Review of Planet Of The Apes: Special Edition

Introduction

This is the `re-imagination` of the 1968 classic (and its four sequels). Tim Burton, one of the true visual directors takes over the megaphone, and Oscar-winner Rick Baker makes apes...sounds good so far.

The first thing that hits you is the scope of the movie...it really is a mammoth project, and it already you can see the differences between the 2001 incarnation and its predecessor. And yes, there are differences, as this is not a remake, nor a sequel. It is a re-imagination. A re-imagination straight from the (warped?) mind of Burton himself, someone who is known for his gothic feel to his movies.

Video

A flawless 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen transfer, with the palette used excellently throughout. There are no compression signs, and the visuals are clear and sharp.

Planet of The Apes uses numerous different locations and sets, and they are brought out well with by the print. From the dusty sand dunes of the climax, to the claustrophobic jungle scene, everything is immortalised excellently. A trademark transfer.

Audio

A booming DTS track or a booming DD 5.1 track. Both are excellent, really putting you amidst the action, but when push comes to shove I would pick the DTS track as it performs better in action scenes. The surrounds are always used to good effect.

This type of movie doesn`t exactly boast intellectual dialogue, but the dialogue it does boast is quite good, and enjoyable. The action sequences are presented well, with just the right ambience.

Features

This is a blinder of a 2-disc set. Read on to find out why:

Audio Commentary - excellent, Burton and Elfman are on top form, but there are a few long pauses.

Enhanced Viewing Mode - a good idea, this is similar to The Matrix and offers even more insight onto the mammoth production.

4 Split Screen Videos - OK, not that well put together.

8 Featurettes - amazing, each one is brimming full with interesting facts. It really opens your eyes to how hard it was to bring to the screen.

5 Extended Scenes - these add little to the movie, so are a bit of a disappointment really.

Multi-Angle Scene Comparisons - fun to play with, lacks substance slightly.

Music Video - an OK dance/trance/piece of crap (delete where applicable) remix.

Stills Galleries - interesting. They include some rather long-winded Production Notes.

Cast & Crew Profiles - average.

Theatrical Trailers & TV Spots - good. 2 POTA trailers, one for Moulin Rouge and a short one for Dr Dolittle 2. The TV Spots are re-hashes, but some contain good footage.

DVD-ROM Features - quite good.

The extras are immense and very satisfying, it seems quality and quantity exist on the same level at last. My pick is each of the featurettes, with the enhanced viewing mode also being very good. The menus are all animated very well with a tense score and `space` effects.

Conclusion

Many people have dismissed this movie as `pop culture trash` but that is unfair...if you look beneath the big budget façade you will see a quality movie. The acting is good, especially Tim Roth as Thade and Helena Bonham Carter as Ari. Visual effects are stunning, the make up and costume design are excellent (it should have got Oscar nominations for these), and the plot is good. OK, so the original had that ending, but thinking about it, the 2001 version does have a pretty nifty `time travel` ending...so overall this is a good attempt at celluloid stardom.

Overall, this is a great package. Everything about this oozes quality. I have an idea for POTA 2: call it The Visitor (the orignal title of this movie) as Leo Davidson is now a `visitor` on his home planet. Getting back to the disc, this should be in every serious DVD collectors collection.