Planet of the Apes
	Director:	Tim Burton
	Actors:	Mark Wahlberg (as Captain Leo Davidson), Tim Roth (as General Thade), Helena Bonham Carter (as Ari), Michael Clarke Duncan (as Colonel Attar), Paul Giamatti (as Limbo), Estella Warren (as Daena), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (as Krull), David Warner (as Senator Sandar), Kris Kristofferson (as Karubi), Erick Avari (as Tival), Luke Eberl (as Birn), Evan Dexter Parke (as Gunnar), Glenn Shadix (as Senator Nado), Freda Foh Shen (as Bon), Chris Ellis (I) (as Lt. General Karl Vasich)
	Country:	USA
	Category:	Action
	Year:	2001

Description:	An astronaut lands on a planet inhabited by human-like apes, who rule the planet with an iron fist.
Comments:	"Planet Of The Apes" clearly has the "Tim Burton" seal on it, but unfortunately shows both imaginative and argumental development voids, which I blame not to bad directing, but to an irregular script, revised and changed thousands of times, due in part to the late entrance of Mr. Burton in the project. However, here I'm going to focus on the most positive points, rather than the negative ones. The Seal I talked before is present as in any of Burton's films. I mainly refer to the conception of the eccentric, delirious, out-of-this-world characters and to the Gothic-romantic, fantastic art direction this films radiates (I don't have to mention previous examples, but Batman, Nightmare and Edward are and will remain in our minds). Danny Elfman gives again the best of himself with a dynamic, at times majestic score where percussion leads. The apes are incredible, they work, they really rock in the show. Not only for Rick Baker's make-up masterpiece (which deserves not the nomination but the Academy Award NOW!), which gives them live and expression unlike 1968's sort of dummies, but because they are credible... and light years far more credible (and even more human) than the film's humans, except for Mr. Whalberg. The script said they had to talk this time.Can anybody tell me if they liked them? If they found their importance to their dialogues? And why Stella Warren hasn't been issued with the "manikin" label, as Jake Lloyd was in "Episode 1"? The native roles show no interest and slow the rhythm of the movie. Now, returning to the apes, I have to talk about the real showman:Tim Roth as Thade. Exceptional. Histrionic. Aggressive. Cool. Evil portrayed as an ape. As the Ape General, he gets so very deep into the role that you end up thinking Roth, after all his extense and peculiar filmography, has finally turned crazy and really believes he's a monkey free in the stage. He is of the very few actors, along with Gary Oldman, Edward Norton and De Niro, which I consider as chameleons:ready to face any kind of role, however obscure, violent or psychologically strong they are. About the rest, I'm definitely getting in love with Helena Bonham Carter (another example of the ape's astonishing expressivity),and Mark Whalberg is fine as always. I liked his role, in comparison with Heston's in 1968, because he is a pure survivor who wants to go home with his friends and family (he just doesn't fit in that planet), while Charlton arrived there by accident and became a revolutionary hero. . To finish with, about the ending: perfect. I love it. And I love it because 1) It is different, it's of the few which make the viewer's imagination work, so anyone can figure out an explanation to the ending the way they want, 2) Its philosophy, the paradox it represents, which I'm not going to tell, and 3)It is extremely "Burtonesque". "Planet Of The Apes" reflects again the style of an excellent director, but shows his vulnerability in works he doesn't personally project (remember the initial idea came from James Cameron), in which a studio, and not himself, determines most of the finished work. However, an entertaining film, recommended to any sci-fi lover. And an advice: read the original book by Pierre Boulle for another view of the story... Vote --- 8/10
Languages:	English
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Length:	119
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Files sizes:	1140