Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (2011):

Starring:

Andy Serkis - Caesar

James Franco - Will Rodman

Freida Pinto - Caroline

John Lithgow - Charles Rodman

Brian Cox - John Landon

Tom Felton - Dodge Landon

David Oyelowo - Steven Jacobs

Karin Konoval - Maurice

Terry Notary - Rocket / Bright Eyes

Tyler Labine - Robert Franklin

David Hewlett - Hunsiker

Director:

Rupert Wyatt (The Escapist)

Rotten Tomatoes: 83%

Flixster: 87%

Synopsis:

"Rise of the Apes", a completely new take on one of the Studio's most beloved and successful franchises. Oscar-winning visual effects house WETA Digital -- employing certain of the groundbreaking technologies developed for AVATAR -- will render, for the first time ever in the film series, photo-realistic apes rather than costumed actors. "Rise of the Apes" is an origin story in the truest sense of the term. Set in present day San Francisco, the film is a reality-based cautionary tale, a science fiction/science fact blend, where man's own experiments with genetic engineering lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy.

Review:

Only one word can describe this film. EPIC. If you are at all a fan of the work of Andy Serkis, then you know that this movie is loaded full of the most incredible, screen stealing & unhumanistic physical acting that you've come to expect from him. For those of you unfamiliar with whom he is, he is the man behind the legendary & timeless Gollum from the Lord Of The Rings Trilogy. His ability to capture the facial expressions that both characterize human beings & our closest living relatives chimpanzee's is remarkable. James Franco is a slightly toned down version of himself. Not quite the laid back stoner types that he's use to playing. There is a very slight hint of his usual self but it is completely covered up by his heart warming optimism that stems from a relationship & friendship that couldn't not & was not suppose to be. Frieda Pinto is a total babe in this one, using her natural beauty instead of the makeup laidened role she played in Immortals (which I didn't overly find her attractive in). John Lithgow. My absolute favourite actor. There is nothing that this man cannot do. His role has such depth because of the ever changing mental state of the father of Franco. It has some Lithgow laugh to it & also incredible range throughout. Brian Cox is very convincing as the man in charge of a Great Ape rescue with a menacing & underhanded secret. As a huge fan of the original films made from 1962-1973, & not so much a fan of the original reboot/remake starring Mark Wahlberg & directed by Tim Burton in 2001. I was not as excited as you would have thought to see them producing yet another reboot, especially at the time finding out that the star was to be James Franco, mostly due to the fact that his biggest roles were all comedic stoner roles. Even when the first trailers came out, I was still hesitant because I have been mislead & heartbroken before when seeing trailers for remakes of movies I love from my childhood. Upon seeing it however, all of my doubts & worries were shattered & I was brought to the world that I had always hoped a reboot would bring. The simple homages to the original & the origins & back story of a world you were brought to as a stranger are revealed & some questions I had wondered about from before had finally been answered. Great Acting. Great Story. Great Cinematography & John Lithgow. This Movie Was AWESOME! SEE THIS FILM!!

91%

Lead Acting: 14/15
Supporting Cast: 14/15
Plot: 8/10
Compared To The Genre: 9/10
Cinematography: 18/20
Intrigue: 18/20
Extra: 10/10