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Planet of the Apes is a science fiction film released in 1968 and directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, based on the French novel La Planète des Singes by Pierre Boulle. The movie features Charlton Heston as the main protagonist, playing the role of astronaut George Taylor. The movie begins with George, Landon, and Dodge, three astronauts traveling through space in a spacecraft called the Icarus. They are in deep hibernation and are awakened by the onboard computer when their spacecraft crashes onto a desert planet. Initially, they are not able to communicate with their base on Earth and are unable to understand the climate or the physical features of the planet.

As they explore the planet, they realize that it is inhabited by a society of intelligent apes who are the dominant species. The human race, on the other hand, has evidently been relegated to the status of a primitive, subservient race that exists in a primitive, tribal society.

George and his team soon find themselves pursued by the apes, who see them as a threat to their way of life. The trio is taken captive and subjected to various tests and experiments. During this time, George becomes intrigued with a female chimpanzee named Zira (Kim Hunter), who is an animal psychiatrist studying the strange behavior of humans. She is fascinated by George's intelligence and ability to communicate, and it is through her that he learns about the true history of the planet and what brought it to its current state.

The apes are shown to have developed their own culture, with their own social hierarchy, language, religion, and scientific advancements. They have a rigid social structure, where the gorillas are the strong military leaders, chimpanzees are the intellectuals, and orangutans are the religious leaders. The relationship between the apes and the humans is one of brutal dominance, as the humans are often captured and enslaved by the apes.

As George continues to interact with the apes, he realizes that the planet bears a striking resemblance to earth. The revelation that the planet had been ravaged by nuclear war shocks him and he becomes determined to find the truth about the past of the humans and the apes.

Planet of the Apes was a breakthrough in contemporary cinema at the time of its release, as it challenged the ideas of racial inequality and the morality of scientific advancements. The film uses the apes as a metaphor for human race, with the idea of humans being treated as animals is represented as inversely to how humanity treats animals, in which humans are species of higher power that treat animals as inferior.

The film was praised for its use of prosthetic make-up effects, creating an accurate representation of apes that accurately portrayed the personalities of the different species of apes. This new technique made the characters more relatable and the story more impactful.

Charlton Heston's powerful performance as George Taylor provides emotional depth to the sci-fi narrative, creating a relatable character struggling through a world that was new, strange and unlike any he had ever seen. The supporting cast, including Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter, were a significant factor in the film's success, giving powerful performances.

In conclusion, the Planet of the Apes is a captivating film that continues to remain relevant today. It is a compelling narrative that creates an entirely new world, rich with culture, history and social constructs. Its commentary on humanity’s treatment of lower species and social inequality makes this film an important moment in cinema history. Its innovative use of prosthetic make-up effects and powerful performances has secured it a place as a classic sci-fi movie. If you haven't seen it yet, Planet of the Apes, is a must-watch film that has withstood the test of time.

Planet of the Apes is a 1968 science fiction movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 52 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.0 and a MetaScore of 79.