Before the latest part of the Planet of the Apes series hits the big screen in a few days with Planet of the Apes: New Kingdom, the previous parts will be shown on the TV program. In addition to the original from 1968, the Caesar trilogy from the 2010s popular with fans. Tim Burton’s version can’t necessarily claim that.
In 2001, the director behind fantasy masterpieces like Big Fish and Edward Scissorhands released a remake of the novel of the same name by Pierre Boulle to the cinema. Although the film was successful, it failed with critics and audiences. Tonight you can give Planet of the Apes a second chance.
Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes puts its own twist on the legendary sci-fi epic
Like the original, Burton’s interpretation revolves around an astronaut who is stranded on an alien planet in the future intelligent monkeys call the shots. Before Captain Leo Davidson (Mark Wahlberg) knows it, he finds himself clashing with the evil General Thade (Tim Roth), who has nothing but contempt for the human species.
You can watch the trailer for Planet of the Apes here:
Planet of the Apes – Trailer (German)
Burton turned Planet of the Apes into a modern sci-fi blockbuster and ultimately gave the story its due missed its own spin. It is precisely this ending that is still a thorn in the side of many fans of the original to this day. Nevertheless, the scene is remarkable. Burton dares to change one of the most iconic twists in film history.
Be careful, follow it spoiler!
In the final seconds of the first Planet of the Apes film, Charlton Heston’s astronaut George Taylor is shocked to discover that he has been on Earth the entire time. They are in front of him Remains of the Statue of Liberty on the beach – the last ruins of human civilization after a devastating nuclear war.
In the remake, things are different: Leo comes back to Earth to Washington, DC and finds out that the larger-than-life statue at the Lincoln Memorial no longer corresponds to Abraham Lincoln. Instead, General Thade is now enthroned there and Leo is surrounded by a group of monkey policemen.
20th Century Studios
At Burton, General Thade takes Abraham Lincoln’s place
This ending has been hotly debated since the release of Burton’s Planet of the Apes. Does it even make sense? Or is it a joke? There are already Boulle’s original as well as the earlier films satirical elements included, Burton’s absurd and provocative conclusion can certainly be understood as the last big punchline.
Sci-Fi film: When is Planet of the Apes on TV?
The Planet of the Apes remake is underway on May 4, 2024 at 8:15 p.m. on Tele5. The broadcast continues with advertising until 10:35 p.m. and is repeated at 12:35 a.m. at night. If you want to watch the film independently of the TV program, you can currently stream it with a subscription on Disney+.
Planet of the Apes: New Kingdom starts May 8, 2024 in German cinemas. It is the tenth film entry in the history of the franchise.
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