GoldenJCJ

While the original is in a class of its own I never really got the love for the other four films in the "full circle."

Although they do have that creepy, downer, 70s vibe that was all the rage at the time. Those type of movies can be fun if you're in the right mood.

Totally off topic but was there a name for that sub-genre of pessimistic 70s s Sci-fi movies like The Omega Man and Soylent Green?

davidh777

I like the new ones, but it's still the original for me. The initial reveal of the apes and the final scene (I wonder if it has surprised anyone in the home-video era) remain cinematic milestones.

JeffTheAlpaca

The original but Conquest is the second best movie.

Beneath was a little too weird.

GoldenJCJ

Considering the ending was spoiled on the DVD box set, I have my doubts it would have the same impact.

fiver

I think Conquest was actually rated PG if I remember wasn't it? versus G for the other four films in the original.

I think I'd have to hold Planet (68) at the top - I think it really is a great film as well as pretty good sci-fi. Conquest always held a special place in my heart - watched it every time it was on tv as a kid.

Planet (68)
Conquest
Beneath
Rise
War
Dawn
Escape
Battle
Planet (01)

OldBoy

it surprised me when i saw it fresh some time ago. saw clips, certainly, on awards shows, but didn't fully impact until i saw it...

davidh777

Ky-Fi

Yeah, Soylent Green, Rollerball, Logan's Run, Omega Man, probably others--that was definitely a sub-genre. They really disturbed and frightened me as a little kid, and other than the Apes movies, I still don't really dig them (although I appreciate them more intellectually now.) I think that's why I loved Star Wars so much when it came out--a much more positive vibe.

davidh777

A lot of them would qualify as dystopian if they depict an unpleasant society. There's also social science fiction that portrays what people would do if placed in a certain situation. I only recently discovered that the Purge films fit into this category.

Abob Teff

Don't look for it Oldboy. You may not like what you find.

(Man this poll is lopsided!)

GoldenJCJ

The most surprising thing about that poll so far is Timber voted for the 2001 reboot.

mwbmis

While the original is probably my favorite if only for the Heston line readings, this one is a close second...

MScottM

Dystopian movies. The whole early 70s movies that are being talked about were a product of their time. Vietnam war was on, the Soviet Union posed the possibility of being nuked at any time. It was a mess. You could start seeing changes in the mid to late 70s as movies started to be more positive with their messages and then the Soviet union collapsed and life could just carry on with a whole lot less fear that the end was near.