While attempting the space-pod retrieval of a chimpanzee test pilot, Major Leo Davidson (Mark Wahlberg) enters a magnetic storm that propels him into the distant future, where he crash-lands on the ape-ruled planet. Among the primitively civilized apes, treatment of enslaved humans is a divisive issue: senator's daughter Ari (Helena Bonham Carter) advocates equality while the ruthless General Thade (Tim Roth) promotes extermination. While Davidson ignites a human rebellion, this conflict is explored with admirable depth and emotion, and sharp dialogue allows Burton's exceptional cast to bring remarkable expressiveness to their embattled ape characters, most notably in the comic relief of orangutan slave trader Limbo (played to perfection by Paul Giamatti). Classic lines from the original film are cleverly reversed (including an unbilled cameo for Charlton Heston, in ape regalia as Thade's dying father), and while this tale of interspecies warfare leads to an ironic conclusion that's not altogether satisfying, it still bears the ripe fruit of a timeless what-if idea. --Jeff Shannon

Product Description
After a spectacular crash-landing on an uncharted planet brash astronaut Leo Davidson (Mark Wahlberg) finds himself trapped in a savage world where talking apes dominate the human race. Desperate to find a way home Leo must evade the invincible gorilla army led by ruthless General Thade (Tim Roth) and his most trusted warrior Attar (Michael Clarke Duncan). Now the pulse-pounding race is on to reach a sacred temple that may hold the shocking secrets of mankind's past - and the last hope for it's salvation!Episodes-Bonus Features:**Widescreen Feature**Commentary by Tim Burton**Easter Egg: Chimp Commentary (Video)**Theatrical Trailer**Trailers (BEHIND ENEMY LINES ICE AGE LXG)System Requirements:Running Time: 124 minsFormat: BLU-RAY DISC Genre: SCI-FI/FANTASY Rating: Unknown UPC: 024543414575 Manufacturer No: 2241457

Now I understand that this is a science fiction movie and I understand that when I hear these words in combination with one another I must suspend my disbelief to some extent. But one of these words is "science," okay? So, in theory anyway, is it not reasonable to expect a certain semblance to reality? Why is this so difficult?

The trouble begins pretty quickly, almost as soon as our hero gets to the ape planet. He runs into both apes and humans immediately, and after toying with us for several minutes, the filmmakers finally allow us to hear that the humans in this world can speak. Whoa! This is a significant departure from both the novel and the first movie, which both portrayed humans as merely dumb animals. In this one, they are intelligent. How were they going to reconcile this with their obviously subservient status?

The answer is, they don't. How did these intelligent human beings get into this state? In fact, what is their state? Where do they live? What do they live in? What do they eat? Do they cook? How do they clothe themselves? We never see. We know nothing, except that they appear out of the forest one day, and speak relatively educated English with one another. What is going on here? I guess we're not supposed to know, and apparently, the filmmakers don't believe that we care. This is what is known as intellectual laziness, and it is infuriating.

What is really going on is that the filmmakers wanted the space human and the ape-world humans to be able to communicate with one another, quickly, and they didn't care about the huge plot complications that arose because of it. They ignored it. But this is like ignoring, if you will excuse me, the eight-hundred pound gorilla in the corner. From any standpoint you care to look at it--anthropological, biological or even political--the brave new world they have created makes no sense.

So they abandoned common sense everywhere. Take the apes. They have obviously discovered steel, but for some reason--even though they are a very warlike society--they haven't discovered swords or spears or shields, or for that matter, even bows and arrows. Instead, they use heavy club-like devices--so they can pummel each other in an apelike fashion--and slings. They are obsessed by the human problem. They discuss nothing else. Some want to kill the humans and some advocate living with them peacefully. This is kind of interesting, but again, is this all there is? As humans have apparently been completely subjugated and are practically helpless, why should they care this much?

And they are afraid of water! Terrified even, although they live in an area which is lush with jungly vegetation, has at least two large lakes, and is seemingly darkened by clouds most of the time. How can a creature which requires water to survive be in terror of it? It makes no sense, except that soon enough we see the movie-maker's reason for it: a very clumsy plot device, and one which easily could have been circumvented with even a little imagination. Again, they don't seem to care.

As the film continues we find out that the explanation for the ape society is that it was founded by--a chimpanzee. Yes, a chimp. A monkey. But haven't the apes been ridiculing monkeys all along? And how, pray tell, does an ape descend from a monkey anyway? HOW?

Nope, they don't care to explain, and this, in a nutshell, is what plagues major Hollywood filmmaking today: the thought and intelligence behind these projects is used entirely to go into the creation of special effects, and is completely uncaring as to the story it purports to tell. The first film, as well as making sense from a plot standpoint, was also truly thought-provoking: our inhumane treatment of dumb brutes as exemplified by our being put in their place; the question of the origin of society and the belief in a superior being; and even racial divisions among the apes themselves are issues that were explored. But in this movie, any thought--and even a rational plot--is subsumed by realistic-looking gorilla costumes; lots of fighting in the new-age, leaping-around, karate-kicking way; amplified growls and shrieks; and wild rides in a colorful outer space. That's it.

I myself was bored beyond belief, and appalled by the preposterous, ridiculous ending. I left the theatre feeling insulted that the makers of films like this apparently think that we can be bought so cheaply. But who cares? Judging from the first weekend's box-office receipts, the filmmakers sure don't. Why should they? Sad. We truly are descending to the level of dopey animals if we enjoy watching this mindlessness


Apes is utter disaster   July 27, 2001
 57 out of 80 found this review helpful

Boy, I've read some of the reviews on this page and I'm stunned. What did the people who liked this movie see in it? I'm a science-fiction fan and a fan of the original movie and I have to say that this remake is a complete failure. I didn't go in expecting to see the original movie nor did I want to. What I got instead was a horrible mish-mash of a story, zero character development, very poor action scenes, and an ending that defied all logic. I was looking forward to Tim Roth playing the villian in this movie, but instead he's given no character. I wasn't frightened by him, I didn't hate him, in fact I felt nothing for him. He walks around for most of the movie grunting and growling out his lines while the rest of the apes talked normally. The same goes for the rest of the cast: I didn't care if they lived or died because the filmmakers gave me no reason too. The special effects, production design, cinematography, and Danny Elfman's score are all good, but this was hardly enough to save a movie that suffered from a nonexistant screenplay. And that ending...man. This one will definitely go down in my book as one of the worst remakes ever made.


Tim Burton's Worst Film   June 22, 2006
 41 out of 51 found this review helpful

There was no justification to "reimagine" this 1968 sci-fi classic. From a box-office standpoint, the 2001 "Planet of the Apes" filled 20th Century Fox's coffers as a cynical, money-grubbing enterprise. Artistically, the film represents a low point in director Tim Burton's mostly impressive career, with an all-star cast hopelessly lost in space. A thoroughly unpleasant experience.


See it for the Apes   July 25, 2001
 40 out of 51 found this review helpful

I really enjoyed The Planet of The Apes, if for nothing more than the dark and brilliant world created by Tim Burton. Every frame is packed with so much detail and so much action you won't want to blink. What Burton paints with images, Danny Elfman matches with sound with yet another excellent score. But it's clear from the get-go that the real stars here are the apes who look and move so wonderfully realistically, you'll forget that they're not.

The makeup is so good in The Planet of The Apes it's hard to see the actor behind the mask. But this seems more an asset than a liability for the ape actors who all put in very strong performances. Unfortunately the 'human' actors are another story: Mark Wahlberg is clearly out of his league and depth here and really struggles to carry the lead. There's a scene where Wahlberg tries to rally the troops and he was so bad, it's funny. Estella Warren looks great but does very little in a role that is really not much more than window dressing.

As with many visually stunning films, more care and attention was paid to the look of The Planet of The Apes than the script, so we're asked to make some pretty big leaps of faith. The Planet of The Apes it's definitely NOT a movie to think a lot about when you leave the theater, as many plot points don't hold up well on re-examination. That said, I recommend The Planet of The Apes; it's a very enjoyable movie with a look you won't soon forget!...


Pre-release screening Planet of the Apes   July 20, 2001
 34 out of 62 found this review helpful

PLANET OF THE APES WILL BE HUGE HIT.

Get in line now for your opening night tickets. Start ordering ape costumes for Halloween. Mark Walhberg may rate the cover of Vanity Fair but it's Tim Burton's signature lush, dark and wrily comic take on Planet of the Apes that will make it the huge success of the summer. In his recent interview with Playboy Burton praised the original film and said he had to make a different movie. That he did from the nightmare settings that are vintage Burton to the wildly elaborate make-up that should guarantee at least one Academy Award. Helen Bonham Carter surely deserves an Academy nod as well.

Burton's film is far more militaristic than anthropological; no `60s anti-war sentiment here. The most applauded difference will be the enormous effort -- including ape school for all the simian impersonators -- that went into making the apes so apelike in movement and behavior traits including upside-down grooming, mating rituals and infantry chimps charging on all fours.

There is far more action in the 2001 version and the flying fights of the apes make Crouching Tiger look like child's play which is as good as it gets for mere humans.

In case you are lulled into expecting a happy ending, the writers have a great twist, playing homage to the original while rendering moot the usual problems of time travel. This may be as apt a subject for Burtion's outsider consciousness as Edward Scissorhands since the actors portraying apes are certainly more magnetic and masterful than the those relegated to human roles.

Screened film 7/19/01