The Drifter
Screenwriter
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2019
- Messages
- 1,159
- Real Name
- Jim
I recently re-watched the Tim Burton-directed Planet of the Apes film (2001) on Blu. This is my first viewing in years, and my first time seeing the film in HD.
I remember seeing this several times theatrically when it hit theaters in Summer '01. It was a big deal at the time & the showing(s) were generally packed - given that the franchise had somewhat of a following & because there hadn't been a new POTA film in almost 30 years at that point.
Since then, this TB film has gotten lambasted & raked over the coals by critics & fans alike. Going along with this, the film's poor reception is probably at least one of the reasons why it took 10 years before another Apes movie was made.
I'm an unapologetic fan of this TB film - it's definitely one of my favorite films of the 200X's. I feel it was well-done & underrated. The Ape Make-up/Prosthetics (by Rick Baker) were superb. The Gorillas, Orangutans, Chimpanzees, etc. were all unique/typically looked different from each other - unlike in the original films, in which the different breeds of Apes all looked very similar. And, the armor/outfits that the Apes wore was interesting as well. I also liked that these Apes moved/carried themselves a lot more like actual Apes do IRL than the ones in the original film: This was especially evident in the way the lead female Ape Ari (Helena Bonham Carter) moved/jumped around, and was also evident in the final large battle scene between the Apes & Humans.
In addition, they actually made the female Apes look somewhat attractive - which I'm sure wasn't easy to do due to the prosthetics, etc. Also enjoyed the "homages" to the original film(s) re: Chuck Heston playing the dying Ape Zaius (General Thade's father) & Linda Harrison (Nova in POTA & Beneath) somewhat reprising her role as a savage human in a non-speaking cameo.
I remember seeing this several times theatrically when it hit theaters in Summer '01. It was a big deal at the time & the showing(s) were generally packed - given that the franchise had somewhat of a following & because there hadn't been a new POTA film in almost 30 years at that point.
Since then, this TB film has gotten lambasted & raked over the coals by critics & fans alike. Going along with this, the film's poor reception is probably at least one of the reasons why it took 10 years before another Apes movie was made.
I'm an unapologetic fan of this TB film - it's definitely one of my favorite films of the 200X's. I feel it was well-done & underrated. The Ape Make-up/Prosthetics (by Rick Baker) were superb. The Gorillas, Orangutans, Chimpanzees, etc. were all unique/typically looked different from each other - unlike in the original films, in which the different breeds of Apes all looked very similar. And, the armor/outfits that the Apes wore was interesting as well. I also liked that these Apes moved/carried themselves a lot more like actual Apes do IRL than the ones in the original film: This was especially evident in the way the lead female Ape Ari (Helena Bonham Carter) moved/jumped around, and was also evident in the final large battle scene between the Apes & Humans.
In addition, they actually made the female Apes look somewhat attractive - which I'm sure wasn't easy to do due to the prosthetics, etc. Also enjoyed the "homages" to the original film(s) re: Chuck Heston playing the dying Ape Zaius (General Thade's father) & Linda Harrison (Nova in POTA & Beneath) somewhat reprising her role as a savage human in a non-speaking cameo.
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