Review of Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) by Graham B — 13 Jul 2014

The fourth film in the series takes on a rather violent turn on race relations. 20 years after Escape, Zira and Cornelius's prophecies have come true. After a disease wiped out cats and dogs, man took apes on as pets. Pets at first, but after teaching them menial skills they have become mankind's slaves.

Caesar arrives into city life with Armando to witness such atrocity and after separating from his friend, becomes part of the slave world, plotting a revolution and rise up ape kind against their oppressors.

The story and script are rather compelling, though the black slave comparison is a little ham-fisted at times. The thing that brings this film down is the make-up effects. It seems that each sequel gets cheaper and cheaper. Here gorillas are the same size as chimpanzees and almost everyone bar Caesar is an extra with a Halloween ape mask on. it's quite sloppy. Caesar's fall into dictator complete with maniacal laugh is all over the place too. Most of the film you are on the side of the apes. By the end, your thinking it was a self fulfilling prophecy and the bastard humans may have had a point.