Most people have probably seen the original version of Planet of the Apes, but I still bump into those who have only seen the latest version released in 2001.  Unfortunately, the latest version doesn't come close to the original in terms of quality and its ability to make you think.  The original won an honorary Oscar for outstanding achievement in makeup (this was before makeup was an official Oscar category), as well as being nominated for best costume design and best music.  The story is priceless, the soundtrack is unique, the makeup is decades ahead of its time, and the ending comes out of nowhere to slap you in the face.

Planet of the Apes starts out with four astronauts from the Twentieth Century who are on a deep space voyage via suspended animation.  They crash land on a mysterious planet in the year 3978 to find a world that is seemingly barren.  After travelling many miles they find water, plant life, and a human population living on a very primitive level.  What they also eventually discover is that this world is dominated by apes.  Apes walk on two legs, talk, ride horses, use firearms, and hunt the humans inhabiting the world.  Trying to survive in this backwards world is the Captain of the crew, Taylor, played by Charlton Heston.  Taylor has a cynical view of the human race and volunteered for the mission because he felt that somewhere in the universe "There must be something out there better than man."  Although he is captured by the ape population, Taylor does have two allies on the planet in scientists Zira and Cornelius, played by Kim Hunter and Roddy McDowell.  More than anything, they are interested in where exactly Taylor came from and what his presence means for the belief system their society is built upon.

With an adapted screenplay written by Michael Wilson & Rod Serling, creator of The Twilight Zone, it should not be surprising that Planet of the Apes keeps us hanging on every word and wondering what the answers will be to its self imposed questions.  It's fascinating to see Taylor, at one time the denouncer of the human race become its biggest champion when he is trying to defend it and prove that humans, in truth, are better than the ape civilization living on this world.  The situation into which Taylor is thrust in Planet of the Apes not only brings out the humancentric view of the universe ingrained in his being, but also in us as the viewers.  We find ourselves, quite naturally, thinking of Taylor and the human race as the "good guys", despite the flaws that we know exist within our species.  All of our beliefs and preconceived notions about ourselves and the world on which Taylor finds himself disappear in the final frame of the movie, however, as Rod Serling turns everything we thought we knew upside down, as only the creator of the Twilight Zone can.

Not only does Planet of the Apes have a brilliant storyline, but its achievement in makeup is worth noting as well.  After all, it was considered so outstanding at the time that it was given an honorary Oscar.  In my opinion the realistic appearance of the apes would almost stand up today.  Granted, the apes in the 2001 remake do look more realistic than those of the original, but put in the context of 1968, the makeup achievement by John Chambers is nothing short of incredible.  The actors don't simply look like apes.  The emotions and feelings they experience come through in an astounding way that shows them to be exactly what they are intended to be, apes with human characteristics.  Jerry Goldsmith's musical score is also worth noting.  It's odd, eerie, sometimes abrupt, and completely non-traditional, which makes it absolutely perfect.  I couldn't conceive of another musical score for this movie.

If you haven't seen Planet of the Apes, what are you waiting for?  And if you have seen it, I encourage you to watch it again.  It's a humbling experience that will make you think about the world and the human race in new ways.

Rated PG (112 Minutes)

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