Movie review: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

[oldasSoul]

Having seen all 5 original films, and the 2001 version with Mark Wahlberg, I was very interested to see how this one came out. In short, it's excellent. Not a re-boot or remake of another film; more of a prequel giving an explanation of how the apes became more intelligent and gained the power of speech.

Lots of references to the original '68 movie, some quite subtle. Also some foreshadowing for another movie, with a similar story to the first one, but incredibly delicately done.

James Franco is great, as is the rest of the cast, and the motion capture/CGI works to give a very realistic sense of movement and emotion.

[chris]

this movie looks fantastic. can't wait to see it.

sucks to be andy serkis, tho...he is the main ape in this one, was gollum in LOTR series, was kong in the remake of king kong, and no one even knows what he looks like.

[oldasSoul]

Didn't even realize it was Andy Serkis. He sure does a great job of moving like an ape would.

When you go and see the movie, make sure to pay attention to tvs and newspapers that briefly appear for allusions to the first film and hints to the storyline for the next movie (which can't come soon enough!).

John Lithgow's performance is excellent. He's been in a few stinkers where he overacts something fierce, but this is a very realistic portrayal.

I just hate not being able to talk more about it, but I don't want to spoil anything for those that haven't seen it yet!

[Kylenz]

John Lithgow's performance is excellent. He's been in a few stinkers where he overacts something fierce, but this is a very realistic portrayal.

Everything he does seems to result in an over-the-top farce, it would be refreshing to see an understated performance from him for a change.

I was going to see this, but decided to see Cowboys and Aliens instead. I had heard that the apes didn't look realistic at all, that in many ways the original movies with men in suits felt more realistic than a computer animation would.

If there are references to the first '68 movie, then I'd like to see it for sure!

[oldasSoul]

There are definitely good points about the guys-in-suits aspect of the first movies, but I thought the CGI apes looked pretty good, probably because of the motion capture technology. The orangutan is so realistic I thought they'd used a real one at first!

As to the references to the first film, they are somewhat subtle: names of apes, a Statue of Liberty reference, a brief "cameo" by Charlton Heston.

Haven't seen C & A. How was it?

[chris]

I had heard that the apes didn't look realistic at all, that in many ways the original movies with men in suits felt more realistic than a computer animation would.

If there are references to the first '68 movie, then I'd like to see it for sure!

i thought they looked like apes. i mean, not a guy in a monkey suit, or not a guy with rubber prosthetics, but an ape. the trailers look fantastic.

and i read there are (subtle) references to all of the original movies. ones you may not even get unless you were a student of the original series.

[lampie1970]

OMG i loved this movie!!! it was awesome!

[oldasSoul]

Yay! Another fan!! Looks like it curled your hair, too. 

Did you pick up the hints about a possible next film, maybe a reworking of the original?

[lampie1970]

YES!! i ask people that too and they are like: wha?

and im like: at the end...in the airport and then the lines on the globe indicating flight patterns n stuff?? cool stuff man! if you pay attention that is...and "get it"!