Battle For The Planet Of The Apes [HD]

Apocalypse Apes Redux
Rarely does the restoration of deleted scenes added back into a film work to its benefit. The Extended Edition of Battle for the Planet of the Apes (available previously only as a Japanese laserdisc) is one of those rare exceptions. The fifth and final chapter in the Apes theatrical series is generally regarded as its weakest link. It had the lowest budget of all of the films in the series and it painfully shows and looks more like it's a made-for-TV movie. In fact, it feels almost like a pilot for the Planet of the Apes Television Series.

The film begins in the year 2670 and is bookended with John Houston as the revered ape Lawgiver reading from the sacred scrolls like a bedtime storyteller, "In the beginning, God created beast and man so that they could live in harmony and share dominion over this world..." From here the story is told in flashback and the viewer is left scratching their heads by the befuddling logic. Events not clearly explained are left to the...

This is the un-edited, complete version
After not seeing this version of the film for so long, the restored scenes really stand out and are a plus to the movie as a whole.

The following previously missing scenes have been restored:

1. After Virgil explains to Caeser the classroom situation in which Abe (the teacher) told Aldo "No!" at class, McDonald elaborates further that Abe should have known better.

2. After Caeser, Virgil, and McDonald enter the forbidden city, a mutant is seen sitting near Kolp and messing with some wires, presumably the alpha omega missile wiring.

3. Prior to the viewing of the archives, and while traveling down the city corridor, McDonald fusses at Caeser and Virgil for being so slow. Caeser and Virgil claim that they can smell the radioactive humans and mention that they are not like the other normal humans.

4. After Virgil shoots the moving camara he apoligizes to Caeser and claims that everyone now knows they are there.

5. After...

Finally, the Uncut Version of Battle is on DVD!
This version of Battle for the Planet of the Apes is the uncut version that contains the scenes of the Alpha Omega bomb. These scenes make a clear connection between the mutants in Beneath and the ones in this film. Of course, Mendez is still there in the chopped version, but many might not connect him with the Mendez dynasty alluded to in the second film. These scenes make a huge difference in this film. I'd say they elevate the film from 3 to 4 stars.

The most obvious way to differentiate the two versions is the cover. The cut version has Virgil, an orangutan on it. This version has a picture of a very angry chimp or gorilla. In the cut version, you see Virgil from the chest up, the latter only has a face above the logo and a few film clips below it. While I'd really only recommend this to apes fans, I'd say anyone who's truly devoted to this series must own it.

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