Where's the organ grinder? (Planet Of The Apes [2001] (DVD))

Member Name: Karaoke_James

Product:	Planet Of The Apes [2001] (DVD)
Date:	23/08/01 (55 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Super visuals, Terrific ape make-up

Disadvantages: A bit too long, Weak ending

A proposed remake of 1967's 'Planet of the apes' had been mooted around Hollywood since the early 1990s. Depending on what you read Oliver Stone was going to do it, then James Cameron, but the directorial reigns eventually ended up in the hands of Tim Burton. The headlines in the magazines and newspapers suggested Burton was treading on dangerous ground. The original is regarded as something of a classic science-fiction film and his film would undoubtedly suffer endless unenviable comparisons with it. Not having seen the original, I was able to judge this remake on its own merits.

THE PREMISE

The story is set thirty or forty years in the future. The protagonist is US air force pilot Leo Davidson (Mark Wahlberg), who is based on the space station Oberon. Also aboard this station are scientists who devote their time to tutoring chimpanzees in the art of space travel. It is air force policy to send the chimps into uncharted areas of space before they send any humans - a 'canary in a coalmine' policy so to speak. Davidson has developed a particular affinity with a chimp called Pericles.

When the station encounters an unusual pink-coloured electro-magnetic dust storm they send Pericles in a space-pod to investigate. Davidson attempts to keep track of his chimp but loses contact after only a minute or two. Defying orders, Davidson immediately launches his own pod and flies into the dust storm himself. Once inside, he loses control of the pod and seems to be propelled not only a over a great expanse of space but also a vast distance through time, eventually crash landing on an unknown planet. No sooner than he clambers from the wreckage and dusts himself down then he is attacked by a gang of… Well, the clue is in the film's title!

REVIEW

This film is a real treat for the eyes and ears. As you would expect with Burton at the helm, this film is visually spectacular. From the swirling depths of space,
to the hustle and bustle of the ape-populated cities (futuristic but at the same time curiously reminiscent of Victorian times) to the desolation of the planet's wastelands, Burton's imagination is all up there on the screen and terrific to behold. Composer Danny Elfman, a long-time collaborator of Burton of course, has produced a genuinely thumping and rousing score to go with it. Catch this on the biggest screen you can!

Naturally, the key to the film's success depends on how 'realistic' are the apes. On a planet where apes have evolved to be the dominant species over somewhat primitive humans, the apes must come across as convincingly advanced and articulate. And convincing they are - the ape make-up is a real triumph. The apes have practically a full range of human expression while at the same time retaining their monkey-like characteristics. There is a great sequence where we witness some of the simian routines the apes go through before they retire for bed. It is to Burton's credit that he keeps plenty of humour in such a sequence without it ever descending into silliness.

But the film is not a case of style over substance. Making the apes so 'human' has given us an array of interesting characters that we can sympathise with or become averse to. On this planet, humans are enslaved, but not all apes are comfortable with the idea. Their divided attitude to humans is illustrated in a nutshell at a dinner party thrown by Senator David Warner. Putting the case for the humans is the senator's daughter Ari (Helena Bonham-Carter). She believes in the abolition of slavery and is adamant that humans and apes can learn to live together in harmony. Her suggestions are strongly refuted by unbalanced military man (or should I say military 'ape'?) General Thade (Tim Roth) who believes humans are a real menace and should be wiped out before they learn to fight back effectively.

Interestingly enough, unlik
e the apes, apart from Davidson, none of the humans engage much interest, but that actually adds to the atmosphere. The humans are of course primitives on this planet and therefore would not have much more about them than the simple instinct to survive. Naturally we find the onscreen enslavement of humans totally abhorrent, but at one stage we are reminded that in our society, a high number of chimpanzees are kept in cages and used for scientific experiments. Makes you think doesn't it?

The plot has a little more drive to it than most blockbusters of recent years. The story is not particularly fast-moving - there are a couple of scenes that are a bit too drawn out - but boredom never sets in. Just when you though that you'd seen everything, Burton has a knack of now and again throwing in that bit extra of the bizarre to throw you off your guard once more!

THE MAJOR PLAYERS

I think I someone a little more rugged-looking than Mark Wahlberg would have been more appropriate in the Davidson role (or was the casting of the clean-cut Wahlberg a deliberate attempt to distance this film from the Charlton Heston original?) but he carries the movie effectively enough. As for the actors trapped behind prosthetics, Helena Bonham Carter comes across as perversely touching as gentle and sympathetic Ari.

On the other side of the fence, we have a totally unrecognisable Tim Roth as crazy, power-hungry and human-despising General Thade. Constantly snarling, restless and prone to unpredictable bouts of rage, Thade is a very unsettling character, always keeping the audience off balance whenever he is onscreen. But even Roth must yield the laurels to Michael Clarke-Duncan - at six foot five tall already an intimidating figure without his ape make-up - Duncan is at times terrifying as the booming-voiced Attar, commander of Thade's army.

RECOMMENDED?

The film is a little overlong and personally I didn't like the endin
g. However, it has some memorable and bizarre visuals, a good script and interesting characters - attributes that are rare in many big-budget films these days. Intelligent, enjoyable, 'Planet of the Apes' is undoubtedly the best 'blockbuster' of the summer.

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