King Caesar wrote:In one day, I watched:
Planet of the Apes: My favorite of the original series. Acting is solid, plot is fantastic, and the make-up effects are extraordinary. It's interesting to see the conflict between religion and science which is paralleled in our society. It adds a certain depth that curbs as the series progressed. And, believe it or not, Rod Serling co-wrote the screenplay. Dien and Serling put out one heck of a screenplay, and the movie rightfully earned its Emmy-Awards. 5/5
Beneath the Planet of the Apes: While it falls short to the original, BtPotA is still a great entry to the series, boasting another religious conflict. The use of religion for warring purposes is haunting. The protest scene reminds me of the protests that were going on during the Vietnam War. The make-up effects, due to a lower budget, were not on par with its predeccessor, but the movie still stands strong. 4/5
Escape From the Planet of the Apes: First off, I find it odd that a species who doubts the very possibility of flight manages to get into a spaceship (presumably the one Col. Taylor flew in) and get off Earth before the apocalypse. Also, I don't understand why it is set two years in the future. *sigh* Nitpicking aside, this is a good entry in the series and has some humorous moments as well as suspensful and dark ones. 3.5/5
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes: Another nitpick coming in. Cornelius and Zira described the process of domestication of apes to have been over centuries, yet the full enslavement of the species was only after 18 years. That makes sense. Anyways, I love this one. Critically, it's flawed. However, I prefer over any of the other sequels, and Roddy McDowall's argument with McDonald at the end is one of the my favorite scenes in movie history. Personally, 5/5. Critically, 3.5/5
Battle for the Planet of the Apes: Looking from where we came from to this, the series has gone downhill. And this is the bottom. The character of McDonald is replaced by his brother--who is not mentioned in Conquest (casting problems, I'm sure)--which is a slight disappointment, but can be overlooked. The film itself is lackluster. Compared to its predeccessors, I feel it's dull and suffers. The villains aren't compelling, and I feel it tried to make everything end on a high note, but it doesn't come with the epic climatic battle one would hope for. Disappointing, but still check it out if you find it. 2/5
I definitely need to do an Apes Marathon soon.
Battle is pretty rough and a definitely a couple steps below the prestige of the first one. But I found it to be solidly put together, interesting, and just as entertaining as
Conquest which remains quite remarkable. Especially in regards to Roddy McDowell's performance as Caesar.
Last film I watched was
The American Astronaut ; a film set in an alternate world where Space has been colonized by oddball roughnecks in garbage-y looking contraptions, it centers around one space trucker Sam Curtis who rendezvous with his old friend The Blueberry Pirate in a space tavern with a mission; transport a Real Live Human Girl to Jupiter (A desolate mining colony where the entire population is entirely men) and trade the girl for The Boy Who Had Seen A Womens Breast and take the boy to Venus and trade him for the body of their old Dead King so his family on Earth can bury him.
Also it's a rockabilly-ish musical.
It's become my second favorite film of all time. It's just incredible in every capacity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uujG1ADn2zk < Watch the trailer.