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Top 50 Greatest Things: #3

 My top 50 greatest things.


Number 3: Planet of the Apes


It's a madhouse! This entry refers to the entire franchise of Planet of the Apes including movies, television series, and comics. I would love to exclude the Tim Burton directed reboot from 2001, however it's preproduction history, make-up and special effects work, and baffling ending are all interesting enough that I do begrudgingly include those aspects in this entry, but will not be speaking on it again.

Planet of the Apes is a science fiction franchise that presents the debate about the nature of civilization, questioning whether intelligence and power inherently lead to progress or inevitable self destruction. The first film features a nihilistic astronaut being captured by grown adults dressed as apes and as he fights for his freedom witnesses these apes argue over politics and philosophy. I mean, come on. It's a genius premise that is executed well beyond any expectations thanks to the effective directing of Frank Schaffner, the gorgeous photography of the movie especially in the first half shot by Leon Shamroy, and of the depth in the writing from Rod Serling and Michael Wilson (Lawrence of Arabia, Bridge on the River Kwai). Not to mention the brilliant work on and off screen from John Chambers and Jerry Goldsmith with the make-up effects and the score respectively. The first Apes is a goddamn Movie and my favorite movie of all time.

The sequels that followed are all great in their own way. Well, maybe except for the fifth installment, Battle for the Planet of the Apes, which is only great for being responsible for the hilarious Paul Williams appearance on Carson in 1973 and also casting John Huston as the Lawgiver. The second one, Beneath the Planet of the Apes, is also probably not GREAT, but introduces bold elements to the world and contains one of the bleakest endings in perhaps all of movie history. The third, Escape from the Planet of the Apes, is a delight and funny and plays out as this confectionery type story, but then closes out with the second bleakest ending in perhaps all of movie history. The fourth, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, is a gritty, dystopian story centered around a revolution and it's ending isn't as bleak but fairly insane depending on which version someone watches. 

Outside of the main movies, I think the Planet of the Apes television series and the animated show Return to the Planet of the Apes are fun in their own ways, but truly only enjoyed by Ape sickos such as myself. There's also a hefty history of Apes comics, my favorite being Terror on the Planet of the Apes, as featured in the POTA magazine, written by Doug Moench and a few different artists. The best art over the story would have to go to Mike Ploog. 

I think the new Apes movies are wonderful and remains the most consistent franchise in movies today. They takes themselves seriously and will ponder questions that were in the original, but more importantly ask new ones that expand the POTA world in an original way. The director commentaries from Rupert Wyatt and Matt Reeves on the discs for the Caesar trilogy are well worth a listen. I've haven't checked out the Wes Ball commentary yet, but I thought Kingdom was excellent. Apes together strong, brother dude. 




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