Spoilers – Warning, the article below contains potential spoilers. If you do not want to know its contents, please do not read the following…
Are you interested in science fiction and want to know which genre classics are first? A few years ago, the AlloCiné editorial team tried to identify the 10 must-see feature films in the field and compile them into one file.
While we recently talked about Steven Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, let’s return today to another monument: Planet of the Apes, its name is loosely adapted from the novel by Pierre Boulle and directed by Franklin J. Shafner st. 1968
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What is it about?
We follow the nightmarish adventures of astronauts Taylor, Landon and Dodge, who at the end of a space journey lasting almost two millennia, after a long hibernation, crashed on an unknown and apparently abandoned planet. Exploring the area, they soon find primitive people dressed in simple animal skins, only to realize they are being chased by…monkeys. Armored, armed, and horse-riding primates even established real societies.
Franklin J. Schaffner’s film, which also owes a great deal to the excellent Patton and Papillon, is particularly memorable for the unsettling themes it tackles, as well as its particular primal atmosphere, imbued with Jerry Goldsmith’s whimsical score.
A terrifying conclusion
Dressed by Charlton Heston and served up by John Chambers (then a CIA covert) in make-up, Planet of the Apes holds a special place in science fiction history thanks to its ultimate twist, all just chilling.
A scary and desperate scene in which the main character, after escaping from monkeys and walking on the beach, is horrified to discover the remains of a monument he knows very well: the Statue of Liberty.
He then realizes that the Planet of the Apes is none other than… Earth.
Many other movies
A true classic of the genre, Schaffner’s film was followed by 4 sequels, shot between 1970 and 1973. After another (rather forgettable) effort by Tim Burton in 2001, the timeless themes of Planet of the Apes would begin another saga. High quality, the first three parts of which will be distinguished by the unforgettable performance of Andy Serkis (as Caesar).
The fourth part, which seems to be closer to the 1968 film, is scheduled for release on May 8.
(re)discover its trailer…
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
