Planet of the Apes

This is one of the foundational works of modern science fiction movies that I have watched repeatedly, and I never tire of it. Also, don't let anyone tell you that the Burton remake is just a kitsch. In my opinion, both films are on the same level, with a mysterious charm, oppressive atmosphere, and much more. (03/27/2009)

It’s amazing how Planet of the Apes doesn't age. In fact, the opposite is true. The more times I see it, the more I like it (despite always thinking that I couldn't possibly like it any better given how great it is). It's simply an incredibly sophisticated sci-fi story with a message that is still relevant today. Alas. The masks are perfect - I simply know I'm looking at monkeys, not people hiding behind rubber (or whatever) noses, and I admire the performance of Charlton Heston, who spends most of the film half naked and doesn't say a word for about half of it... And yet he acts amazing. I don't even need to mention Goldsmith's music - the soundtrack to Planet of the Apes proves to me what an unsurpassed genius he was. You won't find similarly strange, sophisticated and original music that is so addictive. Except perhaps Alien.__P.S. The most interesting part of all this is that almost everything that makes this Planet of the Apes so good, Tim Burton's remake also has... Almost. (10/11/2009)

This is simply an incredible film. When I saw it for the first time, I was absolutely amazed by what I saw, how amazing those masks are, and of course, I was captivated by the story. It has even greater depth for me now than when I was a child. When comparing it to the new movies that are prequels to this series, it's great to see that the new films have returned to the meaning of this great, original one. An amazing film that can never be forgotten. (08/01/2014)

Planet of the Apes became a phenomenon in the media in its time and was one of the most famous works in the sci-fi genre, and its commercial success resulted in several sequels. Although these sequels brought the producers considerable profit with minimal expenses (they were filmed, of course, using the set and masks from the original movie), they diluted the original strength of the film. Based on the successful novel of the same name by Pierre Boulle from 1963, which, although different from its film adaptation in many aspects, is equally good and I can recommend it for its literary language and intellectual level. The film was expensive for its time and shooting with actors in masks was challenging, especially for Kim Hunter, who had a lot of screen time. The film had extraordinary success not only because of the professional work of the makeup artists who were able to create a perfect illusion of an ape civilization, but also because of the quality screenplay and clever direction. Last but not least, the film struck a chord with the spirit of the time with its dark message about the end of human civilization. The cold war was reaching its peak, which had turned unpleasantly hot in Vietnam, and politically, there was unrest on university campuses and city streets, and various apocalyptic visions were very fashionable... The film belongs to the golden standard of its genre. Overall impression: 95%. (06/22/2006)

One of those classics that has the misfortune that everyone with at least some interest in cinema knows the twist already and then it feels too predictable when they watch it for the first time. Fortunately, Planet of the Apes doesn’t rely only on the reveal, it’s a captivating story from beginning to end. 9/10 (06/07/2011)