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Greatest Written Films - Planet of the Apes (1968)

I like to write the odd quote. I thought I'd share one. Feel free to use it if you feel so inclined.

'Getting Angry at Stupid People is like cursing the Grass for Growing.'
AJL



Greatest Written Films






Planet of the Apes (1968)


Planet of the Apes? You gotta be freaking kidding! A good action piece.. sure.. even a great sci-fi film but a Best Written Film?Are you insane man?
Alright, I hear what your saying. But give me a chance here.

Sure you can raise your eyebrows at a film that is predominately known for its make-up (for which it won a special Oscar) and sci-fi themes, rather than being a great screenplay. Yet the origin of this film lies in its period, an era when foreigners were evil and black people 'beneath us' and communists were lurking to take over the world.

Pierre Boulle wrote the novel Monkey Planet in 1963. When Hollywood bought the options, the screenplay was written by the legendary Rod Serling, the man behind The Twilight Zone. His changes made it a significantly better story but the core principles remained the same. The unknown breeds fear and fear is the parent to intolerance. It's still a pertinent message.

Apart from working as a tense and exciting thriller, Planet of the Apes reveals our darkest fears, that of the subjugated overthrowing us, where we become the racially oppressed. Our hold on this world is tenacious. Suddenly we are not listened to, nor matter. The shoe is much more uncomfortable on the other foot. You could argue that it's xenophobic in nature, but people only see what they want to see. The core design was simply, 'see how you'd like it.' The injustice should have you seething.

In the 1960's the message needed to be sent. America (& the world) still suffered from widespread intolerance; the Watts Riots of '65, the 'growing plague' of communism from South-East Asia and the year this film was released, 1968, with the assassination of Martin Luther King.

As far as the film itself went, Producer Arthur P. Jacobs had to fight for it. Special screen and make-up tests were done to prove to the studios that it could actually be made. Thankfully they agreed to go ahead.





Planet of the Apes still holds up today, easily overshadowing Tim Burton's terrible 2001 remake. There were four sequels to the original, only one of which had any merit (Escape from the Planet of the Apes) and two short-lived TV spinoff's. Apes was hugely popular and made a star out of its prime chimp, Roddy McDowell.

And it's not over. A prequel Rise of the Apes is planned for release in 2011, though to me, it seems that this story was already covered in the many sequels. If it's anything like the current crop of remakes and sequels, it will probably suck.



I particularly like the court scene where those in power did not want to know the truth. (carefully analyse the picture below). Has anything really changed at all?




Coming Soon,

More Poetry and Stories about Fuck All and Everything.

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Until Then,

When Ego Comes to Town - A Poem (+ mp3)



When Ego Comes to Town


Warring Tribes
Come to Visit Again
Locked Horns, Stubborn Feet
Dig in Your Heels
Camouflage Your Insecurity

Yet the More You Fight
The More Obvious it Is
Conglomerates Have Nothing on You
At Least They Have Profit to Inspire

Blocking My Every Snippet of Goodwill
Rejecting an Openness
That is Required
For Negotiations to Begin

You Muddy the Waters
So No one Can See In
Dare They See
The Real You

Then You Cut Til the Wound Weeps
And the Natural Thing to Do
Is to Retaliate
But then You Will have Honoured Your Battle

I Back Down
My Self Respect only Shrapnel
And It takes All summoned Potency
To Walk Away
While You Exult
Streaming Your Triumph

But Only I Know
That there was no Victory at All.





Coming Soon,

More Stories about Fuck All and Everything,
another entry from the Greatest Written Films
a non-fiction series Famous After Death
and more Poetry with or without an audio version.. depending on your comments.


The Streets are Manic...


Richey Edwards went missing in 1995. And was never seen again.





If you know Manic Street Preachers, you're already familiar with the story.
They formed in Wales in 1986, released their first album in 1992 and despite their success, Edwards' personal problems mounted and he disappeared. His car was found near Severn Bridge, not far from Bristol, a known suicide spot. Though never found, he was officially declared deceased in 2008.




The band went to phenomenal success, particularly in the UK. They just released their tenth album, Postcards from a Young Man. 2009's Journal for Plague Lovers featured lyrics written by Richey Edwards and saw the band return to their punk roots. It was one of the best reviewed albums of 2009.

Last night, the band played in Sydney. I saw them last time they played in Australia, which was at the Big Day Out in 2001. Not getting to as many gigs as I used to and being a fan, I made it along to the sold out gig at the Metro. This is a pic I took from my mobile phone.



The Manics write lyrics that matter, something lead singer and writer James Dead Bradfield doesn't believe many bands do anymore. "In Britain, we've been through two wars and a deep recession and no musicians write about it. Music has been downgraded on the cultural playlist." I have to agree. Sure love is worth singing about, but there are a million other worthwhile issues. Bands used to sing protest songs. There was the Clash and Midnight Oil and many others since. They used to demand change. Now they all sing about love and drugs and rainbow fields.
Sure they're getting on, but the Manics still write great songs and are just as relevant today as ever before.

By the way, they were fucking awesome live.




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Coming Soon,

A Poem, When Ego Comes to Town.



Another Rock Star Falls into the Shallow Pit that is Fame



This site is all about celebrating the written word, whether it's through my own stories and poems, (or news on my novels), or recognising crafted screenplays (Greatest Written Films). Occasionally I'll recall the work of other writers (such as a series coming soon, 'Famous After Death'), even if that person is a songwriter.

The Australian music scene lost one of its gifted songwriters this week, James Freud, singer and bass-player with The Models. He wrote some of their biggest hits. He was also an author.
James committed suicide in Melbourne after a long struggle with alcoholism. He was 51.




This is a pretty cold way to sum up someone's death. This is the type of thing I've read in the papers and on news sites, but none of them describe his mentality in recent weeks, months or years. Sean Kelly also of The Models said James had 'fallen off the bicycle' when asked why he hadn't appeared at the band's induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame. Did his much publicised absence have a bearing on his mood? It was only the week before.

And yet, if you go back to the song Barbados, one of the band's biggest hits, the lyrics tell the story. 'I am the voice left from drinking,' James sings. This became the title for his 2002 auto-biography, (which I have not read but ordered). He followed it up with another book, 2007's 'I am the Voice left from Re-hab.' I'm sure these books will give much more insight into the man. For now, like those who are left to deal with the suicide of a someone they knew (and this has happened to me too), we are left trying to understand why.
Yet only one person ever really knows. And sometimes not even then. Hasty decisions are made in drunken moments.




It's well documented how the creative person often has to deal with depression and anxiety. It seems that creativity and depression are bedfellows. Some walk on the precipice between each, trying to function normally in society, but are unable to. They medicate themselves with alcohol and/or drugs in order just to get through. Creative people are really narcissists. They explore their perceptions of the world and of themselves through their work. Suicide may be the ultimate narcissistic act. It's an escape, the offer of a way out. Some may argue that it's the easy way out, that we shouldn't feel sorry for those who take their own life. If you look at the clip of Barbados, you see a suicide in the first scene. The rest of the song is about drinking and yet there must be a link. Self-fulfilling prophecy? James appears to be actually drunk, especially in the scene when he's sitting at the bar and looks up at Sean Kelly, whereas the other band members appear to be sober. And yet his talent as a songwriter is nowhere more evident and poignant than in this song.


Maybe - I would blind the girl
Who is drowning - in the silence
She turns the grey - into a cold stare
Into a storm I have to be
Wake up to anger and mixed emotions



Watch BARBADOS 






For whatever reason, he chose this way, he leaves behind a family in pain, including his young sons whose band he was managing. He also leaves a legacy with his work, particularly in his success in The Models, who enjoyed popularity in the 80's. Prior to joining the band in 1982, James fronted The Radio Stars and had a hit with 'Modern Girl'.







And yet their success was short-lived. The Models split up in 1988 and a solo career was mostly low-key. Famously, Ian Molly Meldrum said to him after a dispute about how James was being presented on TV in 1989 on Countdown Revolution; “You're nothing but a fucking has-been. Look around you. See the new hosts of the show. They are the future of Australian music. You're on your way out now." That must have stung.

They say it's better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all, but having found success as an artist, only to lose it so quickly must have taken its toll on James. He almost died from alcoholic poisoning in 2001. "I was standing upon the wreckage of my youth; I probably wouldn't make it through the night and as I lay there, I couldn't help but wonder, 'How did I end up like this?'"




Yet he managed to claw his way to sobriety and in 2007 said, 'I'm feeling great. I lead an incredibly healthy lifestyle.'

Whatever drove him to the edge nine years ago, seems to have returned to finally claim him.


My Books






New Short Fiction Series - Stories about Fuck All and Everything


Welcome to a New Ongoing Short Fiction Series. The stories are not related to each other, other than they should contain a little truth. Some stories are based on real events, others fiction. You won't know which is which, but I hope you find something to enjoy.



Ferris Wheel Frivolity




She was 16 with black hair. Her friend, 17 with blonde hair. They were both above average in looks and intelligence. They had dressed well. They travelled by train to the Easter show. It was a big yearly event. It was an overcast day and muggy. But it was a good day. They giggled at times but mostly they discussed their lives. They saw other teens but could not relate to them. They felt like aliens in an adult and child world.

The big scary rides were not for them. They decided to go on the Ferris wheel. Kinda traditional. The carriages were big enough for four so they had to share with another teen couple. A boy and a girl, a couple of years younger.

As the ride began, the 17yr old said to the couple, “Sorry that you had to share with us.”
The girl looked out, embarrassed.
“Hope we didn't ruin your plans.”
The 16 yr old nodded. She felt guilty too.
The boy merely looked out at the shrinking treetops.
The 17 yr old looked to the 16 yr old. The couple were clearly annoyed with them.
The 16 yr old shrugged. It wasn't their fault.

They all looked at the surrounding arena and the animal sheds and the paddocks and the colourful rides and as they reached the summit, the city in the distance, like a reminder of the adult world to come. This was a temporary stage in their lives. And they knew it. Still, they didn't have to worry for a little while. For today, they could enjoy the panorama.




“Wow. You can see for miles!” said the 16 yr old.
“Pretty cool view huh?” said the 17 yr old to the couple.
The boy nodded, but his eyes darted every which way. Perhaps he was intimidated by two attractive girls. His girlfriend did seem a little geeky.
The 16 yr old subtly nudged her friend and then gave a slight shake of her head. Leave it alone. They don't want us here.
The 17 yr old half smiled. Really, she was only trying to make the ride a more pleasurable experience for everyone. It wasn't her fault that the couple wanted to be alone.

The Ferris wheel continued to turn and they all were taken by the changing perspective.
The 17 yr old couldn't help herself. “Been going out long?”
The geeky girl sighed, turned away and hid her face with her hand.
The boy couldn't look them in the eye either.
The 16 yr old nudged her friend, hard.
“What? Geez. Just trying to make conversation. Forget it then.”

Soon, to the relief of all, the wheel stopped. The four disembarked, the couple going one way and the girls the other. A middle-aged woman approached the couple and said, “Have a good time kids?”
“Yeah, thanks a lot Mum!” said the boy.
“I'm going to kill you!” said the girl to the boy.
“What? It's not my fault!”
“You're the one who wanted to go on! Idiot!”
The two girls looked to each other and burst into laughter.

Sometimes we are so busy looking to the horizon, that we miss what's right in front of us.



https://www.anthonyjlangfordbooks.com/books