I'm going out on a limb here, Thunderstorm and I may be the only ones posting in here 
But what the heck, it's a giant franchise with at least one cinema masterpiece under its belt so I figure its worthy of its own thread 
Planet of the Apes (1968)
The one, the classic, the masterpiece. An icon of 60s sci-fi cinema, this won 3 Academy Awards: honorary makeup (John Chambers), costume design (Morton Haack), and original score (Jerry Goldsmith!). And yet it's so much more than that. This film has greater social consciousness and commentary in its little finger than do many of the sci-fi films which have been made in the 42 years since its release. And of course, this is also the film with one of the most recognizable final scenes in Hollywood history.
Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
A film plagued with problems from day one; from budgetary problems, to being the intended savior of a sinking 20th Century Fox, to cast and crew being unhappy with the project.
Originally Fox contracted Pierre Boulle, French author of the novel Monkey Planet (which inspired the previous film) to pen a script for the sequel. His treatment was called "Planet of the Men", and involved Taylor and Nova raising a child among humans in the jungle, elevating humans above savagery into humans we recognize. The child, grown into an adult, would have led an army of humans to defeat General Ursus' army and subjugate the apes. The closing shot would've been Zaius in a cage surrounded by humans demanding he do tricks! Ultimately, however, the Fox execs felt that Boulle's script didn't have a "wow!" moment in the way of the Statue in the first film, so they rejected his script and hired someone else. Kind of a shame, in my opinion.
Frankly I think it's a wonder that this film turned out as well as it did. Unfortunately Roddy McDowall wasn't appeal to appear in this one (one of his only two absences from the Apes franchise), but otherwise all the principal cast of the first film was able to appear again. And it seemed like the final chapter in the Apes series, until....
Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
Discussion for this second sequel actually began before cameras started rolling on Beneath. Another film plagued by budget problems, I think this is the weakest in the original continuity. Oh well, at least it had Ricardo Montalban!
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
Thunderstorm's favourite of the sequels (
), and apparently the subject of the upcoming remake film, this one tells the story of the first Ape uprising against humanity. This was again made with the budget slashed to considerably less than the previous film, so it's actually rather impressive that this got made at all.
Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
The final chapter of the original continuity, and with the smallest budget of them all. This is generally considered to be the weakest of all the sequels, though personally I think that that 'honour' belongs to Escape. We witness here the final battle between man and Ape for the dominance of the planet!
Planet of the Apes (1974)
A short-lived live-action TV series based on the franchise, set nearly a thousand years before the original film. Unfortunately this didn't last for very long, as it was in direct timeslot competition with Sanford and Son, and was absolutely crushed. It only lasted 13 episodes (with a 14th produced but never aired on television).
Return to the Planet of the Apes (1975)
Another short-lived television project, producing only 13 animated episodes in the mid-70s, this one was actually a departure from all the live-action continuity to this point. This series showed a more advanced Ape society as was envisioned in the original Pierre Boulle novel Monkey Planet, which was the inspiration for the original film. This is the other Apes project in which Roddy McDowall was not involved. It does, however, have the voice talents of a young Tress MacNeille, who would go on to become a prolific voice actress in her own right (The Simpsons: Agnes Skinner, Dolph, Cat Lady, Mrs. Muntz, various; Futurama: Mom, Tinny Tim, Slurm Queen, etc; Disney: Anastasia/Cinderella 2 & 3, Daisy Duck, Chip/Chin 'n Dale, Margot Yale/Gargoyles).
Planet of the Apes (2001)
Tim Burton's one-off remake of the original film. While no-one can argue this had great effects, the plot, acting, and nonsensical ending made this a critical and commercial stinker to which no sequel was ever made (thus leaving the ending unresolved).
Rise of the Apes / Caesar (2011)
The title of this new film seems to vary between these two options, depending on the news source. But word is that this movie, which is to be a remake/retake of sorts on the original Conquest film, has already started filming in Vancouver, with a June 2011 release date in mind. This will be the first film to have CGI apes rather than actors in costumes, and stars John Lithgow, James Franco, Andy Serkis, and Brian Cox. Word is also that Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter films) has joined the cast as a young Dodge, one of the characters from the original 1968 film.
But what the heck, it's a giant franchise with at least one cinema masterpiece under its belt so I figure its worthy of its own thread Planet of the Apes (1968)
The one, the classic, the masterpiece. An icon of 60s sci-fi cinema, this won 3 Academy Awards: honorary makeup (John Chambers), costume design (Morton Haack), and original score (Jerry Goldsmith!). And yet it's so much more than that. This film has greater social consciousness and commentary in its little finger than do many of the sci-fi films which have been made in the 42 years since its release. And of course, this is also the film with one of the most recognizable final scenes in Hollywood history.
Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
A film plagued with problems from day one; from budgetary problems, to being the intended savior of a sinking 20th Century Fox, to cast and crew being unhappy with the project.
Originally Fox contracted Pierre Boulle, French author of the novel Monkey Planet (which inspired the previous film) to pen a script for the sequel. His treatment was called "Planet of the Men", and involved Taylor and Nova raising a child among humans in the jungle, elevating humans above savagery into humans we recognize. The child, grown into an adult, would have led an army of humans to defeat General Ursus' army and subjugate the apes. The closing shot would've been Zaius in a cage surrounded by humans demanding he do tricks! Ultimately, however, the Fox execs felt that Boulle's script didn't have a "wow!" moment in the way of the Statue in the first film, so they rejected his script and hired someone else. Kind of a shame, in my opinion.
Frankly I think it's a wonder that this film turned out as well as it did. Unfortunately Roddy McDowall wasn't appeal to appear in this one (one of his only two absences from the Apes franchise), but otherwise all the principal cast of the first film was able to appear again. And it seemed like the final chapter in the Apes series, until....
Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
Discussion for this second sequel actually began before cameras started rolling on Beneath. Another film plagued by budget problems, I think this is the weakest in the original continuity. Oh well, at least it had Ricardo Montalban!
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
Thunderstorm's favourite of the sequels (
), and apparently the subject of the upcoming remake film, this one tells the story of the first Ape uprising against humanity. This was again made with the budget slashed to considerably less than the previous film, so it's actually rather impressive that this got made at all.Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
The final chapter of the original continuity, and with the smallest budget of them all. This is generally considered to be the weakest of all the sequels, though personally I think that that 'honour' belongs to Escape. We witness here the final battle between man and Ape for the dominance of the planet!
Planet of the Apes (1974)
A short-lived live-action TV series based on the franchise, set nearly a thousand years before the original film. Unfortunately this didn't last for very long, as it was in direct timeslot competition with Sanford and Son, and was absolutely crushed. It only lasted 13 episodes (with a 14th produced but never aired on television).
Return to the Planet of the Apes (1975)
Another short-lived television project, producing only 13 animated episodes in the mid-70s, this one was actually a departure from all the live-action continuity to this point. This series showed a more advanced Ape society as was envisioned in the original Pierre Boulle novel Monkey Planet, which was the inspiration for the original film. This is the other Apes project in which Roddy McDowall was not involved. It does, however, have the voice talents of a young Tress MacNeille, who would go on to become a prolific voice actress in her own right (The Simpsons: Agnes Skinner, Dolph, Cat Lady, Mrs. Muntz, various; Futurama: Mom, Tinny Tim, Slurm Queen, etc; Disney: Anastasia/Cinderella 2 & 3, Daisy Duck, Chip/Chin 'n Dale, Margot Yale/Gargoyles).
Planet of the Apes (2001)
Tim Burton's one-off remake of the original film. While no-one can argue this had great effects, the plot, acting, and nonsensical ending made this a critical and commercial stinker to which no sequel was ever made (thus leaving the ending unresolved).
Rise of the Apes / Caesar (2011)
The title of this new film seems to vary between these two options, depending on the news source. But word is that this movie, which is to be a remake/retake of sorts on the original Conquest film, has already started filming in Vancouver, with a June 2011 release date in mind. This will be the first film to have CGI apes rather than actors in costumes, and stars John Lithgow, James Franco, Andy Serkis, and Brian Cox. Word is also that Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter films) has joined the cast as a young Dodge, one of the characters from the original 1968 film.
I'm very very happy with my BD player, DVD just doesn't measure up anymore.
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