Beneath the Planet of the Apes Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Another astronaut lands on the ape planet, finds Charlton Heston, and then they blow up the entire world because… reasons.

🍿 Beneath the Planet of the Apes: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Another Crash Landing

Following the events of the first film, a new astronaut, Brent, arrives on the planet in search of Taylor. He crashes in the Forbidden Zone and soon discovers that this world is ruled by intelligent apes. He also encounters Nova, Taylor’s companion from the first film, and learns of Taylor’s disappearance.

Ape City and the Forbidden Zone

Brent, with Nova, journeys towards Ape City, witnessing the ape society’s structure and their preparations for war against unknown entities in the Forbidden Zone. Like Taylor before him, Brent is captured and experiences the apes’ disdain for humans. He encounters the sympathetic chimpanzees Zira and Cornelius, who aid in their escape.

The Mutant City

Escaping Ape City, Brent and Nova venture into the Forbidden Zone and discover the ruins of a human city. They descend into the underground and find a community of telepathic mutants who worship a nuclear bomb. This hidden society represents the remnants of humanity after a nuclear holocaust, twisted by radiation and possessing powerful mental abilities.

Conflict and Revelation

The apes, led by the militaristic General Ursus, prepare to invade the Forbidden Zone, unaware of the mutants living beneath. Brent is captured by the mutants and discovers Taylor is also being held prisoner. The mutants, fearing the apes, plan to use their bomb as a last resort.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• John Brent (James Franciscus): A determined astronaut who follows Taylor’s trajectory and discovers the ape-ruled planet and its secrets.
• George Taylor (Charlton Heston): A disillusioned astronaut who reappears, a prisoner of the mutants and ultimately destroys the planet.
• Zira (Kim Hunter): A compassionate chimpanzee scientist who aids the human astronauts and opposes the ape’s violent tendencies.
• Dr. Zaius (Maurice Evans): The orangutan Minister of Science who represents the ape society’s rigid, protective, and often hypocritical status quo.
• General Ursus (James Gregory): A militaristic gorilla who leads the ape army’s expansion into the Forbidden Zone.
• Nova (Linda Harrison): A mute human who is Taylor’s companion and guides Brent through the ape-dominated world.
• Mendez (Paul Richards): The leader of the telepathic mutants who reside beneath the ruins of New York City.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• General Ursus: “The only good human is a dead human!” – Ursus proclaims his genocidal intent towards humans as he rallies the ape army to invade the Forbidden Zone.
• Dr. Zaius: “Man has no purpose! He must be destroyed!” – Dr. Zaius expresses his distrust and fear of humanity, advocating for their extermination.
• Ending Voiceover: “In one of the countless billions of galaxies in the universe, lies a medium-sized star, and one of its satellites, a green and insignificant planet, is now dead.” – The film’s narrator delivers the bleak and nihilistic final line, confirming the planet’s destruction.
• Mendez: “Glory to the Bomb and the holy fallout!” – Mendez leads the telepathic mutants in their religious chant, worshipping the doomsday bomb.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $3,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $18,999,718
• Worldwide Gross: $18,999,718

💥 Beneath the Planet of the Apes Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, I gotta be honest, Beneath the Planet of the Apes is a wild ride. I remember watching it as a kid and being totally freaked out by the mutants. The first half feels a bit like a rehash of the original, but then it goes completely off the rails in the best way possible. The ending is a total bummer, but it’s also kinda unforgettable. It’s definitely not as good as the first one, but it’s still a fun, cheesy sci-fi flick.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of science fiction films with dystopian themes”
  • “Viewers interested in Cold War era allegories”
  • “Those who enjoyed the original Planet of the Apes”
  • “People who appreciate dark and nihilistic endings”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence and warfare”
  • “Disturbing images of mutated humans”
  • “Themes of nuclear annihilation”
  • “Intense scenes of conflict and death”

Professional Reviews

• IMDb: “Beneath the Planet of the Apes definitely moves along, but can’t capture the magic of the original. The mutants and the bomb worshiping are great concepts, but the reuse of locations and ape society situations feels rushed. It’s entertaining and watchable, with the final act being a complete surprise that changes everything, but it isn’t perfect.
• Variety: “A decent sequel, but lacks the originality of the first movie. The ending is nihilistic, yet very memorable. The special effects are on par with the original, but the story doesn’t quite hold up.
• AllMovie: “While Beneath the Planet of the Apes may lack the shock value and brilliance of its predecessor, it offers a compelling, albeit darker, extension of the Planet of the Apes saga. Its exploration of religious fanaticism and nuclear anxiety provides a thought-provoking experience for fans of classic science fiction.

Audience Reactions

The mutant humans and their bizarre religion make this movie stand out.: Most viewers find the mutants an intriguing and unsettling addition.

The shocking ending is a memorable part of the film.: The ending of the film is nihilistic and unexpected, often cited as a key element.

Overall Consensus: A decent sequel, but fails to capture the magic of the original, however, its dark themes and memorable ending make it a cult classic.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Charlton Heston initially resisted appearing in the sequel, but agreed to a smaller role if his character was killed off and his salary was donated to charity.”
• “Roddy McDowall, who played Cornelius in the first film, was unavailable for ‘Beneath’ due to directing commitments. David Watson took over the role, mimicking McDowall’s voice.”
• “The film’s ending, where the entire planet is destroyed, was intended to be a definitive conclusion to the series.”
• “The budget for ‘Beneath the Planet of the Apes’ was significantly lower than the first film, leading to some compromises in ape makeup and special effects.”

🖥️ How to Watch Beneath the Planet of the Apes?

Beneath the Planet of the Apes is available for rent or purchase on various platforms, including Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check your preferred streaming service for current availability and pricing. Physical copies on Blu-ray and DVD can also be found through online retailers like Amazon and at major stores.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Beneath the Planet of the Apes, you might like these similar films:

• Planet of the Apes (1968): The original film that started the franchise, providing the foundation for the world, characters, and themes explored in ‘Beneath’.
• The Omega Man (1971): Shares the post-apocalyptic setting with mutated humans, and stars Charlton Heston in a similar ‘last man’ role.
• Logan’s Run (1976): Features a dystopian future where humans live under strict societal control, echoing themes of oppression and hidden truths.
• Mad Max: Fury Road (2015): A modern action film with a post-apocalyptic setting, warring factions, and themes of survival and societal breakdown, resonating with the dark themes in ‘Beneath’.

🛒 Beneath the Planet of the Apes Related Products

• Planet of the Apes: The Ultimate DVD Collection: Own all five original Planet of the Apes movies in this ultimate collection! Featuring special features, deleted scenes, and behind-the-scenes content.
• Planet of the Apes Movie Poster Set (Original Series): A set of high-quality posters featuring the original theatrical artwork from all five Planet of the Apes films.
• Planet of the Apes: Ursus Action Figure: Highly detailed action figure of General Ursus, the ruthless gorilla general from Beneath the Planet of the Apes.
• Planet of the Apes T-Shirt – Forbidden Zone Design: Classic black tee displaying the ‘Forbidden Zone’ logo. Comfortable and stylish.

🎧 Soundtrack

Beneath the Planet of the Apes features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “All Things Bright and Beautiful” – performed by Choir of Mutants
• “Main Title (Planet of the Apes)” – performed by Leonard Rosenman

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Dr. Zaius Was Right

Ever wonder if the ‘bad guys’ in Planet of the Apes had a point? This video makes a compelling case that Dr. Zaius and others were actually justified, and honestly, it’s got me rethinking the whole movie!

Everything you need to know about Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)

Want a deep dive into ‘Beneath the Planet of the Apes’ before you watch (or re-watch)? This video breaks down everything you need to know – I learned so much about the hidden layers of the plot!

Everything Wrong With Beneath the Planet of the Apes in 19 Minutes or Less

Ready to laugh at ‘Beneath the Planet of the Apes’? CinemaSins is here to point out all the movie’s ridiculous moments and plot holes – fair warning, you might never watch it the same way again!

What Happened to THE BOMB from BENEATH the PLANET of the APES?

That doomsday bomb from ‘Beneath the Planet of the Apes’ was pretty intense, right? This video digs into the details about it and reveals some cool facts. I honestly didn’t realize how much significance it had!

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