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PLANET
OF THE APES review by Joseph B. Mauceri
REVIEW: When you ask the question, "How can you improve on a classic?" The Hollywood answer is usually, "We've put a new spin on it." A PLANET OF THE APES prequel... sequel... whatever... had been kicking around Tinsel Town for several years. At one point James Cameron and Stan Winston was the dynamic duo driving to get the film made. When the flame went out on that production, a couple of rumors surfaced about the rights of the film that put it on the fast track at 20th Century Fox. From the interviews given by director Tim Burton, maybe it was a bit too fast. When ends up on screen has more in common with Pierre Boulle's novel then the original, but the tone is definitely reminiscent of Burton's "Mars Attacks." There is a sense of alienation in all of Burton's films. From "Batman" to "Edward Scissorhands," his characters are alienated from the world, and from the audience. His film "Sleepy Hollow" is great to look at, but lacks a hook to draw the audience in and elicit an emotional response. Mark Wahlberg is fine, but the audience never connects with him, like they did with Heston in the 1968 original. Heston makes a made-up cameo appearance in Burton's APES, but it is more comedic relief then straight homage. There are sight gags and set ups that are written into the story that should be satirical, but in Burton's hands plays out more as comic relief, possibly irony at times. Given the credits of the screenwriters who mucked around with the screenplay - Broyles, "Castaway"; the team of Konner & Rosenthal, "Mercury Rising" & "Sometimes They Come Back" - you might expect a bit more then easy one-liners and obvious set-ups that will payoff in the end. There are no surprises, and the so called big payoff, which is taken from Boulle's novel, asks the audience to have a "back to the future" grip on the film. Casting wise, I think PLANET OF THE APES is a bit messy. As in "Blade," Kris Kristofferson is there to die. Tim Roth "apes" it up so much - he's constantly on - that it seems like he should have drunk a few less espresso during takes. Helena Bonham Carter as Ari is fine, but why is she the only ape with an English accent? Never mind that butler ape Krull, played by Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, has an Asian accent and wields swords like a samurai warrior. Ugh! The "new spin" on PLANET OF THE APES is without a doubt the special effects. The lifelike designs clearly show why special effects artist Rick Baker has five Academy Awards to his credit. The special effects crew adds weight to Baker's ape designs by allowing the run and leap like real apes. There are amazing scenes where the apes are charging and keeping pace with apes on horses. There is a slight flaw with the makeup. I would think because they rushed the film through to make the release date I don't think they had the opportunity to go back and dub the ape actors. As a result, the cast in "ape-up" sound like they're talking through a mask. Personally, one of my biggest frustrations with the film is Danny Elfman's score. The opening sequence is a rich multi-layered original piece. However, once we get into the film Elfman falls back on movements we've heard in many of the other films he's scored for Burton. Adding insult to injury, the piece over the credits is a remix of Elfman's piece, and the soundtrack release contains another remix by Paul Oakenfold. Tim Burton's take on PLANET OF THE APES is an interesting looking film but real doesn't offer much in terms of updating the story. The effects become the entire show due to a screenplay that lacks inspiration. The most anticipated film of the 2001 summer season is sure to fall short of audience expectations. I have a feeling that this over merchandised film will suffer the same fate as 1998's "Godzilla." The only element missing is the Taco Bell commercial. OFFICIAL
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SYNOPSIS:
An astronaut's maverick heroic action brings him in contact with
a wormhole that sucks him in and spits him out on a planet where
the humans are enslaved by primates. When he finally takes control
of the nightmare he finds himself in, he sets out on a quest to
get back to his space and time, aided by a few of the apes and indigenous
humans. His escape results in marshal law and lends fuel to the
fire of the primate military's quest to rid their planet of humans.
The astronaut's path home will uncover the dark secret behind this
strange world and a final confrontation between apes and humans.