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THE BATTALION f
lanet of the Apes: now and then
Story by Thomas Phillips
S cience fiction and symbolic storytelling collide in Planet of the
Apes, whether it is the 1968 original or the 2001 version. Fan
ciful costumes, scenery and poignant themes appeal to view
ers’ imaginations and hearts throughout both renderings. »
Based on Pierre Boulle’s novel, who also wrote Bridge Over the
River Kwai, each film is the unique interpretation by its respec
tive director. Franklin J. Schaffher directed the 1968 film
and Tim Burton (Batman, Edward Scissorhands') di
rected the 2001 version.
Planet of the Apes 1968, starring Charlton
Heston (The Ten Commandments, Ben
Hur), premiered during the turbu
lent days of the civil rights move
ment, which made the film’s
timeless anti-racism message
even more powerful.
That movie spawned
four sequels — Beneath
the Planet of the Apes, Es
cape from the Planet of
the Apes, Conquest of the
Planet of the Apes, and
Battle for the Planet of
the Apes — a cartoon
series and a merchan
dising bonanza that
would be rivaled by
that of Star Wars nine
years later.
Widi a $5.8 million
budget, Schaffher produced
what soon became a favorite
among science-fiction fans and
grossed nearly $26 million at the
box office. In comparison, Burton’s
21 st century rendition carried a budg
et of almost $100 million and grossed
$68.5 million opening weekend.
Using that $100 million budget,
Burton employs a cast of rising stars and
an experienced crew to put his spin on the
upside-down ape world. Mark Wahlberg
(Fear, The Perfect Storm), who received $10
million for his services, Helena Bonham
Carter (Fight Club) and makeup artist Rick
Baker (Star Wars, The Nutty Professor') muster
creative forces in a film that is neither a remake
nor a sequel to the original.
In the original movie, astronaut Taylor (Heston)
and his space crew of fellow Earthlings crash land on
a mysterious planet after traveling ahead through time.
Through a barren landscape, the trio searches for
inhabitants only to reach a lush jungle and be cap
tured by intelligent apes.
Characters develop, and an imprisoned Tay
lor finds a pair of advocates in Zira and Cor
nelius, two chimps with no affection for the
oppressive gorillas and orangutans that
rule ape society.
Zira and Cornelius argue on behalf of
Taylor to their superior Dr. Zaius, the
film’s antagonist. However, their plea
for interspecies equality falls on deaf
ears and narrowed vision as Zaius will
have no part of that kind of civilization.
Not-so-subtle imagery makes obvi
ous the film’s depiction of race relations
in the United States at the time of the
film’s premiere. In one scene Taylor re
marks to Dr. Zaius, saying, “You’re afraid
of me, and you hate me. Why?” Dr. Za
ius responds, “Because you’re a man.”
The plot moves on and climaxes with a
surprising and ironic twist, which raises
further awareness of yet another issue ap
propriate to that time.
The social elements expressed in
Schaffner’s Planet of the Apes can be appealing to all viewers, even
those with little taste for science fiction. Laura Crozier, a senior in
terdisciplinary studies major, has seen the movie only once but still
appreciates its moral point.
“The political statements that it made brought to light the fear
and ignorance associated with racism,” Crozier said. “You also have
• to take into consideration the time that die original came out, what
was going on dien with the civil rights movement.’’
None of that pertinence has been lost in the newest telling of the
Planet of the Apes story.
Burton continues the socially-minded themes while making use
of a familiar plot, unique characters and exceptional visual elements
to make a blockbuster.
In this reinvention of the idea, Capt. Leo Davidson (Wahlberg)
crash lands on, yes, a mysterious planet and must survive his way
through one calamitous scenario after another. Leo, like Taylor,
finds help along the way in a mischievous, disillusioned ape—this
time in Ari (Bonham).
Michael Clarke Duncan (The Gi'een Mile) and Paul Giamatti (Sav
ing Private Ryan) play the supporting characters Attar, a soldier and
Limbo, a slave trader. Tim Roth (Rob Roy) leads the ape army as the
villainous Gen.Thade.
Burton, like Schaffher, also uses intriguing plot twists and action
sequences to thicken the story and add dimension to#the ape world.
“I enjoyed the first one,” said Travis Matthews, a senior wildlife
and fisheries sciences major. “The new one looks much more visu
ally appealing than the original, but the concept and the story car
ried that one. It didn’t need a whole lot of fancy eye candy to make
its point.”
See movie review on page 4.
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