Planet of the Apes (2001)
Planet of the Apes
”Astronaut Leo must escape talking apes to find a way home.”
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Why watch this film?
For fans of the 1968 classic Planet of the Apes, disappointed by the declining quality of its four sequels, this Tim Burton-directed remake was a source of much excitement. Eventually, it was also frustration. The film, despite its excellent makeup, production design, visual effects, and a cast with names like Tim Roth, Helena Bonham Carter, and Michael Clarke Duncan, didn't exactly live up to the lofty ideas of its original, and changed several elements of the narrative although he rescued or adapted others that were too iconic (the ending, although different, maintains the same idea). It is, at its best, an interesting interpretation of a classic, through the unique lens of Burton and his penchant for B-movie sci-fi.
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Plot summary
After a spectacular crash-landing on an uncharted planet, brash astronaut Leo Davidson (Mark Wahlberg) finds himself trapped in a savage world where talking apes dominate the human race. Desperate to find a way home, Leo must evade the invincible gorilla army led by ruthless General Thade (Tim Roth) and his most trusted warrior, Attar (Michael Clarke Duncan). Now the pulse-pounding race is on to reach a sacred temple that may hold the shocking secrets of mankind's past - and the last hope for it's salvation! Based on Pierre Boulle's classic novel "Planet of the Apes," the premise for this film has become one of the most recognized and provocative concepts in the canon of science fiction literature and cinema. Visionary filmmaker Tim Burton (Batman, Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow) has taken Boulle's basic idea and built upon it a uniquely envisioned journey to an incredible upside-down world.
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From the same director
Beetlejuice
'Beetlejuice', as it is originally called, is a great classic of the 1980s, through which Tim Burton started to imprint his peculiar style and aesthetic, combining the bizarre and the peculiar. Highlight for the maniacal performance of Michael Keaton and for the fact that this is the movie that took Winona Ryder to stardom. An incredible and all-ages mess.
Edward Scissorhands
If there's one Tim Burton character that has become embedded in popular memory, it's Edward Scissorhands. Extremely peculiar, as bizarre as most of the characters created and developed by the filmmaker, Edward is as sensitive as he is strange. A kind of Frankenstein, he was created by a scientist who died before finishing him. This made him distant, alone, lonely -- largely due to his scissor-shaped hands. However, he quickly discovers new abilities that change the course of his life. Magisterial performance by Depp, long-time partner of Tim Burton, who knew how to mix all the strangeness of Edward Scissorhands with the sharp sensitivity of the plot. To be moved.
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"Batman Returns" delves deep into Tim Burton's melancholic vision of the hero's universe, this time introducing two new villains: Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman (who made an impression with her costume and performance) and Danny DeVito’s Penguin - not to mention the important presence of a third antagonist, played by Christopher Walken. Perhaps the film's biggest problem lies right there: the excess of villains who compete for screen time and Burton's repetition of the Penguin formula, transforming him into a man anguished by his parents' issues. Still, it's an extremely competent movie that manages to capture the audience's attention.
Big Fish
One of the strongest, most dramatic and emotional films in Tim Burton's filmography, 'Big Fish' is one of those cinematic gems that become even more delicate and precious over time. Here, we follow the story of a man seeing his father on the brink of death, while he remembers fantastic stories that his father told him throughout his life -- all of them, from the younger's perspective, well-crafted fantasies. Gradually, however, Tim Burton injects an unexpected life into the feature film that, despite taking place with a man between life and death, exudes dreams, passion, love and joy. An inspiring movie, with beautiful and memorable scenes. And a warning: get your handkerchief ready because the ending, full of hope, will make you shed tears.
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If there's one movie that's a true ode to grassroots cinema, made on a shoestring budget, it's 'Ed Wood'. Here, Tim Burton delves into the real-life story of the filmmaker who gives his name to the feature - considered by many to be the worst director of all time, with films like 'Plan 9 from Outer Space' and 'Glen or Glenda?' on his resume. It's a delicate and funny, often emotional film, which pays attention to detail in telling Ed Wood's difficult journey to make his movies happen. Although Johnny Depp (‘Pirates of the Caribbean’) is good as the protagonist, it's Martin Landau (‘Crimes and Misdemeanors’) who steals the show as an aging Bela Lugosi. A must-see for movie fans.
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Alongside director Tim Burton (of films such as 'Batman' and 'Edward Scissorhands'), Disney has updated one of its great animated classics, released in 1941: 'Dumbo'. In this live-action version, the elephant with huge ears gets almost real features (and loses his speech), in a production that rescues some elements of the original - and mainly brings others, including a greater prominence of the human characters, highlighted by the presence of Colin Farrel, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito and Eva Green. Burton also brings the darker aesthetic, characteristic of the filmmaker's works - which ended up not pleasing many fans. In addition, elements were missing that would make the 'Dumbo' remake an unforgettable experience as the original feature film was. Still, it is a movie that emotionally touches and entertains the whole family.
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One of Tim Burton's darkest and macabre films, which is far from what the filmmaker showed in 'Edward Scissorhands' and 'Ed Wood'. Here, he dives into the traditional legend of the headless horseman that haunted the world at the turn of the 18th century to the 19th century. Although Johnny Depp ('Pirates of the Caribbean') exaggerates his performance at times, the visual of the feature film is breathtaking and it is hard not to be completely immersed in this story that mixes mystery, terror, romance and drama, as only Tim Burton knows how to do well. To watch on any night, eating popcorn and having fun.
Mars Attacks!
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Adventure
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