land on a planet dominated by intelligent apes and the local humans are mute, uneducated, and living like animals. The four astronauts had left Earth in the late twentieth century in a spaceship capable of light speed and were placed in suspended animation for the duration of their long journey to another star system. They were George Taylor (Charleton Heston), Landon (Robert Gunner), Dogde (Jeff Burton) and a female astronaut named Stewart (Dianne Stanley). The spaceship crash-landed on a planet in a lake and automatically awakened the crew. Taylor, Landon and Dogde managed to escape the sinking ship, but Stewart's suspended animation chamber had not survived. Just prior to disembarking, Taylor read the ship's chronometer, which showed the year to be 3978. Their journey had lasted for 2000 years. The trio paddled to shore, then walked through a lifeless terrain, but eventually came across vegetation and scarecrow-like figures. Ignoring the warning, they proceeded into a lush oasis of water and food; but intelligent apes that protected it captured the trio along with several mute local humans. Having suffered an injury, Taylor awakened in a cage, cannot speak and had been treated by a chimpanzee veterinarian named Dr. Zira (Kim Hunter, 1922-2002), who is Cornelius' fiancée. When Taylor is able to demonstrate his intelligence, the conservative orangutan Dr. Zaius (Maurice Evans, 1901-1989) wants him dissected. "Planet of the Apes" was an adaptation of the 1963 French sci-fi novel "La Planète des singes" by Pierre Boulle (1912-1994), who also wrote "La pont de la rivière Kwai" (1952) which was the basis for the 1957 film "The Bridge on the River Kwai". Writers Michael Wilson (1914-1978) and Rod Serling (1924-1975, of the original "Twilight Zone" TV series) transformed the novel into the film's story. Franklin J. Schaffner (1920-1989) directed the film. Morton Haack (?-1987) received an Oscar nomination for Best Costume design, and Jerry Goldsmith was nominated for Best Original Music Score. (Jerry Smith has composed music for hundreds of films and TV shows including "Tora! Tora! Tora!" (1970), "Alien" (1979), "Poltergeist" (1982), "L.A. Confidential" (1997), "Mulan" (1998), "The Mummy" (1999) and several "Star Trek" films & TV series.) John Chambers (1923-2001) recieved an honory Oscar for his makeup work in the film. Memorable scenes include the stolen clothes, the capture, Taylor's first words to the apes, Taylor with Dr. Zaius, the cave and the closing scenes. Overall, I rate the original 1968 "Planet of the Apes" film with a resounding 5 out of 5 stars. Sadly, none of the four sequels that followed were as good as the original, but of those, "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" (1970) was the best. Tim Burton's 2001 remake of "Planet of the Apes" had many wonderful special effects, but its alternate story, mediocre acting and cameo of Charleton Heston as an ape was far less engaging than the 1968 original. Hence, between the 1968 and 2001 versions, I highly recommend the 1968 version for being far more realistic and better acted.
Rating:
Summary: STILL AN AMAZING FILM
Review: I just bought the 35th anniversary edition of the Planet of the Apes and I have to tell you it is worth the bucks. The audio commentary lacks a lot but the other extras are pure gold. I originally saw this movie in June 1968 at the drive-in with my parents and I can still remember the chills I felt when that famous last scene came up on the screen. I was just so affected by that ending. The next day all I could think about was that ending and how I never had a clue concerning the end. This movie is timeless and the cast was incredible, of course Taylor was played to perfection by Heston. The opening scenes that were shot in Utah and Arizona are spectacular and the locations shots are amazing. This film is amazing even 35 years after it's release.
Rating:
Summary: FILM IS LOADED WITH SYMBOLISM AND IT ALL WORKS!
Review: Unlike some statement films where the symbolism is boring and actually repulsive in the original POTA it all clicks. This is due to first rate acting by Heston, (especially)Hunter, and others. Also, believable enough storyline aided by genuine outdoor locations. Returning to the symbolism, a little of the communist-scare overtones are now lost to many new viewers with the mostly demise of communism. But the rest of the symbolism is easy enough to still get. A winner!
Rating:
Summary: Plot elements similar to a TZ ep in this classic!
Review: The TZ ep is the The Rip Van Winkle Caper. It aired in the original TZ's second season. It was about four crooks who steal a bunch of gold and go into suspended animation. When they wake up they see one crook is dead as that particular crook's suspended animation chamber has cracked. This is of course quite similar to the POTA sequence when three of the astronauts awake and find the lady astronaut dead in her own cracked suspended animation chamber. Excellent film throughout.
Rating: 
Summary: a twilight zone episode
Review: this is a great pop message popcorn flick.
why was it so damned good and the sequals so bloody awful?
well, possibly because rod serling co-wrote the script.
the whole movie looks and feels like a twilight zone episode, all the way to the 'twist' ending.
its a one of a kind movie wich unfortunately spawned enough bad sequals, an excerable tv series and a misfire remake to put a serious dent in its reputation.
but, dispense with the reputation. rent it, grab a bucket of popcorn and enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Its okay, Stanley's an Idiot
Review: Know why Stanley can't spell? Because he clicks on random Amazon items and writes 1-star reviews!!! He hasn't been caught yet, but maybe he will be soon!!
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