Rise of the Planet of the Apes

So is Rise of The Planet of The Apes a great film because it exceeds expectations? Or is it just a great film anyway? I guess one leads into the other, though I think it’s safe to say no-one was expecting anything memorable from a film with (with respect) James Franco as the lead and a trailer that suggested this was a family drama more than anything. However, that’s the key issue that makes this film what it is. Despite some mayhem at the end this is a drama, and a highly gripping one at that. In an odd way it’s actually a family drama of sorts, in the fact that after an experiment goes wrong at the start of the film, in order to save a baby chimpanzee from being put down lab scientist Will Rodman (Franco) smuggles him home, names him Caesar and eventually he becomes a member of the family. However, due to some animal testing, Caesar is born with advanced cognitive abilities. Sensing he has nothing to lose with his ailing Alzheimer suffering father (John Lithgow), Rodman gives him the same treatment and, lo and behold, his father begins to recover. Before long however, things start to take a dark turn for all involved. In terms of the decision to go all CGI for the Apes in the film, the effects range from middling to very good. At no stage though will you think you’re watching anything other than a load of pixels. However, this doesn’t distract from the viewing experience in any way as you just accept this is the way the film looks and you go with it. The screenplay is smart and slowly builds the story block by block with director Rupert Wyatt happy to let the story pan out whilst injecting the occasional short and thrilling sequence. It’s an approach which pays off handsomely as not only do we get a highly enjoyable film, but one that asks many posing questions regarding the relationship between man and animal. It’s one for pub arguments, but this could (after the original film) be the best Apes film of them all. Though I suppose there isn’t too much quality competition there. Speaking of the original, this film has a great reference to that film (though only picked up by myself and about three other people in the screening I saw. Modern film audiences!) and even before you’ve got your head round that Rise follows it up with a draw dropping moment of its own. It’s a great few seconds of cinema and deserves to be remembered for a long time. A few negative points must be mentioned in Freida Pinto’s somewhat pointless appearance as Rodman’s girlfriend and though the battle scene at the end is thrilling it may be too over the top for some based on the calmness of what’s gone on before. This is Wyatt’s first film since the excellent The Escapist and on this form let’s hope we don’t have to wait so long again until he next gets behind the lens because as “re-boots” of series go, this is arguably one of the freshest in recent years. It’ll be a tough task, but let’s hope the mooted sequels to this continue the good work.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict

Oo-Oo-Ah-Ah-Ah! Rating: 8/10.