DVD Review: Planet of the Apes
Star: Charleton Heston, Roddy McDowell, Kim Hunter
1968
20th Century Fox. Run Time: 1:47
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“These animals are dirty! They stink and they carry communicable diseases!”
“Get your hands off me you damn dirty ape!”
“You blew it up!”
It’s been ages since I saw any of this series, but when I recently heard that yet ANOTHER remake of POTA was in the works, I decided I’d better re-watch the originals, just so I could remind myself that remakes are rarely worth the effort, especially not when the original was so amazing. When I looked at the release date for the original movie, I was shocked to see POTA is 40 years old already.
We all know about the landmark makeup effects that were cu
tting-edge at the time, but the details put into other aspects of the film are incredible as well. From the three human survivors’ search for life on what appears to be a desert world to the curvy and organic architecture of “Ape City” itself, a lot of work went into the sets alone. The story takes its time to develop, nothing is rushed. I hadn’t remembered it, but the opening sequence, if you want to call it that, is a full half hour in length. Yes, we got to see the three astronauts exploring an “alien planet” for a full 30 minute before we ever see a hint of other humans or Apes. Then the three run into a mysterious, silent “herd” of Humans and we meet the Apes. It’s another 30 minutes before the Apes learn of Taylor’s ability to speak.
Are the Apes really any different from modern humans? They have a social system which equates to our social classes or perhaps even human races: Gorillas, Orangutans, and Chimpanzees. The Orangutans, the theocrats and politicians, are in charge, the Chimpanzees are scientists and workers, while the Gorillas are the military and police. There is a trial in a courtroom where the subject of creation versus evolution comes up (is that argument still going on?) We see Dr. Zaius destroy evidence of prior human intelligence throughout; he knows the truth all along, but continually covers it up. From crushing Taylor’s paper airplane and brushing out the words in the sand to having Landon lobotomized, this “defender of the faith” is relentless in hiding the truth. The rest of the Apes are no better, refusing to accept the truth even when it’s standing right there talking to them. The movie Is forty years old, but all the social commentary still applies today.
I doubt there’s anything particularly insightful I can really say about POTA that hasn’t already been said in the past 40 years, but if you took the time to see that awful remake a few years ago, you should probably take a couple of hours to watch this again, just to remember the awesomeness of this film.
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