La Planète des singes (2001)

A pathetic plot, a weak script, and a very unconvincing Mark Wahlberg in the lead role provide for a wasted opportunity, especially considering that the makeup effects by Rick Baker are truly outstanding. If you want a good reboot/remake, seek out the 2011 version and its 2 sequels.

Yeah... pretty poor.

I didn't even know this existed until a week or so ago. Gotta be frustrating for all involved that they were in a remake/reboot of 1968's <em>'Planet of the Apes'</em> that wasn't the 2011 version. This one walked so that one could fly etc.

Speaking of flying, what the heck is with the high jumping apes in this? It looks so silly and doesn't add anything; a very odd choice. It is, though, a surprise that this film flopped given who got attached to it. Tim Burton as director, with the acting talents of Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Clarke Duncan and Paul Giamatti. It's neat that Charlton Heston and Linda Harrison (stars of the original) made cameos, though.

Wahlberg feels a bit miscast, though Bonham Carter and Giamatti are solid; the latter particularly seemed to enjoy the role. The film does have a Burton edge to it, as expected, but this is one of his weaker films no doubt. Some other negatives, for me, include the make-up, esp. for General Thade, - I'm in the minority there - and the story's pacing.

This is much more of a straight remake of the original 1968 version that certainly benefits from superior visual effects and animatronics, but otherwise is really quite stodgy and sterile. Mark Wahlberg is the astronaut "Leo" who finds himself stranded on a planet that is dominated by apes that can speak. Just like their human relatives, the Simian community is facing a war. The more benign, cleverer, chimpanzees are facing a conflict with their more aggressive gorilla cousins led by "Thade" (Tim Roth). Luckily, "Leo" can count on the feisty assistance of "Ari" (Helena Bonham Carter) as they race their antagonists to a secret facility deep in the forbidden zone that could offer them a solution and reveal the nature of their past. Wahlberg is good in these action roles. He manages to keep the pace moving along despite a rather weak story that takes quite a while to establish itself, and then is all too procedural as it bumbles along to an admittedly lively and fitting denouement. It's not a great film, indeed was there really any need to remake it at all, save for it being a vehicle for the easy-on-the-eye star? Still, it's an above average production that passes two hours without effort. If you're really eagle-eyed you might spot "Planet" original Linda Harrison (in a cart) but that might be all this has to make it memorable.