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I went to see "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," just the other day.
This is a prequel to the sci-fi movie from the '70s about a world ruled by apes. Don’t worry if you’re not too familiar with the story, I’m not and it doesn’t change the fact that “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” made a monkey lover out of me!
First, the good news.
The movie rose-no-rises beyond my expectations.
This is all and I do mean all thanks to what CG can do nowadays to bring fake animals to life.
No more guys squeezed into monkey suits here folks.
The special effects people here deserve alot of credit. When I say the animals the show I really mean it. Yes the apes are really life like looking; it’s nothing short of amazing!
The detail on their faces is unbelievable, making every ape look different and unique.
The main ape named Caesar is played by Andy Serkis using WETA motion-capture technology that is technical and way over my head. But who cares, all I really need to know is that turns the Serkis (who was Gollum in the “Lord of the Rings” movies) into the most convincing movie primate I have ever seen. I’m totally gushing here.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
The premise of of the movie goes something like this.
The story starts with some big corporate lab drug called ALZ-112, a brain improving serum thingy invented by Will Rodman (played James Franco) as a cure for Alzheimer's.
And guess what? The stuff really works! Will tries it out on his own father (played by John Lithgow) who coincidentally is suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. On the plus side, it also makes the lab chimps super smart.It all sounds good doesn’t it?
When one of the apes that Will was experimenting on goes crazy, it shuts down the project. Will takes home a baby chimp born in the lab. He names him Caesar and raises him like a son. Will’s dad is taking ALZ-112 and has got his memory back.Once again, it all sounds good doesn’t it?
For a while, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” feels like a charming “Bedtime for Bonzo” cuddly monkey movie. But Caesar is still for all intents and purposes still a wild animal, and not really meant to a be cooped up house pet. He goes bananas one day; biting off a neighbor's finger for example. Ouchies! He’s then sent to an ape shelter that's well... a prison. And that’s all I’m gonna say about the premise.
Now for the bad news. James Franco’s acting.
Franco looks more bored and disinterested in “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” than he did when he was hosting the Oscars.
The look of someone just earning a paycheck - the look of someone who just wants to get the whole thing over with. Sorry Jim Bo you may be good looking but you are a mediocre actor at best (and I’m being kind here.)
If this were the real point of the movie, I wouldn’t have liked it so much, but thankfully it isn't. This not the humans story! In fact the humans are all just bit players put there to tell Caesar’s story. In other words, it’s a animal movie with humans in it.
Watching apes trash San Francisco, using the Golden Gate Bridge as monkey bars was awesome.
Those of you going expecting to see some Darwinism type deep, thought-provoking movie here about animals vs. humans will surely be disappointed.
But it’s all good with me; isn’t that what big budget summer movies are for-some escapism and good ol’ mind thumbing fun?
Bring on the action I say! Power to the apes!
Rated PG-13
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Posted by oxyjen on Aug 7, 2011
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