The Monster's Den: Ranking the Planet of the Apes Films

[@godetonter4764]

Beneath the Planet of the Apes is my all time favorite movie. Whenever I am feeling down the original Beneath the Planet of the Apes always lifts my spirits

[@tatedavis2016]

As much as I liked War For The Planet Of The Apes, Chris hit the nail on the head and had me on the floor.

[@trevdowson5810]

LOVE The Monster’s Den! Thank you so much for being so enthused about these types of movies. There are many ‘’monsters’’ out there, so much potential for the Den and you always have my attention, cheers.

[@griphfunk]

Love that you guys did this. I love, love Planet of the Apes. 9. Planet of the Apes 2001 8. Battle For the Planet of the Apes 7. War For the Planet of the Apes 6. Beneath the Planet of the Apes 5. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes 4. Escape From the Planet of the Apes 3. Rise of the Planet of the Apes 2. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes 1. Planet of the Apes 1968

[@creech54]

Saw all the original series first run (starting at age 15) in the theater. The ending of the first one was a real OMG moment! It's sad that none of you guys got to experience that.

[@mbmmhp1066]

I was just turning 9 when the first one came out, but I saw it back then at the drive in on a double feature with The Good The Bad & The Ugly, with my grandparents..great twosome for a movie..I dont remember ever seeing another movie with my grandparents..

[@DamageCase91]

That had to be a long magical night-holy shit!

[@levity2022]

Great analysis of the apes movies! I also watched the apes movies on the 4:30 movie whenever it came around. have to say the original is by far my favorite. The script, acting, and the slow burn to the reveal that Heston can talk and of course the classic ending. But, I'm surprised none of you guys called out the film's fantastic score especially since you guys are all such music fans. It definitely added a creepy undertone and added the perfect punctuation to all the twists and turns of the plot. I wasn't such a fan of the newer movies with CGI Apes and the awful Tim Burton film with the flying monkees was godawful and like something out of the Wizard Of Oz.

[@luciusblackwood2640]

Great show guys! I've had that blu-ray set of the original films for years now and never cracked it open. You've got the nostalgia kicking in and I think I will start tonight!

[@geraldheath3527]

Love Dr. Zauis warning Taylor he might not like what he finds

[@johnmichaelwilliams6694]

Great trio to discuss these movies and an excellent discussion as well. Haven't really considered the most recent Ape movies as the 2001 movie dampened that interest but your discussion and Dave's passion for some of them at least piqued my interest enough to track these down for watching. But the top movie for me will forever be the original movie. An emotional and mental wallop in seeing the original release in the spring of 1968 on the big screen. Still recall a 7th grade buddy asking if I had seen the movie and telling me I HAD to see it immediately. Went that weekend. The ending and its impact - mind completely blown and had to watch the movie all over again right away. Movie endings and surprises didn't leak back then and your friends would wait for you to see it before discussing it so you could experience the surprise. Over the years, very few movies have managed to completely surprise me with the ending. The original Planet Of The Apes movie is likely the one the remains at the top - even after all these years. Thanks again, gents, for this great discussion. Hearing each of you describe your passion was interesting and entertaining.

[@steelmonkey7609]

Dave was a great fit, hope to see him on the Monster's Den again

[@sotdude7]

He’s been on a bunch of episodes previously.

[@steelmonkey7609]

@@sotdude7 really? I must have a case of the olds, I don't remember seeing him before, I'll have to go back, another great show Pete👍

[@davidlagreca]

Thank you so much

[@darrensutherland4399]

Always be yourself Chris never change

[@ScottBerry-yn8rw]

I'm with Chris on Beneath. Yes it's flawed and perhaps a bit rushed, but I thought the mutants brought a cool element to the series. James Gregory (from Barney Miller) as General Ursus was also great. I'm also more partial to the classic series over the recent films, good as they are. The Burton movie is best forgotten.

[@leeallsopp5152]

I loved this! You guys are doing a great job… keep up the brilliant chat on… the monster’s den 👐🏼

[@evileyes4070]

The music to the original film is so good real organic 😍😎

[@Leo-ci9kc]

Great show, love the Apes series! Saw all movies in the theater upon release. Never knew about the directors cut of Conquest, now I have to get that! My list: 9 Planet of the Apes (2001) 8 Beneath the POA 7 War for POA 6 Battle for POA 5 Dawn of POA 4 Conquest of POA 3 Escape from POA 2 Rise of POA 1 Planet of the Apes

[@kenl2091]

Aged about 11, 'Beneath' must have been one of the first non-kids films I ever saw on the big screen and it blew me away (the whole freaking planet gets blown up!) The mutant make-up was the most revolting thing I had seen at that point and the 'hymn to the bomb' with its discordance probably influenced my musical taste thereafter. The original was great but this was another level of 'otherness'. To my mind, it's still the best movie, followed by the first, then Escape but the new ones are pretty good.

[@kevinkaple3615]

Beneath is a great sequel…they did something different and ballsy…I can only watch the first2

[@paulharper9711]

As a lifetime fan of Planet of The Apes, including the short lived tv series (which was great)and cartoon from the 70s, I would put the original classic with Charlton Heston as #1 and the Mark Whalberg version of 2001 at the bottom. All the other Apes films (old and more current) all fall in a bunch. Although I am more partial to the original classic ones more.

[@richardgrillo6094]

Love the tv series have on dvd and still watch it

[@countralfus6408]

Love seeing some of Alo's great collection!

[@chrisalo2989]

Thanks Ralph! This didn't even scratch the surface on the amount of POTA memorabilia I have.

[@mikebruce3933]

Great show guys. Chris, stop beating around the bush and tell us what you think 😂😉 I went to the "pictures" as we say in Scotland to see a double bill of Planet Of The Apes and Escape around about maybe 73/74? Wow, the ending to Planet on the big screen, when you don't know it's coming! Incredible. Thanks guys.

[@allornadaaccordingtojack7601]

That's what I love about Chris, he does not hold back, and says what we are all thinking.

[@mikebruce3933]

@@allornadaaccordingtojack7601 😂

[@PR-fo5mj]

Great Show! The first 2 movies I saw in theatre were Planet of the Apes, and 2001, A Space Audessy (I forget in which order). My father brought me to both on 1st run when I was age 7, and I would say both movies had an impact on me and have somehow stayed in my psyche. At the time, I was too young (maybe dumb lol!) to fully appreciate / understand the statue O L scene ending which is maybe why I've found that ending so fascinating in countless rewatches throughout my life. I remember being quite terrified of the scarecrows scene not really knowing at the time, what a scarecrow is irl. Both movies shaped my fascination with sci-fi. I've enjoyed all the POTA movies, old and new, but that original 68 film, and Escape which I also saw first run in theatre with my father, at age 10 are my no 1/2 by far. Interestingly, I did not see Beneath untill my early 30s and remember thinking "wtf!" (not being much of a liner notes reader, I did not know for the longest time that Beneath was the 2nd movie - thinking Escape was 2nd probably due to having seen it 2nd as a kid and maybe Beneath not being as popular compared to Escape? dunno). I have not seen the director's cut of Conquest, or heard about how different it is from the version I'm familiar with and seen several times - thanks for the heads up - will def take a look.

[@patrickcrowther9195]

I’m 53 and never saw the original film at the cinema. Somehow I managed to watch it for the first time without ever having heard about the ending. And I didn’t see it until I was in my twenties.

[@davidrold9770]

Great show guys, I always loved the Planet of the Apes movies. My brother took me to see the very first one when I was just a kid, but I got hooked & I seen everyone after that in the theater. After Battle had made it's stay in the theaters. A theater in Pittsburgh called the Warner had all five movies together. Me & some buddies did that twice. Chris thanks for the info on the Conquest directors cut, I didn't know anything about that, I'm definitely going to look for that. Dave & Pete, I definitely agree with you guys on the last trilogy they did. I think all three of those movies are fantastic. Here's how I think I would rate them. 1. Planet of the Apes 2. Rise of the Planet of the Apes 3. War for the Planet of the Apes 4. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes 5. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes 6. Battle for the Planet of the Apes 7. Beneath the Planet of the Apes 8. Escape from the Planet of the Apes 9. Planet of the Apes (2001)

[@pauldavis645]

Love the beware the best man sequence and the birth of the planet of the apes sequence too

[@rgwebb5165]

9. Planet (01) 8. Beneath 7. Battle 6. Conquest 5. Escape 4. War 3. Rise 2. Dawn 1. Planet (68)

[@guillaumechabason3165]

I love the Goldsmith and Rosenman soundtracks ! Masterpieces...

[@robmlisanti]

Looking forward to this one guys I saw all the originals and all the new ones in the theater

[@scottricci5063]

I dig dude's Kiss/Black Sabbath analogy, except I would've went with Metallica/Slayer as a better fit for me. 🤘

[@roberthardin2133]

I remember liking the animated series quite a bit. much like the animated version of Star Trek, the writers took advantage of the medium to add elements that were impossible to film (at the time).

[@brandonbelt5055]

Chris is crazy, the 2010's movies are awesome! The very first movie and that trilogy are the top four of the series. Edit - Conquest is also pretty badass as well.

[@shizuokaBLUES]

CGI monkeys? Nope 👎 Gave up on trying to enjoy after the first few minutes. But watched them all anyway. That said they are better MOVIES than everything after Beneath. But I can’t get over the CGI, and maybe that’s just me.

[@brandonbelt5055]

@@shizuokaBLUES I think the CGI was amazing! Definitely the best I've ever seen really. I'm definitely a rubber mask/old school 70's kind of sci-fi/horror fan, but the CGI along with the intelligent scripts on these won me over completely.

[@shizuokaBLUES]

@@brandonbelt5055 I’m going to go out on a limb here and say…. I’m old. 54 to be precise. I also collect vinyl records and make candles. CGI gives me the creeps. Old dude brain I guess … Thanks for your reply. I agree the films are better

[@godetonter4764]

James Franciscus has always been my favorite actor, other than Doug Mc Clure. Valley of the Gwangi, and At the Earth's Core are my second favorite movies of all time

[@jonathancilley9450]

Great episode! I was so tuned in I ate a half a bag of Tostitos.

[@griefforest1870]

Uh this should be fun. I love the old ones, but the new ones also completely blew me away and people should not sleep on them.

[@pauldavis645]

Yep completely agree Peter I have never felt the beneath film that great

[@progmonster4]

one of my favorite sci fi series

[@tmc1054]

Dear Mr. Alo, I have a bone to pick with thee. Your reasoning behind The War Of The Planet of The Apes not being a war film because it does not actually show a war doesn't hold water. Following that logic; Schindler's List, The Bridge over the River Kwai and The Great Escape (to name a few) could not be classified as war films which of course they are. The wastefulness and betrayal of war is not solely seen on the battlefield but beyond. Not to hammer a point home, but there is also an internal war within Caesar in this film. Here we see a leader conflicted between his own personal need for revenge and the selfless requirement to advance the needs of his "people". It works as a war film on multiple levels. In addition, the point that you need a human character with good attributes to identify with does ignore the question posed in pretty much all the films - Is the quality of humanity solely exclusive to humans? Man's capacity for inhumanity? Does Caesar's journey not illustrate how fallibly human he is? Does the ape culture portrayed in the films not show the conflicts, fears, contradictions and aspirations commonly shared with humanity? My favourite film by some margin is the 1968 original. It is a great example of film being bold and subversive. The film is steeped in the events of the time - the civil rights movement, the obsession with the space race, the distrust of institutions and unpopularity of America's foreign policy doctrine. There is also an almost naive approach when tackling grander philosophical questions like the role of faith and science in society, relationships beyond conformity, the parameters of law and its separation from what is just, and the power of wilful ignorance. All of which are shown with a student vigour that provides this classic with a unique charm. I won't start on the primal and disruptive Jerry Goldsmith score as that warrants an essay alone. It's one of the very best. I've rambled enough. I've picked my bone. My thanks for the entertainment and smiles you bring:) Warmest regards, TMC

[@dano1962]

Saw the original movies in the theater when they came out. Then they had a "Go Ape" drive-in promotion where they showed all 5 movies in a row until the wee hours of the night! That was a great memory. But the 3 latest movies are excellent!!

[@LarryFleetwood8675]

The first two original PotA movies are the ones I love and watch the most.

[@gabrielpitz1689]

Awesome franchise!! Chris..CHris..CHRIS......dude.....we are gonna have to have a cage match over the ranking of this franchise!!😂I agree with Dave & Pete the new trilogy is awesome!! The new movies have an emotional impact that the original series doesn't. Please give WOTPOTA another chance. Yes I agree the title is misleading, but I like how things play out in the movie but not in the way I expected. You really see how Caesar realises that he's starting to become like Koba by trying to get revenge for the death of his wife & son. Bad Ape was a great character. Pete had a great point, that the new movies feel familiar but are different. Of course I love the original series. Will never forget seeing the original on tv as a kid & being blown away by the ending!! So iconic!! I agree with you on Conquest, the director's cut is fantastic!

[@chrisalo2989]

It's all good, it's all what you like! :)

[@gabrielpitz1689]

@@chrisalo2989 Hey Chris you really gotta do an episode showing your collectables!! Awesome stuff!!

[@chrisalo2989]

@@gabrielpitz1689 Thanks! That would have to be an ongoing series, I have WAY too much to show off in one episode.

[@darrylamaki2470]

Great episode Planet of the apes one of the best franchises..

[@bababooey666]

Hey guys, i'm not seeing much of a difference when I watch blu-ray movies from 4k movies, maybe I have my TV settings wrong? Do you change your settings when you watch a 4K movie? If so, can you give me some of your specs that you use?(color, sharpness, brightness, etc.) Thanks!

[@greensombrero3641]

I loved the first Ape movie. It was just so awesome. I loved Star Trek the original on TV. I was very young, but it shaped my life. Today, I love mobile phones and bananas.

[@scottwalker5275]

Great show guys. I have all the movies and now after this show I think it’s time to back and watch them all again. Sorry Chris but I agree with Dave and Pete. War is a damn good movie, but loved your rant.👍🏻

[@sdrandazzo]

I am old school and think the first 3 original POTA movies are the best although I have not seen the newer movies. I have not seen the later movies, but my brother says they are very good. btw: I went with my brothers in the early 70s to see all of the original POTA movies (back-to-back) at the San Jose Jose Theater for a whopping total of $2 that included the movies, a hot dog, tub of popcorn and soda. My parents dropped us off along with many other parents back then. “Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!” lol.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

I'd HIGHLY recommend the latest 3.

[@robmlisanti]

@@seaoftranquilityprog me too Andy Serkis should have won an oscar

[@sdrandazzo]

@@seaoftranquilityprog Hi Pete, will check them out soon. My brother has those on blu-ray.

[@uncledenny2570]

My Mom took us to the triple feature at the old Capitol drive-in around that same time. She was so cool for doing that. Though now i think she liked Chuck Heston. 😎👍

[@pauldavis645]

I wish they would do a tv series like they did with the godfather which follows the concept of the apes films

[@kdiamond]

Like Chris, Conquest is my favorite. How do I know I’m buying the directors cut and where do I get it??

[@chrisalo2989]

Hey King, there are a few older Blu Ray box sets where it has both versions of Conquest and both versions of Battle. I think they are out of print, but hopefully you can find a used set.

[@EdwardBox]

Just had a check and WFTPOTA grossed $490 million, $10m more than Rise but Dawn is the king with $710 Million gross. Love the reboots. All solid 8 to 9 /10 but the original is still the best. Hate the Burton one and not keen on Beneath, which I never saw as a kid, but the rest are great. Brilliant franchise.

[@jeffkimball5365]

Love the originals. The new ones are great. Love Andy Serkis as Caesar

[@luciusblackwood2640]

Okay, I just rewatched that first film. Fantastic! But something occurred to me that I never thought of before. If this movie takes place near NY there is no way that nuclear weapons would ever make it look like Colorado or California. There were deserts and mountain ranges, and river gorges. And then add in that somehow the Statue of Liberty survived? Best not to think too much I guess.

[@harperhellems3648]

But don't forget centuries were supposed to have gone by, enough for the apes to learn to talk! And master metallurgy - remember their weird rifles!

[@luciusblackwood2640]

@@harperhellems3648 Yep, but it wouldn't do that in 100000 years no matter how many bombs you dropped. That takes millions of years.

[@aliens_exist_23]

I may be in a minority here but I actually like the TB 2001 film. Sure its all over the place at times and the dialogue is a bit on the nose but it looks great, the cast is great, Tim Roth is magnificent, and at least he tried something a bit left of field with it.

[@leejones5026]

Do a ranking of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre series, that would be interesting to see!

[@davidlear2372]

Dave's Great I remember a show you guys did awhile ago was great scariest movies I think was a Great show got a few great pics

[@davidholmes6119]

For me: 1. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes 2. War for the Planet of the Apes 3. Rise of the Planet of the Apes 4. Planet of the Apes (1968) 5. Escape from the Planet of the Apes 6. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes 7. Planet of the Apes (2001) 8. Beneath the Planet of the Apes 9. Battle for the Planet of the Apes

[@Gregbaltzer]

Cathedral- Urko's Conquest is the best Planet of the Apes song ever written. Look it up

[@gladiator22666]

The original movie has the best movie ending ever ! 🙈🙉🙊

[@tdog5035]

Check out the Story Street channel where he does video essays of each of the new trlilogy. Brilliant and emotional analysis of the themes and film making. In another 10 years the Rise trilogy will be seen as masterpieces. Hope the new one coming doesn't ruin it all.

[@billymac72]

Downer endings for “kids” movies….welcome to the 70s! Whenever they had “Go Ape” week on my local tv station growing up, I always enjoyed “Escape,” but found the ending SO depressing, plus I was creeped out by the baby Caesar going “mama…mama…” But again, this was the 70s and it was depressing in a good way ultimately. I mean, we still watch this stuff today, right?

[@herrdwabash]

Black audiences reacted very positively to "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes" when it came out. They could relate to Caeser and the apes' struggle for freedom from slavery and oppression.

[@Iainrankingtheobscure]

Loved the Original Films and the TV Series but not keen on the re makes

[@anthonybernard3689]

Can you share some of your tv settings for when you watch a 4k bluray?

[@canonlon311]

Are the original POTA movies going to be released on 4k blu ray?

[@chrisalo2989]

I sure hope so!

[@aidenswords5809]

I always thought beneath wos underrrated, no one seems to like it

[@kolchak357]

Chris getting bashed a bit on here, but I’m with him. I just can’t get into the new ones. I’ll stick with the classic movies. Maybe it’s a nostalgia thing. 🤷‍♂️

[@slammingsammy9617]

🔥Nova Still Rocks My World 🔥

[@garynight6649]

Where’s Jamie and rich ? You need to do a part 2 of this with them and Jamie’s props

[@tonywhite3504]

My favorites in no order Rise Dawn Planet of the Apes ‘68

[@guillermomaldonado6277]

Not the TV series? that was like Starsky & Hutch. Thanks 😆🍺!!

[@slammingsammy9617]

FIRST FIVE PLANET OF THE APES MOVIES iN A THEATER 1974 Big Screen and Big Sound 😎. And the Three Stooges. That’s bananas😂14 yrs old Saturday Matineeû Crossbay Moviehouse Ozone Park Queens NY

[@MrCinemayo]

I saw them all there too.

[@slammingsammy9617]

@@MrCinemayo Cool 😎 Good Times 🔥.

[@ilkkapuustinen9179]

Hi pete. Greetings from finland. This is my recommendation to fusion friday. D.torn cloud about mercury. A.summers last dance of mr.x. brett garsed. Big sky. Brand x .manifest destiny. Hope you see this message.

[@utvf68]

I haven’t seen them all. My ranking of the films I have seen. 5. Planet(2001) 4. Planet(1968) 3. War 2. Rise 1. Dawn

[@edhart8583]

King Kong on the Planet of the Apes crossover WHEN?

[@chrisalo2989]

Happened in the comic books about 3 years ago.

[@edhart8583]

@@chrisalo2989 Modern Hollywood is trash. Wouldn't be surprised if they green light the idea.

[@augustyoung9582]

What's up with Jamie Laszlo?? Haven't been around since Secret Satan I think...

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

He will be on next week.

[@pervotheclown2199]

All the movies are good .

[@damiankarras]

Why isn’t Chris supposed to say that Linda Harrison is gorgeous?

[@chrisalo2989]

Because I have been accused by certain viewers of objectifying women when I say something crazy like that.

[@damiankarras]

@@chrisalo2989 in the context of those films she kind of objectified herself. Nobody should feel guilty thinking she was gorgeous. She was. Lol I thought maybe she was underage or something.

[@ralfbrettschneider914]

The new ones have not the charme of the originals, for me they are okay not more.

[@russellalbertson6245]

I’ve tried several times to watch these movies. They always creep me out with the apes speaking and such. I’ll have to try again

[@ficheetah3700]

Imagine thinking Kiss and Plant of the Apes are anywhere in the same league as Black Sabbath and Star Wars, respectively. I mean come on guys....

[@rogertemple7193]

I'm a big fan of the original films and the recent ones were okay but not so much of a fan of them and I know that these newer films are more closer with Pierre Boulle's original novel than the films of the five original films but the one with Mark Wahlberg was horrible now if Wahlberg wasn't in it though it would have been good and watching Wahlberg strutting around acting like an idiot and so you can guess that I'm not a Mark Wahlberg fan the rest of the film is a nine but with Wahlberg its a 0 total.

[@manuelper]

Take Tim Burton's POS and Part 2 from the original run and burn them. The rest is all pretty good to great.

[@herrdwabash]

It's too bad that 'Battle for the Planet of the Apes" had such an insultingly low budget. They wanted that final battle scene to be huge and epic, but they were given peanuts to make it.

[@b.g.5869]

The first one from 1968 is great. The second one from 1970 or whenever it was is ok but it's like a bad acid trip. The third one when they go back to 1971 is ok, but we're definitely experiencing a significant drop in quality. The 4th one is still watchable but really starting to get stupid. The 5th one is godawful and never should have been made. The 2001 reboot was garbage. The last trilogy was pretty good but not great. Better than any POTA movies since the first 4 for sure but none of them were as good as the first one. Maybe they're roughly comparable to the 2nd through 4th? Maybe better? 🤔 It's hard to say...

[@davidspinney2023]

To me the best thing was the original novel to me it was great. there was a little of all these movies in it. sometimes your imagination. is a bit better than rubber masks. I have seen all these movies and enjoyed them all but "beneath the planet of the apes was stupid"

[@ThrashinNSlashin]

First time I watched the originals was on my dads vhs box set from the 80s. Tim burton remake sucks and the new trilogy is overall very solid

[@Cornelius798]

"Beware of the man beast"

[@independenceltd.]

Love the originals. The 2001 one was a total turd. I haven't seen any of the new ones. The CGI turned me off. But after seeing all of these rave reviews I may have to give them a shot.

[@blayne2070]

Pete and Dave. Separated at birth?

[@richardthorne2804]

The newer ones are the best. Dawn is the best planet of apes movie and its not close

[@michaelbelpedio5985]

Pete, In Beneath the Planet of the Apes they were mutated because they were living next to the atomic bomb.

[@harperhellems3648]

Plus freaks were the rule of the day in the 70's. Remember Elias and those mutants in The Omega Man. Charlton Heston had his hands full with those freaks too!

[@NoShowShattuck]

Be careful, Chris

[@LSPalm]

Battle seemed almost like a tv movie production

[@kevinkaple3615]

First 2 are outstanding…they blew up the planet..the story is over…can’t watch any after the first 2

[@MrCinemayo]

I disagree. I think the alternate time-line gets more fascinating with ESCAPE, CONQUEST and BATTLE. The first two films are great, but there's not much story potential.

[@Arutha_Con_Doin]

Where is Rich Catino these days? Haven't seen him in ages.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

He was on the Batman episode we did a bunch of weeks ago. He'll be back soon.

[@PurpleHounding]

Good

[@abe3802]

The Burton film is horrible.