Review of Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) by Aalaap G — 13 Aug 2011

A really terrible ending to the otherwise great Planet of the Apes series. It is horribly paced, the characters are one-dimensional (except perhaps Caesar), the battle scenes are boring as all hell, and the story is beyond awful. There are plot holes in this movie that you could fit Donna Simpson through. How do apes that were mute beast slaves 20 years ago learn to speak, organize a society, and essentially take over the planet? I guess....a wizard did it? Why is it that the mutants in the ruins of the city are a bunch of fat guys when they should be emaciated? The acting ranges from mediocre to terrible, the dialogue drones on and on, and the central story that should be about Caesar and his son is completely drowned out by endless anti-war cliches. This was not much more than a cheap CHEAP cash-in.

So what is there to like about this movie? Well for one thing, we get some nice scenes that involve Caesar and his son, which while not exactly Oscar worthy, are at least full of heart. It's the only aspect of the movie that has even a trace of genuine emotion, unlike the previous two films that thrived on it. There's also a sense of hope that we walk away with, indicating that the horrible things that happen in the later (I mean...uh...earlier) Apes films might never happen. But even this message is stupid, because then the paradoxical cycle that the films have turned themselves into gets messed up. And I must admit, I like the final shot. Its quite ambiguous (and not in the independent movie way). I say if you've watched all four of the previous movies, check it out for its novelty. If you're not a fan or were perfectly satisfied with how Conquest ended, this movie is not worth the time.