Planet of The Apes - The Original Inconvenient Truth

Hello Everyone,

David here from West Hollywood and I'm a huge fan of the Planet of The Apes movies, particularly the 1968 original. You can catch me tonight on Cinemania at 8pm / 7C on AMC in the ultimate POTA fan smack down.

In my opinion, Planet of The Apes has stood the test of time as a classic film because of all the elements of the film coming together without one overpowering the other. The keen direction of Franklin J. Schaffner, the thoughtful and often times humorous script by Michael Wilson and Rod Serling, the amazing make-up by John Chambers, the haunting musical score by Jerry Goldsmith, fantastic costume design by Morton Haack, and of course the superb cast all come together in a fantastic adventure of survival.

The film was so far ahead of its time in dealing with the harsh reality that man himself will one day be the cause of his own demise that one might argue that it is the original An Inconvenient Truth. I was also a huge fan of the "disaster" movie decade of the 1970's. In many ways, POTA is the ultimate disaster movie. Climbing to the top of an upside-down ocean liner is child's play compared to dealing with talking Apes that want to cut pieces out of your brain.

I also love the relationship between Zira and Cornelius. It took such fine actors as Kim Hunter and Roddy McDowall to convey the necessary range of emotions under all that latex and heavy costumes for audiences keep coming back year after year. I think my favorite shot in the movie is the close up on Kim Hunter's face when Taylor (Charlton Heston) barks out the famous line, "Take your stinkin' paws off me you damned dirty ape!". It's pure movie magic! Enjoy.

Enjoy the film!

Planet of the Apes's Subtle Warning

Hi, Jessica here. I am a huge fan of Planet of the Apes. You will get my drift when you watch me on Cinemania tonight at 8 | 7C on AMC!

John Chamber's make-up creations have influenced my interest in make-up but it is Roddy McDowall who influenced me as an actress! What people may not know about Roddy is that he had a long, long career before and after playing Cornelius and later Caesar in the Planet of the Apes series -- he has worked more than just about any actor out there...and yet few people recognize him without his make-up on.

He was a director and a photographer of great renown, not to mention one of the best friends anyone in Hollywood, and everyone is Hollywood, ever had. That said, there are many other things that keep Planet of the Apes close to my heart besides my lifelong crush (starting in teenhood) on Roddy.
The series conveys a message that we find becoming more and more important today. Everyone got the nuclear war references, but more subtle in the series is the notion that the more compliant and backwards and slow mankind gets, the more we open the door for a better species to take over. One day it will happen....will it be apes, or something else?

May Schedule?

Israel became a state in May of '48. Their 60th anniversary is coming up. What movies are you planning to show that would commemorate this event?

John Wayne Movies

I would like to know when the movie Without Reservations will be playing...

VHS Tape Collection

I am a collector of VHS tapes and actually sell off some of my doubles. I'd like to trade for other tapes. I have about 100 or so in my store website if anyone wants to check them out. I'd be willing to trade for any tapes that do not have a DVD equivalent. You can view mine at www.booksoldier.net or use the link below. The prices shown are for sale but if you want to trade please let me know.

http://www.booksoldier.net/servlet/the-VHS-tapes/Categories

007 Marathon?

Non-Stop Bond marathon needs a home like AMC! For at least a week each year..... who's with me?

Song During Promo Hang Em High

In the commercial for this movie tonight there is a great sound clip that sounds like its from There Will Be Blood. Is this Dominic's score for the film, though, and if so, what is this section called?

The Graduate on AMC

I just saw part of the Graduate on AMC. It was shown the "DVD" way, i.e. with non-stop text, comments and information provided in a box at the bottom of the screen, while the movie played. What an utterly ridiculous thing! This totally undermines the movie experience, it interferes, you can't focus on the movie. Who came up with this idiocy? I sure hope AMC doesn't do this a lot, because the Osborne show is a good one. We watch him and his movies several times week. But please, don't ruin your excellent movies with this text non-stop text garbage at the bottom of the screen!

Charlton Heston: A Hollywood Icon

There will never be another actor of the stature and class of Charlton Heston! Our loss is heaven's gain. All my condolences to Lydia, Fraser, Holly and the grandchildren. Why is AMC not having a HUGE tribute day or weekend dedicated to him? If he doesn't fit the definition of AMC, American Movie Classics, I don't know who does! He epitomized class and acted like a true star should act. America loved him!! God Bless Charlton Heston.

Recent Future Classics

Sometimes it's hard to tell what movies will endure to become classics. If you told me in 1985 that Real Genius would endure to make Val Kilmer a star, I would have laughed in your face. And yet, here we are. Then there are movies like Rain Man and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, which become legendary the moment they're released.

What movies have you seen recently that you think might stand the test of time?

I'll get the ball rolling and say that so far this year, Cloverfield might have what it takes,simply because it delivered in redefining the monster genre (Who would have thought you could make a successful movie focused on the people screaming "Aieeee!" at Godzilla?). Also, given the recent proliferation of the term "sweded," I think Michel Gondry's Be Kind Rewind will be remembered for decades to come.