Review of Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) by Maineutral R — 05 Jan 2014

This isn't a necessary movie, the story itself just covers one of many battles of the story of the Apes, but nothing that takes character development or multiple plotlines coming to a great conclusion, instead goes for this one linear plot that goes on auto-pilot. Battle for the Planet of the Apes is the final chapter in the original series produced by P. Jacobs, and surely it's weak, it's redundant, generic and nothing proud of the original Planet of the Apes, but in comparison with other Apes sequels, this one is pure mindless fun.

Roddy McDowall is back as Caesar, so is Natalie Trundy as Lisa and Austin Stoker as MacDonald (no, this isn't obvious product placement). All these actors do a well job, even if the script does nothing besides telling their part in the story, nothing complex or significant. Actually, even the new characters have nothing special, they're just extras in the plot and their participation is barely unforgettable. The story is weak, all they do is, go to a city, the city pursuits them, they battle, it ends; but it's fast-paced, short and fun, even if it does feel tedious at times, specially telling human characters scenes. Overall, it offers absolutely nothing new, but I don't think that was the movie's objective. The objective was one last movie, and that's it. If it were something special, then this wouldn't be the last chapter, it would surely spawn another and another until they really have nothing. But this is already a last gasp in the creator's minds: there's nothing else to tell, and they knew it, so they created this simplistic yet fun last breath of the Apes saga.

Battle for the Planet of the Apes is simplistic, mindless, needless and lacks any ambition, but its way better than the second and fourth films, especially the second film, which was a complete disaster, and do I have to remind anyone of that horrible ending? Ugh. Battle is careless when it comes to do something new, but on itself, it does take care of all it can offer: a battle. It wasn't epic, it wasn't necessary at all, but it could have been worse. It could have lacked any battle at all and end suddenly out of nothing...you know, like the second movie, Beneath the Planet of the Apes! Battle is fun, and a calmed good-bye and repeat for the saga.

They think the Forbidden City was radioactive, ha! They should see where they filmed The Conqueror with John Wayne. Dumbasses.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS REVIEWS PART 19: Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973).