How do you come up with a sequel for a film with one of the best twist endings of all time? That was the dilemma that Paul Dehn faced as a screenwriter for the follow up film adaptations.

His answer seemed to be execute the sequel in the most peculiar fashion possible, straying shadow of the earlier films’ brilliance. This actually is relatively bold filmmaking, and has memorable moments in its own right, but lacks the original’s wit and astounding cleverness.

This was directed by Ted Post (of Hang 'em High) while the cast is mostly the same. Taylor does return, this time played by Charlton Heston, but significantly lessscreen time. Maurice Evans returned too as Dr. Zaius, Kim Hunter as Zira, Linda Harrison as Nova, and of course McDowall. David Watson replaced McDowall's role as Cornelius.

The film starts off where the first one ended, with Taylor and Nova stepping out from the Forbidden Zone, encountering the Statue of Liberty, goal being dwarfing and destroyed. They venture further, though, into the desert’s desolate expanse.

We are brought to the crash site of yet another space shuttle, and to Brent (James Franciscus). Assumingly, he and one other astronaut were sent to trace the route of Taylor, and he presumes that he’s going to crash land on the same planet as Taylor. The other astronaut dies at some point, and Brent performs his last rites.

Sans Taylor, Nova manages to catch a glimpse of him riding on her horse. She is wearing dog tags which were once owned by Taylor, and we are shown a glimpse of him trying to teach Nova how to form words. Face it, there was no way that Taylor and Nova would not get caught in an earthquake, and fire that just magically pops out mid combat. At one point in time, Taylor gets a little glimpse of what he describes as strange phenomena in the landscape, and desperately tries to lure Nova to go seek Zira before vanishing into it.

Brent jumps onto the horse of Nova and instructs her to take him to Taylor. This it then revealed they return to the Apes’ city where General Ursus (James Gregory) appears to be some sort of fascist dictator addressing his troops in a rally.

Ursus suggests the increase of dominion by conquering the display called the Forbidden Zone, which astonishingly 99% of the population is in support of, expect of Zira. Marked and Nova begin to flee and Brent receives a wound shot in the arm.

Now, we shift our focus to Ursus and Zaius, whose dialogue was an elaborate interchange of stratergies while they sat in the sauna. I remember thinking to myself how much better the apes looked with just facial make-up as opposed to all the prosthetics they used to wear.

Ursus states that twelve of his scouts ventured into the Forbidden Zone, and remarkably, eleven of them vanished. One of them returned with astonishing tales of walls engulfed in flames and earthquakes. Zaius does not believe that this is a good idea to keep trying to fend off the mystery.

Zira and Cornelius's house and is accompanied by Brent. Zaius also arrives and they have to keep Brent and Cornelius in hiding. Zaius states that he is going to the Forbidden Zone with Ursus and is requesting her to put aside their quarrels and act as Minister in his absence.

After Zaius exits the room, Conrelius and Zira escort Brent and Nova to the door, only to remind Brent that if he mentions apes to anyone, he will be frankenstiened.

They are captured with a group of humans shortly after. Zira attempts to take them for her research, but Ursus prefers them for target practice. At least Zira allows them some freedom from restraining them in a cart, and Brent is able to take the bus by defeating the gorilla driving them. They are then mounted and chased by armed gorillas on horses.

They retreat into an underground cave in pursuit. This cave used to be the Queensboro Plaza subway station, which greatly intrigues Brent as a former New Yorker.

Some half-hearted commentary about Vietnam is provided when some protesting chimpanzees are arrested for protesting Zaius and Ursus.

Brent and Nova travel deeper below after being attracted to some noise coming from there. They pass several notable locations such as the Stock Exchange and Radio City Music Hall set in the ruins of Manhattan. It is without a doubt the art direction that shines through as the most impressive aspect in the film.

The lively thrilling music ceases once they arrive at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Brent drinks some water and then goes absolutely berserk, almost drowning Nova in the process. Regardless of his violent urges, he chooses to calm down and enter the cathedral.

Within his perspective of things, the man that he sees, worshiping an atomic bomb.

He stomps his feet and during this action, seems to be engaging in bat telepathy. He does not pronounce a single word and based on Brent’s body movements, one can infer that he communicates in a distinct way. Beneath the Planet of the Apes Watch free On Fmovies

This individual is getting transformed in front of a conglomerate group which cross examine him to discover he’s seekinhg Taylor and from another timeline. Such characters have the capacity of torturing him with their thoughts until they decide to verbalize things. They rage in fury while asking in whether the Apes intend peace or declare war. Alongside admitting all the weapons are fake phantoms.

Zaius, Ursus and their band of gorillas join forces in the meantime come across a wall of flame consuming a multitude of Gorillas set on fire (these might be the scouts that Ursus shouted out to earlier). The statue of the Lawgiver sheds tears, it becomes a moment of realization for Zaius that this bred form is a vision which vastly differs from the truth.

Altogether the Apes keep advancing and curiosity locates these worshipping tenders for conducting ceremonies on the bomb, taking off ceremonial coverings to show profoundly injured beasts.

In the mutants' ceremony, they must all go into hiding as the Apes can invade the city at any given moment. Brent finds himself caged alongside Taylor, only to be provoked by the guard to murder his companion.

Fortunately, the distraction Nova creates when she calls for Taylor buys the time needed for the couple to eliminate the soldier. Brent recounts the details of how the bomb will be detonated, telling Taylor how the mutants intend to unleash it upon the Apes.

The Apes invade the underground city, mercilessly shooting and slaughtering dozens of the Brutes. With spiked clubs at their disposal, Taylor, Brent, and Nova manage to escape their cage. Before being put down by Brent and Taylor, a gorilla manages to gun down Nova.

Taylor suggests allowing everyone to just perish, but that wasn't getting Brent's buy in.

The priest armed the bomb, shocking the apes, and in the building the Apes break into the cathedral. They repeatedly shoot him.

Only Zaius appears to understand the gravity of the situation as the gorillas attempt to pull the bomb down. The gas it emits will undoubtedly stop Ursus from trying to reach the controls. Determined to take full control of the situation, Ursus goes for the controls. To protect them from setting off the bomb, Brent distracts them. Taylor gets shot after coming out from his hiding spot, and Brent then shoots Ursus in the back.

Startled, Taylor struggles to warn Dr. Zaius about the bomb. He dies at the hands of the gorillas after Brent. In the end, he falls on the controls and detonates the bomb.

In narrative form, the movie abruptly concludes with a voiceover stating that the Earth is now destroyed.

This is one of the many daring conclusions, but in contrast to the previous installment, the rest of the movie receives little to no support. Had they increased the runtime, things could’ve been different. I certainly enjoyed all the unusual aspects of the movie, though in my opinion Leonard Rosenman’s score does not come close to the original’s score.

Without a doubt, this film fails to deliver bombshell villains that are truly interesting or threatening. The mutants are so late in the film that their introduction blossoms with potential, which unfortunately goes no where, rendering them completely underdeveloped.

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