Planet of the Apes (1968)

Planet of the Apes, made in 1968 and Directed by Franklin. J Schaffner could arguably be considered as the first of its kind, and definitely adheres with the Sci- Fi/ Adventure genre that really came to life with the surprisingly successful launch of this rich and epic film.
An interesting and thrilling adaptation of Pierre Boulles novel The Planet of the Apes, which powerfully launches Boulles darkly comic science fiction novel to the big screen, and tastefully portrays the somewhat chilling juxtaposition of Apes ruling over man kind.

The plot basically entails that of three astronauts: Col. George Taylor (Charlton Heston), Landon (Robert Gunner), and Dodge (Jeff Burton) crash landing upon what appears to be an alien planet in the future, inhabited by intelligent talking apes that have enslaved the human race and utilise them for experiments and sport. However whilst Landon and Dodge eventually become killed and maimed as the film progresses, Taylor finds himself in the hands of two scientists: Zira(Kim Hunter) and her fiancée Cornelius(Roddy Mcdowall) who seem to take a particular interest in him due to his obscure advanced intelligence compared to the other somewhat primitive human beings that inhabit the planet.
Whilst under the care of these two Ape scientists they decide to give Taylor a primitive human woman name Nova(Linda Harrison) in the hope that these two characters will mate, however it seems that Taylor's already hostile and life threatening situation takes a turn for the worst, when the lead scientist Dr Zaius(Maurice Evans) believes that he should be executed, in fear that Taylor's advanced intelligence will reveal the truth about the origins of the Ape and human races which is eventually inevitable, when Taylor and Nova manage to escape this death sentence with the help of their allied Apes to the 'Forbidden Zone', where all truth and mystery is eventually revealed...

Although Charlton Heston’s performance within this film is not exactly what you would call 'award winning', with the most complicated line that he has to mutter being, ''Get your stinking paws off me you damn dirty ape!'', I cannot say that he does not fit the role of the somewhat very masculine and almost primitive character of Col. George Taylor, as his wooden acting consists mostly of him posing half naked in front of the camera insulting other actors dressed as Apes, which are the main requirements in order to play this role.
In comparison, perhaps the most notable performances are those of Kim Hunter, Roddy McDowall and Maurice Evans, who all acted in the roles of Apes within the film, therefore allowing them to emote and enhance their performances using body language and gestures which truly demonstrates their advanced acting abilities.

Planet of the Apes can easily be described as a thrilling and fast paced adventure that has kept audiences gripping to the edge of their seats for nearing 38 years, especially with the unfolding of the films memorable ending scene of an aged and ruined statue of liberty half buried in the sands of time, which has definitely become an iconic 1960s image within the world of film.
This also adds emphasis upon the films stunning scenery owing to the filming location of Arizona, USA where the film was mainly shot on location which can perhaps also be accountable for the films large scale success, as well as the award winning work of make up artist John Chambers, who ultimately breathed the breath of life into this film with his spectacular Ape make up effects.

In spite of its age, The Planet of the Apes still has the power to provoke thought, questioning our exact position upon the evolutionary ladder and instilling fear into its audience with the frightful sight of intelligent, weapon wielding Apes enslaving the human race and turning all that we know upside down into a somewhat bizarre freak show, with the sound of Taylor's brilliant line of final realisation, ''This is a mad house!''.
The film also attacks our dependency upon technology and our over technologically orientated culture, highlighting our vulnerability when all technology is stripped away and left only with the basic animal instinct of survival, which is the exact same situation that lead character Taylor finds himself in when he is faced with a race more devoted to war and conquest rather than peace and racial equality, which reflects the current situation of the human race today.