RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES: 2011: SCI FI: ++: The sequel of this movie is coming out this Friday, and since I haven't reviewed this movie yet, and it's been playing non stop on TBS, I thought I would review it.
Although it was being shoved down my throat with ads and post movie "sneak previews", my interest was piqued after watching the respectable movie starring James Franco and John Lithgow, directed by Rupert Wyatt. It was after all, nominated by an Academy Award for visual effects and the movie was pretty well done.
Originally there was a novel by Pierre Boulle. Then there was a television series. Finally, the movies started in 1968 (there was a series of 5) by Franklin Shaffner so it had some pretty large shoes to fit, but it did so rather well. You can also argue that the movie was done well because it had "shoulders on which to stand on" as Darwin once said. I believe that the story was different enough to make it original, but this might have been one in one of the many iterations so it's hard to tell.
It is worth recognizing how well the new apes look in the Rise.
I was skeptical at first that James Franco plays the brilliant scientist who is developing a drug that should repair brain cells to prevent and cure Alzheimers (after all, he was in Pineapple Express stoned most of the time), but after watching his acting, it was rather neutral and didn't cause any jarring issues. He only looked stoned once.
James Franco only looked stoned once, and overall acted well.
There was actually a love interest that developed in the movie that worked well and gave the middle section of the movie some dramatic elements as Caesar grows older and starts to question his origin. Caesar, who Franco "Adopts", becomes the child-like ape who develops a high intelligence because his brain cells aren't damaged and just reproduce rapidly due to the drug 112 that is already in his blood stream. He later goes on to do bigger and better things, but I won't give them all away.
Caeser is the first ape to become truly intelligent and seeks out the drug to give to others.
Franco, who plays Dr Will Rodman, eventually has to have Caesar sent to a facility for apes and primates after there is an episode. This was actually one of the funnier sections of the movie because the neighbor keeps getting involved with Caesar and John Lithgow and his car is always on the receiving end.
How else can I go to the airport? This part was sad but funny in a way. It led to this...
Yes, Caesar ate his finger. Finger linking good? Sorry for the pun, I had to.
The plot moved well and I was somewhat upset when Caesar had to go to the facility, which demonstrates that this movie had some good character development and storyline. The facility looked very much like a jail and leads Caesar to rebel and figure out a way to escape, but first he has to get the other apes to be as smart as he is..
They did a good job at making the facility look like a jail. Perhaps they are like that.
Caesar felt betrayed by Will when he was incarcerated..
I won't give away much more of the movie because you should definitely watch this thought provoking, original take on the many iterations of this "Ape Rising" phenomenon and check out the sequel. I will be doing so and I have some high hopes for it.
Caesar has to be leader of course...
The plot pacing was steady, character development was excellent, the apes looked very realistic, and the build up to the sequel with the ending was provocative. It's one of those movie where you say to yourself that there is definitely a sequel coming out. Now you don't have to wait much longer. 84%
GET READY FOR THE SEQUEL!!
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