As a fan of classic sci-fi films, I find myself going back to the first Planet of the Apes film (no, not that shameful 2001 Tim Burton rip-off) directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, at least once or twice a year.
Despite knowing the film's highly quotable punchline ending, I still enjoy watching it, if only to marvel at how John Chambers' impressive makeup job managed to turn some respectable actors of the time into evolved simians capable of speech and violence.
What I could never figure out each time (while ignoring the increasingly silly sequels which followed) was how the future came to be this way, since we are never told how humanity mostly disappeared, only to be taken over by a race of smart apes of all subspecies.
When a recent prequel was announced, promising an explanation of such a global shift over centuries, I was giddy with excitement, finally being given an answer which seemed to act as a pay-off for such viewership loyalty after several decades.
Suffice to say that, short of a phoned-in performance by James Franco, the film delivered on all other fronts. Read on!
What is Rise of the Planet of the Apes About?
Ambitious scientist Will Rodman (James Franco, 127 Hours) works at GenSys, a pharmaceutical firm which is currently researching a cure for Alzheimer's. Using chimps to test an experimental drug called ALZ-112, Will and his colleagues are astounded when they detect an incredible spike in intelligence, especially in the female subject known as Bright Eyes.
The experiment is abruptly cancelled the day Bright Eyes violently turns on her captors, soon bursting into the company's boardroom and getting fatally shot by security guards. The reason for the outburst? She was protecting her infant baby while in captivity. The offspring is spared termination when Will smuggles him home, to raise him in secret.
As the months progress, it becomes evident to Will, his friend and later love interest Caroline (Freida Pinto) and his Alzheimer's stricken father (John Lithgow) that the young chimp, named Caesar by the human family, has inherited some of his mother's advanced brain activity.
As Caesar grows older and more difficult to control, his ability to develop in the privacy of Will's home becomes more problematic, leading to his removal. Once in captivity, it isn't long before the hyper smart primate starts to tap into both his intellect and primal instincts, in order to protect himself and his own kind...
Rise of the Planet of the Apes a Miracle of Motion Capture Film Making
If there's a sliver of a chance that you find yourself forgetting that you're watching a computer generated ape on film about 20 minutes into the story, you're going to have an incredibly good time watching this movie.
True, they do say that the best special or visual effects are the ones that, like magic tricks, you can't discern or discover on your own. Much if not most of the success of this film invariably goes to seasoned motion capture actor Andy Serkis, the British man behind such memorable motion capture performances as Gollum from Lord of the Rings, the titular King Kong in Peter Jackson's remake, as well as the whiskey loving Captain Haddock in Steven Spielberg's upcoming motion capture film The Adventures of Tintin.
Serkis always manages to convey the most convincing emotions through facial expressions which are later translated into impressive CGI results. In such a fashion, his rendition of the greedy Gollum has since become Hollywood history. In Apes, he brings a heartbreaking humanity to Caesar the chimp which will have you hitting the rewind button in awe, as he goes from glee to sadness to raging anger.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, try to avert your eyes from James Franco who, despite an Oscar-nominated performance as trapped climber Aron Ralston in 127 Hours, seems even more aloof here than he did when he infamously phoned in his laissez-faire co-hosting duties at the last Academy Awards show. I'd dare not say whether the man was stoned during this film, or simply exhausted from his busy off-camera life, but either way, his lack of effort here strikes me as the one blotch on an otherwise spotless, engaging sci-fi film.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes Blu-Ray Features
Given the movie's CGI and motion capture heavy effects, expect half of the bonus features to focus on Serkis' performance, as well as that of his fellow simian characters. Should you wish to retain the illusion of Caesar as a real character, perhaps it's best to skip any and all features offered here.
You'll want to steer clear of the film's deleted scenes, as it shows Andy Serkis rather than finished effects, further destroying an otherwise pristine illusion.
The Final Word on Rise of the Planet of the Apes Blu-Ray
Purists will tell you that this latest film in the Apes series doesn't quite fit into the other installments' continuity. To this, I say "Who cares?". This prequel eclipses all of the other films in its execution, its storyline and its eye popping visual effects. I can only hope that Academy voters decide to make an exception and give Serkis consideration as Best Actor. Though it's a long shot, I can't think of anyone more deserving at this point. It's one thing to convey dramatic presence in a live-action drama. It's a whole other ballgame when an actor can do the same via motion capture and still beat out its human competition.
Trivia Note: That is indeed Tom "Draco Malfoy" Felton from the Harry Potter films, who you see playing the sadistic primate handler Dodge Landon in this movie. He also gets the best line in the film, as if I need to point out what that will turn out to be.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes: 4 out of 5
Dominic Messier - Dominic Messier is a Toronto-based Film & TV writer, Sci-Fi TV and Film Dramas Topic Editor, and creator of PopCultureLandscape.com
