Planet of the Apes: Original Series of Films

In 1968 the first Ape film was released. When it was released there were action figures, books, and collectables. It was a much awaited film because of one of its actors.

Heston (Ben-Hur) is an astronaut that crashes. When he leaves the wreck he begins, slowly, to realize that he has crashed in the future and all he knows is gone. That's not all...he learns that humans are primitive and living as slaves to another creature - Apes. McDowell (Pinky and the Brain) is a scientist who studies humans. The astronaut is his biggest find because he is intelligent and can speak. This part always bothered me though - the fact that the chimps were the calm, scientific types and the gorillas were the violent ones. Typically, it's the opposite in nature. The gorillas are typically more calm whereas the chimps are more violent. All in all, I say: SEE IT. This was remade in 2001.

In 1970, the next film was released, Beneath the Planet of the Apes. A reviewer on IMDb, Kretschmann writes, "Astronaut Brent is sent to rescue Taylor but crash lands on the Planet of the Apes, just like Taylor did in the original film. Taylor has disappeared into the Forbidden Zone so Brent and Nova try to follow and find him. He discovers a cult of humans that fear the Apes' latest military movements and finds himself in the middle. Tension mounts to a climactic battle between ape and man deep in the bowels of the planet." All in all, I say: SEE IT in order to understand the next film, but I never really did like this one much.

One year later the next film was released, Escape from the Planet of the Apes. Montalban (Fantasy Island) joins the cast as does Walsh (Blade Runner) as an aide to the President. BAskin wrote this plot description for IMDb, "Following the events in "Beneath the Planet of the Apes", Cornelius and Zira flee back through time to 20th Century Los Angeles, where they face fear and persecution similar to what Taylor and Brent suffered in the future, and discover the origins of the stream of events that will shape their world." There is a surprise - the female ape scientist is pregnant - this will be important. All in all, I say: SEE IT - this one was better than the second.

The next year Conquest of the Planet of the Apes was released. The child born to the apes is Caesar. IMDb writes, "In a futuristic world that has embraced ape slavery, Caesar, the son of the late simians Cornelius and Zira, surfaces after almost twenty years of hiding out from the authorities, and prepares for a slave revolt against humanity." Apes have become pets as well as slaves. I don't remember much about this film in the series. I do know that this is the film that was sort of remade as Rise of the Planet of the Apes. All in all, I say: SEE IT before you see the remake.

In 1973, Battle for the Planet of the Apes was released. IMDb writes, "Ten years after conquering the Earth, ape leader Caesar wants the ruling apes and enslaved humans to live in peace. But warring factions of apes led by a militant gorilla general as well as various human groups threaten the stability." I don't remember this one at all. It is of interest to note that McDowell who once placed the scientist has been playing his son Caesar. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes which will be released this year, 2014, is a remake of this film. All in all, I say: SEE IT before you see the remake.

I did not see this when it was first released in 1974, but did rent it later and watch it. IMDb writes, "Two astronauts and a sympathetic chimp friend are fugitives in a future Earth dominated by a civilization of humanoid apes." Naughton (The Devil Wears Prada), McDowell (yes, the one from the films), and Lenard (Star Trek) star. It only lasted one season as you can imagine there wasn't much by way of plot unless they redid the entire film series. It's also so confusing having McDowell as a completely different character yet again. All in all, I say: SKIP IT