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Fox Home Entertainment presentsPlanet of the Apes
(2001)
"Never send a monkey to do a man's job"- Captain Leo Davidson (Mark Wahlberg)
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Helena Bonham Carter, Tim Roth
Other Stars: Michael Clarke Duncan, Paul Giamatti, Estella Warren, Kris Kristofferson
Director: Tim Burton
Manufacturer: Digital Video Compression Center
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for (some sequences of action/violence)
Run Time: 01h:59m:51s
Release Date: 2001-11-20
Genre: sci-fi
Style Grade |
Substance Grade | Image Transfer Grade | Audio Transfer Grade |
Extras Grade |
---|---|---|---|---|
C+ | D | A | A- | A |
DVD Review
Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm scared. In 2001 more than ever, film studios brought us sequel after sequel, remake after remake, and in some cases, like Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes, a "re-imagining." What scares me is that very few studios today seem willing to entertain audiences with fresh and original ideas. I personally have great faith in the integrity of the human race, so I beg Hollywood, for the sake of pumping some life back into our veins, let's get some more original movies back into the theaters in 2002. When I heard that Tim Burton was "re-imagining" the 1968 classic directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, I treated the idea with the same feeling of dread that I do the idea of virtually any film sequel or remake. However, it would have been presumptuous of me to criticize something before seeing it, so I went into it with an open mind. The story of this 2001 version is essentially the same as the original 1968 film. A human astronaut named Captain Leo Davidson (Mark Wahlberg) crash lands on a strange planet inhabited by smart apes who treat humans as slaves, then finds himself struggling to stay alive and return home. Sounds familiar, right? The problem is, Tim Burton's version is completely devoid of the atmosphere and tension that the original film methodically created. The masterful setup created by Schaffner in 1968 was so carefully constructed that when we finally met the apes, 30 minutes into the film, it was literally breathtaking. In the 2001 version, Wahlberg's first encounter with the malevolent apes is so rushed and frenzied that I began to feel like a kid watching a Saturday morning cartoon. Director Tim Burton is certainly adept at making visually stunning films, but I find all too often that his films fall into the trap of not knowing what they want to be. Planet of the Apes is no exception, as we see comedy intertwining with drama, action intertwining with slapstick, and none of it coming together to form a cohesive vehicle. For the countless number of things wrong with this film, the 2001 Apes is not altogether a waste of time. The film does boast a powerful cast with a handful of lively and invigorating performances, particularly by Helena Bonham Carter as the timid but headstrong Ari and the constantly entertaining Tim Roth as the wicked and deceitful Thade. The prosthetic effects created by the prolific makeup artist, Rick Baker, are so convincing that one might be inclined to wonder if the filmmakers did not somehow beam down and employ actual talking apes from another world. The cinematography by Philippe Rousselot creates a haunting presence of light and shadow that one could easily expect from an eerie and distant planet. Last but certainly not least, Charleton Heston delivers a hilarious cameo as a dying ape leader, and all at once pokes fun at his role in the original film and his off screen status as President of the NRA! When it comes down to the big picture however, these achievements provided by such skilled entertainers are overshadowed by the fact that a landmark of American cinema has been reduced to a hot-buttered popcorn cheese fest. The original Planet of the Apes was fairly dense for a science fiction picture, and touched on some very important social issues at the time, including racism and threats of genocide. The 2001 version could have easily delivered a similar commentary on modern day affairs, but instead abandoned the idea of an intelligent screenplay to concentrate on powerhouse effects and an in-your-face soundtrack. Along the way, the audience is offered twists and turns and the obligatory shocker ending, but unlike the first film, which presented an ending so poignant and natural that it demanded repeat viewings, the new version's final revelation seems tacked on simply for the sake of surprise. It may seem unfair to compare this new version so closely to the original, because after all, this is a "re-imagining" and independent from the original. But in Burton's intention to create a new Planet of the Apes film, I believe he had a certain obligation to at least pay tribute and show respect to the original film. Instead, all we got was a dumbed down action picture that is merely a satire on the Schaffner classic.Rating for Style: C+
Rating for Substance: D
Image Transfer
One | |
---|---|
Aspect Ratio | 2.35:1 - Widescreen |
Original Aspect Ratio | yes |
Anamorphic | yes |
Image Transfer Review: The image transfer, presented in anamorphic widescreen, is visually captivating. In some minor regards, this DVD print quite possibly looks better than any Planet of the Apes film print shown in theaters this summer, as there is nary a nick or scrape to be found. Color plays a major factor in this movie; the dusky reds and emerald greens form a perfect balance with one another, blending in seamlessly with the deep blacks. Contrast is nicely balanced in the film's dimly lit interiors, and the intricate weavings of the apes' costumes and the complexities of the jungle backgrounds are always fully revealed in even the darkest of scenes. For a film that takes place in shadowy locales 75 percent of the time, white level is very pleasant; I never found it to be harsh or eye-straining. About the only criticism I can make is that the picture appears somewhat soft in a few scenes, but it is never obtrusive and actually adds a film-like presence to the transfer. All in all, this is a stunning visual experience and a DVD transfer that sets a benchmark for all other transfers.
Image Transfer Grade: A
Audio Transfer
Language | Remote Access | |
---|---|---|
DS 2.0 | Spanish | no |
Dolby Digital 5.1 | English | no |
DTS | English | no |
Audio Transfer Review: The 5.1 soundtrack is an outstanding achievement, and it gave my system a significant work out. The entire front soundstage is strong and convincing with Danny Elfman's dynamic and thunderous score sweeping across the three main speakers. At times, the soundtrack can be quite modest, but dynamic range is also used to the fullest and all six channels explode with sound when necessary. Fidelity is first rate, and even when the soundtrack is at peak levels the musical score slices through the sound effects beautifully, leaving no instrument buried underneath the raucous effects. Curiously, the music mostly stays locked at the front, leaving the surrounds exclusively for the effects. This is an odd way of mixing a soundtrack as far as I'm concerned, and I did find it to sound very interesting, although not preferred. During key action sequences the split surrounds become actively engaged and provide wonderful channel separation, fully enveloping the listener and heightening the sense of spatiality. Additionally, these action sequences provide heart-pounding, room-shattering pulses of deep bass that effectively enhance the sense of realism. Dialogue is recorded nicely; I never had to strain to hear the actors, even when the music and sound effects were at peak dynamic range. While not necessarily top-of-the-line demo material, this is a winning soundtrack that should be highly commended.
Audio Transfer Grade: A-
Disc Extras
Full Motion menu with musicScene Access with 36 cues and remote access
Subtitles/Captions in English
Cast and Crew Biographies
Cast and Crew Filmographies
2 Original Trailer(s)
2 Other Trailer(s) featuring Moulin Rouge, Dr. Dolittle 2
6 TV Spots/Teasers
4 Multiple Angles with remote access
5 Deleted Scenes
Screenplay
Production Notes
Isolated Music Score
2 Documentaries
4 Featurette(s)
Storyboard
2 Feature/Episode commentaries by director Tim Burton, musical composer Danny Elfman
Weblink/DVD-ROM Material
Packaging: Amaray Double
Picture Disc
2 Discs
1-Sided disc(s)
Layers: RSDL
Layers Switch: 00h:45m:21s
Extra Extras:
- Posters and Press Kit
- Stills Galleries
- Screen Tests
- Enhanced Viewing Mode Feature
Extras Grade: A
Final Comments
This is what the format is all about. Boasting a packed-to-the-brim, two-disc special edition, the Planet of the Apes DVD is more than enough to keep one occupied for weeks on end. DVD lovers who found Tim Burton's vision to be enjoyable and exciting will go bananas, if not ape, over this special edition. But for those who share my lack of enthusiasm for the film and still buy DVDs based on the movies themselves, sit tight: There is bound to be another masterfully-produced, two- or three-disc Special Edition soon enough, and one that is based upon a far superior movie.Brian Calhoun 2002-03-21