Rating: 
Summary: What in the world???
Review: Ok, first off, I haven't seen the original POTA so I have no idea if it's better or worse. Instead, I'm just reviewing this as a movie, and it stinks. Any time I walk out of the theater saying to myself "What in the world kind of stupid ending is that??", I know the movie wasn't worth it. Yes, we are set up for a great sequel - but sequels only work if the people care about the characters in it. This was one long action movie with little character development. I have to say that Mark Wahlberg did well with his character's detached feelings toward the planet (he wasn't interested in helping anyone, he just wanted to get home), but it wasn't enough to save the film completely. It could have been a better film if they'd ended it better. As it was, it was like Burton just decided to throw in some last-minute plot twist to say that he'd done it.
Rating: 
Summary: Jaws of the new millenia
Review: No doubt the Tim Burton rendition of "Planet of the Apes" and its "Rule the Planet" theme will be a huge summer hit. It has all the makings of one. Highly stylized costumes, a formula theme of underdog contra the evil empire, etc. But what is really interesting over and above the wonderful cinematography, wicked editing and wonderful acting is the question of valorization and vilification.No doubt the movie is violent. Strength becomes the modus operandi and with the frenzied pace come a whole ton of violence. Are Apes really like that? Are the Gorillas in the mist really that capable of violence or is it simply that they look scary. 9 out of every 10 viewers, I would venture to guess, are not thinking on those terms and even if it is sci-fi much like Jaws previous to it, will it make every Ape a potential violence machine ready to go off? Jaws made us fear the water. Jaws made me think (at least as a child) that all sea water was potential habitat for sharks and every shark a potential man-eater. Will this leave an imprint on the young that will take a long time to shake out? Who knows, only time will tell. It is an adult movie. It moves adults to question how we treat animals and how we treat each other. That the movie is candy for the eyes - absolutely. Can't help but think though. Not to give the ending away, but are they setting us up for a sequal? If they are, there probably is a lot of room to expand on the theme. I recommend watching it with the kids with an extensive explanation that although the filmakers were effective in achieving the creep effect - Apes are not that violent. Miguel Llora
Rating:
Summary: ...[Darn ]them ,...[ darn ]them all...!!!!
Review: Well, I can't ...[darn]them ALL... Some of the movie was really good. But most of it just didn't work. Let's get to it. 1. The Good; The Make-Up; There are only two words to describe Rick Baker's make-up: In-genious. The guy has always been the best and now he has surpassed even himself. His ape-make-up is flawless. Even apes with a short amount of screen time have amazing detail and individuality in their features. Baker easily has an Academy Award coming for his work here. The Acting; The Best Actors wore the most make-up. Everyone in an ape suit busted their butt and delivered first rate performances. Maybe they had to work harder to overcome wearing tons of make-up, maybe I just credit them with good acting because they were wearing all that make-up, all I know is that the made up actors were more expressive and convincing than the barefaced actors. 2. The Bad. They cut out it's brain, those bloody baboons! Sorry, I coudn't resist. That's a line from the origianl movie. It gets the point across. All the great satire that the original possessed is gone,cut out, eliminated. The book was mostly social satire and the original movie was pretty true to that. But not this one. It flirts with satire,it dabbles in it,it buys a ticket to the game but never gets into the same ballpark as the original movie as far as the satire and social commentary. It's watered down. I know they were excpecting lots of kids to flock to this flick, but I think the apes brutality was really underplayed. I'm not even talking about violence , much of which occurred off screen. Except for Thade and the profiteer Limbo, the apes weren't all that nasty to the humans. There is even an Animal Rights group that supports Human Rights. I never felt the overwhelming,oppressing menace that I felt with the original movie. Also, when the two big silverbacks locked up for their Big Fight, it was so anti-climactic. I expected fur and blood to fly when the arch-rivals met, instead I saw a slap fight between two mincing flight attendants. The Acting; Amazingly, all the actors without make-up were about as emotive as a wooden bedpost. There was no need for the humans to talk in this version, none of them said anything worth hearing. That's it. I hate, and I mean I really hate to say it but the "Making of.." video is a better time
Rating: 
Summary: I loved this movie!
Review: Planet of the Apes was well worth the time and effort to go see it! The visuals were great and the story was overall entertaining. There were some dull moments, and a few moments when you were saying, "what the heck were the writers thinking!" but it all corrects its self when the ending sequences come! I'm glad they came up with a different ending than the original Apes. The new ending was not exactly shocking, but I think that it made much more sense than the original Apes' ending and was stunning. I loved the movie can't wait to get it on DVD!!
Rating: 
Summary: Over-acting makes a monkey of you and me
Review: Obviously, from the reviews, a number of people enjoyed this film. At the showing I attended, there were even some people clapping at the end... but I wasn't one of them. Nothing makes a good movie seem like a bad movie like claiming it's a great movie. Over-hype as been a bane for me more than once, and I specifically avoided advertising and promotion for this film because I WANTED to like it, even if it wasn't particularly great. Unfortunately, it didn't help because I didn't think the film was even particularly good. Worst out of a bad lot is the in-your-face over-acting that Burton seems to have enforced on the ape actors. Apparently, the director decided that over-acting is what makes for a convincing ape, and so you end up with the most appalling and painful performances I have seen in a long time. The cast includes some truly excellent actors, but their talent is lost under all the "aping" they're forced to do. Tim Roth's character, especially, becomes impossible to watch almost immediately. The over-acting of the ape actors also serves to wash out the actors playing the human characters. Although their performances are not bad, none of them are strong enough to avoid be over-shadowed by all the over-acting. They come across looking wooden by comparison, and you end up with the worst of both worlds. As for the story and script, it is all too obviously a product of the modern Hollywood 'blipvert' mentality. There's no development and depth to speak of, just straight off to the races with explosions, crashes, and special effects. Sometimes this works - 'Con Air,' for example - but 'Planet of the Apes' needs and deserves more. It's short attention span theatre at its worst. And because of this, you end up with the special effects feeling like they're being rammed down your throat at every opportunity. This is most demonstrated by the constant need of the film to remind you that these are apes you are looking at. It's not enough for one of the ape characters to just jump onto a horse. Instead they need to bounce of eight walls, four ceilings, do a spin, a triple back-flip, and THEN land on their horse. This is fine for the fight scenes where it can at least be considered appropriate, but it is done continuously to the point of distracting you from the story. But then, given the lack of story, maybe that's the point. Also, if you are prone to motion-sickness, beware of the early scenes where the humans are first captured. The camera keeps panning up, down, and from side to side non-stop as the captives are taken through the city. Not only does this prevent you from actually being able to get a look at the ape city, but it also leaves you feeling nauseous. I really wanted to like this film, but I just couldn't find it in me. From a rushed beginning ("gotta start BIG!!") to a totally obvious ending (which seems so weak when compared to the original film), there is almost nothing here. I chuckled once at the first nod (by quote) the film makes to the original, but when they try it the second time with Heston and Roth's scene, it is genuinely painful. Maybe there's just something wrong with me. Ooh, help me, Dr. Zaius!
Rating:
Summary: Go apes!
Review: I saw this movie this past weekend and I must say I was very impressed. I really wasn't that big of a fan of the first ones although I did see them when I was very young. I decided to give this one a chance because it looked very entertaining. I was surprised. I was on the edge of my seat all the way through.Fortunately for me my memory of the first one is very veige since I was so young when I saw it so I didn't have that to compare it to and I am glad. It was like seeing a whole new movie for me. Tom Roth was magnificent as General Thade, whom if he had his way he was just do away with all humans. He was frightening just to look at with his devilish eyes. Helena Bonham Carter was extraordinary in her role as Ari the human rights activist ape. She will definitely deserve an Oscar nod for this role. I have heard and read alot of criticism towards Mark Wahlberg's portrayal of Leo Davidson but he was apparently chosen for a reason. I had not seen many of his films but will be soon. I liked him in this film and he brought a new dimension to the film and was certainly different than the loin-cloth wearing Heston originally played as the lead. I was glad Tim Burton opted not to exploit Wahlberg's attributes and gave him an opportunity just to act. Even though I could imagine other actors carrying the lead I was quite impressed with Wahlberg myself. I thught he carried it off very well when it was clear the apes were really the ones who were carrying the picture. It was full of action and the makeup was so believable. The movie will not be a disappointment to anyone who goes to see it. The ending was not expected but does leave you to believe a sequel is ahead in the future. Overall this was a great movie and extremely enjoyable. I may go see it again.
Rating: 
Summary: Three bananas for good apes and a C-grade script
Review: On the plus side, Tim Burton's remake of PLANET OF THE APES is a technological achievement. Rick Baker's amazing makeup transforms actors into apes without losing their faces (and, thus, their own performances). With the exception of David Warner (as the elderly ape senator), none of the apes feel like actors walking around with masks on. These apes have articulated feet; they can leap and climb with dizzying speed. This opens up a lot of vocabulary in the action scenes - chases through the woods are surprising and scary; the apes are everywhere and they are very strong. (A little too strong for us to believe Mark Wahlberg can take the beatings he does.) The fights have a brutal quality, but the emphasis is all on impact and speed - there is very little gore. There is no excuse for the lousy character development. The film is constantly bringing our attention to parallels between the ape planet and our own society. (At one point, an ape even quotes Barry Goldwater.) Yet there is very little emotional impact or change in the characters. Histories and relationships are suggested but never developed. The sacrifices seem inconsequential rather than heroic. A sexy blonde jiggles along with the hero, but no romantic situation develops, or any real storyline at all. Is she just eye candy for the dads? It seems like a pointless, almost demeaning bit of baggage. Give her something to do in the story! Mark Wahlberg is hunky and personable, but not distinctive or divided in any way. When he rouses the humans to fight the apes, the speech is far from "St. Crispin's day" - lacking in rouse or commitment, it is yet another dramatic event that doesn't really take place. If the human interactions are less realistic than the special effects, something is very wrong! Without any real drama, the movie feels preachy. The handgun is introduced as the single corrupting influence of human culture. The ending is also very heavy on commentary, but fails as storytelling and will leave many moviegoers baffled. Fans of composer Danny Elfman will not be disappointed - this is one of his most dynamic and versatile scores ever, utilizing a full symphony, african and electronic drums, musically conveying the heat and pulse of the jungle, the jackboots and terror of war, and the majesty of space. (Classical music fans should listen for a distinct quote from Holst's THE PLANETS!)
Rating:
Summary: Wouldn't even entertain a monkey
Review: If i hadn't seen this catastrophe myself, i wouldn't believe that Tim Burton could have created it. Planet of The Apes starts out a little slow and feel like it stops about 15 minutes into it. The problems start right at the beginning, these "evolved" apes with trend right hairstyles and fabulous costumes are living a civilized lifestyle until they start sniffing each other like dogs and walking like large chimps....am i supposed to believe that these jewelery wearing apes are still writing with their feet and walking at some points with their arms above their heads like chimps?? And they built a society???? And then there is the multi talented "Marky Mark" who in planet of the apes is upstaged by even the smallest primate, his preformance is stale and completely unbelievable. DO NOT waste your precious time and money to see this film....this one's not even a renter!!
Rating:
Summary: "Is there a Soul in There?"...
Review: to quote the movie, and remark on it as well. Although it has been a few years since I have seen the original Planet of the Apes, and I can't say that I remember much about it, just the fact that it was such a popular movie tells you that there is something special about it. I don't think I can say that this new version has that something special, it doesn't carry the soul of the original. Although the special effects were great, except for a few glitches (I thought the apes jumping 20 feet in the air, or dropping 30 feet to the ground was a bit too much, and was poorly done), and the make-up was astounding... this take (I say take, not version or remake, because it has nothing to do with the original) is empty. It is devoid of any indepth emotion. The characters were unmemorable, and limited in their range of emotion. I don't believe I'll ever have any grandchildren going to the 50th aniversary showing of the 2001 Planet of the Apes rerelease. Nor do I think they will ever ask me to dust off the old DVD player so that they can watch the primitive two dimensional film for their film history class. In fact, the only way this movie will go down in history, is if it grabs the tail of the original, and manages to make it into a box set.
Rating:
Summary: Planet of the Apes
Review: Decent movie. I normally don't like Tim Burton films. This one makes up a little for the others.
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