YMMV / Escape from the Planet of the Apes

• Jerkass Woobie: Similar to his later counterpart Colonel McCullough, the comics painted Dr. Hasslein in this light, as he realized the ape-ruled future was his fault. He created the space-drive for the mission led by Taylor in hopes of a better future, but it has created a Predestination Paradox which caused the end of human civilization, the rise of the apes, and the destruction of the world. He took it upon himself to prevent the dark future he caused, by killing Zira's baby and the apes themselves to prevent them from having another child. However, his efforts were ultimately in vain.
• Special Effect Failure: Milo repeatedly saying "Mama!" at the end of Escape is very obviously a short clip of a chimpanzee being played forwards and backwards repeatedly, and can serve as a source of Narm for an otherwise tragic scene.
• Surprisingly Improved Sequel: Compared to the divisive and at times reviled Beneath the Planet of the Apes, it's held in much better regard.
• Tear Jerker:
  • Cornelius and Zira's deaths. The most likeable, human characters in the entire series.
  • After the scene blacks out, Milo is still calling for his mama.
• They Wasted a Perfectly Good Character: Dr. Hasslein's traits as an Anti-Villain in trying to save the human race should have been explored more much like his later fleshed-out counterpart Colonel McCullough, but is instead sold as a little characterized Big Bad to a point his portrayer Eric Braeden viewed his role as an Old Shame for being another caricature in his film and television filmography of playing The Heavy.
• The Woobie: Cornelius and Zira, even the former thought after being prosecuted by the humans that Zira was treated like dirt by their antagonists.

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