Movies - Time of the Apes

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	Movies - Time of the Apes

Time of the Apes (Saru No Gundan), produced/filmed in 1974 and released in 1987, is a Japanese science fiction film. A teacher and two children take refuge in cryogenic capsules to escape an earthquake, only to wake up in a world populated by sentient apes. Produced by Tsubaraya Productions, Time of the Apes is actually a composite of short Japanese television episodes made in 1974. In 1987, Sandy Frank re-edited them into a movie and imported them to the U.S.

It was satirized in 1991 by Mystery Science Theater 3000. The writers seemed to take particular delight in little Johnny's offhand remark, when warned to be careful of a possible earthquake: "I don't care!"

This film capitalized on the Planet of the Apes genre. Though entirely Japanese, the dubbed version gives us English character names.

The children Caroline (Hiroko Saito) and Johnny (Masaaki Kaji) travel to visit the laboratory of Johnny's uncle. There they are given a tour by young female lab assistant Caroline (Reiko Tokunaga) and get to see the lab's cryogenic chambers. Unfortunately a severe earthquake strikes. Catherine, Caroline, and Johnny take shelter in the nearest available cryogenic chambers, which then activate. They awaken in another land (or time). Unfortunately it is populated by xenophobic, intelligent apes that drive Buicks and Chevrolets. The plot then turns into a cat-and-mouse game. While being pursued, a human in hiding, Godo (Tetsuya Ushio), helps them fight the apes and return home. As they struggle against the apes in a series of never-ending chases, a flying saucer seems to be present at key moments but is never explained.

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