One of the wonders of film is its ability to take one away from the normal everyday world and immerse the viewer in a world so foreign from their own that they stare with wonder on the scenes unfolding before them. One such genre of film of science fiction. In this genre, what the viewer sees is only limited by the imaginations of the writers and director whose job is to portray a world that defies your imagination. If the writers and director so choose, they can also deal with day to day issues of the real world in their film, yet change the settings around so that the viewer does not even realize that they are merely seeing a reflection of the world that they live in. One film that accomplishes this goal very well is Planet of the Apes. .

             Planet of the Apes deals with a great number of issues that come up in everyday society. If one looks closely at the story it is very easy to realize that Planet of the Apes is not at all about apes, but truly about mankind. It is a story about the human condition, and the way humans interact with their natural environment. It is a story about the dangers of religion, and even more powerfully a warning about the dangers of a politically active church.

             Planet of the Apes is a political allegory. From the beginning to the end of the film the viewer is shown a picture of a world ruled by a heavy handed government, and led by apes who represent the church and state alike. The main character that is an example of this is Dr. Zaius, "Chief Prosecutor and Defender of the Faith," who rules both nation and state with an equally closed mind. For most Americans, this is unheard of. One of the founding principles of the United States of America is a division of church and state. To us, having one individual controlling both seems not only preposterous, but dangerous. The American mind immediately concludes that a system such as this will lead to stagnation in science, and close-mindedness in religion.