What becomes of man when he develops the scientific reasoning that creates the capability of destroying his natural moral progress? Planet of the Apes provides a grand moral idea of the erstwhile beast that humans can form into. Yet what the film majestically leaves subtle is in the irreversibility of human degeneracy brought about by wild starry-eyed ambitions for a better future.

We are introduced immediately in the film toward space explorers proud in leaving the Planet to sojourn in a direction where no one they are born besides with will be – possibly for good. It is in this placement of mankind, in the 20^th century with falling belief in an all-powerful God that has given man permission to form His making self-similarly, which creates the schism between the world which has born such scientific progress, and the one which has ungratefully inherited the ability to power passed the sun.

It is here, in pride beset by human ignorance, where we see the humbling take place, as the astronauts land on a strange foreign planet occupied by both peoples and apes. It is here where there is a stupendous effort at constructing a setting of pseudo-apocalyptic staging. The meticulous details which balance a crude primitive animation with firepower and experimental research by the ape society is worth watching the film itself.

And where do the apes receive these technological artifacts? The film does a wonderful job in revealing that in a politically ordered society, there will be secrets kept preserving the old ways, to avoid disturbing the peace. That one of the humans can read, write, and speak, is astonishing to the innocent ape pursuers of truth, but also brings hostility by the technocratic orangutan elites who the ape society blindly defers all judgment to. It is in bearing witness to the truth which helps elucidate contemporary Western man’s absurd position of being born in a state of civilized progress where he lacks the knowledge of how any of it works. These blind spots nevertheless form positions of authority from elders who have the legitimate ability to arbitrate the young one’s future “career development” – at the risk of compromising the liberty of the youth’s conscience.

This stunning examination of a bureaucratic dictatorship sincerely carries its weight in providing the semblance of “stability” and “order”, by cloaking the truth: that the apes were not born first. Even worse to the society’s peaceful inner life – humans were more advanced than the apes almost one thousand years prior to the “law giver” ape; whose worthwhile wisdom literature on dealing with the impetuousness of man’s free will is the sacred testimony which keeps the ape social order firmly held.

At least these ape bureaucrats appeal to a Higher Power! What can we say about contemporary mid-20^th century to early 21^st century technocratic administrators? Given the motion away from the Ancient Regime by Central Europe, where the instituted sacral authorship is composed to serve Sovereign Power – and by inference violence in perpetuity – the gathering of “knowledge” no longer involves God Almighty – and by inference, moral perfection. We see this patently in atheism being significantly higher in these dictatorship positions compared to the normal citizen who survives more honestly with relation to the Natural World. It is to say that, ironically, the simple man is more authentically aware of an Almighty Power which moves the world compared to the mind games of those seeking to balance self-motivations for, at base social status – sincerely primate in its evolutionary mechanics – which Planet of the Apes rhapsodically, hauntingly, details.

Scientific progress is a cultural and therefore social enterprise, and within the socializing there is the need for directing the dialogue. What presupposes its direction is toward a position of better than its present goodness. That directive serves the benefit of everyone in the society, rather than Monkish scribblers who cannot change their path, which is towards darkening versus enlightening society. The truth will set all free.

Grade: A+