Planet of the Apes
This picture, a remake of the 1968 cult classic, is about a space cadet who lands on a planet that is ruled by mean and powerful apes.
Seemingly ridiculous, this movie is actually very good. It is basically an exploration into the possibility of a role reversal in which humans are treated like 'animals' by animals who are like human -- in all the vices. Also a brief but meaningful commentary on power, religion, desire and fear of searching for ones origins and ultimately about the ever present human fear of creating a Frankenstein.
What Tim Burton ( Batman, Sleepy Hollow) has done to the original is like restoration of a gret old painting. It brings out and brightens some new colors however inevitably losing some sobriety. Mr. Burton has produced here mass entertainment at its best.
Mark Wahlberg is steely as Leo, a cadet, who finds himself into this strange land and desires to go back to earth. Mr. Burton again choses a low-profile hero (Michael Keaton in Batman, Johnny Depp in Sleepy Hollow) to play a traditionally macho and heroic role. This gives him kind of an upper hand. More flexibility to him and more story for the viewers.
Helena Bonham Carter has probably played the best role in the movie as a 'human rights activist', an ape that has sympathy for humans and hence is treated with hate by other apes.
Tim Roth as general Thade and Michael Clark Duncan (Green Mile) play the terrifying Ape leaders with utter loath for humans. They both do an excellent job. From the man-child, gentle giant and healer from Green Mile, this is a complete and much needed role reversal for Mr. Duncan.
Of course, this version, 33 years, after the original, is leaps and bounds ahead in terms of special effects, sound and make-up. Apes are not only frighteningly real but they are utterly believable and in control. There is a carefully filmed dinner scene that is very reminiscent of the original. An intelligent conversation among the apes about the human condition. But this scene and the altered ending are the only ones.
Mr. Burton polishes and shines this movie -- so much -- that it glows more of reflected light than of its own.
Seemingly ridiculous, this movie is actually very good. It is basically an exploration into the possibility of a role reversal in which humans are treated like 'animals' by animals who are like human -- in all the vices. Also a brief but meaningful commentary on power, religion, desire and fear of searching for ones origins and ultimately about the ever present human fear of creating a Frankenstein.
What Tim Burton ( Batman, Sleepy Hollow) has done to the original is like restoration of a gret old painting. It brings out and brightens some new colors however inevitably losing some sobriety. Mr. Burton has produced here mass entertainment at its best.
Mark Wahlberg is steely as Leo, a cadet, who finds himself into this strange land and desires to go back to earth. Mr. Burton again choses a low-profile hero (Michael Keaton in Batman, Johnny Depp in Sleepy Hollow) to play a traditionally macho and heroic role. This gives him kind of an upper hand. More flexibility to him and more story for the viewers.
Helena Bonham Carter has probably played the best role in the movie as a 'human rights activist', an ape that has sympathy for humans and hence is treated with hate by other apes.
Tim Roth as general Thade and Michael Clark Duncan (Green Mile) play the terrifying Ape leaders with utter loath for humans. They both do an excellent job. From the man-child, gentle giant and healer from Green Mile, this is a complete and much needed role reversal for Mr. Duncan.
Of course, this version, 33 years, after the original, is leaps and bounds ahead in terms of special effects, sound and make-up. Apes are not only frighteningly real but they are utterly believable and in control. There is a carefully filmed dinner scene that is very reminiscent of the original. An intelligent conversation among the apes about the human condition. But this scene and the altered ending are the only ones.
Mr. Burton polishes and shines this movie -- so much -- that it glows more of reflected light than of its own.