Rise of the Planet of the Apes

The prequel to the cult classic Planet of the Apes franchise, and the slightly head-scratching subsequent remake by Tim Burton, sets up the story of just how apes took over the world. Apocalypse? Science gone bad? Darwinism? Call it what you will, but when the genetically enhanced apes escape, it is pure visual bliss.

A scientist named Will (James Franco) is conducting trials on a drug that repairs broken brain cell networks, which would essentially be a cure for Alzheimer's. The subject displays brilliant problem-solving skills and general development, but during a brief skirmish (don't they always happen while the investors are viewing a presentation?) the program is shut down. Fortunately for Will, there is a baby ape that the ape handlers didn't notice (you're fired), and he takes him home to raise him and study him.

He grows up, and yearns for a life of freedom and normalcy, and soon begins to realize that he is different, and that frustrates him. A violent incident leads to his incarceration, and that is the beginning of the uprising.

James Franco is a hit or miss actor, there is something just insincere about him. Don't get me wrong, he was brilliant in 127 hours, but he just seems a bit too casual with his acting. It doesn't matter though, because he is not the star of the film. Neither is the gorgeous Freida Pinto, or the veteran supporting players John Lithgow and Brian Cox. The star is Andy Serkis and the group at Weta Digital.

Serkis is an absolute stud. He has been acting for 20 years, mostly doing voice work and recently, motion capture special-effects driven vehicles. His highest profile work was as Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy (and the upcoming Hobbit films). He physically transforms himself into Caesar, the lead ape, and contorts his body and facial expressions perfectly to allow the visual whizzes at Weta to work their magic.

Weta is a studio out of New Zealand who most recently won Oscars for a little film called Avatar. Their work in Apes will win them more.

The plot of the film is fluff. Everyone knows the Charlton Heston original and the absurdity of the story. It simply doesn't matter however. This film is magic unfolding before your eyes, and it may as well be a documentary. The apes are so realistic, there are times that you just don't realize that it is movie magic. Of course, there are sequences that appear rushed and fake, but we're just not there yet technologically, and who knows what the financial decisions were on this film. Maybe they decided to skimp in places. Either way, the effects are absolutely mind-blowing.

The film is directed by relatively inexperienced Rupert Wyatt, who hit the jackpot with this gig. If you can just sit back and enjoy the beauty that unfolds in front of you, you're in for a treat.

Chimpanzees, Orangutans, Gorillas. They interact, and when their intelligence is accelerated, they work together to wreak havoc and get into shenanigans. The beauty of the film is that they really don't mean any harm to humans, they are just trying to get back to the wild, and be left alone. There could have been a dark turn if they were ripping off faces and killing anyone in their path, but the director and producers opted for a more conservative approach, which was the right move.

Apes on the loose. It's just pure fun. Definitely go see this film, and keep reminding yourself that the apes aren't real, and you will giggle in delight as they outsmart the humans. Plot and acting (besides Serkis), 5/10. With effects, an additional 3 points easy. Some of the best visuals I've ever seen. 8/10.