Planet of the Apes Review: An allegorical and masterful epic
Planet of the Apes is a film I was always hesitant to watch because, frankly, the premise of apes talking like humans was always too goofy for me. However, watching it for the first time in 2024, this is one of my new favorite movies of all time! In this review, I, Brighton Nelson of The Reel Ranker present unto you my take on the original Planet of the Apes movie. Let's dive right into today's article: a Planet of the Apes Review: An allegorical and masterful epic.
This movie kicks off with three astronauts awakening from deep hibernation and crash-landing on an unknown planet 701 years into the future. This movie brilliantly frames the introduction as a sci-fi adventure movie, as the three men talk and get to know each other like any other main protagonists in any movie. This makes it so utterly shocking when the apes ambush them, shooting them to death for sport. Minutes into the film, I was hooked more than almost any other movie I've watched! However, one of the three men, Taylor, is saved from death by chimpanzee psychologist Zira. In this world, humans are typically mute, and they initially think Taylor is the same, as he was shot in the throat. The watcher then sees the human-like society of apes brilliantly! We see chimpanzees as the intellectuals, orangutans as the government and religious officials, and gorillas as the militia and laborers. Taylor escapes from his prison and attempts to rally the help of Zira and her fiancé, Cornelius. However, Taylor is found by Dr. Zaius, but he yet again escapes and sees that his friend Dodge is a stuffed corpse on display, and Landon is rendered catatonic. Taylor is yet again captured and put on trial and threatened to be castrated and lobotomized. Cornelius and Zira then free Taylor, and they attempt to recover archaeological evidence that corroborates Taylor's defense in his trial. The attempt fails, and then Taylor runs off to see one of the most brilliant plot twists of all time.
Alright, now that I've refreshed you on the plot of this masterpiece, let's talk about why it is still brilliant decades later. The social commentary reversing the roles of primates and humans makes for a poignant introspective into what would happen if humans had fallen from grace. In the time bubble of the movie, nuclear fallout was a feasible threat, and the fact that it tackles the implications of human doomsday in its closing moments makes the movie more impressive to rewatch. This also acts as a commentary on the Civil Rights Movement of America, displaying humans as slaves, similar to how people of color were treated in early America. While the messages aren't the most nuanced, they also don't detract from the movie by any means. Unlike many modern blockbusters that throw away their promising script for some tell-don't-show themes, this movie is able to balance the action and themes effectively. While the themes are rather heavy-handed, the film certainly does an excellent job of showing its themes instead of just telling the audience. Taylor also has a great character arc, starting as an absolute arse, but he has a phenomenal journey. He leaves Earth initially because he, frankly, hates everybody. He then goes throughout the movie, being the sole defender of the human race and becoming a genuinely likable protagonist for whom I was firmly rooting. It makes him feel so much more realistic than the glamorous one-liner blockbuster stars of today. Every single element of this movie is practically perfect, outside of some odd choices at the onset of the movie, such as only having one female for three males without any trained doctors. I'd never agree to such a mission if I were a woman, that's for sure. That's really the only questionable thing outside of too many man parts showing for my liking and, to some, dated practical effects.
The Reel Ranker Verdict
Reel or Unreel? - Reel
The Reel Ranker Score: 98%
Letter Score: S+
Star Ranking: 5 out of 5
Ultimately, the movie is an endlessly entertaining movie with brilliant blockbuster action, rich themes, and life lessons that anybody can benefit anybody. While I was originally skeptical of this movie, don't be an idiot like me: do yourself a favor and watch this masterpiece... you won't regret it!
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