Rise of the Planet of the Apes Review

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All Forums >> [Film Forums] >> Film Reviews >> Rise of the Planet of the Apes Review

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Rise of the Planet of the Apes Review - 11/3/2012 2:18:22 PM

DaleLawson

Posts: 21
Joined: 19/12/2011
From: Exmouth

I really enjoyed Rise of the Planet of the Apes as it took a fresh twist on the Planet of the Apes story. Was this remake needed though? Probably not. But the fact still stands that I couldnâ€™t take my eyes away from the screen. The acting skills of Andy Serkis and John Lithgow were phenomenal, Patrick Doyleâ€™s soundtrack outstanding and the motion captured apes story for freedom unpredictably entertaining.

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Post #: 181

RE: Rise of the Planet of the Apes Review - 31/3/2012 2:42:25 PM

OPEN YOUR EYES

Posts: 3478
Joined: 5/2/2012
From: Living on Lynch's quiff

Another film I've got round to seeing.

And I enjoyed it alot.
Having been a fan of the Charlton Heston classics I was abit cautious in how they were going to reprise this films 'Ape' begining,and what route they were likely going to tell this origin story,but the route they took was a good and wise one.

The Director,Robert Wyatt, has made a film that combines both logical ideas and that of fictional ideas,and combines both reasonably well.
The acting is good and solid,especially James Franco who really grows into the film through its varying stages,special mention must also go to John Lithgow who creates a realistic tone in the film with his unfortunete sickness (Alzheimers).

And though I have slight issues with the appearance of Cesar and the Apes in general ie they were given,in my eyes,a very overly Human appearance,and the over-the-top english accent portrayed by David Oyelowo (token black in South Park springs to mind),I must stress everything else was in the Film rather solid.

4/5

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Post #: 182

RE: Rise of the Planet of the Apes Review - 1/4/2012 8:17:48 PM

Diggler

Posts: 1257
Joined: 30/9/2005

One of my favourite films from last year. Never got to catch it at the cinema and rented it not expecting to enjoy it that much, even though the majority of reviews I had read were positive.

Checked online afterwards and was pleased to see a follow up looks to have been given the go ahead, although it's been pretty quiet since.

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Post #: 183

RE: Rise of the Planet of the Apes Review - 4/4/2012 8:01:20 AM

Phubbs

Posts: 660
Joined: 3/4/2012

The only 'Apes' film I have seen is the Burton 're-imagining' and I quite like that version as it was visually stunning and a good fun adventure, this new film right from the start I could tell was gonna be a different animal altogether..no pun intended.

The effects on the apes at first during the character build up and introduction of 'Caesar' was slightly off in my opinion, it was good but not 'wow!' the faces did look abit plastic and too obviously cgi, but as the film progresses and the apes become more aware with Caesar growing in intelligence it seems the cgi gets better as well hehe. By the time Caesar is really plotting his escape and takeover the cgi on his face and whole body movement is really quite impressive. This goes for all the other chimps and apes too especially the gorilla and orangutan which really look fantastic up close along with body motion and hand movements.

The film plot wise is decent and a good ride, it starts slow no doubting that, there is allot of character and story building with the experiments and slow evolution of Caesar, at first I was getting alittle twitchy I must admit but the story does hold you just about and I did find myself really getting into it quite quickly.

Really the human side to the film is rather boring to be honest with Franco and Pinto not really gelling whilst Cox and Lithgow are merely background props (good props I might add) and disappear very quickly but you don't mind, its all about the apes and for most of the run time your just itching for the apes to break free and kick some homosapien ass!
When they do its well worth your money as the finale will get your heart pounding as you cheer for the apes to reach freedom, the damn humans are in the way but luckily we see some great man stomping but with intelligent action.

What was impressive was how Caesar would not let his fellow primates kill humans needlessly, of course afew do bite the dust but if Caesar was around he didn't want it, wether that is to show he has evolved and won't sink to that level or the creators just wanted a family friendly film rating I don't know ;)
The finale is really the cherry on the icing on the cake, a full blown Hominidae rampage through San Francisco with lots of very well realised chimps one gorilla and an orangutan. It is good that the film doesn't resort to lots of guns and masses of apes being killed, there is a small element of that but it doesn't get over blown into silliness which is good to see. One or two moments of Hollywood craziness perhaps like when the gorilla leaps onto the chopper from the Golden gate bridge and the use (again) of that iconic piece of dialog, does that really need to be used again simply because its an 'Apes' film?

One of the best films of the year so far for sure, actually been made with some thought and intelligence behind it, fits in well with the franchise originals, a solid musical score to emit emotion and heights of achievement and has a good ending, albeit slightly going for a roaring iconic '2001: Space Odyssey' grandiose type ending :) kinda does it too.

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Post #: 184

rise of the apes - 19/4/2012 3:22:55 AM

antosh25

Posts: 87
Joined: 15/5/2011

I thought the apes were gonna take overthe world at the end, not a small forest ! Deserves a sequel.

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Post #: 185

Very good - 8/5/2012 11:33:39 AM

mentat72

Posts: 18
Joined: 6/3/2008
From: Kent

Excellent apes, very well explained and realised. The intelligence of the creatures is very well realised, looking forward to more if they make them.

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Post #: 186

RE: Very good - 16/5/2012 9:43:59 AM

Sotto Voce

Posts: 757
Joined: 5/9/2009

Finally got around to seeing it.

Though entertaining and well done, I was a bit disappointed. The film was about half, or even a third of the story I wanted.
It sets up the rise of the apes, but I was hoping to actually see it. I imagine that's coming in the next film. Years later humans have been decimated by the virus, the intelligent apes have proliferated and the two start to compete. Caesar wants coexistence, but a faction of apes (presumably lead by that nasty looking chimp) wants to dominate the humans. If that's right, it kind of follows the originals chronoligically. Rise is equivelant to Conquest, the next one is equivelant to Battle, maybe the third is equivelant to the original.

One glaring flaw- the unsubtle use of famous lines from the original.

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Post #: 187

- 24/7/2012 3:06:06 PM

danfacey711

Posts: 48
Joined: 18/10/2008
From: Oxford

This film could have been terrible, but instead it was something of a great addition to a somewhat outdated franchise. Obviously, the original Planet of the Apes is a classic, but this film sets up so much potential for future sequels, with a good storyline, brilliant effects and a great cast. A pleasant surprise.

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Post #: 188

RE: - 31/8/2012 9:07:01 PM

Rgirvan44

Posts: 18905
Joined: 10/3/2006
From: Punishment Park

Watching at the moment - pretty much beats every summer blockbuster this year.

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Post #: 189

RE: Rise of the Planet of the Apes - 2/9/2012 1:34:54 AM

Ref

Posts: 7200
Joined: 5/10/2005
From: Leicester

Very much enjoyed this film. Like many have stated before, the apes are the stars of the show. Sheer brilliant acting from Serkis, the CGI was fantastic, I do freely admit to 'aww'-ing seeing baby Caesar

. Only downside was the 1D humans, although I thought Franco's character was (somewhat) well written.

4/5

EDIT: need to engage brain before posting

< Message edited by Ref -- 2/9/2012 1:58:06 AM >

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Post #: 190

Best Prequel ever! - 9/4/2013 9:02:14 PM

Ralph25

Posts: 43
Joined: 30/3/2013
From: Portugal

The film suprised me, when it was announced, I did not trust a lot. The 1968 classic is a Mastepiece, and over the years have been made horrible remakes, and I thought this would be no different. After I saw the movie, I apologize to Ruppert Wart and Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa. The movie is fantastic, it's one of the best reboots ever made, is super loyal to the 1968 classic stories and characters, but also focuses on reality, what would happen if super intelligent monkeys started a revolution against humans today? The monkeys are not smart suddenly because of magic or steroids, it was all genetics, and it was not on purpose that any scientist wanting to be famous starts creating intelligent apes, it was all an accident (see the movie and will understand better).
After an accident in the lab because of an experiment of a medicine, all the monkeys are killed, and a scientist finds a baby ape and brings him to save his life. After a few days the scientist begins to see that the little monkey has an advanced intelligence. Months pass and the monkey grows to a fantastic evolution, that is where the movie touches a very good point, evolution. After a domestic accident, the poor monkey is taken away, and we see al the beginning of that evolution becomes revolution.
The cast is solid, James Franco is an actor who is fantastic here, but he is not the main character, but Andy Serkys that is the primate Ceasar. Another point where the film does a good touch, does not focus attention on the human but in primates. The monkeys are computerized and soo much realistics, Andy Serkis becomes a monkey in person. And he is a BADASS monkey.
Rise of the Planet of the apes is fantastic, not disappointed, just thought it could have been longer. And the sequels are confirmed, we'll see if there do not disappoint.

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Post #: 191