Like Planet of the Apes, some sci fi and fantasy concepts just run and run in the movies. I suppose the first one I ever really became aware of was the Hammer series of Dracula and Frankenstein films and the Toho Godzilla sequels.
The recent Godzilla is, for me, one of those keystone films, a remake which re-defined an old story in a modern way, whist adding new elements too. Prometheus, a prequel, was the same for the Alien franchise and Tron Legacy, the Tron sequel, 'self-aware' of the original. Phantom Menace did the same for Star Wars.
Some franchises are easier than others to put in story order with Star Wars films, being conveniently numbered, the easiest. I suppose the Aliens series is easy too if I discount those pesky Predators.
But some are not so easy and two that spring to mind are Planet of the Apes and Superman:
Planet of the Apes: There were, I think, three original films, a remake about ten years ago and two modern movies. But how should they be ordered in terms of the story arc?
Superman: what, three original films, two recent ones and a modern re-make I think? But what's the story order?
Any ideas readers? Any other difficult series?
PS. if anyone can attempt the Godzilla franchise too then much kudos!
There were 5 original Apes films. In production order, Planet, Beneath, Escape, Conquest and Battle. However,within the timeline of the films, the order would have been, Escape, Conquest, Battle, Planet and Beneath. The (excellent) TV series would've slotted in after Battle and before Planet.
ReplyDeleteOf course amongst fans the interpretation of TV and Film series can be a most contentious issue and as with all fiction, a certain amount of suspension of disbelief, and personal assumption is required, but to watch this genre it's required anyway. For example, I have my own running order which links the original Captain Scarlet series - 2068, with the TV21 adventures and then the New Captain Scarlet series - 2083 [omitting part of the new series pilot]. It works for me.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping I'll be able to do a similar thing with the New Thunderbirds series, but we shall see.
The Planet of the Apes films and TV series run in this narrative order for me...
"Rise of the Planet of the Apes" [Taylor and the Icarus are launched in this film] "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes"
Probably one or two more films will be produced - leading to, "Planet of the Apes" (1968), then, "Beneath the Planet of the Apes"
The narrative continues with "Escape from the Planet of the Apes", but the time travel element results in a change in the future timeline so many of the events in "Rise" are avoided.
Virdon and Burke are launched between the films "Escape" and "Battle."
"Battle for the Planet of the Apes"
and the Television series "Planet of the Apes".
I recently found some linking material which Roddy McDowell [in costume as Galen] recorded some time before he died where he mentions that Virdon and Burke did return to their own time.
Presumably they were able to ensure that the future events were altered again, and humanity were not subjugated by the Apes.
In the far future from this second altered timeline, I'd place "Planet of the Apes" (2001), the ending is absolutely superb, and really exercises the gray matter, as the ending reveals that the timeline gets substantially altered yet again, only this time very far back into history! I'd slot the Cartoon series after this film in this "Timy Wimy" narrative!
As I said, it's a contentious issue for many fans, and its only my personal interpretation, but I find it fun following the convoluted plot this way.
That's very interesting and makes sense. I have heard of the Galen linking scenes for the edited together TV episodes but not seen them.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kevin! I count myself lucky to have all the linking scenes, including the one where Galen, who is clearly a very old and grey haired ape, explains that Virdon and Burke did get back, and it ends with Galen holding a clockwork toy ape body [with Burkes head], and Galen saying that a future with Apes in charge is ultimately unavoidable!
ReplyDeleteAll the Battlestar Galactica series' make twists and turns like the apes films too and you can put them all into a timeline narrative. The key is the phrase "All this has happened before and will happen again!"
It does come as a surprise though that the original series and the second season actually happened in the very distant past. I found it really thought provoking when in the final season they come across the Earth from the earlier series with the ruins of the Manhattan suspension bridge.