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Planet of the Apes: 40 Year Evolution Blu-ray Collection Blu-ray
20th Century Fox | 1968-1973 | 488 mins | Not rated | Nov 04, 2008
Planet of the Apes: 40 Year Evolution Blu-ray Collection Blu-ray ReviewThis must-own collection is arguably the finest box set currently available on Blu-ray.Reviewed by Martin Liebman, December 5, 2008 Who knew that a modestly budgeted Science Fiction film featuring a title as odd as Planet of the Apes and based on a book of the same name by a French novelist named Pierre Boulle would spawn four sequels in rapid-fire succession (not to mention a re-imagining in 2001), set the tone in Hollywood for the next 40 years by making sequels and franchising the en vogue trend, and help establish a then-struggling 20th Century Fox as a powerhouse studio? Fortunately for both the studio and audiences alike, Planet of the Apes was one of the surprise hits of the 1960s and the series has since become one of the most legendary in Tinseltown history, thanks both to its engaging story lines and overt yet expertly integrated brand of social commentary. Packed with adventure, action, drama, romance, and social and political overtones, not to mention offering audiences something groundbreaking and innovative, the likes of which had never been seen, yet alone imagined, before, it's no wonder the series gained such a following in its prime and continues to earn more fans everyday. While the four sequels vary in quality, they follow in the tradition of the original film nicely, and audiences willing to spend time on the Planet of the Apes will be rewarded with a well-thought-out, finely tuned, and perhaps even timeless series that comes full circle over the course of its five-film run and makes for one of the finest sagas ever committed to film.
Planet of the Apes Rating: 5/5 A world of confusion, fascination, fear, and startling discovery await audiences on the Planet of the Apes. The 1968 Science Fiction classic starring Charlton Heston (The Omega Man) remains today a landmark of cinematic achievement. The film offered audiences overtones of social commentary presented in such a way as to seamlessly blend into the action and adventure, allowing audiences to focus on the film's plot and excitement. Only later, after your heart slows, your nerves settle, and you no longer bite your finger nails, may you begin to contemplate the deep political and social messages offered by the film. The film is also a technical achievement, nominated for two Oscars for both its costuming and score, and presented an honorary award for its seamless makeup effects. George Taylor (Heston), captain of a deep space exploration vessel, is preparing to enter cryo-sleep for the extended journey home, 700 years after he and his crew left Earth. The ship crash-lands on a mysterious world sometime after Taylor enters cryo-sleep. According to the ship's internal clock, the time is 2,000 years after initial take-off. While Taylor and two crewmen awaken to escape the crashed ship, they discover a fourth crew member's desiccated body shows signs of having been long dead, certainly since Taylor entered cryo-sleep. Taylor and the two other astronauts escape the sinking vessel. They begin a long search, trekking across rocky desert and mountainous terrain, looking for life, water, and perhaps civilization. After reaching vegetation and water, Taylor and his crew soon find themselves -- along with a primitive, human-in-appearance tribe -- on the run from armed, intelligent apes atop horseback, hunting down and herding the humans like cattle. The apes capture Taylor, but not before shooting him through the neck, leaving him unable to speak, and, the apes assume, as mute and unintelligent as the other humans in ape captivity. Nevertheless, Taylor manages to begin communicating with two ape scientists -- Cornelius (Roddy McDowall) and Zira (Kim Hunter) -- who slowly but surely begin to accept him as an intelligent individual rather than as a scientific curiosity. When Dr. Zaius -- an ape with more knowledge of who Taylor is and where he may have come from -- learns of his ability to communicate, he does all he can to silence the human, and ensure ape superiority across the land. Any analysis of Planet of the Apes lends itself to a discussion of a deeper social meaning that is not-so-subtly veiled behind the film's action and drama, the film a fine example of true Science Fiction, a genre that most commonly functions as a messenger for social sense or implication. With the space shuttle returning to Earth, his crew in deep sleep and himself preparing to settle in for the long journey home, Taylor speaks his thoughts into the ships flight recorder, wondering what kind of world he will return to -- and contemplating the world he left behind, now hundreds of years past. He speaks of war and famine, offering none-to-subtle insights into what was, at the time of the film's release, a world of great upheaval, of chaos, of conflict both internal and external, fighting enemies and ideologies both halfway around the globe, and halfway down the street. The simian society Taylor discovers is one resembling various stages of mankind's development -- dealing with issues of societal order, slavery, equal rights, scientific discovery and religious belief. He begins to piece together a world none too different from his own, contrasting with his own externally, but bearing a striking resemblance beneath the immediate superficialities of simian culture and appearance. Planet of the Apes is a commentary on social order, one that considers the importance the apes atop simian society place on maintaining their status, a right and privilege they hold above all else, to the exclusion of scientific discovery or proven or counter-proven postulates of religion that may threaten their standing. Ape society revolves around a scripture-based religious text that is strikingly similar to the Bible in some regards, recounting a creation story not much different than that told in the Book of Genesis, but also one foretelling of the coming of a man who may upset the order of the ape. Meanwhile, those scientists who speak contrary to the creationist theory -- instead espousing a theory of evolution, in this case a theory postulating that ape evolved from man -- is viewed as sacrilege. Like all good Science Fiction, Planet of the Apes offers social commentary in the guise of action and adventure in a world similar to our own but with obvious changes that reflect and exaggerate the issues the film comments on. As such, it is no wonder that the film is hailed as brilliant Science Fiction, one of the genre's finest offerings and an important film both cinematically and culturally. Aside from its brilliant integration of social commentary, Planet of the Apes is also a stunning achievement from a technical perspective. The filmmakers have created a fascinating and believable world of simian existence, one that complements the secrets of ape and man revealed by Dr. Zaius throughout the dramatic third act. The apes use a mixture of primitive and crude technology while employing some quasi-modern tools and techniques. Primitive transportation methods are used regularly in simian society while they regularly perform complicated yet somewhat experimental surgeries with evolved medical equipment and techniques; apes house human animals in crude cages yet regularly employ modern cartridge-based rifles. Nevertheless, concepts such as flight confuse the apes; the concepts involved in folding and flying a simple paper airplane is as foreign to them as, say, a working teleportation device may yet be to modern man. The make-up used to create the apes is remarkable, remaining even today as a landmark of cinematic trickery, the film's artists creating beings unlike any ever seen before, and never once is the audience taken out of the film because of poor or phony makeup. Nominated for the Best Costume Design Oscar and presented an honorary award by the Academy for John Chambers' outstanding makeup design, Planet of the Apes remains a visually stunning hallmark film even 40 years after its theatrical release.  Beneath the Planet of the Apes Rating: 3/5 The whirlwind success of 1968's Planet of the Apes led studio executives to almost immediately call for a sequel, and a little more than two years after the original's theatrical debut, Beneath the Planet of the Apes led audiences deeper into the simian world so vividly imagined and brought to life in the Charlton Heston classic. Beneath the Planet of the Apes enjoyed a modicum of success, seeing the return of some old favorite characters while introducing a few new and memorable ones, delving deep into the lore of the topsy-turvy Simian world, and showcasing an ending nearly as memorable as the first film's famous show stopper. Beneath the Planet of the Apes is nowhere near as good as the original, but it presents viewers with a few fascinating plot twists and devices, builds on the themes of the first picture well enough, and never feels like too much of a rehash of its predecessor, though at first glance the plot may very well seem to suggest more of the same, particularly in its first act. The film walks the sequel tightrope well enough, neither simply retelling the first film nor blazing radically new territory that segregates it almost completely from the original, but certainly taking on elements of each. Beneath the Planet of the Apes begins with an extended visual recap of the end of the first film, and moves on to show Taylor's (Heston) separation from Nova (Linda Harrison), and her subsequent discovery of Brent (James Franciscus), an ANSA astronaut on a mission to rescue Taylor. Brent, obviously, has suffered the same misfortune as his ill-fated fellow celestial explorer, crash landing on this mysterious world that he soon discovers inhabited by primitive, mute humans and talking, intelligent simians. Despite the best efforts of Zira (Kim Hunter), a more levelheaded, scientifically-inclined member of the simian race and friend of humans, Brent is soon captured and scheduled to become live target practice for the gorillas as they train for an incursion into the Forbidden Zone to destroy any human remnants and restore the ravaged land. Through a last-ditch effort, Zira helps Brent escape. He and Nova discover an underground passage filled with remnants of both the immediate and ancient past, and a danger certainly more powerful than anything on the surface. While Beneath the Planet of the Apes may not be a straight remake, and though a few scenes eerily parallel some seen in the first film, there is enough here that is different to set it apart from the first. Perhaps the most obvious, and most disheartening, difference lies not in its plot, characters, or even story, but rather in the film's haphazard pacing and choppy feel. One moment slick and tense, the next sluggish and dull, there is very little consistency about the overall experience. There is also a cramped, uneasy, confined feel to the picture; unlike the first, where the entire simian world felt wide open, larger-than-life, and ripe for exploration, this film feels restricted to a few smallish sets, replete with noticeable matte paintings that don't offer the false sense of depth and expansion as the better ones do, particularly noted in the film's final underground act. The film also features a few phony looking but generally passable special effects. The returning cast, particularly Charlton Heston's reprisal of Taylor, Kim Hunter's return as Zira, and Maurice Evans' portrayal of Dr. Zaius brings to the film a sense of continuity and purpose, the filmmakers clearly making an effort to make Beneath the Planet of the Apes a true follow-up rather than creating a picture devoid of anything but the most basic of connections to the first film. Still, the movie only works occasionally. The first half plays out as decidedly different from the first film but with a very similar feel to the proceedings. The later half of the picture becomes bogged down in an out-of-left-field plot development that sticks out like a sore thumb and adds little to the movie but does provide audiences with a rather abrupt yet chilling finale, one that will leave first time viewers wondering how in the world another Apes movie is even possible, let alone a trio of additional sequels.  Escape From the Planet of the Apes Rating: 2/5 This review contains spoilers for Beneath the Planet of the Apes. The third time apparently isn't the charm when it comes to cinematic sequels. Everything from Star Wars to Saw seems to take a dramatic nosedive by the time the third film rolls around, and the Apes franchise is certainly not immune. Escape From the Planet of the Apes continues a series that seemed dead after its predecessor's conclusion, and certainly not because Beneath the Planet of the Apes was a bad film; quite the contrary, it's passable entertainment and a decent sequel to the original classic. The problem was that the writers and filmmakers painted themselves into a corner at the end of the second film, declaring the death of the world and seemingly everyone and everything in it. Not one to shy away from a challenge, a struggling 20th Century Fox saw fit to nevertheless find some way to continue one of their most popular and profitable budding franchises, and some how, some way, a third film was envisioned, scripted, and committed to film, making little sense logically though playing well enough, the film half lighthearted fun and half dark and sinister, and again ending with yet another shocking twist. Before the destruction of the Earth by the Doomsday weapon at the end of Beneath the Planet of the Apes, Zira (Kim Hunter), Cornelius (Roddy McDowall), and Dr. Milo (Sal Mineo) managed to repair (presumably) Brent's downed spacecraft and blast off immediately before the explosion. Somehow, the trio travels back through time and lands in the Pacific Ocean where they are greeted as long-lost heroes -- until they remove their helmets and reveal their true identities. At first treated as a curiosity (resulting in Dr. Milo's death), and soon thereafter gaining celebrity status, Zira and Cornelius seem to be fitting into their new surroundings wonderfully. That is until they begin to unravel their past, or mankind's future, leading some to fear the couple's presence on Earth, wondering if their arrival signals the beginning of the end of mankind -- and perhaps the planet. Escape From the Planet of the Apes turns the franchise on its head, offering viewers not only a tone that, at least for the first half of the film, seems completely out of character for the series, but also turns the tables on the established theme of the first two films, this time placing intelligent apes in the midst of a human-dominated society. The film plays on this role reversal well, with some scenes resembling those found in the earlier films, particularly the first, and creating human characters that reflect the same beliefs, concerns, and emotions of the primary apes from the first two films, notably Zira, Cornelius, Dr. Zaius, and Ursus. Man at first refuses to believe these apes to be more than well-trained automatons despite their demonstrations of intelligent and civilized behavior, including sitting at a table for a meal, changing clothes on their own accord, and of course, intelligent speech. Perhaps the theme of the story is that intelligence breeds the same beliefs, concerns, and emotions in all sentient beings, no matter their physical appearance or place of origin. Nevertheless, this is the one area of the film that proves most fascinating, and despite a ridiculous factor that is almost off the charts, the film is at least watchable for most of its runtime. Where the film seems to fail is in its attempts at humor. The laughs seem out of place and run out their welcome long before the film takes on the more sinister tone that dominates the second half. Escape From the Planet of the Apes certainly features a story filled with moral and religious overtones, and offers some fine insight into the human psyche, but the film nevertheless feels like a product rushed to market, one that tries too hard to be too good and winds up being a very mediocre entry into what has, to this point, been a fine series.  Conquest of the Planet of the Apes Rating: 4/5 This review contains spoilers for Escape From the Planet of the Apes. After the unfulfilling entry into the Apes series that was Escape From the Planet of the Apes, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes returns the series to prominence with a film that starts off somewhat slow but builds momentum and finishes off stronger than any film yet in the series, save for the original Planet of the Apes. This fourth installment is perhaps the most controversial of the series, originally filmed with a far darker and meaner finale than what was released to theaters, the original ending setting a completely different tone for the final film and certainly leaving audiences stunned by its brutality. In response to test audience's negative reactions, the studio quickly assembled a brighter, less polarizing alternate ending. Fortunately, this Blu-ray release of Conquest of the Planet of the Apes provides audiences with both editions, though the original, darker finale seems to befit the mood of the film, its themes, and the series as a whole more so than the alternative released to theaters some 36 years ago. The year is 1991, two decades after the deaths of intelligent simians Cornelius and Zira. Their infant baby has survived under the auspices of animal philanthropist Armando (Ricardo Montalban, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan). Dubbed "Caesar," the simian is the only one left capable of speech; he lives in a world that sees simians not as intelligent equals, but rather as pets, dumb servants, and eventually, slaves. It is a world where the threat of intelligent simians looms large over the populace, and Caesar's abilities, not to mention his very existence as the son of intelligent simians, have been carefully guarded over the years. Caesar and Armando are forced to separate after an accidental outburst identifies Caesar as potentially more than a simple simian. He is eventually re-circulated into the populace and placed for sale on the auction block and is sold to Governor Breck (Don Murray). When he learns that Armando is dead after a particularly invasive interrogation, Caesar, with the help of the sympathetic Mr. MacDonald (Hari Rhodes), rallies the simians and sets out to overthrow their human rulers through a violent revolution. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes begins with the appearance that it may very well be another Escape; a film ripe for comedy, though perhaps on a smaller scale, but with a hint of perilousness as to what is to come in its opening act. Indeed, the film slowly but surely reveals its secrets and horrors at a steady pace through the first half of the film, though it never shows its cards too early, even if viewed in context of the American culture the film satirizes at the time of its release. Conquest reveals a far darker and more poignant plot than either of the previous two sequels, punctuated by a final act that represents arguably the finest filmmaking in the series yet. The standoff scenes between ape and police in riot gear is brilliant composed by director J. Lee Thompson (The Guns of Navarone). The scenes are borderline too intense, bloody in a 1970s fake blood sort of way, and many of the scenes feature no musical accompaniment, allowing the shots, scenes, and sequences to speak for themselves and stand on their own merits. What makes the film is its controversial and brutal original ending, restored here on the Blu-ray edition, punctuated by an inspired performance from veteran Apes actor Roddy McDowall. His impassioned delivery of Caesar's speech at the end of the film is a work of art both in his verbal and physical delivery, and it sets a horrifying tone for the remainder of the series and serves as yet another fantastic finish to an Apes film, setting the stage yet again for audiences to both ponder and crave whatever the filmmakers have in store for the final installment, Battle For the Planet of the Apes.  Battle For the Planet of the Apes Rating: 3.5/5 This review contains spoilers for Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. The fifth and final chapter of Apes saga, Battle for the Planet of the Apes, concludes the series well and within the traditions of the previous outings. Like its predecessors, Battle stays true to the winning formula of part action and part social commentary. The film moves ahead to a future not too distant from that depicted in Conquest but remains steady in its look, feel, and tone, retaining the core talent that made that last film such a fine success, notably the return of actor Roddy McDowell, director J. Lee Thompson, and producers Frank Capra, Jr. and Author P. Jacobs. Despite a lower budget, recycled props and sets, and a host of new-to-the-series talent in front of and behind the camera, Battle for the Planet of the Apes succeeds as a mostly logical, well-written, fast-paced, and expertly crafted picture that often feels bigger and better than its production limitations would suggest, thanks in large part to its faithfulness to the look, feel, and themes of the previous films in the series. Early in the 21st century, in the years following the great war between man and ape, the two species live in a relatively stable state of co-existence, though it is clear simian law and culture trumps that of mankind. Nevertheless, there is a brewing divide amongst the simians; the hawkish gorillas hope to one day eliminate man altogether while the more peaceful and levelheaded orangoutangs and chimpanzees, including the de-facto simian leader, Caesar (Roddy McDowall, reprising his role from Conquest of the Planet of the Apes), prefer to live peacefully with their old enemy. When Caesar's most trusted human advisor, MacDonald (Austin Stoker), informs him that he may be able to glean knowledge from his deceased parents via a collection of audio and video recordings that may still be preserved at a highly secure and impenetrable underground city archive, Caesar and MacDonald, along with know-it-all orangoutang Professor Virgil (Paul Williams), journey to the bombed out, radioactive Forbidden City in search of a glimpse into the past and, hopefully, answers for a better future. The trio encounters a band of radioactively poisoned, underground-dwelling humans who see the incursion into their once-great city as a threat to their very survival, and these humans mount a preemptive strike against Ape city, the coming battle perhaps the final chapter in the long inter-species conflict. Whereas the first two films in the Apes saga place viewers in the middle of a story, in a skewered, incredible timeline that leaves more questions looming than answered, the final three films form an origins trilogy that showcase just how and why Earth came to be as it is depicted in Planet of the Apes and Beneath the Planet of the Apes. In essence, the series is a film short of replicating, or in this case better said preceding, the Star Wars saga in first taking viewers to a strange, new universe, and only later explaining the origins of the characters, stories, and settings. Battle for the Planet of the Apes makes for a fine end cap to the saga, bringing the story full circle and hearkening back to much of what was seen, gleaned, and left unanswered in the previous films. The film differs from its predecessors in one crucial area. Rather than instilling in its audiences a sense of gloom and despair in light of both the events as depicted in the film and the social crises they relate to in what was then contemporary America, Battle for the Planet of the Apes leaves viewers with a message of hope. Even amidst the heavy violence of the film, at least on par, if not more pronounced than that featured in the previous film, Battle for the Planet of the Apes ends the series looking ahead to the promise of a better tomorrow, rather than dwelling on either the sadness and chaos of the film or the then-present society the Apes films so brilliantly satirize. Video  Planet of the Apes Rating: 4.5/5 Planet of the Apes reveals its secrets on Blu-ray in what is an exceptional 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer, no surprise coming from Fox. Detail reproduction throughout the film is exceptional. The film's opening sequence occurs inside a space shuttle, a set that is sparse, pedestrian, and nearly monochromatic, but functional. In hindsight, it looks extremely outdated and goofy, but like the sets on the original "Star Trek" television series, there is a certain charm to it. Despite its uninteresting visual appearance, the disc shows off all of the nuances of the set well, from the black and silver metallic captains chairs to the overly large and antiquated buttons and readouts. After the ship crash lands, the disc never falters in revealing the natural detail and beauty of the mysterious planet. The rock cliffs, the dirt-laden and rocky desert floor, and the water itself look marvelous. As more life and vegetation is discovered, the transfer continues to look sharp. The dense greens fill the screen with the first-seen bold and abundant colors. They look bright and natural, each sporting individuality and distinctiveness one from the other, simply not appearing as a smudge of green pigment. Facial detail is marvelous; the beards, the fine detail, and even the sweat glistening off the skin of the crashed survivors is lifelike. Flesh tones, too are rendered with a natural appearance. Ape makeup has never looked better; even under the 1080p spotlight, the seamlessness remains remarkable. Save for a few long-distance shots later in the film during the court room scenes, the imagery lacks any hint of softness. There are some small pops, speckles and stray hairs on the print, but nothing to be concerned about. If anything, they add to the old-time feel of the visuals and the nostalgia of the film. Planet of the Apes also features a fine layer of grain, and the overall experience is theatrical in feel. This is yet another film that begs to be displayed on the largest of screens, particularly considering the quality of this Blu-ray release. Beneath the Planet of the Apes Rating: 4/5 20th Century Fox brings Beneath the Planet of the Apes to Blu-ray with a solid 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer. The print exhibits a few random speckles throughout, but is otherwise in fine condition with no one problem becoming a distraction. While the opening minutes of the film that play over the credits, and the replay of several scenes from the first film, don't look remarkably good, the transfer picks up once the film takes form. The dirt terrain looks clear and lifelike; many scenes featuring moderate close-ups of the dirt and rocks show many an individual pebbles and grains of sand. Facial detail is also strong; the film's opening shots of the captain of the ill-fated rescue vessel nearing death features solid reproduction of every bead of sweat and facial hair. The film has a decidedly classic look to it, certainly not coming off as slick and polished as most modern fare, but this presentation is more than adequate. Like the first film, ape clothing looks good here, nicely rendered and featuring a somewhat glossy but nicely detailed appearance. Grain is retained over the image, flesh tones look fine, and blacks are never bothersome. Beneath the Planet of the Apes is another in an ever-growing list of impressive catalogue title transfers from Fox. Escape From the Planet of the Apes Rating: 4/5 Escape From the Planet of the Apes on Blu-ray features a 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer. The video retains a very similar look and feel to the last film. While obviously taking place in "modern" Earth as opposed to the distant future, the color schematic looks similar, and detail remains high. The picture is rock solid throughout, with fine clarity and detail to die for on an older picture such as this. The interior of the prison cell housing the recently arrived apes, for example, showcases nice texture along the walls and on the bars. The military uniforms and other assorted clothing seen throughout appear nicely rendered, too, lifelike and practically touchable through the screen. Blacks may look a touch faded in a few corners, but are otherwise acceptable. Flesh tones retain a pleasing natural appearance. Escape From the Planet of the Apes is yet another fine looking title in this series, and Fox is to be commended for their excellent job on this and the previous two Apes discs. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes Rating: 3/5 Conquest of the Planet of the Apes features a 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer that looks good, but appears less vibrant and rich than its predecessors, perhaps because of the darker nature of the film. The print features speckles over several parts, though they never detract from the image. Grain is retained throughout the feature, sometimes in abundance, though again, never to the detriment of the presentation. Several shots appear a bit soft, and the overall presentation is not quite as sharp and clear as the previous films. Colors are bold, reds perhaps a bit bright, particularly as seen in the uniforms worn by the worker gorillas. Black levels tend to veer towards a very dark shade of gray. Flesh tones remains consistently strong throughout. The image flattens out considerably most of the time, never popping of the screen and offering the high levels of detail as the previous three films. Nevertheless, the transfer looks very good in context, befitting of the Blu-ray monicker, and is another nice looking catalogue release from Fox. Battle For the Planet of the Apes Rating: 3.5/5 Battle for the Planet of the Apes features a pleasing 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer. The transfer is moderately to highly detailed, the film's many bright exterior shots, scenes, and sequences generally offering the best imagery of the film. The various shots of the humans marching on Ape city to wage war, for example, look highly impressive; the sandy terrain in particular offering nice texture and detail. Likewise, the various rock faces and trees that adorn Ape city look fabulous in many shots. Colors are strong and well proportioned, never too faded or overly exaggerated. Grain is retained over the entirety of the image. Some scenes exhibit a fair amount of softness while others are sharp as a tack. Blacks hold up rather well, particularly in the underground sequences in the Forbidden City. Flesh tones are never problematic. All in all, Battle for the Planet of the Apes is on par with the other films in the series, sometimes looking a little better, sometimes looking a little worse, but on the whole, the presentation is more than acceptable. Audio  Planet of the Apes Rating: 4/5 Planet of the Apes arrives on Blu-ray with a DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack, and Fox has also included the film's original mono soundtrack. The DTS track is fairly good, perhaps a bit rough around the edges and sometimes ear-piercingly loud at reference volume, but it supports the original material very well. Nevertheless, despite the 5.1 monicker, this is a very center channel-centric soundtrack. Rarely does the track spread out across the front, let alone into the rears. The crash-landing sequence is loud and high-pitched, almost an annoyance at reference volume, but considering the disoriented and confused visuals, it works well to add to the sense of panic and to the out-of-control, foreboding moment. As the film moves on, sound effects start to spread around the soundstage if only reservedly; a brief thunderstorm as the astronauts search for civilization is the most engulfing moment of the early part of the film outside the crash. Regardless, there isn't much in the way of subtle environmental nuances in support of the action or discrete rear-channel effects. That's not a bad thing; a poorly done, "forced" multi-channel remix that throws sound around just for the sake of making listeners turn their heads would ruin the experience. Dialogue reproduction is fantastic, clearly the strongest element to be found on the disc. Likewise, Jerry Goldsmith's (First Blood) Oscar-winning soundtrack is rendered exceptionally well. As long as listeners don't expect from Planet of the Apes a rip-roaring, head-turning, action movie extravaganza soundtrack, and instead prefer one that remains faithful to the original intent of the mix, Planet of the Apes's Blu-ray audio presentation is not only adequate, but is probably the best the film is ever going to sound. Beneath the Planet of the Apes Rating: 3.5/5 As expected, Beneath the Planet of the Apes comes to Blu-ray with a DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack, in addition to the original monaural mix. The DTS track is decidedly clearer and more robust than the mono track, but it nevertheless remains limited by the source. Audio is front heavy, but dialogue remains sharp though sometimes a little low in volume. Most of the soundtrack remains firmly entrenched in the center channel. There are some instances where effects spread out, such as during an earthquake and lightning storm in chapter four. Also included are a few subtle instances of good bass, those same scenes in chapter four providing a decent amount of punch. Some of the high pitched sounds that accompany parts of the film's later half are loud and distinct, annoying and bothersome as they are meant to be in the context of the film. A few segments of dialogue pour into the back channels, particularly in chapter 17 as words reverberate through the vast underground chamber. Beneath the Planet of the Apes is no sonic great shakes, but the DTS track sees some subtle improvements over the monaural mix and the result is a soundtrack that probably sounds about as good as it every will, while staying mostly true to the original offering. Escape From the Planet of the Apes Rating: 3.5/5 Escape From the Planet of the Apes arrives on Blu-ray with a DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack, in addition to the original monaural mix. The audio remains front and center-heavy, as was the case with the previous two Apes films, with the music that plays over the opening credits distinct and clear, a fine reproduction that feels more robust and pronounced than one might expect coming predominantly from the center. It features nice punch on the low end, too. Likewise, a similar effect is heard and felt as adventure-style music plays during an escape sequence in chapter 17. There are a few instances of discrete effects spread across the left or right front channels, but such cases are the exception to the rule. Even a scene featuring Cornelius at a boxing match features next-to-no ambient crowd noise emanating from anywhere but the center channel. Still, the music and effects are presented with sufficient clarity, and dialogue reproduction remains solid. This track is about as good as one may expect. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes Rating: 3.5/5 Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, like its predecessors, features a front-heavy and mostly center channel-centric DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack, in addition to the film's original monaural sound mix. Here, a few more effects spread into the front left and right channels than in the previous installments. The soundtrack pours through the center channel with a nice bit of volume and clarity. Dialogue too remains strongly rendered. The rear channels find very minor ambience, such as the various clicking and clanking and noises made by the apes as they prepare for revolt in chapter 13. The shootout sequences later in the film aren't overly spectacular from a sonic perspective, but are about as good as one might expect from a track originally mastered as a mono mix. Battle For the Planet of the Apes Rating: 3.5/5 Battle for the Planet of the Apes offers listeners a high quality DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack that features more of a hefty presence and fulfilling listen than any of the Apes films before it. Also included is the original monaural soundtrack. There are a few sequences where there is a noticeable drop off in sound quality, particularly when professor Abe, General Aldo, and Caesar discuss the professor's use of the word "no" in chapter 5. Also, a scene in chapter 10 featuring a discussion about a potential missile launch features audio that clearly sounds as if it were thrown together from multiple sources in post-production, with a discernible hiss accompanying only select lines of dialogue. Still, some of the shootouts featured in the film, particularly that in chapter 10, are more robust and commanding than any previously heard in the series, and playing alongside the percussion-heavy score, listeners will appreciate the improved fidelity and power of this mix, which is more satisfying than expected. Like the previous Apes films, there is not much of a rear channel presence, but the track nevertheless offers several effects that find their way into the back during the battle scenes, particularly the film's climactic confrontation. This soundtrack also feature no problems with dialogue reproduction. A fine lossless soundtrack in the context of its original mix, Battle for the Planet of the Apes sounds fine on Blu-ray. Supplements  The five-disc Planet of the Apes: 40-Year Evolution box set comes housed in rugged yet handsome and collectible packaging. Altogether, the set measures 11" in length, 8" in height, and just over 1.5" in depth. Housed inside of a thick, durable slipcover is a fold-open hardback album that holds the five discs on rubbery hubs. Opening the first flap of the album reveals an ape timeline printed on the book, beginning in the year 1972 A.D. and concluding in the year 3955 A.D. Further opening the set reveals the five discs as well as the primary draw of this set, a 200 page glossy color book entitled Planet of the Apes: 40-Year Evolution written by Lee Pfeiffer and Dave Worrall. The book is divided into eight chapters: Introduction: The Science Fiction Movie, Planet of the Apes, Beneath the Planet of the Apes, Escape From the Planet of the Apes, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, Battle for the Planet of the Apes, The Legacy of the Apes, and Special Props. Also included is a brief section devoted to film credits and acknowledgements. Photographs of this impressive set are available via the "Screenshots" tab at the top of this review. Please note that additional screenshots for the individual films are available with their corresponding one-disc review. Please see Planet of the Apes, Beneath the Planet of the Apes, Escape From the Planet of the Apes, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, and Battle for the Planet of the Apes. Planet of the Apes Rating: 5/5 Planet of the Apes swings onto Blu-ray as a jam-packed special edition. An animated ape introduces viewers to the plethora of supplements that await. Before the film begins, viewers may choose to view the film with an introduction from the animated ape Lawgiver (1080p, 0:24). Leading things off are two feature-length audio commentary tracks, the first featuring actors Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, and Natalie Trundy, joined by makeup artist John Chambers. The track doesn't begin until more than 3 minutes into the film, allowing Charlton Heston's soliloquy to be heard without interruption. The track is compiled from individual interviews with the participants, though expertly so, without sacrificing the flow or haphazardly jumping from one subject to the next. Composer Jerry Goldsmith provides the second audio commentary track. Unfortunately, the composer's comments are sparse, though he offers some insightful information along the way. This track would have been better served as a single audio interview piece rather than its current state, broken up and only playing here and there over the length of the film. Also included is a text-based commentary track by Eric Greene, author of 'Planet of the Apes' As American Myth. While interesting, the text moves at breakneck speed, a blink of an eye will interrupt the flow and coherency of the text. Science of the Apes Bonusview is a Blu-ray profile 1.1 feature that presents viewers with a series of video-based footage that plays over the film. Topics include the purpose of space exploration, the science behind space travel and some of the ideas presented in the film, speculation into the future of the planet, the similarities between human and apes, natural selection, inter-species interaction, and more. Also available separate from the film for those without BonusView-enabled players, all 31 featurettes are available from the disc's main menu, each presented in 480p standard definition, and play for 38:53. Beyond the Forbidden Zone Adventure Game is a text-based game where players must navigate a character through the planet of the apes by answering various science- and survival-related questions. A Public Service Announcement From ANSA (1080p, 6:06) is a mock PSA that informs viewers of the purpose behind the American National Space Administration. Evolution of the Apes (1080p, 23:37) takes an entertaining and in-depth look at the history of what was to become the first modern Science Fiction film franchise, including a fascinating segment on the impact of Rod Serling's work not only on Apes, but his reasons behind creating "The Twilight Zone," some original concepts for the film and the faithfulness to the original novel, the project's budget difficulties and studio transition, the film's political undertones, and more. Impact of the Apes (1080p, 11:39) takes a look at the merchandising and marketing of the film, a journey that takes audiences from the early promotions to the various toy lines inspired by the film. Behind the Planet of the Apes Documentary (1080p, 2:06:44) is an interactive documentary that runs the gamut of the production of the film. The piece examines the involved make-up process, casting the film, set design, life on the set, shooting locations, technical challenges in filming some of the film's most important scenes, the studio's insistence on producing a sequel, and a look at the lengthy franchise and numerous additional films and series to come. Played in a window in the left hand side of the screen, the right side includes a list of text- and video-based features, including biographies of the primary cast and crew, timelines, video clips, and more. Please note that this documentary is available without the interactive content. When played alone, the feature is presented in 480p standard definition. Behind the Planet of the Apes Promo (480p, 2:19) is a preview for the feature-length documentary. The Archives of the Apes is a series of seven features. Original Makeup Test With Edward G. Robinson (1966) (480p, 9:34) is a vintage feature that begins with a description of the film set to an artist's rendering of the story that sets the stage for the makeup test scene. Roddy McDowall's On-Set Footage (480p, 20:14) is a narration-less vintage video segment that showcases the application of ape make-up, behind-the-scenes footage between shoots, and more. Dailies and Outtakes (no audio) (480p, 19:50) is a series of footage from the shoot, showcasing the set-up and action of various scenes from the film. N.A.T.O. Presentation (1967) (480p, 10:30) is a series of clips from the film, concluding with Charlton Heston's sales pitch for the film. Vintage 'Planet of the Apes' Featurette (1968) (480p, 4:42) is a brief summation of the entirety of the special features, looking at the film's make-up application process and recounting the film's synopsis. Concluding this Archive section are the film's teaser (480p, 2:18) and theatrical (480p, 3:05) trailers. The Galleries of the Apes is a series of still galleries. One of the finest features on the disc is the first gallery, The Ape. Here, viewers may peruse an Ape-produced newspaper with stories that relate to the film. Interactive Pressbook features a series of images from the original press materials, some of which are clickable for easier reading. Advertising and Lobby Cards features a brief series of posters and images created for the film's marketing. Makeup showcases various appliances worn by the actors in the film. Costume Design Sketches is a group of sketches featuring concept ideas for the film's wardrobe selections. Props looks at a few of the objects used throughout the picture. Behind-the-Scenes is a series of still images from various aspects of the production. Finally, Planet of the Apes is D-Box motion code enabled. Beneath the Planet of the Apes Rating: 2/5 Beneath the Planet of the Apes lands on Blu-ray with a decent selection of bonus materials. An isolated score, presented in DTS-HD MA 5.1, is first. Selecting this feature removes all dialogue and sound effects from the film, leaving viewers with only the score playing over the imagery. From Alpha to Omega: Building a Sequel (1080p, 22:10) is a fascinating piece that looks at the surprise success of Planet of the Apes, Fox's reluctance to create sequels (playing in stark contrast to the mindset today, thanks in part to the Apes franchise), the studio's financial struggles, ideas for the sequel, the politics involved in bringing the sequel to life, the casting of the film's new hero, shooting the film, and much more. A series of five galleries are next -- The Ape News, Interactive Pressbook, Advertising, Lobby Cards, and Behind-the-Scenes. Also included is the film's original theatrical trailer (480p, 3:10) that spoils most of the film's secrets. Finally, this disc is D-Box enabled. Escape From the Planet of the Apes Rating: 2/5 Escape From the Planet of the Apes travels onto Blu-ray with a supplemental package fairly similar to that of its predecessor on Blu-ray. First up is an isolated score presented in DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless audio. Selecting this feature removes all dialogue and sound effects from the film, leaving viewers with only the score playing over the imagery. The Secret Behind Escape (1080p, 16:04) is a solid extra that looks at the themes of the film, the ease with which the film was shot, director Don Taylor's take on the script, features an extended look at actress Kim Hunter and her contributions to the film and the series as a whole, the camaraderie between Hunter and actor Roddy McDowall, and the film's religious overtones. Don Taylor Directs 'Escape From the Planet of the Apes' (480p, 7:46) features a candid look at the work that went into filming one of the scenes. Concluding the special features is another trailer (480p, 3:02) that gives too much away, and two sets of galleries -- Advertising Gallery and Behind-the-Scenes Gallery. This disc is also D-Box enabled. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes Rating: 2/5 Conquest of the Planet of the Apes takes viewers inside the revolution via several bonus features. First up is an isolated score presented in DTS-HD MA 5.1. Selecting this feature removes all dialogue and sound effects from the film, leaving viewers with only the score playing over the imagery. Riots and Revolutions: Confronting the Times (1080p, 20:42) looks at the film's parallels to the issue of race relations facing the United States at the time and the violent outbursts of the early 1970s. Also included is a look at the life and times of star Roddy McDowall and his contributions to the Apes series, the style and feel director J. Lee Thompson brought to the film, shooting locations, and the film's two endings. A Look Behind the 'Planet of the Apes' (1972) (480p, 13:42) is a vintage feature that looks back at the series. If nothing else, this should allow viewers to truly appreciate the wonders of 1080p and Blu-ray as the footage here looks mighty bad. J. Lee Thompson Directs 'Conquest of the Planet of the Apes' (480p, 1:11) is another vintage feature that briefly shows the application of ape make-up and the director preparing for a scene. Rounding out this set of extras is the film's theatrical trailer (480p, 2:07) and five series of galleries -- Future News, Interactive Pressbook, Advertising, Lobby Cards, and Behind-the-Scenes. This disc is also D-Box enabled. Battle For the Planet of the Apes Rating: 1.5/5 Battle for the Planet of the Apes comes with a slightly skimpier supplemental package than its Apes sequel predecessors. As expected, things start off with an isolated score presented in DTS-HD MA 5.1. Selecting this feature removes all dialogue and sound effects from the film, leaving viewers with only the score playing over the imagery. End of an Epic: The Final Battle (1080p, 16:34) features the same participants from the documentaries on the previous discs discussing the writing of the story, its themes, characters, and mood. Also discussed is the film's budget and production values, director J. Lee Thompson's contributions to the film, producer Arthur P. Jacobs's influence on the Apes series, and the sense of hope the final film engendered in audiences. Concluding this brief supplemental package is the film's theatrical trailer (480p, 2:33) and a series of four galleries -- 'San Simian Sentinel', Interactive Pressbook, Advertising, and Behind-the-Scenes. This disc is also D-Box enabled. Final words  The Planet of the Apes saga remains one of the most influential in film history. Trendsetting the now-expected strategy of releasing multiple sequels to popular films, helping to reestablish Fox as a powerful player in Hollywood, and remaining a popular franchise 40 years after the initial film's release, the series continues to amaze audiences with its incredible visuals and first-rate stories. Finally, 20th Century Fox has seen fit to deliver all five of the original classic films onto Blu-ray, and masterfully so. Looking and sounding better than ever, and coming closer than any home video version of these films ever has at recreating the cinema experience, the discs offer viewers the opportunity to view these films at home as closely as technologically possible to the original on an optical disc-based format. Also presented with high quality soundtracks, a wealth of bonus materials, and encased in a handsome and collectible package, the set is a must for Apes lovers everywhere, not to mention Blu-ray enthusiasts. The Planet of the Apes: 40 Year Evolution earns my highest recommendation. 
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