Planet of the Apes [Blu-ray] starring
Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall,
Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, James
Whitmore
Enthralling And Amazing !
Many early science fiction films are now, quite inadvertently (and in most
cases undeservedly), objects of camp attention: we laugh at the silly
makeup, tin-can special effects, and the naive high-tech dialogue. Planet
of the Apes is no such film. Its intelligent script, frightening costuming, and
savagely effective conclusion (which needs no big-budget special effects
to augment its impact) remain both potent and relevant. When Colonel
George Taylor (the fabulous Charlton Heston) crash lan ds his spacecraft
on what seems to be an unfamiliar planet, he is captured and held prisoner
by a dominant race of hyperrational, articulate apes. However, the ape
community is riven with internal dissention, centered in no small part on its
policy toward humans, who, on this planet, are treated as mindless
animals. Befriended and ultimately assisted by the more liberal simians,
Taylor escapes--only to find a more terrifying obstacle confronting his
return home. Heavy-handed object lessons abound--the ubiquity of
generational warfare, the inflexibility of dogma, the cruelty of prejudice--
and the didactic fingerprints of Rod Serling are very much in evidence
here. But director Franklin Schaffner has a dark, pop-apocalyptic sci-fi
vision all his own, and time has not dulled the monumental emotional
impact of the films climactic payoff shot. If you dont know what Im talking
about here, you owe it to yourself to check out this stone classic, and even
if you do, see it with fresh eyes; and dont be surprised if you get the chills
all over again... and again... and again. --Miles Bethany
Features:
* Charlton Heston and Roddy McDowall star in this legendary science
fiction masterpiece. Astronaut Taylor (Heston) crash lands on a distant
planet ruled by apes who use a primitive race of humans for
experimentation and sport. Soon Taylor finds himself amo ng the hunted,
his life in the hands of a benevolent chimpanzee scientist (McDowall).
Format: BLU-RAY DISC Genre: SCI-FI/FANTASY Ratin
If youre going to see this 1968 movie for the first time, as I did only a few
weeks ago, youre in for a treat. I can see why it has, despite its
occassional camp and references to 60s youth radicalism, withstood the
test of time. It has all the elements of a great movie: astonishing
performances that shine through the ape masks and costumes; superb
cinematography that makes effective use of the widescreen (if you can,
watch it on a large projector screen); thought-provoking screenplay which
deals with mans place in the great scheme of things; and an ending that
inspires awe with its visual beauty and apocalyptic portentousness. This
ending has seared itself into my memory, and is the most startling
conclusion Ive ever encountered on film (even including The Sixth Sense
and Dont Look Now).
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