Thursday Movie Picks: Prequels
1) Rise of the Planet of the Apes
I was never a huge fan of the Planet of the Apes franchise, and only reluctantly saw this, but it was a lot better than I expected. It's not the best of the trilogy, but it set up more greatness to come.
2) Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Now that the human race is mostly extinct, we get to meet up with Caesar and his apes again, and to best honest they were far more interesting than the left over humans anyways. This was the first time I ever purchased a book version of the film, plus the side story that was released that bridged the gap between this and War. I just wanted to hear more from the apes.
3) War for the Planet of the Apes
I still think the release date hurt this film a bit, but how ballsy to make this huge dark epic done mostly in sign language? War was not for the faint of heart but was a wonderful conclusion to the Apes saga, and I still cannot believe it was robbed of that Visual Effects Oscar. I'll never stop complaining about that.
I really do like these films with Andy Sirkis and, I agree, they were robbed. Hell, you could have gone back to the 70s when they made all these prequels to planet of the Apes. Anyhoo, you went apeshit crazy this week🤪
ReplyDeletelmao, yes I did. But I can't help it
DeleteGreat picks! This is one of the best trilogies ever and so much superior to the original films. War for the Planet of the Apes was robbed so much at the Oscars.
ReplyDeleteYES! This is easily in my Top 3 trilogies.
DeleteA theme within the theme! Love those!!
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any of the new Planet of the Apes. I think its a case of Ape burnout. I watched all the original films from the 70's, they played endlessly when I was a kid on various stations and while I enjoyed them after a while enough was enough.
But when the Tim Burton/Mark Wahlberg version came out in the early 2000's I did go see that....and it sucked! So when they tried again I just couldn't work up any interest. I'm sure they're better and maybe I'll get to them one day but right now no.
Mine are nowhere near as focused other than that while not bad they aren't as good as the original films whose story they expound on.
Another Part of the Forest (1948)-This prequel to Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes exposes how the cancerous home life of Regina, Ben and Oscar Hubbard’s family in their youth full of physical and mental abuse as well as hints of incest formed them into the malignant vipers they were in the original film.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)-Prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark with Indy (Harrison Ford) fighting an evil cult, rescuing kids and generally saving the day. Plenty of adventure but the weakest of the trilogy. Karen Allen’s marvelous Marion is sorely missed.
Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)-This many decades delayed prequel to the fantastic The Wizard of Oz explains how traveling huckster Oscar Diggs (James Franco) became the Wizard also what led sisters Glinda (Michelle Williams) and Theodora (Mila Kunis) to became arch rivals and respectively the Good Witch of the South and the Wicked Witch of the West. Colorful but empty with only Rachel Weisz as the Wicked Witch of the East standing out.
Oz The Great and Powerful is so popular this week. I wish they had gotten more attention for their costumes at the Oscars. They were gorgeous.
DeleteTemple of Doom is my favorite Indy flick, but I haven't seen your first pick.
Even with Ape burn out, I strongly recommend this movies they're so rich and wonderful. I think you'll like them too.
Ah, clever, picking three prequels in a series. I suppose that's one way to do it. I can't really speak for those films, though. Actually I still haven't seen any of the Planet of the Apes films, at least not in their entirety (I've seen bits of the first one here and there). I remember meaning to watch the original at one point but never quite managing to get to it. Kinda weird for a sci-fi nerd.
ReplyDeleteYou should really check out this trilogy, it's wonderful.
DeleteI went on a totally different approach with this subject but I always forget that this trilogy was a trilogy of prequels and they actually got it right. I enjoyed the hell out of those films and yes, I'm with you on the lack of respect from the Academy for those films.
ReplyDeleteAs beautiful as Blade Runner 2049 was...ridiculous win over this.
DeleteI really enjoyed the first two Planet of the Apes films, especially Dawn! I haven't seen the third movie yet, but hopefully I will soon!
ReplyDeleteYou have to! It's so good.
DeleteI love that you went all in with this! I've only seen the first prequel and I really enjoyed it. For whatever reason I missed the second one, and then didn't feel like I could watch the third until I'd caught up! And then...I didn't. I need to make that right.
ReplyDeleteYou have to watch them!
DeleteI really only saw the first one and liked it. But I forgot about the other two and had no idea the third one was in sign language - that's pretty cool. I'll have to check it out. Nice picks!
ReplyDeleteThe second and third one use sign language heavily, which I love. You should check it out.
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