Planet of the Apes

Rating:
Summary: it's entertainment
Review: Being a formidable Burton-fan, his remake of the 1968 classic, THE PLANET OF THE APES, was an affair I'd looked forward to for quite a long time. But, after having seen the film, I regret to say that my emotions are mixed at best. First off, THE PLANET OF THE APES, doesn't have the feel of a Tim Burton film. The one thing I love the most about his films, are the characters in them. You really get to care for a Burton character. But the only character in this film that might resemble a previous Burton character, such as Edward Scissorhands or Jack Skellington, is Ari. She's the typical outcast in her society, set aside by her revolutionary ideas that humans should be treated equally as monkeys (sorry, apes'), but other than her there really aren't any other characters in this film that can evoke care and emotions. The film doesn't visually have the Burton-esque style to it, either. There are occasional shots where some of that Burton magic shines through, like when we see the ape-city at a distance (it looks bewitched), but for the most part the visual style of the film is typical Hollywood extravagance. It would actually seem fair to compare this film with BATMAN. Both films are financially huge projects, where the producers seems to have put a lid on Burton's imagination, perhaps in fair of loosing the bigger audience. 'Tis a shame' Also, the film doesn't feel grand. I, personally, was expecting a huge film. After seeing the intense trailers, I though THE PLANET OF THE APES would be a film that could give us a taste of what's to come, with LORD OF THE RINGS looming in the distance, speaking in terms of huge CGI made battles and such, but alas' There's only one such scene, and it's over in a flash.

There are also several things that bothered me in the script. First off, the beginning, which was too short too explain why a pilot would risk his life going after an ape lost in an electromagnetic storm. More time should have been spent, or been spent more efficiently, on this bit. There was also stuff in the characters development, which didn't fit. *SPOILERS* There's a scene in the film where Ari sneaks back into the camp of the vicious Thade, to conduct some sort of peace meeting, where she ends up being branded by Thade with the mark of humans. The film doesn't explain why Ari would attempt such an act in the first place, or why Thade would just let Ari and Sandar, who accompany her, leave afterwards, and the scene isn't followed up later in the film. It's only there to give Thade a chance to mark Ari. The writers should have thought of another way for this to happen. Also, towards the end of the film, we see Colonel Attar suddenly betray his patron, Thade, after, for the most part, being a pretty grim ape himself. It didn't seem like a logical course of action for this character. They should have sown the seeds for such an act earlier in the film. I also thought the filmmakers dispatched Sandar too easily. He was the former superior of Thade, but cast into shame when Thade betrayed him, and in the battle scene, where he's supposed to fight his previous protégé, he's intervened by Colonel Attar and defeated in a minute or so. I would have thought such a character, as Sandar, would have deserved a better exit.

The ending, high above all things, must be discussed. Naturally, there was a huge amount of pressure on the filmmakers to come up with an ending that would match the original 68-ending, and take it's audience by surprise. It seems to me, that in their desperation to concur such an ending, they exit the film with more questions than answers. *HUGE SPOILER* I see only two possible answers to the end: (a) Everything took place on earth all along, and Captain Leo Davidson has only been traveling back and forth in time, as in the original film, or that (b) we are talking about two different planets. If it's the first, (a), then Captain Leo Davidson should have been able to figure all this out, by calculating coordinates and such, and if it's the second, (b), then how in the nine hells did Thade make his way to earth? Puzzling.

Tim Roth, who stars as Thade, makes it clear that he's one of the meanest villains out there. Mark Wahlberg is a fine enough actor, who's done better before, that pulls of the part of Captain Leo Davidson nice enough, not being especially heroic, but not too much of an anti-hero either. Helena Bonham-Carter, as Ari, is, next to Tim Roth, the best actor on the cast. Putting Michael Clarke Duncan behind the make-up of Colonel Attar was also a good move on Burton's behalf. First off, because he's big enough to fit the role, and second, because his melancholic eyes are perhaps the only thing that lends credibility to the fact that he chooses to disobey his patron, Thade. Paul Giamatti was superb, creating comical relief with Limbo, the slave trader. Estella Warren, in her skimpy Xena outfit, was incognito at best. So, all in all, as I arrive upon my conclusion, it must be said that THE PLANET OF THE APES is a pretty entertaining film, if nothing else. The film is clearly less political than it's predecessor. It seems to have no ambitions. It only wants to entertain. And so it does, many thanks to a good enough cast, great make-up, enough funny scenes, and, last but not least, an excellent villain

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining!
Review: Like a politician a movie thrives on publicity. Whether it's good publicity or bad they thrive on it. Quite a few people bashed this movie but the thing is the movie moved them enough to write about it. Alot of people have written critiques, that says something. Anyways my viewpoint is that the movie is maybe not necessarily deep but entertaining.

Rating:
Summary: Dark and Scary Apes
Review: I really liked this movie, and am surprised at how many people gave it a bad review! I think sometimes people have to see a movie for what it is; this wasn't intended to be a character-movie! It is a dark and scary vision of what life is like on another planet, where apes rule and people drool or something like that.

No this is not the original, or even close in plot to the first one. But as one or two others have said, I liked this one better than the first. It was so dark, the music was fantastic and it was very suspenseful. The apes, in particular Tim Roth as the eveil Thade, were fascinating. They were such a combination of human and animal that it was hard to believe they were actually actors playing a role.

The ending was a little confusing, but other than that I loved the movie and would highly recommend seeing it, but go w/an open mind and plan to have fun. don't take life so seriously!!

Rating:
Summary: Boring
Review: i saw this in theatres and it was long!! Im not into action just horror and the apes relatd to the monster from the movie Grim. I mean Planet of the Apes, this guy lands on the planet and he gets captured by the apes and has to be their pet and he tries to escape which takes hours and hours and i just can sit through...................

Rating:
Summary: Great offering but Lacklustre Ending
Review: The movie set, the creation of the apes are first rate. It is unfair to compare this movie with the original starring Charlton Heston because it deservedly stands on its own. Undoubtedly, Tim Burton's production has a slighter edge than the original with more advanced film making technology but still, it's like comparing an apple to an orange. Mark Wahlberg is not Charlton Heston either and the execution of the ending is quite disappointing & unexpected. On top of watching the movie, my friends & I endeavoured to guess the actors & actresses behind the apes. Perhaps, this movie would be more pertinent shown in the 60s when issues of segregation & discrimination were hot topics in the States but for the present generation, this movie is nothing more than a summer blockbuster hit, and they really wouldn't bother to see beyond the message implied. I do sense that this movie also paid homage to the original by having the set & costume designed as in the 60s, reminded me of Jane Fonda in Barbarella.

Rating:
Summary: trailer more exciting than the movie
Review: This movie was very slow. Wahlberg did not seem to be enjoying acting in his part. There was a zombie-like disconnect in his performance. On the other hand, Bonham-Carter takes her craft seriously and was very much into her role. Nevertheless, I was pretty bored, but basically stayed for the "surprise" ending. Said ending made no logical sense. I wish the distributors had not rushed production so that Tim Burton could do his job in peace.

Rating:
Summary: A real impovement on the original
Review: After seeing this modern remake just last night, I have to say that Tim Burton did a great job in redoing this story. The Apes themselves were much more realistic due to the fact that their lips move, making them seem much more human. Their ability to move, climb, jump and pounce like regular apes was quite amusing to watch not to mention the expressions shown by many of the characters...especially Helena Bonham Carter and the actor who played the human slave trader. Mark Wahlberg plays the action hero really well and I must say that he carries almost the entire film with a constant frown on his face. Not surprising though when you consider the predicament he puts himself in.

Unfortunatley, the ending, albeit a little predictable was disappointing never-the-less, but even so is worth seeing on the big screen for the visual effects. Also worth noting is Charlton Heston's cameo in a role reversal from the original movie.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but nowhere near the original
Review: Ill admit it, I am a big fan of the campy Charlton Heston original classic. So once I heard one of my favorite directors was making his adaptation of the book, I was very eager into wanting to see the new Tim Burton remake. I went to go see it the day it came out and I liked it. Of course the special effects and make-up are without a doubt, top notch. But the acting wasnt anything to rave about. Mark Wahlberg was great on Three Kings and Boogie Nights, but on Planet of the Apes he just doesnt cut it. He shows very few emotions during the film and keeps a straight face throughout the whole movie. I did enjoy Helena Bonham Carters role. However I did think the whole love triangle thing with the human-ape-human thing was cheesy. Tim Burton did do a good job. But this one isnt anywhere compared to the original. I mean the politics are gone, and to me, that was the most exciting thing for the original! Id recommend this to any fans of Tim Burton. Fans of the original should enjoy this, but dont be expecting it to be like the damn, dirty original.

Rating:
Summary: I Went Apes
Review: This movie is a winner. I loved it. It was intense, and kept me on the edge of my seat. The costumes and makeup were great. It was worth the cost of a ticket. I smell an istant classic.

Rating:
Summary: In the END - Burton Bites
Review: What was that ending all about? Great story right till there. What could Burton have been thinking about? He re-imagines the story very well and then RUINS it with a 'CRAP' final scene. I can think of many myself and I'm an accountant for Christ's sake. The final scene in the original made incredible sense for that film. I did not expect or want that scene in the remake, but did want an ending that made as much sense for 2001 and perhaps was unexpected as well. The remake was unexpected, but made no sense in any context. What a HUGE dissapointment.