The Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes
Starring: James Franco, Freida Pinto, Brian Cox, John Lithgow, Andy Serkis
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 4/5
Last time an ‘Apes’ movie came to the big screen it wasn’t exactly a rip-roaring success - but the horror of the Tim Burton film has been wiped away with Rupert Wyatt’s excellent addition to the franchise.
Yes Rise of the Planet of the Apes is one of the best movies to have hit the big screen this summer as Wyatt takes a huge gamble to rest the movie on the shoulders of a CGI chimp.
And it’s a move of pure genius as Caesar, who is excellently played by motion capture expert Andy Serkis, steals the show!
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.
I can’t praise the look of the movie enough as Wyatt has effortlessly blended live action with outstanding CGI.
The apes come across as living, breathing characters with emotions and feeling, Caesar in particular shows real heartbreak when he is left behind by the people that he loves.
And it’s these CGI characters that really do take centre stage in the movie, the likes of Franco, Pinto and Cox are really the supporting cast, a risky move that incredibly does pay off - this is thanks to the quality of the script and the work of Weta Digital.
But this is not just some mindless summer blockbuster as Wyatt delivers a message of not to mess with Mother Nature and questions man’s desire to play god.
The Rise of the Planet of the Apes is also a very moving film and one that has real heart as James Franco’s character forms a touching bond with Caesar - and you can help but feel his pain when that trust is betrayed and Caesar is taken away from the life that he knows.
There are some heart breaking moments as Caesar struggles to adapt to his new surroundings and yet he still has it in him to forgive in a very emotional end to the movie.
Franco does well with the part that he is given but the Oscar nominated actor really does play second fiddle to his CGI created co-star.
But his character Will is driven to find a cure for Alzheimer’s as his father is struggling with the disease. It’s a great performance by Lithgow as Will’s father as he bonds with Caesar and this keeps the movie very human.
Sadly Frieda Pinto does very little in the film and you do have to question the reason that character was required.
But Andy Serkis’ central performance really has to be applauded as he has delivered a character that is well developed, believable and one that an audience really connects with and feels for - it’s really time that motion capture performances are recognised by the Academy.
The Rise of the Planet of the Apes is one of the most surprising blockbuster movies of the summer as it delivers on every level and Wyatt shows that e really can handle a big action movie.
This is a film that really has delivered more than expected and could well pave the way when it comes to developing motion capture characters.
The Rise of the Planet of the Apes is out now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in Planet of the Apes Rupert Wyatt