Directed by:
Ted PostScreenplay:
Paul DehnCinematography:
Milton R. KrasnerComposer:
Leonard RosenmanCast:
James Franciscus, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, Linda Harrison, Paul Richards, Victor Buono, James Gregory, Jeff Corey, Natalie Trundy, Thomas Gomez, David Watson (more)VOD (4)
Plots(1)
In this sequel to Planet of the Apes, astronaut Brent (James Franciscus) is on a special mission to rescue George Taylor (Charlton Heston). Teaming up with Taylor's mute former comapnion, Nova (Linda Harrison), Brent travels to the ape village where he was imprisoned. After meeting Dr Zira (Kim Hunter), Brent learns that Taylor was last seen in the Forbidden Zone. He sets off in pursuit, and discovers that his colleague has been taken prisoner by an underground society of telepathic mutant humans who worship an atomic warhead. Meanwhile, Dr Zaius (Maurice Evans) has joined a gorilla expedition to investigate the strange goings on in the Zone. (20th Century Fox UK)
(more)Reviews (4)
I am not at all surprised at the inclusion of this title in a place of honor at www.badmovies.org. The first half parasitises the famous film quite uninventively to capitalise on the Monkey Town set and the expensive make-up and costumes, but with the introduction of the 'Radioactive Fallout Society' it becomes a delightful B-movie guilty-pleasure. Telepathic torture, a worship service for the atomic bomb (“The heavens declare the glory of the Bomb, and the firmament showeth His handiwork.”), obscure masks a la Fantomas, unintentionally funny catchphrases ("Mr. Taylor, Mr. Brent, we are a peaceful people. We don't kill our enemies. We get our enemies to kill each other.") etc., all of which, while devaluing the film's famous predecessor, makes itself a superb comedy :) Charlton Heston's short (and handsomely paid) cameo is only there to make his name look good on the poster.
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The second installment of Planet of the Apes has brought a certain dilution of the conceptual essence of the novel and the first film, although it still retains a decent visual aspect, quality acting, and overall spectacle provided by a relatively generous budget. (Actually, it wasn't that generous, but the sets and masks from the first film could be mostly reused in the second.) It is noticeably more of a B-movie piece, following in content and concept the American sci-fi films of the 1950s. Overall impression: 45%.
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It’s messy, but thankfully has its good moments. Charlton Heston is useless here, and I'm not surprised he didn't want to reprise the role. Zira and Cornelius are also useless, the atomic bomb-worshiping sect is funny and Leonard Rosenman is unfortunately not Jerry Goldsmith, although he tries to be at times.
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Yes, this sequel definitely won't sit well with everyone, it's very different from the first film, which partly repeats here, but on the other hand, I think this is something that develops the ideas that the first film had quite well. I still haven't read the source material, but obviously I should. I am very satisfied with this installment, those underground people always seemed terrifyingly great to me.
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