I’m going to bat for the prolonged model, which will be discovered on Blu-ray. I perceive within the age of streaming that watching a movie on bodily media is likely to be a giant ask, however in my thoughts, it’s properly value it. I watched the film for the primary time a number of years in the past, and since I picked up the Blu-ray field set, it occurred to have the prolonged reduce on it, which I watched only for the hell of it after I popped it in for the primary time. Little did I do know I used to be about to look at one thing that might fairly actually change into one among my favourite sci-fi movies of all time. As a person who, like so a lot of you, understands meaning at the very least having it dance across the identical dialog as films like “Aliens” (which can be one of many scariest films ever made) and “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” I am conscious that is a daring assertion.
It is a daring film. A darkish, political film with a lot to say. It virtually works as a bait-and-switch as soon as Caesar begins to take management because the chief of the apes. In its unique, prolonged model, it’s a brash tackle the fabric that brings issues full circle, finishing the time loop and displaying us how we obtained to “Planet of the Apes” within the first place. Does the theatrical model nonetheless work? Certain. But it surely would not pack the identical gutsy punch. Very similar to “Blade Runner: The Ultimate Lower,” which is plagued with a mess of endings, the prolonged version is how this film was all the time meant to be seen. And I implore you to see it for your self.
I spoke extra about this film and another all-time nice sci-fi sequels on immediately’s episode of the /Movie Day by day podcast, which you’ll take heed to beneath:
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