Planet of the Apes (2001 film)

Infobox Film
name = Planet of the Apes


director = Tim Burton
producer = Richard D. Zanuck
Ralph Winter
Iain Smith
writer = Screenplay:
William Broyles Jr.
Lawrence Konner
Mark Rosenthal
Novel:
Pierre Boulle
starring = Mark Wahlberg
Tim Roth
Helena Bonham Carter
Michael Clarke Duncan
Paul Giamatti
Estella Warren
music = Danny Elfman
cinematography = Philippe Rousselot
editing = Chris Lebenzon
Joel Negron
distributor = 20th Century Fox
released = July 27, 2001
runtime = 119 min.
country = USA
language = English
budget = $100 million
gross = $362.21 million
amg_id = 1:246306
imdb_id = 0133152

"Planet of the Apes" is a 2001 science fiction film and remake of the 1968 film of the same name. Tim Burton directed the film, which stars Mark Wahlberg, as well as Tim Roth, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Clarke Duncan, Paul Giamatti and Estella Warren. "Planet of the Apes" tells the story of astronaut Leo Davidson landing on a planet inhabited by intelligent humanoid apes. The apes treat the humans as slaves, but with the help of a female ape named Ari, Leo starts a rebellion.

Development for a remake of "Planet of the Apes" started as far back as 1988 with Adam Rifkin. Rifkin's project almost commenced pre-production before it was canceled. Terry Hayes' script titled "Return of the Apes" had Oliver Stone, Don Murphy and Jane Hamsher attached as producers and Phillip Noyce as director with Arnold Schwarzenegger set to star. Creative differences ensued between Hayes and financier/distributor 20th Century Fox. Chris Columbus, Sam Hamm, James Cameron and the Hughes Brothers later became involved.

With William Broyles Jr.'s script, Tim Burton was hired as director, and the film was put into active development. Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal rewrote the script, and filming took place from November 6, 2000 to April 2001. "Planet of the Apes" was released to mixed-negative reviews but was a financial success. Much criticism focused on the confusing ending, although Rick Baker's prosthetic makeup designs were praised. Despite its financial success, Fox chose not to produce a sequel.

Plot

Aboard the United States Air Force space station "Oberon", Leo Davidson works closely with primates who are trained for space missions. His favorite simian co-worker is a chimpanzee named Pericles. With a fatal electromagnetic storm approaching the station, a small space pod piloted by Pericles is used to probe the storm. Pericles' pod heads into the storm and disappears. Against his orders, Leo takes a second pod and goes in pursuit of Pericles. Entering the storm, Leo loses contact with the "Oberon" and crashes in a world in the year 3002. He comes across a world where humanoid apes who speak human tongue control human beings as slaves.

Leo comes across a female chimpanzee named Ari, who protests the awful treatment humans receive. Ari decides to buy him and a female slave named Daena to have them work as servants in the house of her father, Senator Sandar. Leo escapes his cage and frees other humans. Ari sees them, but Leo manages to convince Ari to join their cause. Leo forms a human rebellion against the apes and develops a love triangle with Ari and Daena. General Thade and Colonel Attar march ape warriors in pursuit of the humans. Leo discovers Calima (the temple of "Semos"), a forbidden but holy site for the apes. Calima turns out to be the remains of the "Oberon", his former space station, which has crashed on the planet's surface and looks ancient (the name Calima coming from the sign "CAution LIve aniMAls", the letters Calima being those not covered in dust). According to the computer logs, the station has been there for thousands of years. Leo deduces that when he entered the vortex he was pushed forward in time, while the "Oberon", searching after him, was not, crashing on the planet long before he did.

The "Oberon"'s log reveals that the apes on board, led by Semos, organized a mutiny and took control of the vessel after it crashed. The human and ape survivors of the struggle left the ship and their descendants are the people Leo has encountered since landing. A battle ensues between the humans and the apes. A familiar vehicle descends from the sky and is identified immediately by Leo. It is the pod piloted by Pericles, the chimp astronaut. Pericles was pushed forward in time as Leo was, and had just now found his way to the planet. When Pericles lands, the apes interpret his landing as the return arrival of Semos, the first ape, who is their god. They bow, and hostilities between humans and apes disappear.

General Thade chases Leo into the "Oberon", where he attacks Pericles and breaks his leg. Thade becomes trapped in the pilot's deck and last seen huddled under a control panel, still alive. Leo decides it is time for him to leave the Planet of the Apes, after he says goodbye to Daena, who loves him and kisses Ari. Leo climbs aboard Pericles' pod, which is undamaged, and uses it to travel back in time through the same electromagnetic storm. Leo crashes on what appears to be Washington, D.C. on Earth in 2029. He looks up to see the Lincoln Memorial is now a monument in honor of General Thade. A swarm of ape police officers descend on Leo.

Cast

*Mark Wahlberg as Capt. Leo Davidson: A United States Air Force astronaut who accidentally opens a portal to another world inhabited by talking human-like apes. Leo leads a rebellion as leader of the humans. Wahlberg dropped out of "Ocean's Eleven" in favor of "Planet of the Apes". Matt Damon was eventually cast in his role. [cite news | author = Michael Fleming | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117786195 | title = Inside Move: Strikes cause A-list shuffles | work = Variety | date = 2000-09-11 | accessdate = 2008-09-30] Other actors who were in contention for Leo Davidson wanted to see the script before signing a contract. [cite news | author = KJB | url = http://movies.ign.com/articles/034/034353p1.html | title = Mark Wahlberg Signs on to "Planet of the Apes" | work = IGN | date = 2000-06-29 | accessdate = 2008-10-02] Wahlberg signed on after a five-minute meeting with Burton. Due to his past career as a underwear model, Wahlberg did not wanted to wear a loincloth. Heston wore the fabric throughout the original film.DVD production notes]
*Tim Roth as Gen. Thade: A chimp-like sadistic military commander who wants control over the ape civilization. Thade also intends to marry Ari, but she dismisses him. Roth turned down the role of Severus Snape in "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" because of his commitment to "Planet of the Apes". Alan Rickman was eventually cast as Snape. [cite news | author = Shawn Adler | title = What Would ‘Potter’ Have Been Like With Tim Roth As Snape? | publisher = MTV | date = 2007-12-07 | url = http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2007/12/07/what-would-potter-have-been-like-with-tim-roth-as-snape/ | accessdate=2007-12-08] Roth rewrote some scenes to make his character give a more frightening presence. [cite news | author = Steven Horn | url = http://movies.ign.com/articles/301/301914p1.html | title = Interview with Tim Roth | work = IGN | date = 2001-08-01 | accessdate = 2008-10-01]
*Helena Bonham Carter as Ari: A female chimpanzee who protests the way humans are treated. She helps Leo lead the rebellion, and also forms a romantic attraction towards him.
*Michael Clarke Duncan as Col. Attar: A gorilla-like military officer and Thade's closest associate. Djimon Hounsou turned down the role because of scheduling conflicts with "The Four Feathers". [cite news | author = Michael Fleming | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117784759 | title = U to replant "Flowers" | work = Variety | date = 2000-08-08 | accessdate = 2008-09-30]
*Paul Giamatti as Limbo: A comical orangutan who works in the trade business of human slaves. Limbo is caught in the conflict between humans and apes and tries his best by simply surviving. Giamatti took inspiration from W. C. Fields for his performance. When his prosthetic makeup was applied, Giamatti watched episodes of "Ultraman" and various Japanese "Godzilla" films.
*Estella Warren as Daena: A female slave who, along with Ari, forms a romantic attraction with Leo.
*Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Krall: A gorilla. Krall was a former military leader whose career was destroyed by Thade. Kroll became a servant for Senator Sandar and assisted the humans in their rebellion.
*Kris Kristofferson as Karubi: Daena's father. Karubi is killed by the apes when trying to escape. Kristofferson immediately agreed to be cast. The director "Tim Burton is a hero of mine. I have eight kids and we've seen all of his films from "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" to "Sleepy Hollow" many times."

Small roles include David Warner (Senator Sandar), Lisa Marie (Nova), Erick Avari (Tival), Luke Eberl (Birn), Evan Parke (Gunnar), Glenn Shadix (Senator Nado), Freda Foh Shen (Bon) and Chris Ellis (Lt. Gen. Karl Vasich).

Charlton Heston, who portrayed the lead role in the original film, makes a cameo appearance as Thade's father. Roth admitted he was "not comfortable" appearing opposite Heston, then president of the National Rifle Association. "I come from the exact opposite end of the political spectrum. Burton had to persuade me to do it. Finally, I decided that it was okay because it's fiction." Heston had no problem with his brief scene even though it highlights the violent nature of firearms, says producer Richard D. Zanuck. "I was apprehensive when we wrote the scene and sent it to him. We didn't hear back from him for a while. Finally, I called him up and asked him what he thought of the lines. He said, 'Oh yeah, I think they're wonderful.' I thought, 'Oh, thank God, we got away with the gun'."cite news | author = Lori Reese | url = http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,169105,00.html | title = Simian Says | work = Entertainment Weekly | date = 2001-07-27 | accessdate = 2008-10-01]

Development

Adam Rifkin

20th Century Fox president Craig Baumgarten was impressed with Adam Rifkin's filmmaking with "Never on Tuesday". In 1988, Rifkin was brought in the studio to pitch ideas for films. Rifkin, being a fan of the 1968 "Planet of the Apes" felt it was best to continue the film series. "Having independent film experience, I promised I could write and direct a huge-looking film for a reasonable price and budget, like "Aliens"." Fox commissioned Rifkin to write what amounted to a sequel, "but not a sequel to the fifth film, an alternate sequel to the first film." He took influences from "Spartacus", with the storyline being "the ape empire had reached its Roman era. A descendant of Charlton Heston's character would eventually lead a human slave revolt against the oppressive Roman-esque apes. A real Sword and sandal spectacular, monkey style. "Gladiator" did the same movie with out the ape costumes."

The project was put on fast track and almost entered pre-production. Rick Baker was hired to design the prosthetic makeup with Danny Elfman composing the film score. Tom Cruise and Charlie Sheen were in contention for the lead role. "I can't accurately describe in words the utter euphoria I felt knowing that I, Adam Rifkin, was going to be resurrecting the "Planet of the Apes". It all seemed too good to be true. I soon found out it was." Days before the film was to commence pre-production, new studio executives arrived at Fox, which caused creative differences between Rifkin and the studio.cite book | author = David Hughes | title = Tales From Development Hell | publisher = Titan Books | year = 2004 | month = March | location = London | pages = 34—37 | id = ISBN 1-84023-691-4 ] Rifkin was commissioned to rewrite the script through various drafts. The project was abandoned until Fox resurrected the idea of remaking "Planet of the Apes" in 1992. Peter Jackson pitched his own idea, but was turned down because he was not an A-list filmmaker at the time.

Oliver Stone

By 1993, Fox hired Don Murphy and Jane Hamsher as producers. Sam Raimi and Oliver Stone were being considered as possible directors, though Stone signed on as executive producer/co-writer with a $1 million salary.Hughes, p.38—40] On the storyline, Stone explained in December 1993, "It has the discovery of cryogenically frozen Vedic Apes who hold the secret numeric codes to the Bible that foretold the end of civilizations. It deals with past versus the future. My concept is that there's a code inscribed in the Bible that predicts all historical events. The apes were there at the beginning and figured it all out." [cite news | author = Cindy Pearlman | url = http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,308903,00.html | title = Monkey Business | work = Entertainment Weekly | date = 1993-12-10 | accessdate = 2008-10-01]

Stone brought Terry Hayes to write the screenplay entitled "Return of the Apes". Set in the near future, a plague is making humans extinct. Geneticist Will Robinson discovers the plague is a genetic time bomb embedded in the Stone Age. He time travels with a pregnant colleague named Billie Rae Diamond to a time when Palaeolithic humans were at war for the future of the planet with highly-evolved apes. Robinson and Billie Rae discover a young human girl named Aiv (pronounced Eve) to be the next step in evolution. They protect her from the virus, thus ensuring the survival of the human race 102,000 years later. Billie Rae gives birth to a baby boy named Adam.

Fox president Peter Chernin called "Return of the Apes" "one of the best scripts I ever read". Chernin was hoping Hayes' script would create a franchise that included sequels, spin-off television shows and merchandise. In March 1994, Arnold Schwarzenegger signed on as Will Robinson with the condition he had approval of director. Chuck Russell was considered as a possible director before Phillip Noyce was hired in January 1995, while pre-production was nearly commencing with a $100 million budget.cite news | author = Anne Thompson | url = http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,292533,00.html | title = The "Apes" of Wrath | work = Entertainment Weekly | date = 1996-05-17 | accessdate = 2008-10-01] Stone first approached Rick Baker, who worked on Adam Rifkin's failed remake, to design the prosthetic makeup, but eventually hired Stan Winston.cite news | author = Scott Brake | url = http://movies.ign.com/articles/034/034369p1.html | title = IGN FilmForce Takes You to "Planet of the Apes"! | work = IGN | date = 2001-02-27 | accessdate = 2008-10-02] cite news | author = Jeffrey Wells | url = http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,305006,00.html | title = Monkey Business | work = Entertainment Weekly | date = 1994-12-23 | accessdate = 2008-10-01]

Fox became frustrated by the distance between their approach and Hayes' interpretation of Stone's ideas, as producer Don Murphy put it, "Terry wrote a "Terminator" and Fox wanted "The Flintstones". Fox studio executive Dylan Sellers felt the script could be improved by comedy. "What if Robinson finds himself in Ape land and the Apes are trying to play baseball? But they're missing one element, like the pitcher or something." Sellers continued. "Robinson knows what they're missing and he shows them, and they all start playing." Sellers refused to give up his baseball scene, and when Hayes turned in the next script, sans baseball, Sellers fired him. Dissatisfied with Sellers' decision to fire Hayes, Noyce left "Return of the Apes" in February 1995 to work on "The Saint".

Columbus and Cameron

Oliver Stone pursued other films of his own, Peter Chernin was replaced by Thomas Rothman and a drunken Dylan Sellers crashed his car, killing a much-loved colleague and earning jail time, while producers Don Murphy and Jane Hamsher were "paid off. After they got rid of us, they brought on Chris Columbus," Murphy stated. "Then I heard they did tests of apes skiing, which didn't make much sense."Hughes, p.41—43] Stan Winston was still working on the makeup designs. Columbus brought Sam Hamm, his co-writer on an unproduced "Fantastic Four" script, to write the screenplay. "We tried to do a story that was simultaneously a homage to the elements we liked from the five films, and would also incorporate a lot of material [from Pierre Boulle's novel] that had been jettisoned from the earlier production," Hamm continued. "The first half of the script bore little resemblance to the book, but a lot of the stuff in the second half comes directly from it, or directly inspired by it."

Hamm's script had an ape astronaut from another planet crash-landing in New York harbor, launching a virus that beings making human extinct. Dr. Susan Landis, who works for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Alexander Troy, a Area 51 scientist, use the ape's spacecraft to return to the virus' planet of origin, hoping to find an antidote. They find an urban environment where apes armed with heavy weapons hunt humans. Landis and Troy discover the antidote and return to Earth, only to find in their 74-year absence that apes have taken over the planet. "The Statue of Liberty's once proud porcelain features have been crudely chiseled into the grotesque likeness of a great grinning ape".

Arnold Schwarzenegger remained attached, but Fox had mixed emotions with Hamm's script. When Columbus dropped out in late-1995 to work on "Jingle All the Way", Fox offered the director's position to Roland Emmerich in January 1996. Peter Jackson turned it down to work on an early version of "King Kong", another ape-related remake. James Cameron was in talks during the filming of "Titanic" as writer and producer. Cameron's version would have drawn elements from the original film and its sequel "Beneath the Planet of the Apes". After the financial and critical success of "Titanic", Cameron dropped out, and Schwarzenegger left to work on "Eraser". Michael Bay then turned down the director's position. In mid-1999, the Hughes Brothers were interested in directing but were committed to "From Hell".

Pre-production

In 1999, William Broyles Jr. turned down the chance to write the script, but decided to sign on "when I found out I could have an extensive amount of creative control". Fox projected the release date for July 2001, while Broyles sent the studio an outline and a chronicle of the fictional planet "Aschlar". Entitled "The Visitor" and billed as "episode one in the Chronicles of Aschlar", Broyles' script caught the attention of director Tim Burton, who was hired in February 2000. [cite news | author = Paul F. Duke | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117776621 | title = Fox goes "Ape" for Burton | work = Variety | date = 2000-02-22 | accessdate = 2008-09-30] "I wasn't interested in doing a remake or a sequel of the original "Planet of the Apes" film," Burton said later. "But I was intrigued by the idea of revisiting that world. Like a lot of people, I was affected by the original film. I wanted to do a 're-imagining'."Hughes, p.44—46] Richard D. Zanuck signed on as producer in March. [cite news | author = Paul F. Duke | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117779695 | title = Zanuck swings back to "Apes" | work = Variety | date = 2000-03-21 | accessdate = 2008-09-30] "This is a very emotional film for me. I greenlighted the original "Apes" when I was the head of Fox in 1967." [cite news | author = Army Archerd | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117863608 | title = Zanucks urge Polanski to return to U.S. | work = Variety | date = 2000-04-19 | accessdate = 2008-09-30]

Under Burton's direction, Broyles wrote another draft, but his script was projected at a $200 million budget. Fox wanted to cut it to $100 million. In August 2000, two months before principal photography, Fox brought Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal for rewrites.cite book | author = Mark Salisbury, Tim Burton | title = Burton on Burton | publisher = Faber and Faber | date = 2006 | location = London | pages = 187—190 | id = ISBN 0-571-22926-3 ] Broyles "had a lot of respect with the work they [Konner and Rosenthal] did. And to think that given what I'd done and given what Tim wanted, they navigated the right course." One of the considered endings had Leo Davidson crash-landing at Yankee Stadium, witnessing apes playing baseball. Various alternatives were considered before the filmmakers decided on the final one. The production of "Planet of the Apes" was a difficult experience for Burton. This was largely contributed by Fox's adamant release date (July 2001), which meant that everything from pre-production to editing and visual effects work was rushed.

Konner and Rosenthal were rewriting the script even as sets were being constructed. Ari, Helena Bonham Carter's character, was originally a princess. She was changed to "a Senator's daughter with a liberal mentality". [Helena Bonham Carter, Colleen Atwood, "Ape Couture", 2001, 20th Century Fox] One of the drafts had General Thade, Tim Roth's character, as a albino gorilla, but Burton felt Chimpanzees were more frightening.Tim Burton, DVD audio commentary, 2001, 20th Century Fox] Limbo, Paul Giamatti's character "was supposed to turn into a good guy. There was supposed to be this touching personal growth thing at the end," Giamatti reflected. "But Tim [Burton] and I both thought that was kind of lame so we decided to just leave him as a jerk into the end."

Filming

Burton wanted to begin filming in October 2000, [cite news | author = Tim Ryan | title = Big Isle Lava Could Lure Film "Visitor" | work = Honolulu Star-Bulletin | date = 2000-08-14 | accessdate = 2008-10-03] but it was pushed to November 6, 2000 and ended in April 2001. Filming for "Planet of the Apes" began at Lake Powell, where parts of the original film were shot. Due to a local drought, production crews had to pump in extra water. The film was mostly shot at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California, while other filming locations included lava plains in Hawaii and Trona Pinnacles at Ridgecrest To preserve secrecy, the shooting script did not include the ending. [cite news | author = KJB | url = http://movies.ign.com/articles/034/034351p1.html | title = The Island of the Apes | work = IGN | date = 2000-06-07 | accessdate = 2008-10-02] Stan Winston was the original makeup designer but left because of creative differences. Fox considered using computer-generated imagery to create the apes, but Burton insisted on using prosthetic makeup designed by Rick Baker. Baker was previously involved with Adam Rifkin's unproduced remake. Burton commented, "I have a relationship with both of them [Winston and Baker] , so that decision was hard," he says. "Stan worked on "Edward Scissorhands" and Baker did Martin Landau's makeup [as Béla Lugosi in "Ed Wood"] .

On his hiring, Baker explained, "I did the Dino De Laurentiis version of "King Kong" in 1976 and was always disappointed because I wasn't able to do it as realistically as I wanted. I thought "Apes" would be a good way to make up for that." In addition to "King Kong", Baker previously worked with designing ape makeup on ', ' and "Mighty Joe Young". [cite news | author = Josh Wolk | url = http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,92065,00.html | title = About Face | work = Entertainment Weekly | date = 2000-12-18 | accessdate = 2008-10-01] The makeup took 4.5 hours to apply and 1.5 hours to remove. Burton explained, "it's like going to the dentistry at two in the morning and having people poke at you for hours. Then you wear an ape costume until nine at night."Salisbury, Burton, p.191—202] Richard Natale (2001-05-06). "Remaking, Not Aping, An Original", "Los Angeles Times", Retrieved on 2008-09-29.] Burton was adamant that the apes should be substantially "more animal-like; flying through trees, climb walls, swing out of windows, and go ape shit when angry." For a month and a half before shooting started, the actors who portrayed apes attended "ape school". Industrial Light & Magic, Rhythm and Hues Studios and Animal Logic were commissioned for the visual effects sequences. Rick Heinrichs served as the production designer and Colleen Atwood did costume design. [cite news | author = Amy Barrett | title = Going "Ape" | work = The New York Times | date = 2000-12-24 | accessdate = 2008-10-02]

To compose the film score, Burton hired regular collaborator Danny Elfman. Elfman had previously been set as composer when Adam Rifkin was to do his remake in 1989 Elfman noted that his work on "Plant of the Apes" contained more Percussion instruments than usual. [Danny Elfman, "Chimp Symphony", 2001, 20th Century Fox]

Reaction

Box office

To help market "Planet of the Apes", Fox commissioned a internet marketing campaign that also involved geocaching. [cite news | author = Tin Swanson | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117800071 | title = Inside Move: Fox goes "Ape" online | work = Variety | date = 2001-05-28 | accessdate = 2008-09-30] Hasbro released a toy line, while Dark Horse Comics published a comic book adaptation.cite news | author = Dana Harris | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117791410 | title = Fox, licensees go "Apes" for goodies | work = Variety | date = 2001-01-08 | accessdate = 2008-09-30] Fox Interactive worked on a video game adaptation, but it was never finished and released. [cite news | author = Anthony D'Alessandro | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117799543 | title = Fox's ape-athy | work = Variety | date = 2001-05-16 | accessdate = 2008-09-30] The original release date for the film was July 4, 2001. [cite news | author = Dana Harris | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117788384 | title = Fox fires first salvo in summer '01 battle | work = Variety | date = 2000-10-27 | accessdate = 2008-09-30] "Planet of the Apes" was released on July 27, 2001 in 3,500 theaters across North America, earning $68,532,960 in its opening weekend.cite web | work = Box Office Mojo | url = http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=planetoftheapes01.htm | title = Planet of the Apes | accessdate = 2008-09-28] This was the second-highest opening weekend of 2001, behind "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone".cite web | url = http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=releasedate&view=opening&yr=2001&p=.htm | title = 2001 Domestic Grosses | work = Box Office Mojo | accessdate = 2008-09-28] The film went on to gross $180,011,740 in North America and $182,200,000 in foreign countries, accumulating a worldwide total of $362,211,740. "Planet of the Apes" was considered a financial success since the film out-grossed its $100 million budget. "Planet of the Apes" was the tenth-highest grossing film in North America, and ninth-highest worldwide for 2001 totals. [cite web | url = http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=2001&p=.htm | title = 2001 Worldwide Grosses | work = Box Office Mojo | accessdate = 2008-09-28] The film is the third-highest grossing science fiction remake, behind "War of the Worlds" and "I Am Legend". [cite web | work = Box Office Mojo | url = http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=scifiremake.htm | title = Sci-Fi Remakes | accessdate = 2008-09-28]

Critical analysis

Based on 153 reviews collected by "Rotten Tomatoes", 45% of the critics enjoyed "Planet of the Apes". [cite web | url = http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1108704/ | title = Planet of the Apes | work = Rotten Tomatoes | accessdate = 2008-09-28] The film was more balanced in "Rotten Tomatoes"' "Top Critics" poll, holding a 32% approval rating, based on 31 reviews. [cite web | url = http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1108704-planet_of_the_apes/?critic=creamcrop | title = Planet of the Apes: Top Critics | work = Rotten Tomatoes | accessdate = 2008-09-28] By comparison, "Metacritic" collected an average score 50, receiving 34 reviews. [cite web | work = Metacritic | title = Planet of the Apes (2001): Reviews | url = http://www.metacritic.com/video/titles/planetoftheapes?q=Planet%20of%20the%20Apes | accessdate = 2008-09-28] Roger Ebert praised the ending, but felt the film did not have a balanced story structure. "The movie is great-looking. Rick Baker's makeup is convincing even in the extreme closeups, and his apes sparkle with personality and presence. The sets and locations give us a proper sense of alien awe," Ebert continued. "Tim Burton made a film that's respectful to the original, and respectable in itself, but that's not enough. Ten years from now, it will be the 1968 version that people are still renting." [cite web | work = Roger Ebert.com | title = Planet of the Apes | date = 2001-07-27 | url = http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20010727/REVIEWS/107270305/1023 | accessdate = 2008-09-29] Peter Travers of "Rolling Stone" also gave a mixed review. "Call it a letdown, worsened by the forces of shoddy screenwriting. To quote Heston in both films, 'Damn them, damn them all'." [cite news | author = Peter Travers | title = Planet of the Apes | url = http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5949331/review/5949332/planet_of_the_apes_2001 | date = 2001-08-19 | work = Rolling Stone | accessdate = 2008-09-29]

Kenneth Turan of the "Los Angeles Times" believed "the actors in the nonhuman roles are mostly too buried by makeup to make strong impressions. Unfortunately, none of the good work counts as much as you'd think it would," Turan said. "Planet of the Apes" shows that taking material too seriously can be as much of a handicap as not taking it seriously at all." [cite news | author = Kenneth Turan | title = Planet of the Apes | url = http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-movie000061044jul27,0,2968614.story | date = 2001-07-27 | work = Los Angeles Times | accessdate = 2008-09-29] James Berardinelli gave positive feedback towards the acting performances. However, Berardinelli felt "this version could have bettered its predecessor. As it is, however, Burton's film is one more disappointment in a summer of lackluster blockbusters." [cite news | author = James Berardinelli | title = Planet of the Apes | url = http://www.reelviews.net/movies/p/planet_apes01.html | work = ReelViews | accessdate = 2008-09-29] Elvis Mitchell gave a positive reviews, feeling the script was balanced and the film served its right as "pure entertainment". [cite news | author = Elvis Mitchell | title = Planet of the Apes | work = The New York Times | date = 2001-07-27 | accessdate = 2008-09-29] Susan Wloszczyna of "USA Today" enjoyed "Planet of the Apes", feeling most of the credit should go to prosthetic makeup designer Rick Baker. [cite news | author = Susan Wloszczyna | url = http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/2001-07-27-apes-review.htm | title = Great apes rule the new "Planet" | work = USA Today | date = 2001-08-02 | accessdate = 2008-09-29]

Much criticism drew against the confusing ending. Tim Roth, who portrayed General Thade, said "I cannot explain that ending. I have seen it twice and I don't understand anything." Helena Bonham Carter, who played Ari, said "I thought it made sense, kind of. I don't understand why everyone went, 'Huh?' It's all a time warp thing. He's gone back and he realizes Thade's beat him there." Burton claimed the ending was not suppose to make any sense, but it was more of a cliffhanger to be explained in a possible sequel. "It was a reasonable cliffhanger that could be used in case Fox or another filmmaker wanted to do another movie," he explained. Roth (Supporting Actor, Carter (Supporting Actress), Colleen Atwood (Costume) and Rick Baker (Make-up) received nominations at the Saturn Awards. [cite web | title = 28th Saturn Awards | url =http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Academy_of_Science_Fiction_Fantasy_And_Horror_Films_USA/2002 | work = Internet Movie Database | accessdate = 2008-09-29] Atwood and Baker were nominated at the 55th British Academy Film Awards. [cite web | title = 55th British Academy Film Awards | url = http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/BAFTA_Awards/2002 | work = Internet Movie Database | accessdate = 2008-09-29] while music composer Danny Elfman was nominated for his work at the 43rd Grammy Awards. [cite web | title = 43rd Grammy Awards | url = http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Grammy_Awards/2002 | work = Internet Movie Database | accessdate = 2008-09-29] "Planet of the Apes" won Worst Remake at the 22nd Golden Raspberry Awards, while Heston (Worst Supporting Actor) and Estella Warren (Worst Supporting Actress) also won awards. [cite web | title = 22nd Golden Raspberry Awards | url = http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Razzie_Awards/2002 | work = Internet Movie Database | accessdate = 2008-09-29]

Legacy

Fox stated that if "Planet of the Apes" is a financial success, then a sequel would be commissioned.cite news | author = Benjamin Svetkey | url = http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,281017,00.html | title = Ape Crusaders | work = Entertainment Weekly | date = 2001-04-27 | accessdate = 2008-10-01] Although the film was indeed a financial success, Fox decided otherwise. When asked on the possibility, director Tim Burton replied, "I'd rather jump out a window". Mark Wahlberg and Helena Bonham Carter would have liked to return if Burton would have.cite news | author = Steven Horn | url = http://movies.ign.com/articles/301/301862p1.html | title = Interview with Mark Wahlberg | work = IGN | date = 2001-07-31 | accessdate = 2008-10-02] [cite news | author = Steven Horn | url = http://movies.ign.com/articles/301/301761p1.html | title = Helena Bonham Carter Goes Ape | work = IGN | date = 2001-07-26 | accessdate = 2008-10-02] Paul Giamatti had been interested in reprising his role. "I think it'd be great to have apes driving cars, smoking cigars," Giamatti continued "wearing glasses, sitting in a board room, stuff like that."cite news | author = Steven Horn | url = http://movies.ign.com/articles/301/301959p1.html | title = Interview with Paul Giamatti | work = IGN | date = 2001-08-02 | accessdate = 2008-10-01] "Planet of the Apes" was the last film Burton worked with his former fiancé Lisa Marie. After their relationship breakup, Burton met Helena Bonham Carter, who portrayed Ari. "Planet of the Apes" also began Burton's first collaboration with producer Richard D. Zanuck.

References

Further reading

*cite book | author=William Thomas Quick |title=Planet of the Apes | others=Novelization of the film |format=Mass Market Paperback |year=2001 |month=July |day=31 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-0061076350
*cite book | author= Mark Salisbury|title=Planet of the Apes: Reimagined by Tim Burton |others=A detailed analysis of the making of the film|format=Hardcover|year=2001 |month=July |day=27 |publisher=Newmarket Press |isbn=978-1557044877

External links

*amg title|id=1:246306|title=Planet of the Apes
*imdb title|id=0133152|title=Planet of the Apes
*rotten-tomatoes|id=1108704|title=Planet of the Apes
*mojo title|id=planetoftheapes01|title=Planet of the Apes
* [http://geocities.com/terryhagar/Planet_of_the_Apes.html Solving the Puzzles of "Planet of the Apes"]