Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Origin story/prequel to the 1968 Planet of the Apes. Stars James Franco and Andy Serkis as Caesar the ape.
Franco stars as a genetic scientist who is working on a cure for Alzheimer's by experimenting on monkeys. But this medical research goes horribly wrong when the test subject Caesar (Andy Serkis who, like in Lord of the Rings as Gollum and in King Kong as Kong, gives the CGI primate his expressions and body movements) begins to mutate rapidly and develops a higher level of intelligence. This leads to the further development of intelligence in apes and an eventual battle between monkey and man in a war for planetary supremacy.
The ape special effect rendering is by Weta Digital in Wellington. There's no relation to Tim Burton's 2001 Planet of the Apes remake.
- Director:
- Rupert Wyatt ('The Escapist')
- Writer:
- Amanda SilverRick JaffaJamie Moss
- Cast:
- James FrancoAndy SerkisFreida PintoJohn Lithgow
Reviews & comments
Best sequel / prequel / reimagining of the year!
Ok, I admit I had low (and I mean LOW) expectations following Tim Burton's debacle - "reimagining" Rod Serling's classic 'Planet of the apes' as... er... well, sh*t. Boy did I enjoy being wrong! Great script, lovely references to Serling's original movie (although nobody's yet to actually make the original written version into a movie - ape flying...
Planet of the Apes - Prequel
Having watched the old POTA movies and the TV series, I wasn't too sure about the prequel. I like it better than the latest remake by Tim B. Good story line, nicely tied together how the apes got smart and the human race got wiped out and presumably got stupid. Keeps all the same characters in the story too. The actors were good too. Question in my mind...
Grabs you from start to finish.
As a world cinema afficionado, going to mainstream movies is often disappointing, but for once I was satisfied and entertained throughout. Exceptional special effects in every way, a plausible enough storyline, along with the emotional depth to draw me in and keep me there. Enjoyed John Lithgow's magic with a smallish part. I loved the cute references to...
Get your hands off me you dam dirty ape
I watch all these movies as a teenager and I loved them so I was very excited when I heard this was coming out. At the start I was thinking I was going to be disapointed as they made the chimps all cute and I thought they had ruined it by making it all cute but I see know that it was just setting the scene, by the middle I was into it, and was at the edge...
Entertaining...if you know the original movie....
3 stars for great special effects. I stayed interested for the whole movie, but mainly just because I wanted to keep watching the apes, which were really well done. The story could have been better scripted, but I guess there was a limitation in that it had to stay true to the original premise. So overall, not bad, but nothing to write home about. 3 stars.
Variety
pressThanks to stunning advances in performance capture technology, director Rupert Wyatt successfully ditches the cumbersome makeup appliances of past chapters, building the story around a cast of photoreal CG simians convincing enough to identify with as characters, rather than just special effects.
Total Film
pressWith simulated simians authentic enough to make Project Nim look almost phoney, allied to an involving, evolving story, Rise is the Planet we’ve been waiting for.
Roger Ebert
pressThe movie has its pleasures, although human intelligence is not one of them. Caesar, to begin with, is a wonderfully executed character, a product of special effects and a motion-capture performance by Andy Serkis, who earlier gave us Gollum in "Lord of the Rings."
Otago Daily Times
pressSmart, fun and thoroughly enjoyable, it's a diversion that entertains without insulting your intelligence.
Los Angeles Times
pressSmart, fun and thoroughly enjoyable, it's a model summer diversion that entertains without insulting your intelligence.
Hollywood Reporter
pressStrong action, special effects and by far the most credible ape "performances" yet seen will spell box office to inspire chest-thumping in all markets.
Empire Magazine
pressA worthy, exciting, emotional addition to the venerable monkey movie marathon. Apes will rise. Sequels are likely.
Dominion Post
pressBut after its commendably brief 105 minutes, I was impressed. The performances are committed, the special effects - especially Andy Serkis' work in the suit - are terrific, and the big money set-pieces are spectacular.
A.V. Club
pressWyatt brings a light touch to the potentially grim material - too light when it drops in some groan-inducing references to the original film - but he keeps the action compelling whether focusing on apes as they run amok or as they quietly contemplate their next move.
Variety
pressThanks to stunning advances in performance capture technology, director Rupert Wyatt successfully ditches the cumbersome makeup appliances of past chapters, building the story around a cast of photoreal CG simians convincing enough to identify with as characters, rather than just special effects.
Total Film
pressWith simulated simians authentic enough to make Project Nim look almost phoney, allied to an involving, evolving story, Rise is the Planet we’ve been waiting for.
Roger Ebert
pressThe movie has its pleasures, although human intelligence is not one of them. Caesar, to begin with, is a wonderfully executed character, a product of special effects and a motion-capture performance by Andy Serkis, who earlier gave us Gollum in "Lord of the Rings."
Otago Daily Times
pressSmart, fun and thoroughly enjoyable, it's a diversion that entertains without insulting your intelligence.
Los Angeles Times
pressSmart, fun and thoroughly enjoyable, it's a model summer diversion that entertains without insulting your intelligence.
Hollywood Reporter
pressStrong action, special effects and by far the most credible ape "performances" yet seen will spell box office to inspire chest-thumping in all markets.
Empire Magazine
pressA worthy, exciting, emotional addition to the venerable monkey movie marathon. Apes will rise. Sequels are likely.
Dominion Post
pressBut after its commendably brief 105 minutes, I was impressed. The performances are committed, the special effects - especially Andy Serkis' work in the suit - are terrific, and the big money set-pieces are spectacular.
A.V. Club
pressWyatt brings a light touch to the potentially grim material - too light when it drops in some groan-inducing references to the original film - but he keeps the action compelling whether focusing on apes as they run amok or as they quietly contemplate their next move.
Best sequel / prequel / reimagining of the year!
Ok, I admit I had low (and I mean LOW) expectations following Tim Burton's debacle - "reimagining" Rod Serling's classic 'Planet of the apes' as... er... well, sh*t. Boy did I enjoy being wrong! Great script, lovely references to Serling's original movie (although nobody's yet to actually make the original written version into a movie - ape...
Planet of the Apes - Prequel
Having watched the old POTA movies and the TV series, I wasn't too sure about the prequel. I like it better than the latest remake by Tim B. Good story line, nicely tied together how the apes got smart and the human race got wiped out and presumably got stupid. Keeps all the same characters in the story too. The actors were good too. Question in my...
Grabs you from start to finish.
As a world cinema afficionado, going to mainstream movies is often disappointing, but for once I was satisfied and entertained throughout. Exceptional special effects in every way, a plausible enough storyline, along with the emotional depth to draw me in and keep me there. Enjoyed John Lithgow's magic with a smallish part. I loved the cute references to...
Get your hands off me you dam dirty ape
I watch all these movies as a teenager and I loved them so I was very excited when I heard this was coming out. At the start I was thinking I was going to be disapointed as they made the chimps all cute and I thought they had ruined it by making it all cute but I see know that it was just setting the scene, by the middle I was into it, and was at the...
Entertaining...if you know the original movie....
3 stars for great special effects. I stayed interested for the whole movie, but mainly just because I wanted to keep watching the apes, which were really well done. The story could have been better scripted, but I guess there was a limitation in that it had to stay true to the original premise. So overall, not bad, but nothing to write home about. 3 stars.
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