The first time I've watched this was likely on the SciFi channel sometime in the late 90s or early 2000s. I had heard of it, of course, even knew the ending through pop culture osmosis.
So watching it was one of those odd experiences of knowing all the edges of the culture jigsaw pieces but not the center.
Let's watch!
@socketwench - The Book is really different than the movie, and, if anything, echoes Escape from the Planet of the Apes.