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Rating: 
Summary: ok Planet of the Apes book
Review: After reading this book and contemplating just how seriously Mr. Greene takes the Planet of the Apes movies, I can only say one thing: his premise would make for a great magazine article. :-)
Rating: 
Summary: Planet of the Apes as an American "Animal Farm?"
Review: As far back as Aesop, the creative community has realized that talking animals can be especially effective surrogates for making social commentary. This book is an extensive treatment of this issue and therefore is especially for those interested in the mythical and social aspects of the Planet of the Apes series. Needless to say, if you want to know more about the movies as movies or you're interested in an apes price guide, you should probably look elsewhere. However, those looking here will not be disappointed with Greene's spot on ability to weave social analysis from the various naunces of the apes movies.
From 1968 to 1975 the apes series produced five movies and two separate television series. This is a very prodigious production rate commensurate with the series' ability to key into the American psyche. Much like the Simpsons today, the apes series gave its writing staff a chance to touch on issues like the war in Vietnam and race relations from an artistically safe vantage point. Like our fast food the Planet of the Apes series was a uniquely American foray into the land of Aesop. It was, perhaps our American "Animal Farm."
Rating:
Summary: Scholarly...and still thoroughly entertaining
Review: Eric Greene proves in his book to be an intelligent, articulate, scholarly author--with none of the stuffiness than can often accompany scholarship. He has found a fascinating way to examine a genre of entertainment, the entire Apes series, from a new perspective that makes us consider more than just the surface while we're enjoying what we're watching. To paraphrase Taylor from the first movie, although not doing justice to Charlton Heston's delivery, would a scholar...write a thought-provoking book...that ENTERTAINS?? Thankfully, in this case, the answer is a clear "yes."
Rating:
Summary: What is Apes really about? Here is the answer.
Review: For anyone who asks the question "What are these Apes movies really about?" - here is the answer. Eric Greene's Planet of the Apes as American Myth is a thought provoking look at the movies and television series as a vehicle for explaining American social and political culture. His analysis of the internal class cultural cleavages which exist in "ape" society, i.e. the oppressive relationship between light skinned Orangutans and dark skinned Gorillas, as well as the external relationship beween apes and humans as a reflection of American race politics is brilliant and thoroughly convincing. From "ape" protests in the movies to American protests of the Vietnam war, the analogies to American politics and culture go on and on. Greene's arguments show that the choices which are made in telling the story are not separate from the political and social culture from which they are written. Through interviews with the writers and actors and behind-the-scenes anecdotes, the reader will be convinced that Greene's arguments are valid and, as a result, will gain a deeper appreciation for the Apes movies and television series. Greene shows there is a lot to be learned from the Apes films and T.V. series, not just in its examination of culutral and political problems, but also in its exploration of our futile attempts at solving them. A must read for anyone who goes to the movies - period.
Rating:
Summary: FANTASTIC and EYE-OPENING
Review: It's all too rare that I come across a book like this -- one that is profound and intelligent about popular culture. Greene makes you think about the Apes films in whole new ways, but unlike a lot of social analysis of movies doesn't overreach. This book is already in the library of most die-hard Apes fans, but it should also be read by students of film in general and in fact anoyone wanting to hear a fresh, original and intelligent thinker about popular culture and social issues.
Rating:
Summary: KONG WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD
Review: Nothing is as interesting to me as human behavior, and it was a pleasant surprise to find that Mr. Greene feels somewhat the same. He's taken a great deal of time to break down and analyze this concept of race relations in the "Ape" films. I found his writing to be witty and revealing. An easy and enjoyable read about a difficult and confounding element of our society. At 17, when I saw PLANET, we were constantly aware of racial issues around us, and in the news. It's been an important film series to me, and it's message remains powerful. It's wonderful to have Mr. Greene's book as an addition or companion to the 'Ape' films. I am looking forward to see what Mr. Greene will come up with when Tim Burton's version is released. Politics and popular culture are handled in this book with an adept feel for the times the films were made. I wish the text books I read in college were as "hip" as what Mr. Greene has laid before us. I might have remembered more. I found his observations at times humorous and provocative...but always interesting. Well done.
Rating:
Summary: KONG WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD.
Review: Nothing is as interesting to me as human behavior, and it was a pleasant surprise to find that Mr. Greene feels somewhat the same. He's taken a great deal of care to break down and analyze this concept of race relations in the "Ape" films. I found his writing to be witty and revealing. An easy and enjoyable read about a difficult and confounding element of our society. At 17, when I saw PLANET, we were constantly aware of racial issues around us, and in the news. It's been an important film series to me, and it's message remains powerful. It's wonderful to have Mr. Greene's book as an addition or companion to the 'Ape' films. I look forward to seeing what this writer will come up with when Tim Burton's version is released. Politics and popular culture are handled in this book with an adept feel for the times the films were made. I wish the text books I read in college were as "hip" as what Mr. Greene has laid before us. I might have remembered more. I found his observations at times humorous and provocative...but always interesting. Well done.
Rating:
Summary: KONG WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD
Review: Nothing is as interesting to me as human behavior, and it was a pleasant surprise to find that Mr. Greene feels somewhat the same. He's taken a great deal of time to break down and analyze this concept of race relations in the "Ape" films. I found his writing to be witty and revealing. An easy and enjoyable read about a difficult and confounding element of our society. At 17, when I saw PLANET, we were constantly aware of racial issues around us, and in the news. It's been an important film series to me, and it's message remains powerful. It's wonderful to have Mr. Greene's book as an addition or companion to the 'Ape' films. I am looking forward to see what Mr. Greene will come up with when Tim Burton's version is released. Politics and popular culture are handled in this book with an adept feel for the times the films were made. I wish the text books I read in college were as "hip" as what Mr. Greene has laid before us. I might have remembered more. I found his observations at times humorous and provocative...but always interesting. Well done.
Rating: 
Summary: The Apes and Us
Review: Very insightful. The use of film to describe and explain contemporary society is intriguing. While I may not agree with all his points he is articulate and gives one food for thought.
Rating:
Summary: FANTASTIC and EYE-OPENING
Review: What an outstanding and comprehensive look at this phenomenal series! Eric has thoroughly researched and written about this particular aspect of American pop culture and its relevance to historical events that has been sorely neglected since Planet of the Apes hit the big screen in 1968. Given the tumultuous era in which the Apes series flourished, it is surprising that Eric was able to squeeze so much information and insight into one little book. Nice, breezy narration. Great wit!
Good work, Eric. Hope to see more from you soon!
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