Rating: 
Summary: An essential classic of sci-fi cinema
Review: "Planet of the Apes," directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, tells the story of an astronaut named Taylor (played by Charlton Heston), who lands on a planet where talking apes rule and human beings are mute savages. Taylor struggles to survive and uncover the secrets of this strange world.POTA is truly one of the seminal classics of sci-fi cinema: it gave birth to a genuine franchise (sequels, TV series, a high profile remake, etc.). But the film truly stands on its own as a complete and compelling piece of art. It's a rousing blend of sci-fi adventure and social satire, supported by an intelligent script and superb performances. It's full of iconic images and unforgettable lines. Every element in the film is crafted with care and intelligence: costume design, sets, etc. The stunning visuals are perfectly complemented by Jerry Goldsmith's eerie, unearthly score. All these elements come together to create a world both oddly familiar and truly alien. Heston is perfect as the sarcastic, misanthropic Taylor, who wonders if something better than man exists in the universe. He has great chemistry with his "simianized" costars; his verbal sparring with Maurice Evans (as imperious orangutan Dr. Zaius) has real bite. Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter provide the film's warm heart as chimpanzees Cornelius and Zira. POTA is a true classic: one of those films you can watch again and again, savoring every memorable moment. The film offers memorable perspectives on science, religion, authoritarianism, the nature of humankind, and the quest for truth. After all these years, POTA still packs a real punch.
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Summary: Are We Forgetting Someone?
Review: I am not trying to stand for anybodies rights here but some people are forgetting someone. There were four astronauts on that ship before it shank. I know it was a woman and she had died already but she was there. Imagine, in a 1967 movie they show a woman being sent on this none returning mission with the three men. As Charlton Heston character stated: "And she was suppose to be the new Eve, with our hot and eager help of course." Then they rated this "G?"
So, try to look closer at the movie the next time and you will see that there was a fourth astronaut. In my opinion, they kill her off at the beginning because they wanted the story to end with just Traylor. So, if they did have her survive but in turn got kill later on the movie would have land up on the junk pile and never being release on DVD.
Also, because of the nudity (and I know they were only men) and the words you hear at the end of the story I do feel it deserve a "PG" rating.
Rating:
Summary: What? Not Anamorphic Format?
Review: First, this movie is a true classic as you will read in the prior reviews. It is one of my favorite films of all time. Why then did they go to all this trouble to re-master and THX audio and NOT make the file in anamorphic format? Sure it is widescreen, but how frustrating when you really want to get the best out of this film.
I am sure it will eventually be released in anamorphic widescreen and then we can all buy it again... Hmmmm, do you sense a marketing plan here?
Rating:
Summary: Planet of the Apes
Review: "Planet of the Apes" is one of the deepest pschological sci fi adventures of all time. The film is based off the classic series of novels Planet of the Apes. The story is basically about these three astronauts that are sent out into space, but they somehow end up several years into the future to come home to a world dominated by apes. Two of the astronauts are eventually killed by the intellectual primates, so Jake Taylor (Charleton Heston) is the only survivor. Taylor is soon caught in a world where man is no longer the dominant species and finds himself trying to survive in a world gone ape. The film offers a lot of great qualities like acting, plot, directing, make up (for that time period), and set designs were simply beautiful. With great scenes like when Taylor says, "Get your hands off me! You damn dirty ape!" Or the classic unforgettable ending. Despite a few dated make up on the actors portraying the apes and story being paced, it's still a great film to watch.
I think this is better than the remake. See both if you want, however.
Rating:
Summary: "Never trust anyone over thirty" ...
Review: ... and never trust a guy in an ape suit, either!
Although I am a science fiction fan, somehow I didn't get around to seeing this movie until last night. I was astounded at how well it came across. I thought it would be terribly dated, even laughable. I was wrong!
The themes in this movie are universal and timeless. As a vegetarian and a supporter of animal rights, I wanted to stand up and cheer at many of the points made. The costumes and special effects were actually pretty good, and the dialogue was well done.
The surprise ending still packed a punch. I'd say, buy this version because it's widescreened -- you don't want to watch this classic panned & scanned. Then, sit back and enjoy a true science fiction classic with themes still important to us today. It will be a refreshing experience.
Rating:
Summary: magnifico
Review: Planet of the Apes is the perfect brew. The film presents so many potentially weak links that you'd think at least of one of them would fail. Nu-uh-uh.
Franklin Schaffner's direction is unrelentingly fresh and exploratory. The screenplay by Rod Serling and others presents a perfect blend of intelligence and entertainment. The musical score by Jerry Goldsmith remains original to this day. Charlton Heston was perfect in a lead role requiring a balance of arrogance and humility. All of the Ape characters are portrayed with great freedom of expression and with precision. (Maurice Evans is particularly perfect in his role). Even Linda Harrison gives the perfect mix of primitiveness and innocence to her "cave girl" character. In short, the film contains a large supporting cast and everyone of them contributes significantly to the scenes in which they are included.
The film is well known for its not-so-subtle and (most importantly) entertaining social commentary. At no time, however, does the "commentary" overwhelm the film or take itself too seriously. In an odd way, Heston's portrayal is pivotal in giving such dimension to the social themes because he was both one of the film's greatest supporters and similtaneously cast in a role that was quite "un-Heston" like. On many levels, Heston's character was the antithesis of the character with which he is normally associated (i.e., hero and defender of national tradition).
The only "weak" links in the entire package (referring to the 35th Anniversary DVD edition) are the commentaries. Neither commentary track is a true commentary, but rather includes brief blocks of dialogue scattered over the film's two-hour running time. The "commentary" is mostly non-scene specific and even sounds like a collection of pre-existing statements edited in over certain portions of the film. Only Eric Greene's text commentary lives up to the package.
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Summary: Monkey Madness!
Review: Planet of the Apes is a great "What if" tale. There have been oodles of movies where the heroic space travelers lurch forward in time to find earth in a completely different state. But when "Apes" was released and we found that the planet was ruled by monkeys, that took the cake! Charlton Heston is one of our heroic space travelers here. The theory of talking ape evolution is very interesting even if not very likely. In one of the later of the Ape series we find that humans are using apes to perform menial tasks but an uprising takes place. They are not only used as slave labor but mistreated as well. Monkey racism I guess you'd call it. That uprising is spearheaded by Ceasar, a talking chimpanzee (played by the late Roddy McDowall).
The series takes us forwards and backwards to show us how the simian race was able to take over in the first place. Unfortunately, the later films in the series are not the same caliber as the first but some of you may still find them enteraining nonetheless.
As for the first Ape film, you would expect that the ape makeup would count for 90% of the acting but gratefully, the acting is top notch in spite of the makeup jobs. The ending really blows you away because you're involved in the film so much that you aren't trying to figure out where the astronauts have landed. You just want to know why the monkeys are talking. Also interesting is that the apes have their own heirarchy. The gorillas are the brutes so they are all soldiers. The chimps are intelligent so they are the scientists and the orangutangs are the elite so they rule the land.
There are a lot of extras here. Good stuff, not the stuff they threw on the floor while making the film. The documentaries are interesting to watch as well as the creation of the facial makeup. The process was brutal. Once the makeup was applied, the actor had to stay in it until shooting for the day was over. If they wanted to eat, most of what they ate had to be sipped through a straw. There are cast interviews and Roddy McDowalls home movies as well. Lots of fun stuff here.
You must have this dvd. Get it now!
Rating:
Summary: Serious Monkey Business.
Review: "Planet of the Apes" (1968) was the first step of a long series that profited from its success. Not one of the subsequent installments or the recent high budget remake can be compared with this very good sci-fi movie.
The story is as follows: a spaceship after a very long voyage crushes on an Earth-like planet. The surviving astronauts soon find themselves inserted in a strange world. Here humans do not speak but monkeys do and have a civilization of sorts.
Human are enslaved by the apes and treated as savage beasts. Taylor, the main character, is momentarily mute and can't demonstrate his intelligent condition. He is thrown into a cage with his human kin.
The Ape society is stratified in a rigid class system: gorillas are the military, chimps are scientific investigators and orangutans are politics and judges.
A couple of chimps sympathizes with Taylor and try to prove his "apian intelligence". The "monkey establishment" tries to discredit them and afterwards to eliminate this "anomalous" human. Conflict and adventure follows in a great action movie.
Charlton Heston as Taylor gives one of his best performances almost without clothes.
The technical crew is of superior level. The makeup was ground breaking. A team of specialists leaded by John Chambers did a great work.
Director Franklin Schaffner proves his skill that will be soon revalidated in "Patton" (1970) and other films.
Photography is in charge of veteran Leon Shamroy ("Cleopatra" 1963 amongst an extended filmography) is a high point.
A very good film for sci-fi fans and adventure lovers.
Reviewed by Max Yofre.
Rating:
Summary: "Bright Eyes" Taylor....Still Packs A Punch..And Looks Great
Review: This review refers to the Widescreen(2000/2001)DVD edition of "Planet Of The Apes"(1968)...
At 36 years old, this is a film that still packs a punch today, both as a social statement and for it's entertainment value as well. It's Sci-Fi at it's best. The film is as intriguing and captivating the 20th time around as it was the first.
Astronaut Taylor(Charlton Heston),leads his crew on a mission to start a new human colony on a far off distant planet. Three men and one woman are the Adams and Eve of the future. Two men are there for the glory(and the woman is not too bad either), But Taylor has his own reasons for going. From the first few scenes, we learn what type of man he is. Somewhere along the line, he has lost his faith in Humanity, and has become a bit of a cynic. For him leaving Earth was his ticket out.
Things go awry though, and when the ship crash lands on some "far off distant" planet, milleniums ahead, they find themselves being chased and hunted by the ruling class inhabitants of this planet...APES! It's an upside world, as the humans are considered "beasts", caged, used as lab rats for the Apes, and are even used for sport. Humans seem to be the lowest form of creature in exsistence on this planet. The film doesn't leave it at that though, there is even class distinction among the Simians.
Franklin Schaffner("Patton") directs this film to perfection... It's got something for everybody. A great story, really giving you something to think about, thrilling action sequences, outstanding performances, incredible make up and costuming, brillant photography, and even if you don't usually go in for Sci-Fi this is one although futuristic, is primitive in nature(no laser weapons or high-tech gadgetry used here). Heston even manages to find a little romance(very little), in his new digs.
Charton Heston is magnifcent as George "Bright Eyes",("Get your stinkin paws off of me, you damned dirty ape") Taylor. And check out the talent behind the great ape make-up. Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter (STELLA!..."A Streetcat Named Desire"), James Daly, James Whitmore and Maurice Evans, are all superb at monkeying around! This film also introduces Linda Harrison as "Nova"..later on, her parents would make an interplanetary trip of their own in "Cocoon".
This film was given some great attention to the transfer to DVD. This edition has a crystal clear picture in widescreen, and takes in all the action and scenery. Colors are rich and look new. The fabulous sound is available in both DD5.1 and Stereo Surround. It may also be viewed in French and has subtitles in English and Spanish. The only features on this one include a photo gallery and some trailers. It looks like Amazon is out of stock of this edition, at this time, but I see some pretty good buys from the outside sellers. If you can't get enough of this film, there is also the 2 disc, 35 year anniversary edition,with a ton of extras, but is quite a bit more expensive. The reviews for both editions are mixed together, so just click on the product page for the edition you are interested in(look in 'other formats' in the product info section for a link).
"IT'S A MADHOUSE!!!!!"...Taylor
Enjoy....Laurie
Rating: 
Summary: Sci-Fi Fantasy Still Holds Up
Review: Unlike alot of the sc-fi films from the sixties with a message, "Planet of the Apes" still holds up remarkably well due to the strength of it's story, production values, and the acting. The film has a coherent narrative which was definitely lacking in Tim Burton's version. The world in which the apes inhabit is richly imagined. The basic premise of man's inhumanity to itself and other creatures may be heavy-handed at times but not overly so. The ape make-up is breathtaking and does not impede the actors sporting it. Director Franklin J. Schaffner has assembled a first-rate cast with Charlton Heston solid as the astronaut, Taylor, Roddy McDowell and Kim Hunter give superb performances as the sympathetic ape scientists Cornelius and Zira and Maurice Evans appropriately crotchety as head ape scientist Dr. Zaius. Linda Harrison, wife of a then Fox executive, is visually stunning as Nova, the human girl the apes attempt to mate with Taylor.
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