Planet of the Apes (2001)

Majestic, thrilling and truly one of a kind science fiction film from visionary Tim Burton. This reimagining is a rare beast as a film. Somehow it succeeds in marrying visual trademarks of Burton's with huge big-budget entertainment and succeeds. The end result is an auteur film that has a language completely of it's own and a film which is quite possibly one of Burton's greatest in his own career.
When Planet of the Apes was released back in 2001 it certainly did not gain the critical reputation it deserves. While many find this as a lesser film from Burton is in my opinion actually a very much like many of his other films with it's dark and familiar themes about human nature and being a outsider in a society. Burton also adds just right amounts of dark humour into his film and keeps his touch playful all the time. The style is pure Burton but just transferred into pure science fiction.
Where Mars Attacks was more of an homage to 50's sci-fi this is much more serious affair. This film came after Burton's magnificent Sleepy Hollow which also was darker and more straightforward horror-film than any of his earlier films. It seems to me that these two films actually has some visual resemblance and their dark tone also is very similiar. With these two films Burton was clearly working at the peak of his career as a filmmaker so far. He has made good films before these two films and some good films afterwards but none of them has touched the greatness of Sleepy Hollow or Planet of the Apes.
This is exactly the kind of filmmaking i admire. It is best kind of entertainment made with gorgeous artistic touches. Once again there can be seen the typically gothic production design, by Rick Heinrichs, which is a trademark for Burton. Whenever the characters of this film sets their foot in the woods the ominous brances and fog comes in the focus. City of apes is also work of a beauty in terms of a design. It still rivals any of todays big blockbusters with it's huge palaces and houses build around trees and jungle. The whole planet where the main character, astronaut Leo Davidson, crash lands is a world that only genius like Burton could have concieved in his mind. All of this great elements are lensed by one of the most gifted cinematographers of our history, Philippe Rousselot. His usually rich eye brings elegance and artistry to each and every scene. Another trademark is clearly the music by Danny Elfman who has composed music in almost each and every of Burton's films. Elfman and Burton is a perfect collaboration and their work is always playful and something new. With Planet of the Apes Elfman has made one of his best scores so far. The way he uses his instruments here is brooding, thrilling and most of all glorious to listen at. The music itself in here is a element that should go down to history as a one of the greatest scores written to any film.
When i stop and think of Planet of the Apes i cannot but think mostly superlatives. This film also lives up to many viewing experiences and there are elements and little details that reveals themselves in further viewings.
I earlier mentioned the many brilliant technical sides of this film but forgot to mention the fantastic actors who all does fantastic work and some of them beneath from the Rick Baker's amazing make-up effects. Mark Wahlberg has just right amounts of charisma to be the films main character and sort of hero from the sky. Helena Bonham Carter's performance is still films most assured performance. Her make-up and the way she performs behind the mask is truly beyond words. She is completely believable even as a human-ape. Tim Roth is delicious in role of a greedy villain and Paul Giamatti brings nice touches of comedy through his character.
Planet of the Apes is a work of a master filmmaker. Director Tim Burton is one of the most important filmmakers of our times and one who has style and visual eye completely of his own. Horror, comedy, science fiction, fantasy, drama, animation, you name it. No matter what genre he is working with, he turns it into Burtonesque feast for eyes. Like everyone he does not always succeed with his films but when he does he truly makes them something larger than life at their best. Planet of the Apes is one of my favourite science fiction films. It is a fantasy film without boundaries made for those who love their fantasy films with great ideas, depth and original vision.