After nine films and three different incarnations, our Planet of the Apes mega-series ends here. We went in-depth on the original five-film series, dug up the oft-maligned Tim Burton “reimagining,” and now we conclude our discussions on the recent reboot trilogy starring Andy Serkis as Caesar.
David Rosen of Piecing It Together joins us to discuss 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes. We’ll cover how director Matt Reeves elevates the trilogy to mythic heights, whether this is a satisfying follow-up to Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and what we hope to see in 2024’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
Prior to its release, no one quite knew what to make of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. But after it became one of 2011’s biggest surprise hits, it was clear just how much life was left in the decades-old sci-fi franchise. With its sequel, returning star Andy Serkis and director Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Let Me In) raised the emotional stakes and spectacle even higher.
Jason from Binge Movies makes his long-awaited Franchise Detours debut to dig into 2014’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. We’ll discuss what Reeves — who, most recently, put his stamp on The Batman — brings to the franchise, Serkis’ stunning (and awards-worthy) lead performance as Caesar, and why Dawn doesn’t receive the credit it deserves.
A full decade after director Tim Burton’s “reimagining” of Planet of the Apes, the franchise seemed pretty much done. Hollywood turned its attention to other movie series, but after both Batman and Bond successfully relaunched by taking its iconic worlds back to basics, Fox ultimately took the same approach with one of its most successful brands of the past.
Film critic Nguyên Lê — who previously joined us to talk 2005’s Batman Begins — returns to help us break down 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes. We’ll discuss the film’s reception as one of that year’s biggest surprise hits, how star Andy Serkis’ motion-capture performance redefined the series, and how the film sets up a brand-new take on Planet of the Apes.
