Geeks on Film: Rise of the Planet of the Apes [Review]

The more I think about Rise of the Planet of the Apes the more I am torn about it. Planet of the Apes is one of my favorite sci-fi film series of all times (above the Star Wars: Special Editions, but not the originals mind you) and while it has been almost 11 years since Tim Burton’s failed attempt to revive this franchise, I still wondering why Hollywood can’t just leave those damn dirty apes alone.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Rise of the Planet of the Apes is very smart reboot. It has some great references to the original films. It pays an outstanding homage while it takes a totally insane premise like apes taking over the earth and makes it almost plausible. The film is an origin that explains the accelerated evolution of the apes and the eventual uprising with a drug developed to treat Alzheimer’s that stimulates new brain cell growth.

This drug is of course tested on chimpanzees and after an accident all of the test apes are destroyed except one, a baby chimp later named Caesar (sound familiar?). He is saved from being put down and taken from the lab by Will (James Franco) the creator of the drug. Will then begins to raise Caesar in his home with his father (John Lithgow) who is in the final throes of Alzheimer’s himself. Of course things don’t go well with Caesar as he continues to evolve at an alarming rate till he starts his own ape up rising, but what did you really expect by naming him Caesar in the first place?

The main flaw in the film happens to be the CG apes, whose performances often times outshine the real actors. The facial expressions and performance capture of the apes were amazing and were even a step up from where even Avatar left the bar.

While it still can’t beat those man-in-suit films for me, I can honestly say this is a fitting Planet of the Apes film for a new generation. The film is very fitting revamp to a great franchise with some set-up for another film hidden in there as well. While I don’t agree with Hollywood’s mentality I can at least say they gave this film the respect it deserved as far as bringing it to a new generation who would probably consider those other films a little dated to say the least.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes gets 3.5 out of 5 stars.