This is an Asian Cinema blog but every now and again I do write about other films too.
For fans of Planet of the Apes, this is my ranking of the entire series from best to worst including the latest War for the Planet of the Apes.
Check it out!
Now back to Asian films!
These films been at the back of my mind since your post/article, and finally got the opportunity to watch the originals at last.... I definitely think 1 & 3 are neck and neck the best. I know 1's the acknowledged classic, but 3 is a bit tighter story-wise. 1 takes a good while to get going, being half way before Taylor reveals his speech to the Apes and thereafter it's quite 'stagey'. 3's pregnancy twist and downbeat ending are pretty effective (but the arrival of TV stalwarts in the cast shift it away from the cinema in the mind somewhat). 2's alright, you just have to be patient and enjoy the jumble of (not very well executed but quite) good ideas. Not quite sure if the underground bomb worshipping idea pulls things a bit off the rails to more overt SF (but the mutants reveal is another good twist). Can I give myself bonus points for guessing the OST was by the same fellow who scored the animated The Lord of the Rings, and for spotting Orbital sampled it for 'Desert Storm'? As a trilogy they hang together well though, with Kim Hunter's overall performance as Zira being just as remarkable as Roddy McDowell's as Cornelius. 4 & 5 evidently made on the cheap, but still pretty well written. I quite liked 4's proto-Fight Club moment, the subservient apes stocking up on weapons, as well as silently facing down the police just before attacking at the end - actually a really effective moment that. Nice primer for the new films - I'll be sure to report back (next year?!) after watching them....
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