Planet of the Apes

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[00:00:11] Wait a minute receiving a new transmission. What is that? What am I seeing? It's big. It's really big. Oh my god Welcome to season 6 of the big sci-fi podcast the biggest sci-fi podcast in the galaxy

[00:00:25] Join our crew Adina Brian Chris and Steve as we travel the Milky Way looking for the best that science fiction has to offer Make sure you're strapped in tight because we're going to have a lot of fun talking all things sci-fi

[00:00:39] Stay tuned to this channel for the next audio transmission I'm sure the topic around the water cooler these days is how does the big sci-fi Podcasts come up with ideas or of subjects to talk about now some people might think it's the topic omatic five thousand subject creator

[00:01:04] But if if it only existed note Most of the time it's from our own little noggins Do we come up with these idea? But sometimes just sometimes it comes from outside sources like today's discussion Now my good friend and co-worker at Children's Hospital Los Angeles

[00:01:26] Brandon we were discussing the recent release of Kingdom of the planet of the apes a movie Which we both had seen and I recommended to him to watch the 1968 the original and classic I might add Planet of the apes starring Chuck Heston

[00:01:46] Being that this film came out 25 years before he was born yikes He could not say enough by how much he liked it and then added you know, you should talk about it on your podcast Well Brandon

[00:02:01] Your wish is granted and now we will discuss this iconic film from 1968 and The film that lots launched four sequels that followed it one Tim Burton movie for much better telling the story I thought I feel For new films that tell

[00:02:27] The story of smart apes and dumb humans and oh, yeah, believe it or not There was a TV series that lasted only 14 episodes But before we begin folks, let me introduce our non-Simeon members of the big sci-fi podcast

[00:02:43] Adina you may ooh or ee if you like I'm okay with me. What about not ah? That's big why you're a physicist they say ah Brian don't make me come in there you human Hey, it's Brian from Ohio You can't trust adults

[00:03:03] No, you can never trust adults these days Chris ooh ah the talk the clock is ticking. That's actually a song I was listening to like two days ago Reminds me of another song. Do you guys remember ooh? The witch doctor witch doctor song

[00:03:28] By son by the same man who did all the voices for Alvin in the chipmunks in the 1960s And me I'm Steve merkin in California who is moderating today's podcast so

[00:03:48] So now let's discuss plan the eighth but before we begin if you haven't seen this film you're in luck Because we will be a new word Spoiler ring is that right? Yes? Boiling the heck out of this film that is 56 years old

[00:04:10] It is available on Disney plus for the low-low price of free So if you subscribe to this few servings streaming service that is but that is you know was it available on Disney plus Oh, I wish it was Disney Hulu which is now part of Disney

[00:04:28] Okay, it's part of Disney plus, but I so I want to I want to say something here because sure if Anyone in the audience hasn't seen the film and also is unaware of the major reveal

[00:04:44] Really go see this film because I feel like this is one of those really fun reveals Like see it and it might put some other pop culture references in a perspective when you do But if you don't don't don't be spoiled like yeah, definitely go

[00:05:02] Yeah, yeah, it's very rare that you can really do that And I'll get into I'm like really actually upset with my older son about this We'll talk about that when we get to the reveal

[00:05:15] Yeah, and the interesting thing about this movie is of course the co-writer of the script was Rod Serling Mm-hmm. Oh for those of you who know how great this man is and how he wrote 90 I think 96 episodes of the Twilight Zone

[00:05:31] His signature was the ironic ending of an episode. Oh my god. It's a cookbook You know, I mean something about you know, you don't expect it and then bam He always hits you at the very end and leaves you wondering Wow, I didn't see that coming. So yes

[00:05:50] We're going to spoil ring this by talking about it so we're going to mention and talk about the ending because For those who would have well, I guess that's the first question I'm gonna pose to our illustrious panel is

[00:06:06] When did you first see it or was this the first time you saw it like my good friend Brandon? Definitely not the first time I saw it But I can't tell you when because it's one of those that

[00:06:19] Between VHS in the early 80s or you know watching on cable and they're like I know I'd seen it more than once when I was a kid, but I can't tell you when the first time

[00:06:30] For me for me. I was a kid some time made, you know edited for TV Although I don't remember anything outlandish about this film from the made for TV version or edited for TV

[00:06:43] Excuse me, so I was a kid. This is the first time in years. I've watched it though. Okay, excellent Chris Yeah, this is my first time. It's one that I've heard so much about It it's we'll get to the spoiler thing, but it's like

[00:06:58] It's definitely something where I think you'll have more fun if you don't know the ending because I knew about it So it's just I was curious to see how will I feel about it having heard so many reference

[00:07:08] You know references to it people just talking about it, but Yeah, but lots of thoughts though. Well, that's the one thing that's interesting about this film is that it is Suddenly as many greats ingrained in our pulp culture so even you haven't seen it you

[00:07:25] Probably have already are experienced some of the great lines that came out of dialogue They came out of this movie that have you know be filled it and I even sent

[00:07:35] Yeah, one of the things I did in my notes to the group was to send them the link to a Episode of the Simpsons that made fun of this. I mean it's part of that pop culture that is you know What it is

[00:07:51] So let's let me let's start with the beginning What did you think of the opening sequence of the film because to me? I had to pause it and turn to my wife Elaine said I gotta remember how much I loved The opening sequence of this film

[00:08:06] Now when you say the opening sequence tilt to how to how far in right up until the The splash landing in the in the in the in the uh lake the whole everything they go to sleep They wake up. They find that stewart is dead

[00:08:21] But also the the camera angles and shots the way they shot The the camera turning up and back were turning around you felt like you were in You were riding on the nose of that spacecraft as it's coming in for its landing

[00:08:34] You know, they it was really ingenious steve how they film that with the camera Movement because they didn't have to show the spacecraft Crashing itself. They just showed first person kind of view like you're watching out the window of it Which probably saved them a ton of money

[00:08:53] Uh on special effects because of that I don't know. I mean They're we don't ever see the whole spacecraft except the nose of it right out of the water

[00:09:05] Yeah, but through looking through the window. I mean like looking through that window can't couldn't have been a you know An easy thing to you know, what's out there? I don't know. I feel like that that it's probably not necessarily More economical, but I don't I don't know

[00:09:21] But and the camera had to be on a swivel of some type because as it's flying through the the desert region I mean, it's revolving. It's turning you're you're you're I mean you're inside

[00:09:34] You feel like you're on on a ride and I remember when I was a kid and I saw it I was just so impressed with that sequence and the sound of everything them Yeah, the sound was really good. I mean the sound effects they used for it traveling

[00:09:47] I was it was remarkable. I do think watching it now The outside the window when charlton heston is taught or taylor the character taylor is talking And injecting himself with something That that sequence Does not hold up well that was quite cheesy from the version that I watched

[00:10:08] Do you mean like with the lights out in outer space? Yeah, yeah, I thought that was like terrible But it was it was like I remember I remembered it looking a little better But I was a kid when I saw it first

[00:10:19] Yes, I found it interesting because like this is kind of how I felt for the whole movie Where I thought okay, I'm going to watch this. I know it's a classic it's 68 But I like star trek that came out of that time in 2001

[00:10:31] So I want to give this a try but I was worried about how like how gripping I'd find it And I found within that first like little bit of darluck. I was in I'm like I love this conversation around

[00:10:41] That that okay, it turns out the scientists were right We're in the future. It's 1972 spaceship time, but we're in like 2263 or whatever it was In real time I think he goes to sleep before yeah Taylor puts himself. Oh, yeah This is delivery of like the very calm

[00:11:02] I've accepted my fate, but I'm a little bit bummed out, but I'm accepting it Just I love that tone and delivery Uh, and then I just we'll get into the rest of the movie that where I found I liked that aspect of it

[00:11:14] Um, but yeah the intro for me hooked me because I'm always worried I'm like is it gonna take how long is it gonna take for it to get interesting? Yeah, but yeah, I was hooked within like a minute or so

[00:11:25] That's awesome chris and I was doing so is my son who Is seven years old and that The credits start to roll, you know and uh all of that stuff and he goes oh This is interesting music. I'm hooked already. I want I'm interested in this

[00:11:44] Uh, that's cool. And so I got I got to see you know, he could care less But I just say hey man, jerry goldsmith about this. He's my favorite star trek composer and he read the I didn't know it was composed. Yes

[00:11:55] That's the beauty of it. Yeah. Yeah, that's that's that's we'll get into the music soon enough But I would maybe laugh with him. I was watching is is he smoking his cigar in a spacecraft? And then when he's all done he puts it into his pocket of his

[00:12:11] Flight suit like well I'll just say this for when I reawakened how many years i'm gonna be asleep because my cigar will be waiting for me Yeah, in my not not really a safe moment in space travel Obviously, they did not consult with the astronauts at the time

[00:12:30] Like some movies are doing today Yes, yes, it's a pure oxygen environment loves the cigar Was there a reason they wanted it to be in 1972? Was it just to be slightly more futuristic? People maybe in four years we can

[00:12:46] Maybe get away with that stuff or something. I would have pushed it a little further into the future If it was me, but you know, whatever Yeah, yeah, yeah, one of my kids even asked like why why is he smoking?

[00:12:59] Yeah, and my wife just said wow they smoked a lot back then Yes, they did it was it's it's it also plays up to his rugged character He smokes a cigar, you know while he have all he's expounding on

[00:13:12] Life the universe and everything as he's getting ready to put himself to sleep for Who ends up being? Centuries and centuries of time that goes by cut folks but um

[00:13:26] Now now getting into the pop culture of the film and I will tell a true story how it affected me 1978 I'm in a car crash And I split my head and I'm making a little motion right here on my forehead

[00:13:42] Where I have like a four three to four inch gash in my forehead Taking the emergency ward sewed up bandaged up got home Week later Bandages come off my brother looks at my forehead where the stitches are and the meatly he the first thing he says is

[00:14:00] They cut out his brain you filthy animal And I was oh my god first thing out of his mouth because of this landed who ends up Getting a horseshoes cut in his forehead and that's what I got from my brother. So but even so

[00:14:17] There are so many lines in this film that have become part of Our dialogue. I mean, you know adina it's a bad day at work and you just want to yell It's a mad house a mad house You know a bad day any day at work

[00:14:36] Throw head back lean against wall It's a mad house There you so I mean Does any of these the comfort did any of the dialogue as you heard it especially yourself chris for seeing it for the first time Did any spark of familiarity to you? before

[00:14:55] Yeah, so there was a couple of lines so the mad house thing I didn't even know that was from From plan of the apes because my association of it's a mad house. It's from a sign file that episode when

[00:15:06] Uh, elaine is trying to take an acute test at a cafe But there's too much going on and so she's like well I couldn't do very well because it was a mad house or something and then jerry makes fun of her for that

[00:15:17] And then in the movie tropic thunder There's a line where it's like damn dirty heathens And I'm assuming and then hearing damn dirty apes. I'm wondering if they were just referencing Or can't you are referencing pause off me? Yeah Yeah, exactly

[00:15:34] Yeah, so there's a couple of those lines or I'm like, oh those were from that was from this movie. Mm-hmm I loved I loved I didn't remember The teenage kid at the end who helps him is the nephew That was obviously kind of hippie dippy You know

[00:15:56] I love that I just saw that all that stuff dropped in essence. I don't trust it. I want to know So talking about references and I don't know if this is If voyager had a very separate idea

[00:16:10] But like watching plan of the apes I'm like, oh so voyager basically just ripped this off when they did the dinosaur episode Where there's one where they encountered alien species that has evolved from dinosaurs And there's this one scientist who's trying to prove the dinosaurs um

[00:16:25] Evolved on earth in the day that there were humans Uh after so I can't remember what it was and they don't want to believe it But then jacot tries to hop out the scientist and they're like you're going against doctrine

[00:16:38] Uh, and he doesn't have to watch it again. See I got it. Yeah, but it sounds like maybe they were just like let's take plan of the apes Well, let's make a dinosaurs

[00:16:47] Well, this is interesting that that line from the film where he says to you know, don't trust anyone over 30 There was a movie that came out the same year 1968 called wild in the streets where Teenagers don't trust anyone over 30 And uh, well how they take over the world

[00:17:10] From a teenage from the adults So that that little concept was very big was about you know, not trusting anyone over 30 So I'm interesting that star trek episode mary, which was And it wasn't about necessarily trusting is that they lost all the adults so they didn't have adults

[00:17:26] So then or and when they were losing the adults the adults kind of went crazy. So I guess it is the same Yeah, so it's kind of time all tied into it. Um

[00:17:37] There another thing it brought up here was now that the script was written by rod serling And there was an episode of twilight zone called I shot an arrow into the air Where a mission is sent with multiple crew members

[00:17:53] They crash land on a deserted area. They think they're on a distant planet Slowly personalities come forward of not trusting one another One wanting to survive over the others until they find out that they've crash landed back on earth

[00:18:10] And they don't realize until the very end of the episode again The rod serling. Oh ironic. Oh my god. Those are telephone poles We're back on earth. We never left a place and oh my god, that's I can't so you know, that's

[00:18:26] No folks that was that was the reveal That's the reveal kids said it it was earth all along. Yeah was earth this whole time Mm-hmm my kids were shocked. They were absolutely shocked See this is what I have to vent about I really

[00:18:48] So now first partly my fault for not involving probably frank from the beginning of the movie But just you know things conspired and I couldn't watch it all in one sitting just because of life this week

[00:18:59] So when I was sat down to watch the last half hour last night But you know before recording that was when frank was with me. So he didn't see the whole movie He's just seeing the last half hour And he's not getting engaged

[00:19:11] He's only doing it because he has nothing else to do and he knows that we're gonna watch something else after it's done But like I'm like, you know pay attention because like this is like the kind of they're getting into the

[00:19:22] The goods to me some of the good stuff and I of course know How it's gonna end? And um and he's like mom tell me how it's gonna end. I'm like no no just enjoy just just watch just enjoy it

[00:19:34] And and I frequently have had this thing with him where we're watching something that I've seen And he's trying to bug me to like tell him what's gonna happen. I'm like no just enjoy it Just watch just watch just shut up and watch

[00:19:47] Well, anyway, apparently in those few minutes. He snuck a look at his phone and looked it up Oh What had actually happened he knew and I'm like I mean

[00:20:03] I was very very disappointed in my offer a rare opportunity in film these days to be truly totally surprised and yes It's one of the classic all-time shocks in film history It absolutely is and it's done so well too

[00:20:20] And it just and I love how it just the movie just ends There's no resolution. Yeah It's I mean really and and this is where I think the film holds up very well in going through the whole thing every point, you know

[00:20:36] So what I was looking for as I was rewatching the whole movie was like Are there any other hints that it actually was earth like because they they just assume they land there They assume they're on an alien world. They just assume it they

[00:20:51] Boom and then there's nothing to contradict that Yeah, it makes sense that they would assume they were on an alien planet far far away Yeah, and Charlton hasson even had A theory on which planet or at least

[00:21:11] Well, that was a half theory because when when his coat when the his colleague pushed him on that he's like, yeah I don't really I was like that's just a guess so he didn't really and which was really funny because like a couple times in the

[00:21:22] Movie reminded me of the next generation episode attached When at some point when crusher and picardo walking Yes, let's go this way and then crusher's like wait a second You know actually And sometimes

[00:21:42] Sometimes as a leader you have to show confidence and that's exactly what charlton hasson's character was doing throughout that Here's my problem with them not knowing That they were actually on earth because anyone that has any knowledge

[00:21:57] Has either been to or seen any of the several different national parks that they were walking through They would have they should have said hey Okay, so looks a little but At the same time though, we also know there was that people right?

[00:22:15] They they were hoping to start over in essence And unfortunately they only brought one female with them Poor lady. Yeah Some of that dialogue was definitely a little dated and cringy

[00:22:37] But no no I can I can completely understand that if if your brain is expecting this is you're not you don't believe this Is there you know, there's nothing in you to tell you it is. Oh, yeah, so you don't expect it

[00:22:47] So okay, so yeah, there's familiar ish terrain, but nothing that actually that screams this was you know This is all around a river. You know whatever. Well, that's the thing Brian

[00:22:58] Do you looking at this? Where do you think they filmed this because they don't list it at the end of the movie Where they shot this movie they shot it in parts of utah the lake they landed in is lake powell

[00:23:09] Oh, it is they shot some in I believe nevada. Okay, they shot some in california. Yeah Yeah, I think we see some of the grand canyon frankly. Yeah I keep thinking about going to to Arches natural monument in utah where you have really most remarkable Um

[00:23:33] Yep plateaus and so on there. So yeah, it you know, you would write you could think this looks familiar But again, you might assume that you know if you look at go to another planet and you're going to have erosion you're going to have

[00:23:46] Valleys and stuff and you're going to assume already well, this can't be earth So it just looks familiar Absolutely never occurs to them and I think that's totally fine which makes it still

[00:23:56] Anyone who hadn't seen it and again, and I think it's probably the newer generations who might not even not might not Put the two and two together with the pop culture like like my son is seeing the simpsons episode

[00:24:07] I think a couple times but he had no, you know, he would there's no way Known where that comes from So there's a whole generation of people out there that might get this review

[00:24:18] Like and I want them to have this reveal because it is you have to deal with a little bit of the cringy stuff Mostly around some of the dialogue of Heston's character

[00:24:27] Yeah, if you can get past that because to recognize it's 1968 and that's just unfortunately the way things work That's just how they spoke. That's right beyond that It was it was a it was great and the dialogue with the apes was just amazing

[00:24:42] Yeah, that's what that's what really grabbed my attention as a kid. I didn't You know, I thought it was cool and by the way the makeup still looks fantastic for what it is Yeah, that was gonna be another point of discussion about that. Whatever they think about that

[00:24:56] The but the discussion in the courtroom All through was just masterful. I mean, they're they're tackling so many Issues that we're starting to really bubble up In their time, especially which we begin to see that in the 70s in particular Talking about war talking about racism

[00:25:20] Talking there's all kinds of philosophical and religious undertones to yeah, I'll they're talking in all the things question doctrine I mean that that comes up a lot of places today. This is still very very current

[00:25:34] Yeah, what was it? Like that's what was so interesting. It was what was the one person's role? It was like chief science advisor, but also in charge of That's brilliant No conflict of interest there

[00:25:50] Whatever, no, what's over I and again they did lots of little tidbits like when the three judges are sitting on their table And they do they see no evil hear no evil speak no evil

[00:26:00] Those are the little light little touches, you know or when when they're questioning about oh, you know Why does taylor a k a bread eyes? You know, why is he doing these things? They go?

[00:26:09] Oh, you know human see human does I mean they have a lot of fun with that dialogue Which again, you know, you start liking. Hmm. Is this earth or not? You know that these this Culture is kept alive, but you're right about the unveiling

[00:26:25] They did a great job because you see them walking along this foreign Desolate then they see the scarecrows like why is there scarecrows there? And then they get to the water. Oh footprints. Why are there footprints there?

[00:26:40] And then I love the line that charlton heston uses where he says, you know in six months We'll be running this planet. Yeah, because he already assumes that they're the smartest people on the planet No prime directors. I tell you what my kids were like um

[00:26:57] Why are we seeing their naked butts? You see I get that but here's what bothers me more from a mature audience is only Before chris goes I just want to say that could quite possibly one of the most terrifying things

[00:27:12] You're on an alien planet. You're swimming naked and all of a sudden you realize someone is stealing your clothes That's a nightmare scenario in any planet. I don't care who you are Hey guys, it's brian with the big sci-fi podcast

[00:27:30] We are at track long island 2024 and i'm here with a new friend Shannon and she owns and operates sewn by shannon that's s e w n

[00:27:41] And she has an amazing booth of stuff. I've been looking at it the last evening and today and so is everybody from the big sci-fi And we're so impressed and excited about shannon's work We wanted to introduce you our listeners to her and give you a chance to

[00:27:58] Possibly buy some of her amazing stuff that she hand makes All on her. It's absolutely incredible. So ladies and gentlemen without further ado here's shannon. Hey shannon Hello, thank you so much. I have enjoyed sewing for 40 years now. So this is i'm not new at this

[00:28:16] I have my business sewn by shannon. I am on etsy My business name actually on etsy is canona lay Put into the search bar sewn by shannon You will see my Hawaiian shirts come up on the search And you can choose those shirts in sizes

[00:28:36] Small all the way up to xl I will have some of my items at star trek Las Vegas 2024 as well as a couple more east coast shows. I will be at

[00:28:52] Rhode Island Comic Con in november and I will also be at terrific on in august at my vegan son in canada good. Thank you Awesome. Thanks shannon and she's got stuff like uh sleep mask. She's got Christmas stockings Uh cup holders bull holders

[00:29:12] Uh tissue packs those little mini tissues you send your kids to school with she's got bow ties Hair scrunchies you name it. She does it. She's got amazing shirts And check it out. Don't miss it sewn by shannon. Thanks shannon for hanging out with me

[00:29:30] Thanks a lot. Thank you And this is and this is a lot of seeing what i've seen them do in a lot of the you know 1950s 60s movie They're on an alien planet and they take absolutely zero precautions Yeah, really? Like oh, yeah

[00:29:51] Why isn't he using that hand pistol he talked about? Mm-hmm. I said they had one gun. You never do you ever see it? I don't know What do you have all with all the goods

[00:30:01] Do they have any plans for drying themselves off? That's what really it was it was sunny It was really really really sunny look looked hot But it's getting dried off by the sun

[00:30:11] The same as putting on I don't know. I just feel like I need to tell what I like I feel like if you're an outdoorsy-ish type, it's fine. Like I I don't think that that's like Okay, that's yeah But also test the water quality. It's like Yes

[00:30:30] That's when they land they land in the water and he goes did you chest the oxygen like what this difference? What are we gonna do hold their breath for the rest of our lives?

[00:30:38] It's we just you know, whatever is out there is going to be whatever we get I gotta say too. I had to I was taken aback by this Uh The scenes where they're starting to where they catch up with the other humans and they're eating from the fields

[00:30:54] Mm-hmm in that hole the chase scenes when the monkeys come Mm-hmm to get them I that was still pretty good. That was like my They did a good job with their seed and I remember going wow, okay

[00:31:07] What is going on here? You know and so imagine seeing that for the first time especially original audience Uh, that was quite chilling. I mean that was that was oh my goodness. And then you finally get the reveal of the apes And

[00:31:24] You know that was that was all like a wow. That was good stuff I remember Yo, go have sorry keep I keep interjecting. No, no, no I was just to say The fact that I saw it 1968. Yes, I experienced remember experience all those things of the

[00:31:40] Surprise reveal and all that it's it it does Remember the next or the newer film that was it the 2000s or late 90s with mark wallberg Okay, I'm gonna talk about that don't talk about I don't think it was it was it's not the best

[00:32:00] But it was it wasn't bad. I mean mark wallberg. What do you okay? Well, so what we did so I that that reminded what I want to say So I really regret not bringing frank and watching the whole thing with him

[00:32:10] I really wish I had done that but after we did finish it We um, we bagged whatever other plan We were going to have to watch something and we started watching the 2011 Rise of the planet of the apes

[00:32:24] We got about 40 minutes in before it was like a bedtime and I had to like say no We'll watch the rest of it. Um, and I not sure I don't think I had seen that before

[00:32:33] I don't think I'd seen any of the newer ones. Um, that was actually pretty good. I was very good It's yeah Yeah, and and the thing and again without transitioning away from this

[00:32:44] But we did go see the latest kingdom of the planet of the apes. So we watched rise dawn I heard it was really good. It's very good and see I want to see them in order now

[00:32:54] Yeah, you have to watch them in order because it is a progression And it's a different way that humans devolve and apes evolve in this particular film that is more relatable To what we just went through a couple years ago with a virus

[00:33:13] So it's it's it's very well done and andy circus is you can see its face in the in the um leader saser Yeah, and then and then war for the planet of the apes and is

[00:33:29] I I really enjoyed that one. You don't it has very good. That is really good. Yeah, so But I was gonna I was gonna say

[00:33:38] In interest, you know that that classic line that charlton hasson got to reveal when they netted him finally in the middle of town and Get your stinking hands off me We see that in the mark wallberg film Done by ving ray rimes or no, what's his name?

[00:33:57] I don't remember because I put it out of my mind says that in the mark wallberg film As they're chasing humans. They say that mark wallberg kind of reaches out and touches His leg and the ape kicks him and says get your stinking hands off me

[00:34:17] Doesn't have the same effect. I'm gonna look it up Doesn't have the same effect as the reveal to the apes that there is a human that can speak And that screws up their whole philosophy even though they already know that there is a Speaking doll somewhere in a

[00:34:35] Michael carter Michael Clark dug in I just look up. It's got paul giamatti. Come on Tim roth fantastic in the film Helena bonham carter. It's got it's got a ton of great. No, it does it does has great christopherson But it doesn't It doesn't improve upon

[00:34:56] So what was originally done? I know at some point in life I did see the rest I had seen the rest of the original series But i'm not sure I remember all the details yet

[00:35:06] So I kind of also want to rewatch all I want to rewatch the whole franchise Maybe skip the 2001 but I want to rewatch everything else I kind of want to watch it too because I was looking at some of the summaries and I thought this looks interesting

[00:35:17] Well, kids see how it plays out Well kids when the fifth of the original series of plan the ape movies came out I went to a theater in downtown los angeles and saw all five In succession. Oh my god. I was at the theater for half a day

[00:35:35] It was glorious. I mean I we didn't get to watch the last one until like about 10 o'clock at night But we saw it all five together and it's a lot of popcorn. It was a lot The first movie perfect the second movie kind of weird third movie, huh?

[00:35:51] The fourth movie, you know each one is kind of like in zone progression but it to me The newer four films do a better job of progressing the story than those ones did it was never seen Because my dad said don't bother. They're weird

[00:36:07] They were weird ever. I've never seen any of the original besides the first weird is a bad thing Well, again Just making a general statement. I was saying weird is bad all the time

[00:36:22] I recommend you watch them if you want to see beneath the plan the or battle the plan of the apes Or escape from the plan of the apes or I plan the apes. Please do go right ahead

[00:36:31] I have this memory and tell me if this memory is like is this accurate I What were there a group of humans that actually could speak but were deliberately not speaking because they knew that something would happen to them

[00:36:44] Or am I completely not remembering something making something up my head in the 2001 that's no in the in the in the old Stuff in the original in the original series beneath the plan of the apes the second film There was a society of humans that live underground

[00:37:00] In the subway system of new york Where they pray to a nuclear bomb They're all radiation victims. They're all disfigured faces. They're mutants, whatever They're separate And of course They at the end They do what they're supposed to do with humanity

[00:37:21] Okay, but can can they talk? Yes, they can okay, so maybe that again I feel like I remember there being some that they can talk but they won't talk around the apes Because in the second film Charlton heston is at the very beginning. He's gone. He's replaced by

[00:37:36] Joseph I think I The actor who now plays another they another spacecraft arrives. Hey, what do you know? And there's a blonde american on there. What do you know and and he takes over what charlton heston did uh in being the

[00:37:54] Well, how do I made everybody blonde and blue eyes for crying out loud back in the day? But it makes sense that there would potentially be other astronauts making that same, you know So if if if charlton have tailors ship left in 1972

[00:38:09] It makes sense that maybe they send one in 73 74 or whatever and it makes sense that they basically wind up following the same trajectory And have a similar Which is what they do. Yeah, and that so that I can I can completely buy that that I can buy that

[00:38:22] It's it's the third film uh that it starts off on a really weird premise that uh Okay, so now I do anyway. Yeah I recommend watching them the second one Beneath the planet apes very good movie very exciting very interesting very creative

[00:38:39] Um, it just you know kind of devolves from that point of view But again, we're talking about the original and still the greatest plan of the apes 1968 so Let's talk about the music brian because that's your favorite Music was really good. It is it is a You know

[00:38:55] And I think you agree brian When there is no dialogue and there is only action and you have music that supports that action That's a great soundtrack. And I think this is one that does that do you agree? Yes. Yes, it was different

[00:39:14] Uh, you felt like you were on another planet because of the music. I think the music aided that perspective that it would were on a different world And so that was brilliant also Uh for lack of a better word the music kind of sounds animalistic

[00:39:33] Jungly but also futuristic So there's a lot of rhythmic stuff going on but weird rhythmic instruments and things Uh Some of which are synthesized but also you get you get kind of that synthesized stuff that jerry goldsmith was so famous for

[00:39:51] Introducing into his music. So it was it made you feel everything. Mm-hmm. It really did It also sounded a lot like uh original series tracks specifically if you look at like season two And if you look at the episode private little uh, a private little war

[00:40:08] It has a lot of the same. I don't even it's not it's a piano But it's like lower key piano That they use a lot Think it was like really any action scene they would have that and I always thought that was really cool

[00:40:18] To me. Yeah the music I found Oh, yeah, sorry go ahead. No good chris friendship I was gonna say yeah the music I liked and I also just Like that even scenes where they weren't doing anything the music was really intense

[00:40:30] So it's like you could tell something was about to happen More so than I think in like modern movies Well, there's a percussion sequence when they're running and along in your And it brings me right back to the motion picture where you see the Klingon ships

[00:40:47] Being attacked by yeah feature and you have that Kind of a sequence in it. So I mean, that's it You know you you you have abilities as a composer brian I think you agree that you carry over to other films You can hear that every composer

[00:41:06] Has something about how they write music what instrument what sections of instruments they Love james james horner Who did star trek 2 the wrath of con star trek 3 the search for spock you can hear similarities In instrument sections he likes to use even in titanic

[00:41:27] Spider-man the amazing but I mean, yeah, I mean you can Every composer has that in gold smith is the same way I can almost No, I'm listening to jerry gold smith soundtrack Even if I if I don't see his name in the opening credits

[00:41:43] I and I have been right nine times out of 10 of me. Yeah for me. That's uh, that's michael geekino who did trek 2009 And anytime he does the movie I can be like oh, that's geekino. Yeah except for if Which I saw last week. Oh did you see it?

[00:41:58] What did you see in the movie? So dill and I we enjoyed aspects of it. We thought it was fun to go and see But we felt like it was just missing a lot like it just there wasn't enough there

[00:42:09] It it didn't get a really good rating on rotten apples and I'm yeah, because I love ryan reynolds. I think he's hilarious I think he's really a multifaceted actor and I was hoping it would be better than that But it got a great audience score, which was interesting

[00:42:26] So ryan tomatoes it got like a 48 percent critical score, but then I think like an 87 audience score Uh, it's interesting. They love ryan reynolds. He is he is hilarious. He's very funny and I think that's also not even playing the the apes

[00:42:41] He would make a good charlton heston Carey could he make a I think he'd make a he he would do the he wouldn't make a good charlton heston He would do a good job at charlton heston's carrier taylor. He'd make a good tailor

[00:42:56] That's what I meant. Yeah, okay. Yeah. Well because you know, I'm not a I'm sorry He's attacking me tonight guys. I don't know. Sorry. I don't think she was attacking me. I think she was attacking the charlton heston

[00:43:07] Yeah, well, yes, I was attacking the dad's cotton before and then i'm attacking charlton heston because he's not in a lot of ways He's there's a lot of things that are cringy In like everything that charlton heston has done. He's a manly man. He's a manly man

[00:43:22] You know, and I think that's what he's always come across from ben her to moses. I mean he's played such iconic characters that Is that are very cringy today? But I want to say something about the music because this is Because I kept something something kept, you know

[00:43:40] Like hitting me as familiar And what I think it is is it sounds a lot like some of the opening sequences too I don't know if any of you guys have ever listened to much of um emerson lake and palmer

[00:43:51] Oh, yeah, I love but like some of their synthesized stuff Like some of it sounded like not identical, but like that's what I think it is and I gotta interesting I now i've got to listen Some some members in lake and palmer because that I loved it

[00:44:07] Especially the album rain salad surgery. I think it's the oh my gosh Am I thinking of the right the right thing? Am I I don't know but you just you just brought up a memory from the 1970s it just came bubbling back up again

[00:44:21] I haven't heard that album name for you Yes rain salad surgery. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So listen to that. Okay Guys should we listen to that in the car? No, okay We could yeah Anywho um back to plan the apes and back to what we're talking about

[00:44:41] When we mentioned earlier about the makeup, you know, the the newer films are purely digital The last four films where I mean when you watch the movies and you and even in those

[00:44:52] The from from rise to war to the latest one the graphics have gotten better the the Different types that chimpanzee the orangutans the gorillas got to me more like my god. These look like they're actually real Animals, but in that one they were working purely on makeup

[00:45:13] Which made it very hard for the actors to move their mouths To get the facial expressions that were used to seeing as actors, but Did it still come across as? believable was was could you really see their expressions or could you

[00:45:29] Were you doing it yourself where you injecting those expressions into it? I think they did a pretty for the time I think they did a decent job I didn't I mean like trying to watch the lips and okay. You can tell it wasn't quite there

[00:45:42] But they did a reasonably good job But the thing that struck me is like that they had to ride horses a lot And I'm like I just can't imagine what what you're going through when you can barely see

[00:45:51] You wearing all this makeup or this prosthetic thing on your face and you have to ride a horse But I think overall they they did a good job. Yeah, if you look closely

[00:46:02] If you look closely at the eyes like they're the makeup was actually far removed from their eyes They blended it really well at least down on their cheekbones up high their foreheads probably protruded more but You know the mouths were Were problemat were the most problematic

[00:46:22] Now the actors did such a lovely job With their eyes and with their you know vocal inflections and all that stuff That you could easily overlook it your your Willing suspension of disbelief

[00:46:38] Is acting on all working on all cylinders here the part where we see the makeup fall short The most dramatic part of that for the monkeys is when they kiss

[00:46:49] Oh, yes, they can't flex those lips to kiss. Well, so it was kind of like not like a real kiss was a fake kiss You know, it was a um

[00:46:57] Yeah, so it's like they seem to very deliberately do something different from the way humans would because they're not humans and so So again, I feel like that was that was a reasonable way to overcome the limitation Right and and they didn't have them. Okay in in the

[00:47:15] Tim Burton one They walk more like apes and in the newer films they walk like apes But in this you think okay if these have evolved From where they were, you know where we are now to where they would be what? 2000 years in the future

[00:47:35] That they would have evolved to being more upright Characters walking more like us and not more chimp Mike is you know in the other films So I I think they still had a little bit of that action and they still have that movement and

[00:47:51] It worked really well. Well, how far so, you know, uh The rise of the plan of the apes that came out in 2011 that was about now How far into the future do the other ones go?

[00:48:02] It's the last one that takes the biggest evolutionary jump and it's about they say like They don't say how many years and there's been chaff is like 300 years in the future from war until the latest one kingdom But they say multiple generations. So they're still not

[00:48:21] In the newer than the last film. They're not they're still not human like they're not no They're not like this but this this allowed so many generations and so many years of eons to go by We as humans how long did it take us to evolve?

[00:48:39] to being upright from being walking more I guess chimp much chimp like right, but we were hours was more a product of our environment and quote-unquote natural where this was like, you know Seated basically with some manipulation. So that doesn't necessarily, you know, so that

[00:49:00] I don't think you can so I don't think you can compare. Yeah. Yeah. No, I agree. I agree You don't really know and they had to be more human like because for us to accept the fact that

[00:49:09] You know, this is what would happen or could happen is the evolution of humanity or the evolution of Semian anodee semian an amy. No, forget that I take that word back um No in the original film here if they even had that discussion

[00:49:26] Or if it was just yeah, we're gonna walk upright Or you know, did anyone say hey, maybe there should be some You know Whatever because I remember watching the special features for the mock wallberg version of this

[00:49:40] I keep saying to mark wallberg. Just that's just association. That's a good enough because he didn't make the No, you can go to your normal mark wallberg, but it's still there you go. Yeah. Yeah, uh, but they actively They chose to have them be more

[00:49:54] Ape like, you know, the walking on their hands and all that stuff And chose to have that just because they thought it would be more realistic Um in the film, but I wonder originally if they even had that discussion or if that's just how it was

[00:50:08] Nobody talked about it. They just walked upright like humans would uh That would be interesting to know well, they they weren't 100 percent upright There was like a little bend a little

[00:50:21] When they were near tables, they would like, you know walk like have their hands like where they're leaning on their arms Hands a little bit. So it was no, I think that was feels like it was very deliberate

[00:50:31] And it wasn't it wasn't entirely a normal upright and they were they had a little bit of a gait I thought they did a good job with that it was subtle enough It was subtle enough that you could you could still see

[00:50:45] That they were evolved from from primates, you know Um, let's see what else what other questions whatever things about the film that I don't know I just want to say that chris has a little more

[00:50:59] Spark in his eye. There's something a little extra there with this podcast recording that wasn't there before he got married Um, so I just want to point that out I'll leave my wife

[00:51:13] Mary I can say that now for how long mr. Christian fox. Have you been married now? Uh, what is what's the oh, I guess 11 days 11 days I don't know how many hours yet. You don't look at day over 10 days

[00:51:30] My friend yes to all our listeners chris just recently married the love of his life Uh a little over a week ago and we're so happy for him Um That uh beers on me my question is did she watch this with you? Did you say that?

[00:51:49] Did the beginning of the show? No, no, we're thinking about it, but We she got me into scandals. So I was like, can we just scan? Okay, okay We watched a bunch of scandal. We've been going back and forth between scandal NYPD blue and supernatural

[00:52:04] So it's been it's been fun After that david presidious kind of like let's give it a try and I think she started it before So we've been doing a lot of that Very good

[00:52:15] Well, we have chatted a lot about this. Um, is there any other feelings that you want to express? Thoughts about it or are you just going to say well, you know

[00:52:25] And the other thing is I do have a book here that I purchased last year at trek long island a nice place that we've We went to And it's on rod surly and now I want to look for the sequence about plan of the apes and see what

[00:52:41] Was, you know, if there's anything there about the discussion and what came about why Why it was written the way it was how it was done and so on and if there's there I'll I'll share with you folks but it was it is based on a book

[00:52:54] That was oh, it is basically written. Yes, it is. Yes But I I just want to say steve by means of closing out the show and kind of final thoughts is Uh, I love this this film as a kid

[00:53:07] In watching my kids react to it was so much fun Which tells me it's still got something. Yeah, it's ill is intriguing. It's still interesting And you know, my kids have been really lately. I've been introducing them to some older stuff. They they are now

[00:53:24] Brand new I love lucy fans. They laugh I watch and I love lucy and uh in black and all it's black and white glory and So they're they'll watch older films with me occasionally

[00:53:38] But that didn't come into they didn't make a single comment. They're not they're they're not quite as old as Your son is a dns frank is Who who just will do that more naturally anyways, but

[00:53:52] I really love this film. I think it holds up in a lot of ways. There's some ways where you go. Oh, man, that's You know, man that affected and hold up whatever and it's got the It's got the

[00:54:04] Charm or maybe charm is not a good words in some places it is But it's definitely has some cliches from that time period that are cringe worthy to us now But uh, I tell you what it's it's one of the classic all-time. I I believe

[00:54:20] Uh sci-fi films ever If you haven't seen this and even though we've spoiler it or whatever word we're using out of it Spoiler we spoilering We've spoiled go watch this film if you didn't hit stop and to go to watch it go watch it still

[00:54:41] It'll still be worth it and chances are people listening to this who haven't seen it probably already knew the spoilers I think I think it's the young people that just haven't had that enough exposure to know yet

[00:54:53] But someone like my age who hasn't seen it. I'm sure has gotten it. I feel like it's gotta now Yeah, worth while seeing worthwhile watching Definitely, and I'll say this all the young kids do not spoil yourself on movies

[00:55:07] Because as they get older there are very few spoilers left. I think in the world Obviously there will still be some but there's like some classic ones where I'm like Ah, I wish I hadn't known about the spoiler before seeing the movie

[00:55:18] So if you if there's a movie that you know about that, you know, there's a spoiler don't spoil yourself just just watch it How many people have gotten punched to the nose for spoiling the sixth sense, huh? Oh Oh

[00:55:33] That's one that was spoiled for me when I was like seven or eight I'm like i'm not watching that and now I can't ever I also watch it probably But one of the great all-time movies Frustrated where the spoil I got spoiled

[00:55:47] Someone gave me the spoiler at the end of it. Take to me off. I would have never seen it come and was titanic Really, okay I thought he actually did survive. I mean, you know, I'm talking about the ship sinking. Oh the ship sinking

[00:56:09] Oh, I never saw that coming. I I mean they said it was unsinkable Who would have thought that that's something like that could happen By the way real quick There is a brilliant kids book about the ship that came to rescue

[00:56:25] The first ship that got there to help rescue people from the titanic In that story of that ship. I can't remember the name of it, of course in this moment But is a fantastic story worth looking into interesting

[00:56:38] Yeah, considering what they came upon and what they found it's it's absolutely amazing what they did to get there In the effort they the in heart they put into rescuing people. So anyways, that's not playing the That was a big tangent

[00:56:54] One of my biggest ever I just want to look it out and we appreciate that because we really have been staying on target Through most of this episode. I mean we did mention once before Star Trek, but that's okay. Thank you stay on target Thank you

[00:57:11] Stay on target. Wait a minute. You really they bloop the Death Star at the end of the film. I never saw that coming. Oh my gosh Well folks, then I guess uh, I guess I can say and there you have it And no Yeah

[00:57:30] Because you know if at first he don't succeed try try again Right, right. I'm sorry to applaud you that film. I promise I'm done interrupting you good sir That's okay because I'm gonna end up saying that no one here has ended up acting like a monkey

[00:57:45] Uncle or flung any poop in anger In our discussion, yeah, we hope you've enjoyed We hope you've enjoyed this discussion of film that has spun a franchise that is now building momentum again All plenty of films are on disney plus and if you're listening bob Iger

[00:58:06] Please give us a call. We'd love to be bought by you and we know that Couple billion dollars we we'd settle we'd settle And if you have any thoughts on This film this discussion have any opinions that you want to discuss

[00:58:21] Please direct them to facebook to our instagam page Or post them on your favorite streaming platform or send them to our email address at

[00:58:30] The big sci-fi podcast at gmail.com. We are as always going to say we are proud to be part of the trek geeks family of podcasters We're all our current and prior episodes are available for you

[00:58:45] 24 7 if you wake up at 2 o'clock in the morning going I can't sleep. Oh my god, you know what I need to I'm gonna listen to episode number 32 of the big sci-fi podcast Please do because I don't even remember what that episode was And with that I try

[00:59:01] I leave you with these parting words as I always do Look to the skies live long and prosper and test the water quality always You