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Planet of the Apes
(2001)
Directed by: Tim Burton
Starring: Mark Wahlberg
Genre:
Science Fiction
Run Time: 119 min.
Release Date:
July 2001
On The Web:
Unofficial Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Chad Wilson |
The remake
of any classic story is always sure to breed controversy among its fans
and PLANET OF THE APES is no exception. It's also the custom of
many a reviewer to take advantage of a remake's shortfalls by
emphasizing the strengths of the original. I'm going to break with
tradition and critique Tim Burton's
Planet of the Apes based on it's own merits (or lack thereof).
As its title would suggest, the story that fills Planet of the Apes
is nothing groundbreaking. Near future space pilot Leo Davidson (Mark Wahlberg, THE DEPARTED)
heads out into the final frontier only to be whisked away by an
electromagnetic storm. The storm subsides only to send Leo crashing into
a planet filled with ...you guessed it, apes! The natives are naturally
less than friendly and Leo has his hands full for the rest of the film.
The strong points in Apes reveal themselves fairly quickly.
Director Tim Burton spares no expense for his film's incredible makeup
and sets. Every ape is portrayed as a convincing primate and all the
sets are designed with the tree swingers in mind. The performances from
each of the apes are also bold, from General Thade's roaring villain (by
the powerful Tim Roth,
DON'T COME KNOCKING) to the
feminine activist Ari (a very convincing Helena Bonham Carter,
CORPSE BRIDE),
to the brooding bodyguard Krull (the always underrated Cary-Hiroyuki
Tagawa,
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA).
For certain the apes leave an impression on the viewer, but taken as a
whole this film fails to offer anything else.
Apes fails with it's protagonists, especially Wahlberg who
practically drums out his lines like he's being asked to recite an oath.
None of the human characters in the film have anything to offer, spending
the entire movie following around Wahlberg with marble faces. The story
also seems far too rushed, never granting enough time for the characters
to develop any relationship beyond the basic cliches. The ending is less
shocking than obviously intended and serves no interesting purpose
besides letting everyone and their dog know that a sequel is in the air.
Overall this film turns out very, very average. Although the cliches are
not quite as rampant as one might expect, Tim Burton's remake of the
1968 classic offers nothing new. The high production values are
obviously meant to replace the mediocre story. However, while it's far
from a great film, Planet of the Apes does manage to offer more
than your average summer flick. But you won't be going ape over it
anytime soon.
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Image from Planet of the
Apes (2001)
DVD cost: $29.99
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Newsworthy:
The starship Oberon is
named after a selfish faerie king of immense power in Shakespeare's "A
Midsummer Night's Dream". Thade is based on Hideki Tojo, the Japanese
Minister of War who decided to go to war with the United States in 1941.
Movie Quote: "They
all want to see this human who defies the apes."
Other Actors/Actresses
from Planet of the Apes (2001)
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