|
A scene from this movie was voted the 9th best movie moment
of all time in a poll run by The Observer newspaper in 1999.
Despite some dubious sequels and an unnecesary TV series, this
original movie is still as powerful today as it would have been
in 1969.
Screen icon Charleton heston is Colonel Taylor who is charge
of a spaceship on a mission to explore deep space. After some
time in routine suspended animatio n, something goes wrong and
his ship crash lands on a strange planet. With the knowledge
that everything about their lives has been left back on Earth
many centuries ago, Taylor and his two surviving crew members
set out on a futile attempt to explore the planet that they
have now been stranded on.
As is given away by the movie's title, they eventulayy discover
that they are in a world where apes can talk and humans are
mute savages that are held in contempt by the apes. Humans are
either rounded up and killed or are captured for use in scientific
research.
The ape costumes are pretty convincing (no computer graphics
in 1969), the only extravagance in what otherwise has the look
and feel of a low budget production. The acting is mostly adequate,
especially from Heston (in swashbuckling gladiator mode), but
also from Roddy McDowall who's eyes are distinctly recognisable
through that chimpanzee mask.
The music is suitably spooky and unearthly, but the real power
of the film comes from its simple messages. The questions it
asks may be dismissed as 'greenie' today, but in many ways it
is difficult to argue with Dr Zaius' (Maurice Evans) condemnation
of the human race (despite the fact that the apes are far from
perfect themselves). And that ending simply hammers the final
nail home.
This movie has been parodied at least three times by The Simpsons.
That alone is enough to make it a classic.
See this movie. Even see the sequels if you want. But don't
see Gorilla at Large.
|