Planet of the Apes
Cast
Mark Wahlberg,
Tim Roth
Helena Bonham Carter
Glenn Shadix
Michael Clarke Duncan
Paul Giamatti
Estella Warren
David Warner
Erick Avari
Based
on the book La Planete des Singes by Pierre Boulle
The year is 2029 and a young astronaut, Capt. Leo Davidson, played by
Mark Wahlberg, is working at a space station where apes are trained to
travel into space instead of humans. Leo is young, determined and his
favourite chimpanzee is sent out during an electromagnetic storm, the
station loses contact with him and Leo ignoring his commanding officer
sets off on his own personal mission to save the chimp.
He crashes and immediately finds himself hurled into a jungle that is ruled by apes, apes that talk, who capture humans to be their slaves branding them with iron rods. The humans who are not enslaved live in the barren wastelands of the planet in tribes.
In
this film unlike the original, the humans can speak, where as in it’s
predecessor they had lost the ability to talk and were reduced to mere
scavenging. The entire slave system here could be interpreted as racial
hated; the humans are treated as though they are inferior.
In amongst the community of apes is a defiant female ape, Ari, played expertly, by Helena Bonham Carter. She does not agree with the way the humans are being treated by her kind, and has radical thoughts regarding their mistreatment.
Leo is captured to be traded as a slave, he soon escapes with members of a tribe, persuading Ari to help them by telling her he will show her something that will change her life forever. They make the long and hazardous journey towards the ancient ruins of Calima taking with them the cowardly slave trader played by Paul Giamatti; who adds great humour throughout the movie.
They are closely followed by General Thade, played by, Tim Roth. He is a very powerful and evil influence on the other apes and desires to kill all humans that inhabit the planet.
This film is a fantastic science fiction adventure. There are of course going to be comparisons with the original “Planet of the Apes” and many people have asked why Burton even attempted to make a film that would be contrasted with the all time classic. However, the film was made and to be totally frank it was very courageous decision. You will see references to the original movie throughout this film, including Charlton Heston who plays a cameo role as General Thade’s father.
The
barren landscapes, isolation and fear from the original “Planet
of Apes” are not here. However this film cannot be judged on the
same ground as it’s predecessor, Burton has taken ideas and utilized
them to make a new film. It stands on its own merit and is a thoroughly
enjoyable action packed piece of Si Fi.
There is an array of talented people who created the designs including Rick Heinrichs and Colleen Atwood who worked on Sleepy Hollow, and Academy Award-winner Rick Baker who did the brilliant make up for the apes.
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