Set in the not-too-distant future of 1991, Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes sees America under totalitarian rule with humans treating apes as slaves. One chimpanzee with the power of speech, Caesar (Roddy McDowall), leads his fellow apes in revolt.
I'll admit that I neglected to post my review for this film immediately after watching and have only just discovered my mistake, several months later (an oversight caused by watching all of the apes sequels back-to-back).
With my original musings having vanished (so much for the cloud), this review is written from memory. Fortunately, since the film is actually quite memorable, I think I can still give it a fair (albeit brief) assessment.
The setting is great: the use of the then spanking new Century City complex in Los Angeles gives the film a suitably futuristic look, and the oppressive political regime is exemplified by the Nazi-style uniforms worn by the apes' guards (who use brutal force to keep the simians in check).
I seem to remember this as being one of the most violent of the series, the apes arming themselves with lots of sharp weapons for their eventual uprising; it's also effectively chilling, the sight of a rampaging mob of apes charging across dark walkways and down steps being a formidable sight.
One thing I am absolutely certain of: it's a lot better than the film that would follow it -- the terrible Battle For The Planet Of The Apes.
Until I watch it again, or find the review that I'm convinced I wrote at the time, I'll rate Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes a tentative 7/10.
I'll admit that I neglected to post my review for this film immediately after watching and have only just discovered my mistake, several months later (an oversight caused by watching all of the apes sequels back-to-back).
With my original musings having vanished (so much for the cloud), this review is written from memory. Fortunately, since the film is actually quite memorable, I think I can still give it a fair (albeit brief) assessment.
The setting is great: the use of the then spanking new Century City complex in Los Angeles gives the film a suitably futuristic look, and the oppressive political regime is exemplified by the Nazi-style uniforms worn by the apes' guards (who use brutal force to keep the simians in check).
I seem to remember this as being one of the most violent of the series, the apes arming themselves with lots of sharp weapons for their eventual uprising; it's also effectively chilling, the sight of a rampaging mob of apes charging across dark walkways and down steps being a formidable sight.
One thing I am absolutely certain of: it's a lot better than the film that would follow it -- the terrible Battle For The Planet Of The Apes.
Until I watch it again, or find the review that I'm convinced I wrote at the time, I'll rate Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes a tentative 7/10.