Planet of the Apes

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth, Estella Warren, Michael Clarke Duncan, Kris Kristopherson, Helena Bonham Carter
Directed by: Tim Burton
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Science Fiction, Action
2001

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: An Air Force astronaut (Mark Wahlberg) crash lands on a strange planet that is run by apes, while humans are treated as inferior animals. He soon leads a band of humans and sympathetic apes in a battle against the dominant and slave-driving apes.


Review:

Tim: This is yet another unnecessary Hollywood remake. The Charlton Heston original is still excellent and entirely watchable. Tim Burton is somewhat restrained in the director's chair. He isn't able to be quirky or diffeent like in his better films.

Mark Wahlberg is decent, but he's no Charlton Heston. He is good enough to carry the part, but never makes it his own and escapes Heston's shadow.

The special effects are all vastly improved over the original, but none of that really matters- this film doesn't have the heart that the original did. This is especially apparent at the film's conclusion, where the differences between these two films are most apparent. The ending of the original was such a shock, and this one obviously fails in comparison.

The movie is dcent enough, but it is nothing more than an average sci-fi/action flock. It would be incredibly difficult to improve on the original, and this film feels like it didn't even try to.

You won't necessarily be bored watching this movie, but you won't be amazed, either.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 5.5


If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Planet of the Apes (1968), The Corruptor, Beneath the Planet of the Apes, Battlefield Earth