Planet of the Apes - The Ultimate DVD Collection

It's as simple as this: Every Ape Movie, Episode, Cartoon, and even Burton's revisioning- All in one very cool Ape Bust.
The best part - aside from having it all in one collection - is that they restored "Battle for the Planet of the Apes." I hated the version I owned in the Legacy Box Set because they had removed the scenes about the bomb. (If you're as big a fan as I, you know the scenes I mean.) I was furious about that, because those scenes are essential to tying the whole story together. But now that they are back- I am happy as a monkey in banana cream pie.
This really is the ULTIMATE collection for the ULTIMATE apes fan.

To say that this set is the 'Ultimate' POTA collection seems pointless - look at the discription. There's nothing "Apes" that ISN'T here. As a fan of these films (and TV series) since I was a kid I was totally psyched when I read about this coming out. I would have bought it if it was in a plain cardboard box. But the packaging...an APE HEAD! Even my wife (not a fan) was impressed by the sculpture. I wondered why they chose Ceasar but if you think about the stories the movies tell he was the ape that started it all, so I guess it makes sense.

I had thought several times about collecting these films but something else always came up. Now at last I can have it all for one decent price. And I get an Ape head to boot!

Fox did justice to this wonderful series (but I won't get into the screw-job I got from the same company after buying the MASH seasons one at a time only to have a box set crammed with extras come out).

This is the greatest and most complete collection ever released. It not only contains all of the movies but, both the live action and animated TV shows. I LOVE IT!!!

Let's make one thing clear - The only people devoted enough to shell out $180 for this collection are the same devoted fans that shelled out $90 to purchase the original DVD boxed set less than a decade ago. So, in discussing this collection, it's less a question of whether the 14 discs are worth $12 a piece, and more a question of whether the 8 discs of new material are worth the $180 cost to upgrade.

To be clear, there's virtually no difference between the original and new DVD releases of the 5 Apes films. The first film has a new menu (I don't like it, but at least this one doesn't give away the end of the film), and the last film has ten minutes of previously cut material (though I've yet to figure out which ten minutes were added). Some will note that the five original films are now presented in Anamorphic Widescreen instead of Letterbox, but the difference won't be noticable unless you have a widescreen television. Aside from these changes, everything else is the same...even the DVD menus. Oh, and Fox has added two unskippable anti-theft statements at the begining of each DVD, which is quite annoying.

No new supplimental features have been added for any of the 5 films. The only new feature to be found is on the Behind the Planet of the Apes documentary DVD, which now features silent behind-the-scenes footage of the first film as shot by Roddy McDowall, as well as a few 1968 promos for the first film and sparse behind the scenes footage of the third film. The 2001 Planet of the Apes film also features a second disc of features, though I don't know if any of these are included in this set for the first time. As for the the remaining Apes films, no new material has been added at all. Each film DVD includes trailers for all six Apes films as their only special feature. The 1974 television show and 1975 cartoon discs have no special features at all.

Here's a rundown of what Apes fans will recieve by upgrading to this new set:

The Caesar Bust package - Cute, but how many of us are really planning on displaying this in our living rooms? Personally, I prefer the original DVD release packaging. Much nicer to look at than the generic cardboard case that holds the DVDs within the bust.

Supplemental footage: Roddy McDowall silent footage, 1968 promos, and some behind the scenes footage for the third film - Only the most obsessive of Apes fans is really going to care much about this.

The complete 1974 Television Series (14 episodes) - A major bonus. The series isn't as campy as you might expect. It still makes excellent use of costumes and sets, as well.

The complete 1975 Cartoon series (13 episodes) - Another major bonus. The cartoon is surprisingly well done and definitely worthwhile to a serious Apes fan.

The 2001 Apes film - You can find this for $5 in virtually any used DVD store. Definitely not a major selling point for most.

Special features disc for the 2001 Apes film - You'd have to be a fan of the film to really care.


While I enjoy owning this set, I'm not sure I see the value. I was able to acquire mine while Amazon was running a sale ($100 and free shipping for the set), which almost made sense to me (I'd probably pay $30-40 each for the 1974 TV series and 1975 cartoon series), but I'm just not sure you're getting a $180 value out of this collection, especially without the addition of any major supplemental features.

Think long and hard about this one before purchasing -- just how much is a hairy bust of Caesar worth to you?

The most comprehensive collection of Apes films TV shows and Animations I have ever laid eyes(and ears) on. I got lucky with this one. Most cult classics are not availilbe or "currently unavailible since 1975" or sum such rot. Not only do you get the entire movie sequence epich with full anamorphic format but enhancements in sound(ALL films 5.1) and color corrections in video(I noticed more in this set than even the previous release of 35th PoP anaversery. even the first and by far most important film got the video treatment and is bright and vivid as it should be. It is ALso DTS 5.1 now, as well as Dolbe Standard. In addition the TV series with McDowel/Harper/Naughtan which is more detailed than the movies because of time and character developement. It is no different than the orange DVD release so I need not go into it. And for the first time(in my meezly and deprived life of lame-o pollicical correctsters not wanting me to be subject to such a wonderful experience) you get the 1975 Animated series(ALL of it!) By far the best Animated anything I've seen.(except for Star Trek). In 1975 the final(worthwile anyway) release of Planet of the Apes was a deep and moving experience. Yes Fred Flintstone's voice is in it, but the dialogue is far from comical and not Hanna Barbara-like simpletonistic in any way and he is beliveable as General/EXGeneral Urko. You almost pity him when he looses his rank(no Black/white ethical/moral nonsence here). Most voices are familar to us 70's children, in countless other sat morning cartoons(mostly Filmation and Hanna Barbara) characters like Blackstar(Filmation) who has Zira's unearthly voice as aliens as well as various crew on Star Trek animaton series, Superfriend's Aqua man=Ape sergent(also in 1974 TV series) and wonder woman(Astronaut Judy), and "Astronaut"(for lack of a better title) Bill Stanton's voice sounds vaguely like the original robot head commander in the origianl Voltron series "Red Lion" and "Air Team" from the Japanese animae series.. "Sea-team's voice is in here too." Austin Stoker who was in the Final movie is Astronaut Jeff(last name unspecified) and Fred Flintstone's voice who is hard to NOT recognize but is perfect for Urko. The incidental music(AK) and sound FX is very Pink Panther-like with "falling" from the comical Pink Panthar seirs used as the Spaceship's compressors overdrive when crashing and the Pink Pantar's frequent Goouph! sound from hitting the ground when the poor cat got "punched" "Run over" or some other peril.(also used very cheaply in Matt Huston series) and the machinations of the Underdwellers(odviosul a Scooby Doo memory). The muszak is very well done and not at all comical. the Moogs are a bit overused at times to give that 70's sci-fi feel rather than Apes film fill but it is still awsome. The producers/directors of the Pink Panther show it in the sound and Pink Panthar-like psycadelic 60s drawings, very reminecent but beautiful and very detailed despite lack of animations this is gorgeous comic-style with just enough animation to make belevable. Think the original "Jonney Quest".
You get all the films and TV shows and a very nice Life-like "Ape Head" seen in the Francise video but definitely I would have liked to see Peire Boul's Novel and maybe a bit of info on the man who started it all. Not the kitchen sink but every thing the counts is right here(minus the novel).