Review of Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) by Whit W — 11 Aug 2012

The "Planet of the Apes" series is certainly a mixed bag success-wise. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's made up of great movies, but through the first four flicks, it has always entertained. But with this fifth and final movie, it fails on all counts.

Honestly, I couldn't wait for "Battle..." to conclude. It was seriously hard to watch. I think everyone involved, including Roddy McDowall, phoned it in. The only person who showed any life at all was Claude Akins as gorilla General Aldo. There were several times that I threw my hands in the air in frustration over the predictable and boring story. And everyone involved acted like an idiot. Was this supposed to be funny?

The mutants are ridiculously ignorant and the apes are no better. The actual battle scene goes on for an eternity and nothing happens. Both sides have to be the worst marksmen I've ever seen. The scene where Caesar, Virgil and McDonald travel to a bombed out, radioactive city just so Caesar can watch a video of his Mother and Father is monumentally stupid and it goes on f-o-r-e-v-e-r. I thought Caesar was supposed to be smart!?! He risks his life and the safety of his wife and child so he can watch a video. It is not a trait that his noble character would have considered in the other movies.

Pfffft! I've already given this movie more words than it deserves. "Battle For the Planet of the Apes" is a cheap, money-grab of a movie and it is a total letdown. The classic "Planet of the Apes" series deserves much better. This has to be one of the worst movies I've ever forced myself to sit through.