As a filmmaker, Tim Burton’s strong aspect was never subtlety. However, with being a storyteller and director, Burton’s films rely on imagery and obsessive narratives to fill in what he can’t as a craftsman. Strangely though, Burton was given the task to remake one of the most thematically subtle movies of all time. “Planet of the Apes,” released in 2001, is one of the most relevant pieces of work on humanity and politics that was ever made for the big screen, and Burton never really got a good hand on that.
That can be seen very obviously when Burton does not let actors behind all the ape make-up to express their emotions, but spoon feeds the audience by giving the apes eyebrows. This allows the apes to express emotions that Burton guessed audiences would never really know what the apes are feeling. That’s a very high chance why since the screenplay is poorly done that it’s hard to fathom this is a remake to a film that’s absolutely brilliant in its hints of political turmoil and the cruel cycle of a civilization and government. Felix Vasquez Jr. is right when he said in his review of the film, “Under Burton’s guidance, “Planet of the Apes” is transformed in to a fairly dunderheaded science fiction actioner with more focus on dazzle and style than telling a fairly interesting story.”
Burton’s remake replaces Charlton Heston with the very beloved Mark Wahlberg, changing a very interesting character in a traumatic situation in a man who looks bored, even when being with apes that are able to speak fluent English. Wahlberg does not really do a good job as Leo, and he doesn’t do much for a situation of wonder and awe as the essential factors in the film’s events. It’s tough to acquire sympathy for Wahlberg when he can’t even assemble enough emotion to grieve for his monkey lost in space. Vazquez stated in his review, “Burton’s “Planet” is essentially a superficial re-telling of the original film with much of the politics and commentary on society exchanged for a lot of razzle dazzle, all of which feels like blatant Hollywood artifice.”
The set pieces are exactly what they are, and Wahlberg never looks like he is in turmoil, unlike Charlton Heston seemed to demonstrate the insanity of the fascinating situation he got himself stuck in, despite his over the top emotions. Estella Warren doesn’t really do much beside stand there and look hot as Burton fills in a few regulars that he puts in his work nowadays, like Lisa Marie and his wife Helena Bonham Carter. The only standout performances are Tim Roth and the late Michael Clarke Duncan who play the twisted dogmatic soldiers of the ape army who plan to bring down the human rebellion and take over the ape society for their own satisfaction.
Rick Baker’s prosthetics and make up are really well-done, and the makeup man is able to turn Roth and Duncan in to truly evil and dreadful villains who create a dangerous threat to a group of forgetful protagonists. Paul Giamatti is also in here as the Orangutan Limbo who does a double performance as comic relief and as Vazquez described, “a pure example of the wizardry Baker and Cinovation Studios are capable of.” For the most part, this remake is very much like the original without the irony and hints to cruelty we as animals are capable of.
Despite the great effects the film will never have the same magic of the original series. The final part is one of the most ridiculous parts ever in a film, and to this day it’s painfully puzzling to where it’s evident that the writers didn’t have a clue what symbolism meant, if anything. 12 years after this was released, “Planet of the Apes” is ridiculous and absolutely unrelated in the story by Pierre Boulle. If there’s anything that can save it, it’s the makeup effects and the supporting performances by Tim Roth and Michael Clarke Duncan. Other than those pros, the remake is full of cons.
Now that I’ve gotten that bad remake out of the way, I will say that it’s worse than Burton’s remake/sequel, “Alice in Wonderland,” but nowhere near as horrendous as his “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” remake. Don’t see it because you’re not missing anything. Stay tuned tomorrow when I conclude the week out with the first in the series of reboots.
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