Tim Burton sued

Fr, 17.08.2001, Constantin Xenakis

Kevin Smith, best known as the director of «Dogma» and «Clerks» but also an author of cartoon strips, is preparing to launch a large scale attack on Tim Burton, director of «Planet of the Apes,» whom he accuses of plagiarism.

The already infamous final scene of «Planet of the Apes» continues to provoke angry responses from all quarters. As reported a couple of days ago, the film's denouement - original and disconcerting if nothing else - was revealed in advance by American internet journalist Matt Drudge, an action which earned him the angry condemnation of fellow net-hack Harrry Knowles(«Aint it Cool News») as well as of 20th Century Fox.

Kevin Smith, of «Dogma» and «Clerks» fame, is the next to step into the ring: in an interview for the New York Post, Smith accuses Burton of plagiarising him. As well as being a film maker, Smith is also a graphic artist, and he claims that the ending of «Planet of the Apes» is lifted directly from one of his cartoon strips, «Jay and Silent Bob.» Burton refutes the accusations, retorting that he never reads comic strips and certainly not Smith's.

But it emerges that the two men have crossed paths before: three years ago, in the midst of working on «Superman,» Burton turned down one of Smith's screenplays. Plagiarism, settling of scores or an innocent coincidence? It's hard to tell, but «Planet of the Apes» opens in Switzerland at the end of the month and Kevin Smith's website is at viewaskew.com. See the film, read Smith's assertions and decide for yourself whether his story holds up.