PLANET OF THE APES – Cinefantastique

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – Hour of the Wolf Movie Review

Posted on July 17, 2014June 28, 2019 by Dan Persons

Human Jason Clarke finds relations strained with simian neighbors (l to r) Andy Serkis, Toby Kebbell, and Karin Konoval in DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES.

This is a trivial question, but it’s been bugging me, so let me get it out, okay? Why is the sequel to RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES called DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES? I mean, “dawn” suggests a beginning, right? And you can’t actually rise until you begin, right? So shouldn’t the titles of these films be reversed? Then again, that first film wasn’t really focused on the planet of the apes beginning, but on the events that eventually led to that beginning. And this newest film isn’t so much about the planet’s rise as one glimpse into how humanity loses its foothold to the newly born society of intelligent simians. But then, I guess EVENTS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING AND HAVING A DIRECT IMPACT UPON THE DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES and ONE CHAPTER THAT WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO THE RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES wouldn’t quite pop on movie posters, would it? Never mind.
Hm? What did I think of the film? Oh, I loved it. No, let me clarify that: I LOVED IT. But it’s not really as simple as that, so listen in to my review for the HOUR OF THE WOLF radio show to get my take on this thoroughly entertaining summer blockbuster. Click on the player to hear the segment, or right-click the title to download.

DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES – Hour of the Wolf Movie Review

LISTEN TO HOUR OF THE WOLF
EVERY THURSDAY AT 1:30 AM
ON WBAI 99.5FM IN NEW YORK CITY

Fantastic Valley News 06/11/2013 – DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES photos

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Dan Persons

Apes on horseback… Ultra-hot image of Theo James in DIVERGENT… The Chinese show THE CROODS the door… Let’s all ignore what Brett Ratner is doing…
From the luxurious Cinefantastique Online studios in NYC, Dan Persons brings you up-to-date on what’s going on in genre media.

Return to the Escape from the Conquest of the Rise of the Planet of the Apes: CFQ's Black Hole Ultra-Lounge 2:30.2

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Dan Persons

A post-show conversation between theofantastique.com‘s John W. Morehead and Cinefantastique Online’s Lawrence French and Dan Persons about the PLANET OF THE APES franchise in general, and RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES in specific.
The motion capture demo mentioned during the show can be seen here.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Rise of the Planet of the Apes: Cinefantastique Spotlight Podcast 2:30.1

Posted on August 7, 2011 by Dan Persons

Meet the New Ape, Not at All Like the Old Ape: A MoCapped Andy Serkis takes command in RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES.

Startling the studios, startling the critics, and startling its delighted audiences, RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES has arrived to prove that a reboot — in the hands of a skilled director and inspired writers, actors and effects artists — does not necessarily need to serve as Exhibit One in the case for the film industry’s creative bankruptcy. Join theofantastique.com‘s John W. Morehead and Cinefantastique Online’s Lawrence French and Dan Persons as they explore how the latest retooling of a moribund franchise has become the most bracing film of the summer, discuss some emotional nuances director Rupert Wyatt uses to bring depth to the fantasy, celebrate Andy Serkis’ work as our new simian overlord, and sift over some notable glitches in the scenario.
Also: Some thoughts on the revelation that Steven Sodherbergh is directing second unit sequences for THE HUNGER GAMES; and what’s coming to theaters and home video.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Verne Langdon, Makeup Artist, R.I.P.

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Tom Powers

Verne Langdon was a multi-talented make-up artist, mask maker, musician, composer, record producer, writer, occasional actor, and even a wrestler in his time. He passed away Saturday, January 1st, at the age of 69.

Langdon was a familiar name and face to readers of Famous Monsters Of Filmland magazine in the 1960’s and 70’s. He wrote a few articles, but was also written about, as he was behind many of the famous masks of the Universal Studios monsters made by the Don Post Studios, and sold in the magazine.
He recorded a An Evening with Boris Karloff and His Friends for Decca Records, and composed and performed two albums of horror-oriented music, Vampire At The Harpsicord and Phantom of The Organ. Langdon also recorded a number of non-genre music albums, available on CD.

Responible for many of Don Post’s famous masks, he designed his own original, The Zombie, which is highly prized today by mask collectors.
Verne Langdon also produced and designed live shows featuring monsters and make-up for Universal Studios.
Film & TV credits include THE HAUNTED PALACE, THE COMEDY OF TERRORS, the PAT PAULSON TV show, and the PLANET OF THE APES film series, working with designer John Chambers.
His official website can supply more details about his life, showing that Verne Langdom was still active with a wide range of projects and horror/sci-fi fandom up until his death.
News via The Classic Horror Film Board.

"Harry Potter" Alum Joins "Rise of the Apes"

Posted on July 19, 2010 by Frank Emanuele

Actor Tom Felton, who gained notoriety for his portrayal of the role of Draco Malfoy in the HARRY POTTER films, has signed on to 20th Century Fox’s RISE OF THE APES, a prequel to the beloved PLANET OF THE APES.
Felton’s character is said to be the co-owner of an ape facility along with his evil father (Brian Cox). Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, and James Franco make up a team of scientists whose work with an ape named Caesar spells doom for all of humanity.
It should be noted that the visual effects for RISE OF THE APES are being handled by Weta Digital, the some effects house that worked on AVATAR. You can expect photorealistic apes for the first time in the franchise’s history. RISE OF THE APES is slated for release on June 24, 2011.
Sources: ScreenRant, Twitter
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John Lithgow goes Ape

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Steve Biodrowski

Hollywood Reporter informs us that John Lithgow (who recently won a Golden Globe for his work on DEXTER) has joined the cast of RISE OF THE APES, 20th Century Fox’s prequel to PLANET OF THE APES (2001). Also joining the cast is Freida Pinto (SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE). James Franco is set to star. According to HR:

Rupert Wyatt will direct the feature, which focuses on a scientist (Franco) who has been working on a cure for Alzheimer’s that is being tested on apes. The test subject named Caesar evolves rapidly, and the scientist takes him home to live with him and protects him from cruel doctors.
Lithgow will play Franco’s Alzheimer’s-stricken father. Pinto is the movie’s female lead, a primatologist.

Shooting is scheduled to begin in British Columbia this summer. The screenplay is by Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa.

Rise Of The Apes Gets Release Date

Posted on May 7, 2010 by Dennis Routledge Tizzard

Still from the original Planet of the Apes

According to Variety the PLANT OF THE APES prequel, RISE OF THE APES, is still happening and Twentieth Century Fox have settled on a June 24th, 2011 release date. The studio have also secured a director, Rupert Wyatt (THE ESCAPIST, BIRDSONG), and plan to work with WETA Digital to create for the first time CGI, instead of make-up assisted, apes.
RISE OF THE APES is apparently an origins story, aimed at rebooting the franchise for audiences unfamiliar with the older films and is set in present-day San Francisco. The film is a, “reality-based cautionary tale, where man’s own experiments with genetic engineering lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy”. Wyatt will be directing the film from a script by Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa (THE RELIC, EYE FOR AN EYE), who also are producing with Chernin Entertainment’s Peter Chernin and Dylan Clark.
Not much about this new entry in the series sounds promising. Using CGI to create the apes sounds like a terrible idea as computer generated apes will never look as real or convincing as actors dressed up in make-up. Wyatt’s directorial début, THE ESCAPIST, was a great film but will the script from the people that brought us THE RELIC be up to scratch? It’s unlikely to say the least. Few of the sequels to the original PLANET OF THE APES were any good and Burton’s remake made plenty of money but was a terrible film nonetheless.
You make your own mind up when RISE OF THE APES is released on the 24th of June next year.

Prequel to the Planet of the Apes

Posted on March 15, 2010 by Steve Biodrowski

Www.slashfilm.com reports that Rupert Wyatt (THE ESCAPIST) has been hired to direct a prequel to THE PLANET OF THE APES (2001), working from a script by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver (THE RELIC). Previously, Chud.com had reported that the film’s title would be CAESER (the name of the ape that leads the revolution to overthrow humanity in 1974’s CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES – even though this is not a remake of CONQUEST). We’re promised a hard science fiction film, sans talking monkeys, about efforts to create hyper-intelligent chimpanzees. The idea is to reboot the APES franchise, instead of following the financially successful but artistically disappointing remake directed by Tim Burton.