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Movie Review: Planet of the Apes (20th Century Fox, 2001)
By Ali Asadullah 03/08/2001
CAST
Leo Davidson ... Mark Wahlberg
General Thade ... Tim Roth
Ari ... Helena Bonham Carter
Daena ... Estella Warren
Attar ... Michael Clark Duncan
Director ... Tim Burton
Writing Credits ... William Broyles, Jr., Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal
Producers ... Richard D. Zanuck, Ralph Winter
There are some movies that should simply not be re-made; for in retooling and re-crafting them, an almost inevitable degradation of the original feel and purpose takes place. This is especially true when films that carry some redeeming social value through their commentary on the human condition are redone. Unfortunately however, the lure of large box office returns and the egotistical drive of directors and producers seeking to make their mark by creating a bigger, better, flashier film, lead to the trampling of film classics. The latest victim of the remake trend is Fox's summer, action blockbuster
The Planet of the Apes.
When the original was released in 1968, it struck a cord with the American public. Based on the book
The Monkey Planet by French author Pierre Boulle - also the acclaimed author of
Bridge Over the River Kwai - the 1968 version spoke volumes to the chaotic state of affairs prevailing in 1960s America. It became a sort of reverse metaphor for American racism in which the tables were turned on the white power structure. It was a serious movie for serious times and was directed by arguably one of the best cinematic, cultural commentators of the period, Rod Serling (of
Twilight Zone fame).
Thanks to Serling, American audiences were able to look in the mirror and see their country's legacy of oppression. With Charlton Heston playing the lead - subjugated by a society of primates who not only walked, talked and had the intelligence of humans, but also had the well-defined social strata of human society --= and finding no quarter amongst his ape captors, it was clear to all that race was the order of the day in the film.
In the hands of Tim Burton however, The Planet of the Apes has become barely little more than an action film with an interesting plot. Indeed Burton's stated goal was to reinvent the movie; and that he did, weaving a cohesive tale full of conflict, adventure and confrontation filmed in his trademark dark and gloomy style. But, gone are the biting allusions to race and social status, replaced instead with snippets of commentary on everything from animal rights to the dangers of out-of-control science and the corrupting influence of power.
The film opens on a research space vessel where genetically enhanced primates are being used to man exploration pods being sent into various deep space phenomena to collect data. The movie's protagonist, Leo Davidson (Mark Wahlberg), is tasked with training chimps to follow specific procedures while performing their research duties.
When one of his favorite trainees fails to return from a short mission into a gaseous storm cloud, Davidson succumbs to his impetuous nature, jumping into one of the pods and jettisoning himself into the very same storm. He does not find the chimp, but he does find a wormhole of sorts that projects him forward in time by a few thousand years and landing him on a planet dominated by highly intelligent apes.
Taken captive by the primates, Davidson is surprised to find that all humans on the planet are reduced to little more than chattel. But, before he can be carted off to a life of hard labor, a female chimp "human rights activist" named Ari (Helena Bonham Carter) purchases him for the more dignified job of house servant, where she can at least provide more humane treatment of her charges.
Ever the military man though, Davidson's only thought is to escape, which he does with Ari's help. Along with a few other humans and some ape turncoats, Davidson treks across the ape-world trying to zero in on a homing signal he has picked up on a tracking device he salvages from his crash site. But hot on his trail is General Thade, a power-hungry chimp who claims descent from the apes' deity, CMOS.
As can be expected from an action film, there is a final, climactic battle in which the hero predictably prevails with the help of his chimp trainee who lands his pod safely on the battlefield itself. Having won the day, Davidson takes off in the pod for the return flight home. However, before he gets there, a twist in the plot leaves viewers drooling for the sequel.
The only thing that really works in favor of Planet of the Apes is the use of a rye, subtle form of comedy. In fact, at times, the movie is quite witty and even outright funny and it makes one wonder why the comic element has not been highlighted more in the film's marketing.
For Muslims there is not an overwhelming amount of objectionable content. The character of Daena (Estalla Warren) is scantily clad throughout the film and there is a kissing scene at the very end of the final battle scene; however, beyond those elements it's a typical action film with some violence. It's not a child's movie but it's not overwhelmingly objectionable on an adult level.
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