Paul Dehn (1912–1979)

An astronaut explores the Planet of the Apes, looking for Charlton Heston.

It has no right being good, but it is. They clearly don't have a fraction of the first movie's budget, and it's the type of movie that typically depends on special effects. The script is sloppy and dumb, but somehow ends up working anyway. It's like three or four different movies mashed together. But that keeps you on your toes; you really have no idea where it's going. And the ending is perfect.

Concept: D
Story: show more B
Characters: D
Dialog: C
Pacing: A
Cinematography: C
Special effects/design: D
Acting: C
Music: C

Enjoyment: B

GPA: 2.1/4 show less

An intelligent ape leads a revolution.

Pretty entertaining, considering how completely awful the writing is. It's a bad you can enjoy. There are even a few good moments, where you can see the potential for the remake. It's the only one of the Apes sequels that wasn't completely uncalled for.

Concept: B
Story: C
Characters: D
Dialog: F
Pacing: C
Cinematography: C
Special effects/design: C
Acting: D
Music: C

Enjoyment: C plus

GPA: 1.7/4

Some apes travel back in time to the Planet of the Humans.

It's extremely corny, but it's also entertaining. Too bad Kim Hunter isn't the star of all five of these movies.

Concept: B
Story: C
Characters: C
Dialog: C
Pacing: B
Cinematography: C
Special effects/design: D
Acting: C
Music: B

Enjoyment: C plus

GPA: 2.2/4

Whodunit on a train.

It's amusing and fun when the plot is moving, which it often isn't. It works well as far as the mystery is concerned, but not so well dramatically. The fact that those are two separate things pretty well sums up why I'm not an Agatha Christie fan.

Concept: C
Story: C
Characters: C
Dialog: A
Pacing: D
Cinematography: B
Special effects/design: B
Acting: B
Music: D

Enjoyment: C plus

GPA: 2.3/4