Our Brothers Shall Rise!

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

A Review by Ben Hunter

5 Out of 5 Stars

August 5, 2011

Evolutionary, revolutionary, extraordinary!

This movie really captures the major moral issues of the instincts and the survival of humanity. I love how it recaptures all the feelings of the original films but does it in a modern, new, and hip way! If one has never seen the originals, then this is a brand new, fun way to start this major journey!

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is an up to date version of the 5 original films that preceded it. It takes the information and recreates it in it's own, new, and modern way. We learn about Will Rodman (James Franco) who works in a lab in San Francisco, trying to find new ways to cure major human illnesses. His father, Charles Rodman (John Lithgow), has Alzheimer's so that's the disease Will has been focused on and has been testing his new medicine on chimpanzees (apes). In a failed experiment with his initial new medicine, his boss orders to stop everything and kill the apes, go back to the drawing board. Having a heart, the lab tech ordered to put down the apes gives the last one to Will and so the friendship begins between the two, Will and this newborn ape, Caesar.

We follow Caesar's growth, development, his needs and wants as a new creature into the world and discover that this is his story. How he later feels inferior, like a pet, even though he was naturally born with the medicine that Will gradually injected into his mother. So Caesar is naturally smart, but feels hurt, angered, and frustrated by the way every human he comes across treats him. Being taken away from his initial master, Will, Caesar comes into his own intelligence as his own individual. He rallies up his fellow apes sharing his captivity, gets them to understand the pain that they feel daily, follow his smart leadership to lead the revolt and "rise" up, in a movement to turn earth into a "planet of the apes".

The "medicine" created by Will starts to show its effects and becomes an aid to apes but a virus to humans and that's really what's causing the "movement". All the apes want is their peace and to not be bothered or treated like pets. It's an amazing work of art how apes and humans are very similar, 1% difference in chimpanzees and humans. So it makes sense that apes could very well take over the planet if man continues to make war against his brother, but that's all a plug for the original.This new, modern day remake, really focuses on how the apes just wanted to have their own space and be left alone by the humans. But they fall subject to human testing and the apes just want their freedom, they have a right to be heard.I've always loved Andy Serkis' portrayal of the ape species. As his King Kong portrayal was amazing. So naturally, I knew he'd be the perfect fit for Caesar.

I love how there are so many plugs at the original films and how those very plugs are something new and fun to moviegoers experiencing this planet of apes for the first time! Caesar lead the revolt in the originals for older generations, and is leading the revolt again in an innovative and creative way for new generations to come!

All hail Caesar. All hail one of the year's best movies!

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Science Fiction, 105 Minutes, PG-13

Directed By: Rupert Wyatt

Written By: Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver

Cast: James Franco, Freida Pinto, & Andy Serkis