Interpreting the 2001 Planet of the Apes: Thade Memorial and Its Implications

The 2001 remake of Planet of the Apes offers a unique twist on the original storyline, culminating in a memorable scene where General Thade's statue replaces the Lincoln Memorial and the apes are shown driving cars to greet Captain Leo Davidson. This scene, rich with symbolic meaning, serves as a bridge to understanding the complex narrative and themes explored in the film. Though seemingly nonsensical at first glance, it is a deliberate and well-thought-out choice that aligns more closely with the original source material by Pierre Boulle.

The Orphanage of the Original Story

Planet of the Apes (1968) by Pierre Boulle presents a more complex narrative than the 2001 remake. In the original story, the protagonists sail their spacecraft around the solar system, where they come across a message in a bottle. This message reveals that on a far-off planet, the apes are the dominant species, and humans are nothing more than beasts. The crew returns to Earth, where they find that humans have been replaced by apes. They then attempt to leave Earth, convinced that the message they found was mere fiction, as they themselves are apes. This contrast with the 2001 remake highlights the importance of understanding the original story to appreciate the film's intentions.

Screenwriter's Dilemma

The 2001 remake encountered a unique challenge. The screenwriter had to end the film in a way that resonated with the original movie's tone and themes but in a manner that didn't outright copy the ending. What emerged was a scene where General Thade's statue is juxtaposed with the Lincoln Memorial, and the apes are depicted as driving cars to greet Captain Leo Davidson. This scene represents a physical manifestation of the narrative's internal conflict and the characters' journey.

A popular theory suggests that the screenwriter was forced into a creative corner and lacked a clear way to conclude the story cohesively. The scene may seem implausible, but it was intended to leave the audience with more questions than answers, encouraging deeper reflection on the film's themes.

Themes of Deception and Prophecy

The 2001 remake includes two key theories regarding the Thade Memorial's implications:

The Ape Lie: The apes may have misrepresented the events leading up to the Thade Memorial's creation. Thade's prophesied actions of freeing the apes from human oppression might have been fabricated. The humans, instead of being displaced or extinct, can be sent to another part of the world or simply be marginalized in some other way. Alternate Earth: If the apes from the Ape Planet invaded Earth, they would not recognize the memorial as it is on the original planet. This suggests that the Earth of the story is not the same one depicted in the original Ape Planet. The apes could have either evolved to become extinct, been driven to extinction by humans, or not been discovered yet by the apes from the original planet.

Closing Thoughts

The 2001 remake of Planet of the Apes concludes in a way that is evocative of the original source material's ambiguities. By placing General Thade's statue where the Lincoln Memorial once stood, the film invites the audience to question the past and consider alternate realities. Is this the same Earth? Have the apes taken over? These questions are left open, prompting viewers to engage with the film's themes of human nature, the role of time travel, and the complexity of history.

The scene where the apes are shown driving cars to greet Captain Leo Davidson symbolizes the defiance of human supremacy and the perpetuation of the cycle of domination. It is a powerful and evocative moment that underscores the film's overarching themes of the cycle of power and the unpredictable nature of history.

In conclusion, the Thade Memorial in the 2001 remake of Planet of the Apes serves as a sophisticated narrative device, inviting the audience to delve deeper into the film's themes of deception, prophecy, and the complex nature of reality. This scene is a testament to the film's authors' intention to honor the original source material while presenting a new and engaging take on the classic tale.