Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
Battle for the Planet of the Apes
”Caesar discovers new evidence in the Forbidden City, leading to a clash with human survivors.”
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Why watch this film?
Battle for the Planet of the Apes is the fifth and final installment in the original cinematic saga. The story is set after Caesar (Roddy McDowall) has wrested control of the planet from humans, with whom he seeks to maintain peace despite treating them as second-class citizens. By far the least successful film in the saga, it was its nail in the coffin for decades: after its low quality, years would pass before an attempt was made to tell a story in this universe again. However, it is the film that closes the story of the classic saga, so it is essential if you are a fan of the first film.
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Plot summary
Roddy McDowall returns as Caesar, the intelligent chimp who led an ape revolution against their human masters in the last installment, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. Since then, humans nearly rendered themselves extinct in an all-out nuclear war, and the survivors are now beneath the well-preserved ape society. Now a benevolent leader of his people, Caesar supports a peaceful coexistence with humans, much to the dismay of his militant counterpart General Aldo (Claude Akins). When Caesar learns that new evidence regarding his parents’ murder has been found in the Forbidden City, he journeys to the bombarded wasteland with the human MacDonald (Austin Stoker) and the omniscient orangutang Virgil (Paul Williams). While he does find what he is looking for, Caesar also unwittingly awakens a flock of human survivors, who follows his group back home. While the humans prepare for a climactic battle with the apes, General Aldo prepares to challenge Caesar for control, and all hell breaks loose as we witness the BATTLE FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES.
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Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes is the fourth installment of the saga in its original continuity. Set in the (then) near future of the 1990s, the film portrays a society in which apes have been enslaved by humanity, until one more evolved than the rest instigates a revolution that represents the fall of the human race. In addition to closing the line of events leading to the story of the original, this film also shares several narrative elements with what would be its reboot: here we meet Caesar, played by Roddy McDowall, and later by Andy Serkis in the new movies.
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Conquest of the Planet of the Apes is the fourth installment of the saga in its original continuity. Set in the (then) near future of the 1990s, the film portrays a society in which apes have been enslaved by humanity, until one more evolved than the rest instigates a revolution that represents the fall of the human race. In addition to closing the line of events leading to the story of the original, this film also shares several narrative elements with what would be its reboot: here we meet Caesar, played by Roddy McDowall, and later by Andy Serkis in the new movies.
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