With the upcoming Blu set, and the original version of Conquest making its debut, I was wondering what is the favorite of the Planet of the Apes sequels.

Escape From the Planet of the Apes is my favorite of the sequels. I love them all though.

I went with Conquest, I always like the revolt of it.

Voted for Conquest of the Pklanet of the Apes.

ESCAPE FROM THE PLANET OF THE APES (1971) is best out of the four sequels.

All the others, Beneath, Conquest, and Battle are so damned boring!

ESCAPE FROM THE PLANET OF THE APES (1971) is funny, it's charming, and plus you just can't beat the chemistry between Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter. This was the only film in which the two actors were together after the original.

The opening is cool too, when they emerge out of Charlton Heston's old space vehicle, take off their helmets and reveal themselves to the 1971 Earth humans, and the uber-cool 1970's jazz music plays in the background.

Beneath -- just because that ending is so darned bleak it's kind of amazing, and there's a nihilism to the whole show that impresses me.

:I couldn't figure out how to change the typo.

I think the music is dated and detracts from the experience. I know, it's Jerry Goldsmith, but I despise that opening theme. I love the film, though.

Conquest had such a different look to it, and really took the series to a place I never expected, making POTA the most diverse movie series ever IMHO.

Cast your vote!
I'm still the only vote so far for Escape

Escape, followed by Conquest and Beneath (soley for the apeshit (pun intended) conclusion).

1) Escape

2) Conquest

3) Beneath

4) Battle

Tim Burton's "remake" never happened.

I went with Escape. I kind of think Beneath was an abomination but sometimes I dig that. That said I like Escape out of the sequels because it did a great job of "fixing" what went wrong with Beneath.

Hasslein (or anyone who can answer) what do you mean by "original Conquest making its debut"? Is it going to be different from the last set that came in the Ape Bust?

Yes, it's the more violent preview cut, 8 minutes longer, and trims the tacked on ADR in the climax of the film, at the end of Caesar's speech, where he backs down from his calling for ultimate bloodshed against the human race. Both versions will be on the disc, but word is it will only be on BD, no SD planned.

POTA has always been one of my favorite series of movies. That said, I've never understood some of the animosity towards Beneath. I'd rank them as:

1) Beneath
2) Conquest (very close)
3) Escape (has some good parts but not nearly as good as the first two)
4) Battle (Another step down the ladder, merely a retread of Beneath with a lower budget and worse acting)

I've always wanted to see the original ending of Conquest - I didn't think it really existed though - I'll be upset if it is Blu only though.

Michael

Escape wins easily for me. I didn't even take a moment to consider any of the other titles. I loved that movie ever since I was a wee lad.

I don't think the Tim Burton version counts as a sequel, though.

One thing I did notice when watching them back to back on DVD, though (sans the Burton version) is that it seems once you are done with the last one, it feels like the first one picks up where the last one left off...kind of making the first one feel like a sequel of the last one.

So Battle For the Planet of the Apes is actually a prequel, if I recall right. It may not have been a great movie, but it gives the series a complete feel to me.

Oops! (I missed the message describing the original ending of Conquest)

I voted Beneath - just love that nihilistic ending (and having more Heston if only for a few minutes of screen time).

(The only real drawbacks with Beneath for me are the lack of Roddy McDowall, the cheap extra's masks, and the too thinly disguised "Vietnam protesters". Despite these flaws, it still has, IMO, the best storyline of all the sequels.)

Beneath the Planet of the Apes, with the Bomb Hymns and all that jazz...

I love the social commentary of Escape, though the riot scenes in Conquest are pretty chilling.

Agree with your order.

What Tim Burton remake?
LA LA LA LA LA Never heard of it LA LA LA LA Nope LA LA LA LA

Conquest

I wanted to find out what was the favorite of the films other than the original, because obviously it would have run away with the poll. I don't consider it a sequel, but wanted to be all inclusive. I guess I could have added the TV series & animated series, but this is movie talk after all....

Conquest was always my favorite.

Speaking for myself, I rather enjoyed Tim Burton's take on it, and wished it had done better so we could have gotten a sequel...I'd love to see him continue the re imagining of that world.

But compared to the other films....I'd still place the original at top, Escape second, Beneath third, and then I'd plug Burton's version in the list, and then Conquest, and last but not least: Battle.

I liked the Burton version. Guess that makes me an ass.