Rating: 
Summary: The Naked Ape
Review: The year is 1968. Vietnam is heating up in a major way. Civil Rights marchers and rioters in the streets. The Martin Luther King assassination and The Democratic National Convention. And an odd, cynical, pointed, hilarious, and tragic movie is playing in the local theaters about a world that is ruled by apes and men are ignorant, mute animals. All the comment seems to be about just how fantastic the makeup job for each of the different ape species is. But of far more importance is the message of this movie, of man's built-in aggressiveness, of his disdain for the 'lower' creatures of this world, about self-blinding arrogance, fanaticism, and prejudice. A message that is delivered via some fine acting performances by Kim Hunter, Roddy McDowell, and Charlton Heston, and an intelligent script by Rod Serling and Michael Wilson, based on the novel by Pierre Boulle. This was the original. All the sequels and remakes (including this year's attempt) pale in comparison to it. Still, this is not an all-time great classic. Too much of its impact depends on the surprise ending, which should not have been any surprise at all, given the impossible coincidences of certain plants and animals just 'happening' to evolve in exactly the same fashion on two different planets. But in as much as it speaks to all with humor and insight about common truths, and will make people do a little thinking about their own built-in biases, it is a fine movie, well worth seeing.
Rating: 
Summary: The music score is too low!
Review: I have only one complaint about this DVD. The sound mix is off. Jerry Goldsmith's outstanding music is not loud enough. This music is such an essential part of the film that I deducted two stars from my rating. Maybe we'll have to wait for an "ultimate edition" of this movie to have it done right.
Rating: 
Summary: This Film Has Stood the Test of Time
Review: I recently watched this original version of "The Planet of the Apes" for the first time since seeing it at a drive-in theater back in 1968. First I was amazed at how much of the film I had forgotten. Actually, most of what I remembered was the (then) shocking ending. What I was impressed with this time around was what an intelligent and well-scripted film this was (and still is). Like any good science fiction, this film provides an interesting commentary on the human condition. One the one hand you have the Minister of Science and Defender of the Faith debunking and destroying an archeological dig, because it is contrary to the faith of the Apes, but on the other hand in his reading from the sacred scrolls you hear the accurate description of the destructive (dare I say "sinful?") nature of humans. I've been pondering this segment of the film quite a bit over the past few days. Like others, I think Charlton Heston is in fine form here. It's easy to picture him as president of the National Rifle Association after seeing this film. I still prefer Heston in "Ben Hur" and "the Ten Commandments," but that probably reflects my personal interest in the stories that are told there. As one Academy Award film-maker recently said upon receiving his lifetime achievement Oscar (I think it was Norman Jewison), "Find a story that needs to be told and tell it." This version of "The Planet of the Apes" certainly tells a good story, and tells it well.
Rating:
Summary: Great Sci-Fi adventure!
Review: This is yet another Charlton Heston masterpiece! Heston is an astronaut who has been sent 2000 years into the future to a planet he believes is 300 light years from earth. The planet is inhabited by intelligents apes and mute, stupid humans. The apes treat the humans as if they are dangerous, dirty wild animals. Heston is captured after the apes round up a tribe of humans roaming fields near an ape city. When the apes learn that Heston can talk, they realize that the only way they can continue to perpetuate the myth of ape superiority is by cutting up Heston's brain. Heston manages to escape after a great action scene. Finally, Heston leaves the ape city and searches for another tribe of humans. As he travels, he comes across the Statue of Liberty lying in the ocean, and realizes that he's actually on earth and that humans in the past must have blown up the world. Heston then proceeds to scream for no reason for some time. In short, this is one of the best and most elaborate science fiction movies ever made. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: The movie's surprise ending is not as surprising as the book
Review: I know different types of media calls for different handling of the story. Most movies do not live up to the expectations of the book reader. Others exceed the scope of the book. Surprise this is the "can't live up to the book" movie. The DVD tries to justify this difference. If you thought that the movie was insightful, surprising and shocking the first time you saw it. Then you defiantly have lower expectations than the reader does. Especially with such a blotched ending (purposely designed for sequels.) I did like the idea of having a movie where the woman was not talking all the time. (Just kidding) And the makeup for the simians was excellent for its time. I suppose if you haven't read the book that this movie would be a pleasant time passer. See Roddy McDowall again in Lord Love A Duck (1966) ASIN: 6304237707 where he monkeys around with Tuesday Weld.
Rating:
Summary: Great DVD, but get The Evolution Box Set instead
Review: This is a great DVD. I bought it recently, but was dissapointed when I found out that I could get The Evoltution 6 DVD Boxed Set. If you like the Planet of the Apes sequels DO NOT get this DVD. If you only like the original Planet of the Apes, this is for you.
Rating:
Summary: Supierior grade sci-fi adventure!
Review: I saw this movie for the first time when I was 12.(long after it's inital release in the theater). One thing I love more than anything is a good sci-fi adventure. This one will get your adrenalin pumping and has an excellent story and excellent cast. Charlton Heston's character is a bit of a super-hero because he can fight apes, and we all know apes are many times stronger and quicker than men. The new movie depicts this more accurately, but is not near as good as this original 1968 version with Heston, Roddy McDowell(an exellent ape) and Kim Hunter(the most sympathetic of chimpanzees)as well as Maurice Evens(whom you love to hate) and many others too numerous to mention.
Rating:
Summary: "A planet where apes evolved from men...?"
Review: Grade "A" sci-fi movie. This was Charlton Heston in his prime - before "Midway", "Earthquake", and "Gray Lady Down"... and after the great ones "Ben Hur", "Touch Of Evil", and "Ten Commandments". An Oscar winner for John Chambers' monkey make-up. Along with Heston (Col. George Talyor), Roddy McDowall (Cornelius), Kim Hunter (Zira), Maurice Evans (Zaius), and the mute love interest Linda Harrison (Nova) all give outstanding supporting roles. Released in February 1968, this movie was way ahead of it's time. A great idea with apes ruling the planet that man once ruled... how clever to take an idea so simple and turn it upside down. The final scene (filmed at Zuma Beach, CA) is defined as "classic"... and even tho there is no big bang or special effects extravaganza, the last 5 minutes of this movie will leave you with your mouth agape. With all the hub-bub over the new (2001) Tim Burton "reimagination" of this film (which in my opinion was a huge let down)... I would have thought this particular DVD would've had more to offer in the way of extra goodies... not so. This DVD will give you the 112 minute film in necessary widescreen format, a photo gallery, & trailer(s). No interviews, deleted scenes or behind the scenes simian stuff at all. Too bad. This is a great movie and essential in most any library of classic films.
Rating:
Summary: Up there with the greatest sci-fi films ever!
Review: I love this movie. It stands up there with the Star Wars triology and Independence Day as the great sci-fi movies ever. The essential part to this movie is the strong plot and a magnificent script. Heston's speech to begin the movie should give you an idea of the rest of the script. After the credits the movie immediately rides into high gear as the ship flies out of the sky and into the water. Charlton Heston, starring as Colonel Taylor, awakes to find the love of his life dead and in circa 3900. There are three left and they march across the desert on three days food and drink in an attempt to find civilization. The search is filled with great lines. ("We'd better find civilization in 72 hours. That's when the groceries run out.") Skipping ahead, one of Taylor's colleagues is dead and the other is missing. He has been shot in the throat and can't talk. He is the guinea pig of ape scientists in an ape civilization that rates humans at the bottom of their lifestyle. Taylor is viewed as amazingly intelligent for a man, or "animal", though Dr. Zeras (keeper of the faith), for a still unknown reason, wants to keep him quiet. As Taylor's throat begins to heal we learn how the religion plays a huge role in their lives and science contradicts it. From there the plot takes many twists and turns. Taylor talks again and scares the hell out of the apes. ("Get your paws off me damn dirty ape" are his first words) He finds his colleague with part of his brain and memory completely cut out. His saviors are arrested for scientific heiracy (an oxy moron in itself) and flee with Taylor (and his new love) to the "Forbidden Zone" to prove their innocence. Dr. Zeras, keeper of the faith and head scientist, catches up to him. When he reaches them Dr. Zeras reveals a deep, dark secret of the history of man. (The faith denies that any civilization lived before ape, which this secret disproves.) Then Taylor discover the hauntin end of the men of Earth in the way of perhaps the greatest ending to a movie ever! (I will not tell those who haven't seen the movie.) In conclusion this is a very well written story that always twists the way you least expect. The script is without a doubt one of the best ever written while the cast certainly delivers and never disappoints. If you are a fan of sci fi movies and do not need to be thrilled with dazzling special effects then this is the movie for you. Buy it right now! You can't live without a classic like this.
Rating:
Summary: Classic movie making
Review: With the recent remake of this popular 1968 film, this might be one movie you may want to revisit. I did, and it was worth it. It's dated to be sure, but that is part of the charm. Whilst the special effects are not as profound, the storyline itself is probably better than the 2001 version. The recent 2001 remake in fact borrows many of the original lines, ideas and scenes, so interested viewers might like to get some background information by taking another look at the original film. Being a bit of a movie buff, an interest for me was the diffferences which have been brought into the story in the 2001 version. Some of these differences reflect our increased understanding of primate behaviour since the 1960s. For example, in the 2001 film, the time traveller crash lands in a JUNGLE, in the 1960s movie it was a desert. Primates such as apes and chimpanzees and orangutans are at home in the jungle, not the desert, which may sound obvious, but the value this adds to the special effects, primate calls, signals and general ambience have been incorporated into the 2001 film, will a telling improvement. Furthermore, the primal instincts, urges, feelings and fears of primates seem more diverse and appropriate. The purpose of both films was, in part, to show that the differences between primates and humans is not as much as people formerly thought. This first film, with Charlton Heston as the lead, touches on a bit of science, anthropology, archaeology, primate behaviour, philosophy, the lure of the hunt, and also has a very good twist in the end. It probably has a touch more substance, and a more detailed storyline than the 2001 film, but both are entertaining films. The 2001 film also has an unusual twist in the end, (dont worry I wont give it away!) which I thought was an excellent idea, and in keeeping with the 1968 tradition. A good film for your collection, and to compare the differences and similarities to the more colourful, snappy-special-effects 2001 version.
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