Planet of the Apes (1968)

20130704:
As I could only remember the dramatic ending to this classic movie, I decided it was time to watch it again. Unfortunately, I was tired and couldn't stay awake, nodding off to sleep a little after the Charlton Heston laughs maniacally.

George Taylor (Charlton Heston)

[20130825]

20170525:
Today I decided to watch the movie and I was a little surprised at the statement that I've already seen the entire movie once before, because aside from watching the first part of the movie on Netflix, I can only remember moments of the film (including the end, perhaps from when it might have aired on television) and I can't remember ever sitting down to watch it in full; a reminder that memory is fickle.

In any case, while some of the audio and video quality hints at the age of the film, the movie as a whole was a joy to watch. In particular, the themes of the film, particularly the ones about humanity, are told in a simple and thought-provoking manner. With that being said, I already saw eye-to-eye on most, if not all, of the core concepts.

Note, however, that the movie does not shove any of these themes down the viewers' throats.* Rather, the concepts are there for any viewer that wishes to obtain them.

Cornelius (Roddy McDowall) and Zira (Kim Hunter)

Overall, I would highly recommend Planet of the Apes to any viewer looking for a science fiction film with substance.

*The first film in the reboot series, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, is also good but I don't recall getting the same moral vibe from it as I did when watching this film. Thus, in some ways, this film was more blatant about the themes than it's eventual sequel.

Instant Comments:
3: That opening monologue pretty much summarizes it.
2: I wonder if the horror in Stewart's untimely demise is horrific on its own or horrific for the three remaining [3: male] crew?
2: Aww... its not quite the same to know the ending. I suppose it has its own sort of fun.
2: That laugh he makes upon seeing the flag is hilarious. Hahaha. Hahahahahaha!

Maximus (Woodrow Parfrey), President of the Assembly (James Whitmore) and Dr. Zaius (Maurice Evans)

2: [I got sleepy and went to sleep], 3: I'm not sure when this was. I vaguely remember Taylor and Landon bickering (19 min) and I don't remember the crew finding the plant (21 min), so my guess sometime between those two scenes. Or perhaps I began missing details due to my sleepiness. I definitely didn't watch up to the part where they went for a swim.
3: No moon.
3: "And with our lovely Lieutenant Stewart dead, it looks like you're the last of the line."
3: Though if populating a new planet was truly a goal for such a suicide mission, and I suppose it might as well should be, having two male and two female in a four-person crew would have made more sense.
3: "Blessed are the vegetarians."
3: They're being corralled, like cattle or sheep. Though have they not been through it before? Unless they're wild and are being hunted. In which case, they're fleeing just like any other animal would.
3: "Smile."

Nova (Linda Harrison)

3: Racial issues among them. Chimpanzees belonging to the lower class. [Dr. Zaius is an orangutan]
3: "Bright Eyes." Oh, I didn't realize (or remember) that Taylor is Bright Eyes.
3: I wonder why Taylor was so aggressive about getting the notepad. Unless he is so out of it that his sense of logic is not as sharp as usual.
3: Okay. Well today he came to his sense enough to write in the sand. I still think he's not communicating as much as he could with his hands. [Perhaps it's all about the portrayal of what he seems like to the apes]
3: Oh, she didn't erase it all (what Taylor wrote), but Zaius scratches it out (because he doesn't want Zira's theory to be plausible; she believes in the domestication of humans).
3: Curious how these apes have come to be superior to humans, but lack the technological knowledge of spaceships (or even planes).
3: At least now (when Zaius walked in and had Taylor taken away), he had the mind to be civil about it.
3: "Take your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape!"

Taylor, Landon (Robert Gunner), and Dodge (Jeff Burton)

3: "It's a madhouse! A madhouse!"
3: He goes back to talking about Steward and how she would have been the new Eve.
3: Eventually I'll write up a note on a primary theme: humanity's treatment of non-human life.
3: "Some apes it seems are created more equal than others."
3: Haha. Taylor shaves and Cornelius remarks "Somehow it makes you look less intelligent."
3: "There is no contradiction between faith and science."
3: "That's the paradox, where the ancient culture is more advanced." - Cornelius
3: "Doctor, I'd like to kiss you goodbye." "Alright, but you're so damned ugly."
3: "From the evidence, I believe his wisdom must walk hand and hand with his idiocy."
3: "Don't look for it Taylor, you may not like what you find."
2=20130704, 3=20170525

Watched once before.


Watched first 20 minutes 20130704 (Netflix, Instant)
Watched 20170525
Planet of the Apes (1968) Franklin J. Schaffner. 112 min [botn La Palnete des Singes (1963) by Pierre Boulle]

Relevant Links:
Planet of the Apes (IMDb.com)
Planet of the Apes (1968 film) (Wikipedia.org)
Planet of the Apes (Wikipedia.org)
Planet of the Apes (RottenTomatoes.com)

No comments :