Escape from the Planet of the Apes Review: A masterful sequel to a misguided mess
After experiencing a cinematic masterpiece and a disappointing sequel, I was intrigued to see what this movie had to offer and how it even was made. The second film's bombastic ending didn't seem to lend itself to a sequel, especially since it retroactively affected the original's conclusion—and not in a good way. However, this film, despite the shadow of the second one, surprised me with its brilliance. It now stands as one of my favorite films, alongside the original. But why? That's for me to write and for you to discover in today's article: an Escape from the Planet of the Apes Review: A masterful sequel to a misguided mess.
As I detailed in my previous review, the second film in this series was pretty awful in my eyes. It simultaneously was too bland and rehashed, yet also way too weird and out-there for its own good. Following that movie's crazy ending, we now get a third film that in no way rehashes a single beat from its predecessors, standing as a wholly new and refreshing entry in the series. Zira, Cornelius, and Dr. Milo were able to escape into the past and avoid the nuclear blast, landing in the present day and brilliantly turning the fish-out-of-water formula on its head, where now the three apes are the odd ones out. While the setup of the apes escaping on a spaceship is unrealistic, the rest of the film plays out just as I'd imagine it happening in the real world. At first, the government is confused and transports them to a zoo, which is followed by an animal psychologist testing their intelligence and providing them with food. Humorously, Zira reveals she can talk by saying she hates bananas, and from there on out, Zira and Cornelius become celebrities of sorts, being beloved by the majority of the American public. However, a malicious group is out to kill them, knowing that talking apes end up taking over the planet, and they want to alter the course of Earth's future.
The movie then shifts tones throughout the film, going from dumb, silly fun to increasingly dark and depressing. Unlike its predecessor, which has blatant tonal shifts on a whim, this movie is able to shift the tone in a nuanced and intriguing fashion. This movie is brilliant in terms of building tension, character growth, and development, and perhaps it has my favorite social commentary of any film in the series—all in a sequel that follows one of my least favorite sequels of all time. Seeing the difference in how humans treat talking apes is an excellent foil to how the opposite was represented in the past two films!
Seeing the majority of humankind as kind and accepting during the second act honestly reminded me of the overwhelming majority of good people in America, but with loud, vocal minorities that cause the worst of the world's conflicts. This movie took me through the whole range of emotions, from a grin on my face to tears coating my eyes. Zira and Cornelius were perfect lead characters! A lot of time, when a side character takes the leading role after a main character's death, the plot suffers immensely. However, I'd argue that shifting to Zira and Cornelius as the leads instead of Taylor or Brent actually enhanced the film in its favor. Their chemistry is at its absolute best here, and they also bounce off the human side characters incredibly well. Seeing the presence of Zira and Cornelius was just fascinating. And, as somebody who loves the courtroom scene in the original, having multiple had me on the edge of my seat.
Some objective criticisms of the film include a minimal amount of action and spectacle and diminishing returns on special effects. However, I've always loved the B-movie aesthetic and goofy makeup, as well as the focus on emotional and social conflict over physical conflict. Even watching it for the first time in 2024, it held up quite well for me, especially compared to Beneath the Planet of the Apes bizarre reliance on CGI.
The Reel Ranker Verdict
Reel or Unreel? - Reel
The Reel Ranker Score: 95%
Letter Score: S
Star Ranking: 4.5 out of 5
In the end, this is my second favorite movie of the series! What I love so much about this series is how different every entry is, and this one perfectly combines what I love about older action films, the premise of the series, and great social commentary. While I still slightly prefer the original film, this is still one of my all time favorite movies! If you were ever hesitant to watch some of the sequels, I still highly recommend giving this movie a watch. I know you'll be pleasantly surprised!
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