Monkey Business (Planet Of The Apes [2001] (DVD))

Member Name: elspeth334

Product:	Planet Of The Apes [2001] (DVD)
Date:	08/09/01 (34 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great Acting and Special Effects

Disadvantages: Strange Story

I think this is one of those films that you will either love or hate. It’s the modern update of the 1968 classic. This time it’s given the big budget Hollywood treatment thanks to director Tim Burton (Sleepy Hollow). Well has the make over been a change for the good?

The plot involves a pilot from the space pilot, Leo Davidson (Mark Wahlberg) who decides to try and rescue his monkey in space. The problem is he too has difficulty and ends up landing on a planet where apes rule. The apes rule by martial law and Davidson starts a rebellion and makes the humans fight back as he wants to return to earth. It is a pretty basic plot in reality but has many subplots like Ari (Helena Bonham Carter) hating the way humans are treated and deciding to help them.

There are some incredible performances in this movie. The problem being the only actor you can readily identify is Mark Wahlberg. Mark needs a special mention because it takes a good actor to act alongside apes and still keep it realistic. However there are other great performances given throughout the movie. These all deserve a special mention because they have to run around in monkey suits for the whole film. Tim Roth does and excellent job as General Thade and manages to appear extremely evil even when wrapped in latex and fur. The same has to be said about Helena Bonham Carter who manages to appear sexy while subjected to the same harsh acting conditions. Overall the performances are outstanding and manage to make the apes all come to life.

The special effects in this movie are nothing short of incredible. The effort it must have taken to create hundreds of ape masks then put them on the extra and stars. They are so detailed that in your mind you start believing that they are apes. The digital effects of the spacecraft and other such things too are very impressive too. The main aim of a special effect is so that the audience doesn’t notice it and in this instance the cer
tainly achieve that.

Granted this film is weird but it’s a lot better than its 1968 original. If you can get past the just how weird it is you will enjoy this film. It is great entertainment and Tim Burton has proved that the Hollywood makeover has worked again. Don’t take my word for it; give it a go for yourself.

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