Rise of the Poo Flingers
Just finished watching this amazing movie. This is the best movie that i saw this year. It wins my movie of the year Oscar ;)
1 Original film series
1.1 Planet of the Apes (1968) https://trakt.tv/movies/planet-of-the-apes-1968
1.2 Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) https://trakt.tv/movies/beneath-the-planet-of-the-apes-1970
1.3 Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) https://trakt.tv/movies/escape-from-the-planet-of-the-apes-1971
1.4 Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) https://trakt.tv/movies/conquest-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-1972
1.5 Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) https://trakt.tv/movies/battle-for-the-planet-of-the-apes-1973
2 Remake film
2.1 Planet of the Apes (2001) https://trakt.tv/movies/planet-of-the-apes-2001
3 Reboot film series
3.1 Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) https://trakt.tv/movies/rise-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-2011
3.2 Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) https://trakt.tv/movies/dawn-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-2014
3.3 War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) https://trakt.tv/movies/war-for-the-planet-of-the-apes-2017
Well, this is a rarity. Hollywood shuns originality these days. It settles for established brands. The goal is low-risk high-reward. That makes for smart business but generic moviemaking. I suppose odds are with the occasional oddity, and that's what "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" is.
I just finished watching all of the original "Planet of the Apes" series of movies. They are generally considered hit and miss in quality with the original "Planet..." being considered a classic, and it is. But...and I know this is sacrilegious, "Rise..." is a better movie than all of the original series' movies.
It's so well paced and the story, while definitely science fiction, seems plausible. James Franco is really good in this role. I didn't think he could pull off a scientist, but he does it well. He also pairs up nicely with John Lithgow, who plays his sick father.
The CGI apes are at times a wonder, primarily when interacting with humans. When they are together in packs or communicating without human interaction, the effects seem a little cartoony. Then again, the final showdown between the San Francisco Police and the rampaging apes is pretty amazing and is super entertaining. I especially liked watching the powerful gorilla, I think his name is "Buck". He steals the action sequences.
The ending is very satisfying and the cut scene in the final credits incorporates an actual continuation of the story and brings some clarity to how the apes managed to take over the Earth. This vaguely dovetails "Rise..." into the 1968 "Planet of the Apes" film, of which this is a prequel to.
You don't need to see any of the other "Planet of the Apes" films to understand "Rise of the Planet of the Apes". It stands entirely on its own and really surpasses the original series in story and quality.
This is an exceptional re-boot of a franchise. By reversing the premise and our empathies, we suddenly have a new (and arguably more compelling) take on the origin story. Coupled with ground-breaking CGI and excellent ape performances from the motion capture actors (most of whom are mute for the entire running time) it ramps up from a family drama to an epic showdown between man and beast. A modern classic in the sci-fi genre.
There are moments of greatness, like "No!", and that reveal when the horse rides out of the fog. And some great cinematography (those tracking shots). Unfortunately, not much else.
Also: Does James Franco always sound drunk, or just in this movie?
—
Edit: After seeing the 1968 original, I think I was too harsh on this. This preboot (prequel-reboot) includes a lot of parallels to the original which make it more interesting and powerful than I initially thought.
I'd definitely recommend starting with the original if you have the chance.
Wow! What an amazing experience. I'm glad I didn't watch these early now I can binge this weekend and also wait just 2 more years for part 4.
An excellent start to reboot the Planet of the Apes movies after the Tim Burton film was a disappointment.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes was enjoyable. The acting was passable but the visual effects were amazing. Caesar da man. Pretty much anything involving the apes themselves were the best parts of the movie. The action scenes were really well-directed and while the plot itself wasn't exactly complicated, it still kept me engaged. I'm looking forward to watching the sequel(s).
https://trakt.tv/comments/459094 states the order of the films:
Original film series
- Planet of the Apes (1968) https://trakt.tv/movies/planet-of-the-apes-1968
- Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) https://trakt.tv/movies/beneath-the-planet-of-the-apes-1970
- Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) https://trakt.tv/movies/escape-from-the-planet-of-the-apes-1971
- Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) https://trakt.tv/movies/conquest-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-1972
- Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) https://trakt.tv/movies/battle-for-the-planet-of-the-apes-1973
Remake film
- Planet of the Apes (2001) https://trakt.tv/movies/planet-of-the-apes-2001
Reboot film series
- Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) https://trakt.tv/movies/rise-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-2011
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) https://trakt.tv/movies/dawn-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-2014
- War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) https://trakt.tv/movies/war-for-the-planet-of-the-apes-2017
There's a Robot Chicken sketch, of all things, that always made me chuckle. It recreates an episode of Law & Order using anthropomorphized chickens who only speak in clucks and bawks. The joke is that the rhythms of L&O are so standardized at this point, that you can essentially have characters talking nonsense and still get the point across as long as you keep it in that form. But it also stands for another interesting proposition -- that things like body language, tone, and how someone behaves in a particular situation or environment can establish a character and tell a story even without the venerable words that those pesky writers are always talking about.
That's Rise of the Planet of the Apes's (heretofore to be abbreviated RotPotA both for convenience and because it sounds like a dish at T.G.I.Friday's) greatest achievement. Though he speaks only four words in the entire film (three of which coming at the very end), he is a character the we see grow, change, react, suffer, lead, and love. Boatloads of credit should go to Andy Serkis and the team of animators, special effects crew, and motion capture specialists who brought this amazing being to life on the silver screen.
Handicapped without the ability to use dialogue with Caesar, the film has to rely on Serkis's expressions and the character's actions. When we witness him pouncing on a neighbor who hassles a dementia-added loved one, and then see the horror and fear on everyone's faces, it's frightening and complex and sad. Caesar is still ape enough to instinctively attack an aggressor and use his considerable skills to do harm, but he's human enough to feel things like love for his erstwhile grandfather, to have the desire to protect the people he cares about, and to feel shame and self-doubt and anger when outsiders see him as a freak.
The first half of the film soars by leaning into this. Despite the fact that James Franco (who is perfectly solid as the scientist who raises Caesar) receives top billing, this is a story about a very special creature having an existential crisis, trying to figure out who and what he is, and where he fits into this world. It's hard to make a story where a character assaults innocent people and mounts an attack on a major city sympathetic, but Rise pulls it off.
It does so by creating an incredible juxtaposition, between an ape who is slowly developing the mind of a human, and an elderly man who is slowly losing his. Caesar is, effectively, a teenager -- rebelling against his father, trying to figure out what he's meant to do, and slowly but surely understanding the wider world and his peculiar place in it. At the same time, Charles Rodman (the stellar-as-always John Lithgow) is fading away, meaning well and finding himself not adept at being the man he used to be. They're two sides to the same coin, and Charles's journey in the film adds shading and depth to Caesar's.
Unfortunately, the second half of the film takes a decidedly different turn, and Rise never really recovers. Instead of the loving human father, the avuncular Alzheimer's patient, the affectionate-but-concerned zoologist, the film surrounds Caesar with a prick of a handler, a corrupt zookeeper-type, and a slimy corporate shill who only cares about money. Gone are the interesting characters who have complicated, deep relationships with the protagonist, meant to be replaced by one-note, trite antagonists.
Some of that is obviously necessary. As interested as someone like me would be in ninety minutes of meditation on how a sentient ape would adjust to having the intellect to understand the world but a taxonomy that means he'll never be a full member of it, the folks behind the film need more conflict than that, and in service of the larger Planet of the Apes mythos, need to motivate Caesar's turn. Director Rupert Wyatt has to give Caesar a reason to turn his back on humanity--despite the humans who raised him--and lead the ape revolution that will one day consume the whole planet.
To that end, the film does well to both explain Caesar's change of heart and fit in some nice world-building at the margins. Though Caesar has his doubt and moments of unhappiness and questioning, like everyone who grows up does, he is a happy member of society (more or less) when he is with people who treat him as an equal, and as a person. But when thrown into captivity, for reasons he does not fully understand, and treated like, well, an animal, he grows resentful. But he's also smart. Having been isolated from his fellow chimpanzees, he gradually assimilates with them, makes friends with them, teaches them, and earns his place as their leader.
But at the same time, the film subtly lays the groundwork for the world we find in Planet of the Apes. A treatment for Alzheimer's that focuses on neural regeneration and requires testing on apes before it can be approved for use on humans is a surprisingly plausible explanation for how intelligent apes could come about, or at least passes the smell test for a science fiction film. There's subtle mention of astronauts lost in space as a nice nod to the series's original, and the next mutation of the Alzheimer's treatment accelerating the more resilient apes' intelligence while having deleterious, impliedly pandemic effects on humans helps explain the change in command, so to speak. What's more, Rise does well in its nods to its predecessor, from a nice--if-clumsy use of the "damned dirty apes" line to a policeman netting one of the apes in a reverse of the original's most iconic scenes.
But then, the film devolves into the usual disaster movie spectacle, with an army of simians launching themselves across the Golden Gate bridge to a symphony of toothless destruction. It's a nice enough set piece, with a few twists here and there to keep things interesting, and well-animated apes bounding hither and yon. It just quickly becomes apparent that as Caesar takes revenge on the various bad guys in the film, and then commands his ape army to get into a blockbuster battle with the police (and a conveniently present corporate executive), the philosophical bent of the first half of the film has been abandoned for the usual pre-viz spectacle.
It's a shame, because the film brings Caesar to life in such an amazing fashion, and tells an incredible story about how slowly learns more about where he came from, what makes him different, and how he decides to better his people rather than stand with ones who capture and kill them, despite his upbringing. It's powerful, complex material that touches on important ideas about what it means to be sentient and how we treat those who are different from us, be they human, simian or otherwise. It's just too bad that it gets lost in a sea of action movie cliches and stock characters. But Caesar, the Moses of this tale of a man raised by one people and born to lead another, is anything but stock, and his presence and journey alone is worth the price of admission.
After having read all the positive reviews about "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" and watching the first half of the movie I thought to my self "Wow, this really IS the best SciFi movies I have seen in a long time". Unfortunately, the second half did not live up to my expectations and lacks in several aspects: there are just too much coincidents (e.g. Cesar meets another Ape who knows sign language nearly perfectly in the compound, when the apes from the compound escape to the Red Woods the Golden Gate Bridge just happens to be shrouded heavily in mist although only minutes earlier and later there is just a little bit of cloud visible) that make the whole plot implausible for me.
None the less, this is a good movie, it is just not a great one!
Rated a Connor 10, normal 8
A very strong start to a new series of films, it understands that the Apes franchise is buoyed by spectacle, not carried by it. It is spectacle in the service of character and thought. Caesar and Serkis’ performance is the standout, of course. Even if you can see a bit of the seams now, the effects still hold up and more importantly, Serkis conveys Caesar’s growth expertly, communicating much through eyes and body language. Lithgow is terrific as always, stealing your heart with his screentime and serving as ample motivation for Will and the audience both. Oyelowo and Felton are both having a blast as scumbags.
Where the characters falter are Will and Caroline. Pinto’s performance is fine, but Caroline just stops mattering as a character at a certain point. Maybe that’s for the best- her last real scene of substance is a hamfisted and shoddily execution of the themes of human hubris that comes off like she’s implying some things just can’t and shouldn’t be changed, like. Alzheimer’s. The cure part was never the issue. And Franco has baggage now, but even setting that aside he just never feels bought in. He’s only slightly more distinct as a leading man than Wahlberg. He doesn’t sell the emotion whether with his father or Caesar, always feeling a step removed.
That said, this continues the Apes staple of being a thoughtful blockbuster. There’s only one big action scene, and because they take their time and build to that climax it’s all the more exciting and meaningful. That time is spent on Caesar’s journey and humanity’s greed and ambition. There’s not as much room for rumination on human- or should I say humane- nature with so much time devoted to Caesar’s and the apes’ rise as pretty unambiguous righteous figures, but what’s there works as the groundwork for the sequels to take off with when humans are decimated and the apes must reckon with what comes after revolution. It lacks a Taylor, or Zira and Cornelius, or MacDonald, or, well, original Caesar to turn a disgusted or disappointed eye on human and/or ape foibles, but that’s because this Caesar just isn’t there yet. He needed to be set up and developed into that spot. Now it’s up to the sequels to run with this strong foundation.
Second time to watch this but it was basically like watching it for the first time, as I really remembered nothing except "NO!!!!"...and vaguely recalling how it ended. I found it very entertaining, filled with drama and action enough to satisfy both genres and keep me drawn in. You, of course, almost immediately begin to sympathize with the apes due to their harsh treatment by the humans and with the CGI effects now coming into play (as opposed to the old rubber masks and makeup) they can really draw you into the story. "Caesar" was absolutely amazing and even though James Franco was the leading actor, John Lithgow essentially stole the spotlight...as he usually does, due to his incredible on-screen ability. It's a tiny bit dated, even with CGI effects (there were numerous scenes were "Caesar" looked/moved more like a computer animation than an actual ape) and there were some scenes that seriously had me scratching my head wondering how/why they tried to pass that off. (For instance, the scene where the apes were leaping to the pavement from windows that were obviously several stories above ground, yet without consequence. You would think if a jump from that height would severely injure/break a human ankle or leg, it would have a similar effect on apes. But nooooooooooooooo... you would be wrong in this case.) All that aside...I mean, come on...it's no more outlandish than an unstoppable serial machete-wielding murderer in a hockey mask who keeps coming back from one gruesome death after another, right?...all that aside, it really was a nice change-of-pace movie with a lot of drama and a considerable amount of action on the part of humans AND simians. Definitely worth watching, and I look forward to the upcoming releases as (hopefully) the CGI and storylines will only get better.
Second time to watch this but it was basically like watching it for the first time, as I really remembered nothing except "NO!!!!"...and vaguely recalling how it ended. I found it very entertaining, filled with drama and action enough to satisfy both genres and keep me drawn in. You, of course, almost immediately begin to sympathize with the apes due to their harsh treatment by the humans and with the CGI effects now coming into play (as opposed to the old rubber masks and makeup) they can really draw you into the story. "Caesar" was absolutely amazing and even though James Franco was the leading actor, John Lithgow essentially stole the spotlight...as he usually does, due to his incredible on-screen ability. It's a tiny bit dated, even with CGI effects (there were numerous scenes were "Caesar" looked/moved more like a computer animation than an actual ape) and there were some scenes that seriously had me scratching my head wondering how/why they tried to pass that off. (For instance, the scene where the apes were leaping to the pavement from windows that were obviously several stories above ground, yet without consequence. You would think if a jump from that height would severely injure/break a human ankle or leg, it would have a similar effect on apes. But nooooooooooooooo... you would be wrong in this case.) All that aside...I mean, come on...it's no more outlandish than an unstoppable serial machete-wielding murderer in a hockey mask who keeps coming back from one gruesome death after another, right?...all that aside, it really was a nice change-of-pace movie with a lot of drama and a considerable amount of action on the part of humans AND simians. Definitely worth watching, and I look forward to the upcoming releases as (hopefully) the CGI and storylines will only get better.
Second time to watch this but it was basically like watching it for the first time, as I really remembered nothing except "NO!!!!"...and vaguely recalling how it ended. I found it very entertaining, filled with drama and action enough to satisfy both genres and keep me drawn in. You, of course, almost immediately begin to sympathize with the apes due to their harsh treatment by the humans and with the CGI effects now coming into play (as opposed to the old rubber masks and makeup) they can really draw you into the story. "Caesar" was absolutely amazing and even though James Franco was the leading actor, John Lithgow essentially stole the spotlight...as he usually does, due to his incredible on-screen ability. It's a tiny bit dated, even with CGI effects (there were numerous scenes were "Caesar" looked/moved more like a computer animation than an actual ape) and there were some scenes that seriously had me scratching my head wondering how/why they tried to pass that off. (For instance, the scene where the apes were leaping to the pavement from windows that were obviously several stories above ground, yet without consequence. You would think if a jump from that height would severely injure/break a human ankle or leg, it would have a similar effect on apes. But nooooooooooooooo... you would be wrong in this case.) All that aside...I mean, come on...it's no more outlandish than an unstoppable serial machete-wielding murderer in a hockey mask who keeps coming back from one gruesome death after another, right?...all that aside, it really was a nice change-of-pace movie with a lot of drama and a considerable amount of action on the part of humans AND simians. Definitely worth watching, and I look forward to the upcoming releases as (hopefully) the CGI and storylines will only get better.
Second time to watch this but it was basically like watching it for the first time, as I really remembered nothing except "NO!!!!"...and vaguely recalling how it ended. I found it very entertaining, filled with drama and action enough to satisfy both genres and keep me drawn in. You, of course, almost immediately begin to sympathize with the apes due to their harsh treatment by the humans and with the CGI effects now coming into play (as opposed to the old rubber masks and makeup) they can really draw you into the story. "Caesar" was absolutely amazing and even though James Franco was the leading actor, John Lithgow essentially stole the spotlight...as he ustg ;lfgm;slfdkg;l asekrga gar
Second time to watch this but it was basically like watching it for the first time, as I really remembered nothing except "NO!!!!"...and vaguely recalling how it ended. I found it very entertaining, filled with drama and action enough to satisfy both genres and keep me drawn in. You, of course, almost immediately begin to sympathize with the apes due to their harsh treatment by the humans and with the CGI effects now coming into play (as opposed to the old rubber masks and makeup) they can really draw you into the story. "Caesar" was absolutely amazing and even though James Franco was the leading actor, John Lithgow essentially stole the spotlight...as he usually does, due to his incredible on-screen ability. It's a tiny bit dated, even with CGI effects (there were numerous scenes were "Caesar" looked/moved more like a computer animation than an actual ape) and there were some scenes that seriously had me scratching my head wondering how/why they tried to pass that off. (For instance, the scene where the apes were leaping to the pavement from windows that were obviously several stories above ground, yet without consequence. You would think if a jump from that height would severely injure/break a human ankle or leg, it would have a similar effect on apes. But nooooooooooooooo... you would be wrong in this case.) All that aside...I mean, come on...it's no more outlandish than an unstoppable serial machete-wielding murderer in a hockey mask who keeps coming back from one gruesome death after another, right?...all that aside, it really was a nice change-of-pace movie with a lot of drama and a considerable amount of action on the part of humans AND simians. Definitely worth watching, and I look forward to the upcoming releases as (hopefully) the CGI and storylines will only get better.
Second time to watch this but it was basically like watching it for the first time, as I really remembered nothing except "NO!!!!"...and vaguely recalling how it ended. I found it very entertaining, filled with drama and action enough to satisfy both genres and keep me drawn in. You, of course, almost immediately begin to sympathize with the apes due to their harsh treatment by the humans and with the CGI effects now coming into play (as opposed to the old rubber masks and makeup) they can really draw you into the story. "Caesar" was absolutely amazing and even though James Franco was the leading actor, John Lithgow essentially stole the spotlight...as he usually does, due to his incredible on-screen ability. It's a tiny bit dated, even with CGI effects (there were numerous scenes were "Caesar" looked/moved more like a computer animation than an actual ape) and there were some scenes that seriously had me scratching my head wondering how/why they tried to pass that off. (For instance, the scene where the apes were leaping to the pavement from windows that were obviously several stories above ground, yet without consequence. You would think if a jump from that height would severely injure/break a human ankle or leg, it would have a similar effect on apes. But nooooooooooooooo... you would be wrong in this case.) All that aside...I mean, come on...it's no more outlandish than an unstoppable serial machete-wielding murderer in a hockey mask who keeps coming back from one gruesome death after another, right?...all that aside, it really was a nice change-of-pace movie with a lot of drama and a considerable amount of action on the part of humans AND simians. Definitely worth watching, and I look forward to the upcoming releases as (hopefully) the CGI and storylines will only get better.
Second time to watch this but it was basically like watching it for the first time, as I really remembered nothing except "NO!!!!"...and vaguely recalling how it ended. I found it very entertaining, filled with drama and action enough to satisfy both genres and keep me drawn in. You, of course, almost immediately begin to sympathize with the apes due to their harsh treatment by the humans and with the CGI effects now coming into play (as opposed to the old rubber masks and makeup) they can really draw you into the story. "Caesar" was absolutely amazing and even though James Franco was the leading actor, John Lithgow essentially stole the spotlight...as he usually does, due to his incredible on-screen ability. It's a tiny bit dated, even with CGI effects (there were numerous scenes were "Caesar" looked/moved more like a computer animation than an actual ape) and there were some scenes that seriously had me scratching my head wondering how/why they tried to pass that off. (For instance, the scene where the apes were leaping to the pavement from windows that were obviously several stories above ground, yet without consequence. You would think if a jump from that height would severely injure/break a human ankle or leg, it would have a similar effect on apes. But nooooooooooooooo... you would be wrong in this case.) All that aside...I mean, come on...it's no more outlandish than an unstoppable serial machete-wielding murderer in a hockey mask who keeps coming back from one gruesome death after another, right?...all that aside, it really was a nice change-of-pace movie with a lot of drama and a considerable amount of action on the part of humans AND simians. Definitely worth watching, and I look forward to the upcoming releases as (hopefully) the CGI and storylines will only get better.
Second time to watch this but it was basically like watching it for the first time, as I really remembered nothing except "NO!!!!"...and vaguely recalling how it ended. I found it very entertaining, filled with drama and action enough to satisfy both genres and keep me drawn in. You, of course, almost immediately begin to sympathize with the apes due to their harsh treatment by the humans and with the CGI effects now coming into play (as opposed to the old rubber masks and makeup) they can really draw you into the story. "Caesar" was absolutely amazing and even though James Franco was the leading actor, John Lithgow essentially stole the spotlight...as he usually does, due to his incredible on-screen ability. It's a tiny bit dated, even with CGI effects (there were numerous scenes were "Caesar" looked/moved more like a computer animation than an actual ape) and there were some scenes that seriously had me scratching my head wondering how/why they tried to pass that off. (For instance, the scene where the apes were leaping to the pavement from windows that were obviously several stories above ground, yet without consequence. You would think if a jump from that height would severely injure/break a human ankle or leg, it would have a similar effect on apes. But nooooooooooooooo... you would be wrong in this case.) All that aside...I mean, come on...it's no more outlandish than an unstoppable serial machete-wielding murderer in a hockey mask who keeps coming back from one gruesome death after another, right?...all that aside, it really was a nice change-of-pace movie with a lot of drama and a considerable amount of action on the part of humans AND simians. Definitely worth watching, and I look forward to the upcoming releases as (hopefully) the CGI and storylines will only get better.
Second time to watch this but it was basically like watching it for the first time, as I really remembered nothing except "NO!!!!"...and vaguely recalling how it ended. I found it very entertaining, filled with drama and action enough to satisfy both genres and keep me drawn in. You, of course, almost immediately begin to sympathize with the apes due to their harsh treatment by the humans and with the CGI effects now coming into play (as opposed to the old rubber masks and makeup) they can really draw you into the story. "Caesar" was absolutely amazing and even though James Franco was the leading actor, John Lithgow essentially stole the spotlight...as he usually does, due to his incredible on-screen ability. It's a tiny bit dated, even with CGI effects (there were numerous scenes were "Caesar" looked/moved more like a computer animation than an actual ape) and there were some scenes that seriously had me scratching my head wondering how/why they tried to pass that off. (For instance, the scene where the apes were leaping to the pavement from windows that were obviously several stories above ground, yet without consequence. You would think if a jump from that height would severely injure/break a human ankle or leg, it would have a similar effect on apes. But nooooooooooooooo... you would be wrong in this case.) All that aside...I mean, come on...it's no more outlandish than an unstoppable serial machete-wielding murderer in a hockey mask who keeps coming back from one gruesome death after another, right?...all that aside, it really was a nice change-of-pace movie with a lot of drama and a considerable amount of action on the part of humans AND simians. Definitely worth watching, and I look forward to the upcoming releases as (hopefully) the CGI and storylines will only get better.
I love this movie, the apes looks so cool.
"NOOOO!"
The 1968 original is hard to beat in many aspects (a technical masterpiece, stylish, rich thought-provoking themes, complex characters...) but this one's just better for me. As a reboot Rise of the Planet of the Apes feels familiar but also fresh—that's how you do a proper reboot! It might not be as technically adequate or stylish as the original but the themes are thought-provoking and the characters are certainly interesting.
Caesar makes this movie great, the journey and growth he goes through are so captivating. Basically a character study on a CGI ape that's somehow capable of making me cry. In the span of one movie, Caesar gets more character development than both Kong and Godzilla in their whole universe.
The theme of fatherhood/parenthood is strong here, from Will with his father Charles, to Caesar with Will, to even Caesar being a strong figure to the other apes. The Alzheimer storyline with Charles was a nice touching addition. Tom Felton was perfectly cast here, he was hateable all the way.
The CGI isn't perfect, there's scenes once in a while that aren't as fluid as the rest but it absolutely does the job overall. Great third act with epic action and memorable set pieces (I remembered them after all those years). Very cheap how they conveniently added some gorillas and orangatangs in the third act, they just pop out of nowhere.
This is my very first time watching this. I knew nothing about it and DAMN! I'm so hyped to watch the sequels now. It's just mesmerizing in every aspect.
I love the pace of this movie, character development feels so natural and amazing. it was so emotional at times and yet a great action movie, and a great sci-fi too!
Kept me entertained from start to finish and also intrigued me about how it'd end (even though I knew it somehow).
Loved it way more than I expected.
"I love chimpanzees. I'm also afraid of them. And it's appropriate to be afraid of them."
Wow, where to even begin. I remember thinking this was going to be a dumb reboot and I was happy to be wrong. They actually put thought into this and had me worried this could actually happen one day. While it is the beginning to the end of us all, I found myself rooting for the apes, and that says something. Kudos to Andy Serkis and James Franco for their performances.
Don’t think I prefer this one to the original Planet of the Apes but it is a very good remake that sets the tone for one of the best modern day trilogies imo. I think Matt Reaves takes the rest of the movies to the next level but it all starts here and it all starts with getting us to attach to Caeser and the idea of these intelligent apes and I think Rupert Wyatt did a great job of that. The next movies possibly don’t land as well as they do without this great introduction piece which is the great thing about this trilogy the all build off each other so well and u never stop caring about these apes.
Monkeys screaming right off the bat gave me a headache and scrambling for the remote. Franco as a scientist had me shutting it off.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes is an extraordinary sci-fi adventure that delivers one of the best films of the Apes series. This reboot follows a super-intelligent chimpanzee named Caesar who leads a revolt when he’s awakened to the abuses that apes are suffering at an animal sanctuary that he’s take to. James Franco, John Lithgow, and Brian Cox lead the cast, but it’s Andy Serkis's motion capture performance as Caesar that makes the film. Serkis gives such a compelling performance that it’s quickly forgotten that it’s a CGI ape on the screen. In fact, all of the CGI apes seem especial real (except for in a few scenes), which makes it easy to connect with them and see them as real characters. Additionally, the film is remarkably well-written, and is able to make a number of callbacks to the original series while also laying the groundwork for future sequels. Planet of the Apes is one of the greatest science-fiction series of cinema, and Rise is a worthy entry into the franchise.
The worst thing about this movie and the trilogy as a whole is they go the names backwards on the first two movies. Otherwise this is a great reboot and start to a fantastic trilogy.
A very smart, sensible way to reboot the franchise, enriching the legacy left by the originals while paving the way for fresher material. It does struggle through a few minor glitches - some terribly forced one-liners and a stereotypical redneck jailer spring to mind - but at heart it's a bright, challenging effort that takes its time, delivers a few powerful moments of revelation, and doesn't look or act like your typical CGI-driven action dump.
James Franco has shown more versatility in previous leading roles, but his character in Apes is intended to be about as straightforward and vanilla as it gets, so that's precisely what he delivers. The real focus is on the simians themselves, anyway, with whom the picture treads lightly amidst some very tricky material. It often toes the line between excess and believability, but never gives in fully to temptation and emerges as a far better film for exercising such caution. An intriguing take on material that everyone already assumed they understood, it opens the door wide to further investigation.
I am not a huge fan of remakes or reboots in particular but this one is really good.
I loved the original, still do. This new version stays true to the spirit of the original and there are some subtle things hinted that could make this, in fact, the prequel. The character journey of Ceasar is brilliantly brought to life not only by technology but more so by Serkis' amazing performance.
In expectation of seeing the WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES, I'm refreshing my memory of the new franchise, beginning with this one (to be followed by the DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES). I am giving this first installment a 7 (good) out of 10. Fantastic special effects, fully realized CGI characters (thanks to the brilliance of Andy Sirkis and stellar CGI rendering). I found the unfolding of the story a little slow, and, as we know what is to come from familiarity with previous incarnations of the story, I think this instalment could have benefitted from more depth of characters and more dynamic in their relationships. The casting was good, but if the characterization had been less stereotypical (good guys - very good, bad guys - very bad) and more nuanced, I believe the movie could have been memorable. Andy Serkis and John Lithgow were brilliant, but the rest of the characters felt a little flat and the relationships were not compelling.
The most emotional Planet of the Apes film.
Serious lack of pace in the beginning, but picks up in the last third of the movie. You need it if you want the whole story, but don't bother with it if you're not going to watch the sequel(s)...
Giving it a re-watch in advance of finally checking out the sequel.
I really enjoyed it! I can't Believe I didn't watch this movie Until now! to be honest I feel gulity, Its pretty amazing, the drama and the thriller in the movie, and the best thing about it its not real SCI FI! All those science experiment could be real! can't wait to watch the Dawn of the planet of the Apes.
This movie's scenes range from slightly stupid to fairly good. It's a pretty average film all in all
The best , great story
Cinema Paco 1. 4.25 Sound and / 5. I liked it more than I expected, story well told and well run. That "Draco Malfoy" making bastard again, and Tracy Spiridakos pre-revolution
Wisely ignoring the previous sequels, the film instead builds on the mythology of the original classic and provides a platform for future films, largely owing to the compelling character that they have managed to create in Caesar. Andy Serkis has clearly become the go-to guy for motion capture and he has yet again created a wonderful character that leaves it digital origins behind and becomes something an audience can invest in. Importantly, the film shows tremendous patience, eschewing large scale ape action until the finale in favour of developing its characters, especially Caesar, and more specifically showing how he becomes a leader. Given that the ultimate fate of these characters are known in a general sense, the filmmakers have rightly recognised that for these films to work, the audience has to be invested in the characters, especially the ape ones. With some clever nods to the original, including a beautifully played twist on a famous moment that underlines Caesar's transformation in the film, this is a satisfying entry into the Apes series that leaves a lot of potential for future sequels.
Best movie of the year hands down! Maybe best in the past 5 years honestly. This was an AMAZING reboot of the sequel. I clicked this thinking it was the newer movie released in 2014 (which wasn't anywhere close to as good as this one imho) but this movie rocked my socks and made me wanna watch every planet of the apes movies again...which I did..lol
This film is so much better than I remembered. Damn I am so pumped for the sequel.
As a species, humans are shit. How a virus that destroys everything. But emotionally, I loved this movie.
I decided to rewatch this since Dawn of the Planet of the Apes will be released this thursday and I've been seeing a lot of great reviews all around.
I went to see Rise of the Planet of the Apes at theater at the time of its release and I remember that overall I was not very impressed. After this second viewing I continue to think that it is an average entertaining flick. No doubt it has a decent story, it's thought provoking and it has a great emotional side, though, it does not show nothing new. Despite the amount of fun it is predictable.
I remember being amazed by the CGI quality and the motion capture performance by Andy Serkis that is definitely great but know, and maybe because the first time I saw it at the big screen, some scenes look so strange and when there's more action and movement the apes look very unreal.
I hope to enjoy Dawn of the Planet of the Apes more than its predecessor. Some say that it is the best blockbuster of the summer so far, but I really have no expectations whatsoever.
Really enjoyed this film, but thought James Franco was terribly miscast.
Looking forward to Dawn of the Planet of the Apes(2014). It's directed by Matt Reeves who directed Cloverfield which I just rewatched and really like. It's written by Mark Bomback who wrote Unstoppable (Tony Scotts last film), Total Recall(2012) and the upcoming The Wolverine.
Check out this incredible CGI of an ape:
https://vimeo.com/66718283
Looks stunningly real!
Compared to the first genaration of special effects (e.g. King Kong 1933) - it's a pretty amazing time we live in :)
I have not seen any of the old movies.
But after seeing this one, i'm definitely going to.
Awesome movie!
Awesome storytelling up to the point of their escape. From that, it's just pointless weak American sauce dripping off the first 70 minutes or so.
Great combination of special effects and emotional storytelling that makes you appreciate the revolution of the apes against humans. As a prequel to the original it is completely believable and has the same spirit to it. Hopefully they continue with the series, as there is so much potential for a modern retelling.
Viva la evolucion!
I was expecting this to be pretty mediocre... Man was I wrong. I loved it! The CGI was a bit obvious at points, but in general, the movie was really good.
Definitely worth the watch. As others here, I didn't expect it to be so good. It's amazing that you actually start rooting for Ceasar and his apes and that you can understand why he starts the revolt. Loved it!
To say I loved it is an understatement. Finally, Hollywood manages to make an amazing reboot. Holy shit. My new favourite film. I'm totally gushing. Loved everything about it. I am a massive fan of the originals and this was clearly made by people that love them too. From the references to the original, to the thoughtful and intelligent storytelling, to the subtle hints about what comes next that only fans of the original would spot... It's just perfect. LOVED IT.
For me,too.Much better than expected.Manages to stir many feelings and thoughts.I don't like Franco though.
Great movie! The computeranimation is just incredible. This movie does not bore one second!
I did not expect this movie to be as good as it was, a pleasant surprise, and if you're lucky you can still catch it at your local second run theatre.
I totally agree with you guys (comments below).
This movie is surprisingly terrific!
I should've gone to the cinema.
Strongly recommend this one ;)
WoW... wasn't expecting to LOVE this movie.. loved the subtle hints about the sequel...
Yea was actually rather good, I was never a huge fan of the originals, but this I liked.
This movie was alot better than I expected.
Shout by dunpealhunterVIP OG 14BlockedParent2011-11-10T01:01:38Z
Great movie. Andy Serkis played his role as Ceasar perfectly.
The computer animated apes look really amazing! I forgot a few times that they were computer animated, they looked so real. But according to a few sources no real apes where used in the movie because Rupert Wyatt (the director) wanted to show humanity's mistreatment and abuse of captive apes. Apes are the heroes of this movie, and humans are the villains. And Rupert Wyatt said he couldn't imagine a worse way of undercutting that message than by using real apes in the movie's production.