Rise of the Planet of the Apes
With the sequel Dawn of the Planet of the Apes in theatres now, I thought I would post a quick review of it’s predecessor for those interested in the franchise.
First of all, this movie was quite a surprise for me as I really was not expecting much(especially after the lackluster 2001 Tim Burton version.) The story in Rise is about a scientist(James Franco) who finds a chemical which improves and cures brain disorders(like Alzheimers disease, etc…). Not only that, but the chemical also rapidly develops intelligence.
Caesar (Adam Serkis) is the main character in the movie and his progression is shown from a baby chimp to an adult.
The storyline is gripping and the special effects are extraordinary and definitely worth the Oscar nomination received.
You literally feel all of the emotions that Caesar feels throughout his travels and travails and it is a very fulfilling journey.
It is a story of right and wrong, good vs evil, and enslavement vs freedom, etc… and will definitely tug at your heartstrings in places and fill you with anger in others.
You would think that the amazing CGI special effects would overpower this movie, but everything is blended in so well that it feels natural.(Almost an unbelievable feat considering the apes are all CGI!!)
This was one of my favorite films of 2011 and I give it a solid 9 out of 10 stars.
